What A Week

Intro: Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News:
https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2021/05/portland-state-university-will-require-covid-10-vaccinations-for-students-employees.html

• Last Wednesday, Portland State University officials said that the University will require on-campus students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 starting in September. Students will have to verify their vaccination status before starting on-campus classes in the fall term. In a letter to students, faculty and staff, President Stephen Percy said the school’s dense urban campus gives it a quote “unique responsibility” to guard against the spread of the virus. Percy also said quote “All of us are eager to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us and come together again in person as a campus community… Widespread vaccination is our clearest and best path toward that future.” 
• Students can claim a “personal, medical or religious exemption” to the vaccine requirement. Details of the requirements for faculty and staff have not yet been finalized. The school will host a vaccine clinic on campus for students and employees who have not yet received the vaccine. The PSU announcement comes a day after Oregon State University announced it would require vaccinations for students, faculty and staff. Both schools said it will take time to figure out the fine points of verification and enforcement.

In-state news:
https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-05-04/oregon-extends-covid-workplace-mask-rule-indefinitely
https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2021/05/oregon-indefinitely-extends-mask-distancing-rules-aimed-at-protecting-workers-from-covid-19.html

• Oregon adopted a controversial rule last Tuesday that indefinitely extends coronavirus mask and social distancing requirements for all businesses in the state. Under the rule, employers must ensure that their employees wear masks and maintain physical distance in the workplace, among other requirements. Oregon OSHA said it will meet with other agencies and groups to review the rule again in July. At that point, it will look at infection rates, hospitalizations, fatalities and other factors to determine whether the rule can be repealed. Those meetings will continue every two months until the agency decides to repeal the rule. The adoption of the updated rule comes a week after Oregon OSHA announced it was reinstating COVID-19 requirements to protect farmworkers who live in employer-provided housing.

In National News:
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/rigby-idaho-middle-school-shooting

• Last Thursday morning, officials reported that a  sixth-grade girl shot two other students and an adult employee at a middle school in Rigby, Idaho.  Just after 9 a.m., the girl pulled a handgun out of her backpack and fired multiple rounds in a hallway and outside the Rigby Middle School building, Jefferson County Sheriff Steve Anderson said. A teacher disarmed the student and detained her until law enforcement arrived and took her into custody. The victims were transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in stable condition, a spokesperson for the Idaho Falls Fire Department told BuzzFeed News.  All three victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to recover according to the hospital’s trauma medical director, Michael Lemon. An investigation into the incident is currently underway and upon its completion, Jefferson County Prosecutor Mark Taylor said his office quote "will be filing appropriate charges, possibly including three counts of attempted murder."

In International News:
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-vows-probe-into-terrible-metro-collapse-says-too-soon-point-fingers-2021-05-04/
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/alexcampbell/mexico-city-subway-crash

• At least 24 people have died in Mexico City after an elevated train line collapsed last Monday night. The subway train traveling on Line 12 crashed to the ground after an overpass caved in at around 10:22 p.m local time. At least 70 people were taken to the hospital, seven of whom underwent surgery. Mexico’s government announced last Tuesday that it will punish those responsible for the overpass collapse. Accompanied by officials involved in the construction and maintenance of the elevated metro line that collapsed last Monday night, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the investigation should be done quickly and that nothing should be hidden from the public. The crash has raised wider questions about safety on one of the world's busiest metro systems, which carries millions of people daily across the capital's urban city.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/09/world/middleeast/israeli-court-palestinian-families-east-jerusalem.html
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/09/middleeast/jerusalem-sheikh-jarrah-unrest/index.html

• Last Sunday, the Israeli Supreme Court delayed the decision on whether to expel six Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem after the attorney general requested more time, in part because of the tensions that the case has stirred. The court was to decide this past Monday whether to uphold an expulsion order for the families in the Palestinian neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem, in a hearing that many feared would set off a wave of unrest. Instead, the case was delayed by up to 30 days to allow the attorney general to review it. For many Palestinians, the families’ plight has become symbolic of a wider effort to remove Palestinians from parts of East Jerusalem and of the past displacements of Arabs in the occupied territories and within Israel. Since the start of the month, the prospect of the evictions has prompted daily protests, arrests and confrontations between Palestinians and the Israeli police and Jewish extremists.

Lastly, here is the wildcard news for the week:
https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/9/22426968/chinese-rocket-re-entered-earth-atmosphere

Intro: Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News:
https://katu.com/news/local/police-declare-riot-in-downtown-portland-on-may-day
https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2021/05/may-day-demonstrators-gather-for-series-of-portland-events.html
https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2021/05/portland-police-declare-riot-after-nighttime-may-day-demonstrators-break-downtown-windows.html

• This past Saturday, demonstrators gathered for a series of May Day events in Portland, setting out on marches and distributing literature in Peninsula Park. The largest event began near the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, where about 100 people gathered for a march and car caravan demanding justice for migrant workers. Speakers at the event near OMSI rallied the crowd around themes of the exploitation of migrant workers, anti-U.S. imperialism and standing in solidarity with the working class.  After a day of mostly peaceful protests, demonstrators gathered in downtown Portland Saturday evening for a pair of quote “autonomous” May Day demonstrations that turned violent, causing police to declare a riot following reports of broken windows at multiple businesses.

In-state news:

https://katu.com/news/local/oregon-leads-country-in-covid-19-case-rate

• A number of states, once known to be COVID-19 hotspots, such as Florida and Texas, are now seeing a decline in coronavirus cases.  Oregon, a state that has kept cases relatively low throughout the duration of the pandemic, is now the leading state, having the nation’s fastest growing rate of COVID-19 cases. Dr. Peter Graven with OHSU says a big reason for those numbers is primarily due to the fact that Oregonians got ahead of cases early, meaning fewer people were initially infected. Officials also believe this is due to a spike fueled by quote “human behavior,” as well as the more contagious B.1.1.7 variant, which is now the dominant strain in Oregon.

https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2021/04/what-does-oregons-new-indoor-dining-shutdown-mean-for-restaurants-and-how-long-will-it-last.html

• Last Tuesday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced that 15 counties, including most of the Portland metro area minus Washington County, will move to the state’s “extreme risk” category for COVID-19 restrictions. New bans on indoor dining and strict capacity limits on gyms, movie theaters and other businesses were implemented last Friday. This is a significant stepback for many small businesses already struggling to survive. According to Brown, the ramping up of restrictions is necessary in order to keep health care providers from being “stretched to their limits” while dealing with the pandemic’s latest spike. For the 15 affected counties, the ban effective as of last Friday marks the third indoor dining ban since COVID-19 cases first began to rise last year. For counties in the Portland metro area, both the initial shutdown and last winter’s dining “pause” lasted about three months. There is no end date in line yet as to when this ban will end, but modeling by Oregon Health & Science University does indicate that covid cases could peak around May 4th, with hospitalizations starting to fall two weeks later. 

In National News:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/04/27/cdc-guidelines-say-vaccinated-people-dont-need-wear-masks-outside/7395850002/
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/fully-vaccinated-cdc-masks-guidelines

• Last week, the CDC released new COVID-19 masking guidelines, allowing fully vaccinated Americans to go without masks in small gatherings and outdoors, except in crowded settings.  The new guidance is intended for people who have met the fully vaccinated benchmark which is at least two weeks after their last vaccine shot. With about 30% of Americans now fully vaccinated, the new masking guidelines had been expected for some time and mark a small milestone for the country emerging from pandemic conditions. Masks should also still be worn when gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one household, and people should still get tested if exposed to someone infected, the CDC said. Under the guidance, fully vaccinated people should also still wear masks and stay 6 feet away from people while in crowds, at larger gatherings, or when visiting with someone at high risk from COVID-19.
• https://nypost.com/2021/04/30/tsa-extends-mask-mandate-for-planes-public-transit-to-september/
  • Last Friday, the TSA announced that it will be extending the  mask mandate for planes and public transportation in the U.S. through at least September 13th. All US domestic travelers are expected to abide by this mandate regardless of their vaccination status. Children under two years old are exempt as are people with certain disabilities. Everyone else is subject to fines starting at $250 and rising to $1,500 for repeat offenders. Most airlines also ban customers who violate mask rules.

In International News: 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/world/middleeast/israel-mount-meron-stampede.html

• Last Friday, a stampede at a  mountainside religious celebration in Israel that drew tens of thousands of ultra-orthodox Jews left at least 45 people dead and hundreds injured. According to some estimates, about 100,000 people were crammed together late Thursday to celebrate a holiday on Mount Meron in northern Israel, despite warnings from the authorities about the risk of Covid-19 transmission. The deadly crush began around 1 a.m. on Friday, as celebrants began to pour out of a section of a compound where festivities were being held. The death toll of 45, released later by the Health Ministry, made it one of the worst civilian disasters in Israeli history.

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:
https://www.npr.org/2021/05/02/991232213/astronauts-splash-down-in-spacex-dragon-capsule-after-6-months-in-orbit
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/02/science/spacex-nasa-landing.html

• Four astronauts who've spent the past six months aboard the International Space Station as part of the first operational mission of SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule are back on Earth after splashing down safely last Saturday in the Gulf of Mexic...

Intro: (Cue intro music) 

Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News:
https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2021/04/dozens-gather-in-downtown-portland-after-derek-chauvin-guilty-of-murder.html

• Last Tuesday, Portland police declared an unlawful assembly and arrested at least two people amid a demonstration held after jurors convicted former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd. A crowd initially gathered near the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse and Multnomah County Justice Center on Tuesday evening, and some began spray-painting the latter building at about 9 p.m. A group of roughly 60 people began marching at around 9:45 p.m., while about 25 other people remained near the courthouse and Justice Center. Some demonstrators broke a number of downtown windows, according to police, who declared an unlawful assembly at roughly 10 p.m. Last Tuesday’s events came after Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler declared a 24-hour state of emergency, allowing him to impose a curfew, close city streets and take other extreme measures should widespread political unrest erupt. The mayor also said the city would have the state police and National Guard on standby, while Portland police received assistance from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies in the metro area.

In-state news:
https://www.opb.org/article/2021/04/23/covid-19-oregon-high-risk-variants-kate-brown/

• The state of Oregon has seen the biggest percentage increase in COVID-19 cases of any state in the country over the last previous two weeks. Cases have jumped 58% in that time period, putting Oregon just ahead of Kansas and behind territories Guam and Puerto Rico. Oregon governor Kate Brown said in a press conference last Friday quote, “A few weeks ago, I came before you to say that we were concerned we would have a fourth surge of COVID-19 in Oregon… Unfortunately, today, that surge is here.” Not enough people have been vaccinated and adherence to public health guidelines has waned, giving rise to virus transmission rates rivaling the worst days of the pandemic this winter, according to state health officials. The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,020 confirmed and presumptive coronavirus cases last Thursday, the first time the state has cracked a thousand daily cases since mid-January. The state has reported close to 800 cases a day over the past week.

In National News:

https://www.voanews.com/usa/derek-chauvin-convicted-all-charges-death-george-floyd

• Last Tuesday, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of all charges in the death of George Floyd nearly a year ago. Chauvin had been charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. After hearing closing arguments last Monday, the 12-member jury spent about 10 hours over two days discussing information from the three-week trial before coming to a decision.

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/22/989773400/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bi

• After nearly two weeks of talks between Democrats and Republicans, the Senate approved legislation last Thursday to ramp up law enforcement efforts to better protect the Asian American and Pacific Islander community from hate crimes. The move marks a rare moment of bipartisan unity needed to approve the Senate legislation despite a new political era marked by increasingly bitter party divisions. The bill, which needed 60 votes for passage in the evenly divided Senate, was approved by a 94-1 vote. Only one Republican, Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri voted no. The passed legislation comes after the March 16th shooting at three Atlanta spas and a wave of violence following the spread of the Coronavirus from China last year.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemlee/johnson-covid-vaccine-restart

• Federal regulators said last Friday that distribution of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine would begin again in the United States, following a vote from a CDC advisory panel. The advisory panel’s 10–4 vote paved the way for the FDA and the CDC to lift a week-and-a-half-long pause on the single-shot vaccine after it became linked to a handful of highly unusual and severe blood clots.The manufacturer and the FDA said that an updated warning about the risk of clots would be distributed to clinics and patients via factsheets.

In International News:
https://www.vox.com/2021/4/24/22400986/india-coronavirus-surge-hospitals-deaths

• Last week, India set a pandemic record with almost 347,000 new cases in a day. The surge in coronavirus cases in India continued last Saturday, with new cases re-breaking the single-day world record as the country’s health care system struggled to keep up. Deaths also climbed, to a record 2,624 in a single day, and the rolling seven-day average of daily new cases in India is quickly approaching 300,000. As a result, hospitals are starting to run out of beds and oxygen alike. 

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:
https://www.indiewire.com/2021/04/chloe-zhao-wins-oscar-best-director-nomadland-1234631342/
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-04-25/oscars-2021-minari-yuh-jung-youn-history

• This past Sunday was the 93rd annual Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This Oscars was unlike any other with new social distancing orders in place, virtual viewings, and historic wins. Director of Nomadland, Chloe Zhao took home one of the biggest awards of the night, becoming the first woman, the first chinese woman, and the second woman ever to win the Academy Awards for directing. Zhao’s film, Nomadland, also won the most coveted award of the night for Best picture, making it only the second film directe...

Intro: (Cue intro music) 

Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News:
https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2021/04/protesters-shatter-downtown-portland-windows-police-declare-riot.html
https://www.koin.com/news/protests/direct-action-director-park-lents-park-portland-04162021/ 

• Last Friday night, a group of protesters in downtown Portland lit fires, smashed the windows of businesses, a church and the Oregon Historical Society, and caused other various damage during a destructive demonstration. It was reported that someone also fired several gunshots from a car traveling a block away from the protest crowd early into saturday morning. No one was reported to be hurt. Police declared the demonstration a riot late last Friday, marking the third time in five days the bureau had made such an announcement. Officers arrested at least four people amid the demonstration that had drawn several hundred people, the Portland Police Bureau said in a statement last saturday. The downtown damage also came on the heels of a fatal police shooting earlier last Friday in Southeast Portland but was carried out as part of a previously scheduled quote “autonomous demonstration” in the name of people killed in recent police shootings nationwide, including Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old killed last month by Chicago police, and Daunte Wright.

In-state news:

https://www.kptv.com/news/clackamas-fire-crews-battle-brush-fire-east-of-oregon-city-evacuation-orders-reduced/article_dd645c52-9ef6-11eb-84eb-bb3e71d88cf6.html
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/brush-fire-leads-to-evacuations-in-clackamas-county/283-46c62dbf-a6a7-4cb8-b373-fba587b9fd6a

• A fast-moving brush fire in rural Clackamas County led to some evacuations last Friday afternoon. Clackamas Fire crews were able to extinguish the brush fire that was located east of Oregon City. The fire was first reported at about 1 p.m. Clackamas Fire says the fire was estimated to be about 38-40 acres large. Seven structures were immediately threatened and an additional 10 structures were threatened. No structures were lost. One firefighter sustained minor injuries, while working on the fire line and was taken to an area hospital for evaluation. They have since been released. The cause of the fire is still unknown at this time of reporting.

In National News:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/04/13/johnson-and-johnson-vaccine-blood-clots/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/04/18/covid-19-updates-fauci-j-j-vaccine-pope-moderna-pfizer-boosters/7273557002/

• Last Tuesday, federal health officials called for a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, saying they are reviewing reports of six U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot among more than 7 million people who received the shot. The drugmaker said the blood clot cases are also being investigated by European health authorities, and the company is delaying the rollout of the vaccine there. Last Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci said the pause on using the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine will probably be lifted by this Friday, although some restrictions may be required. 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-troops-to-leave-afghanistan-by-sept-11-11618330266
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/13/986811256/biden-administration-says-it-will-withdraw-u-s-troops-from-afghanistan-by-sept-1
https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2021-04-16/biden-announces-afghanistan-troop-withdrawal-whats-next

• Last week President Biden officially announced that he  will withdraw all remaining U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that prompted America's involvement in its longest war. An estimated 2,500 U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan, and as many as 1,000 more special operations forces are also reported to be in the country. There were more than 100,000 at the war's peak in 2011. The withdrawal will miss a May 1st deadline that the Trump administration had established in a deal last year with the Taliban, which included provisions for peace talks between Afghanistan's government and the Taliban that have since faltered. An official said Biden had arrived at his decision after a quote "rigorous" policy review and he now believes the threat to the U.S. emanating from Afghanistan is at a level that can be addressed without a persistent military footprint in the country. 

In International News: 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-56783878

• The number of people who have died worldwide in the Covid-19 pandemic has surpassed three million, according to John Hopkins University. The milestone comes the day after the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned the world was quote, "approaching the highest rate of infection" so far. 
• Almost 140 million cases have been recorded since the pandemic began.

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56728381#:~:text=New%20Zealand%20is%20to%20become,the%20effects%20of%20climate%20change.&text=Banks%2C%20insurers%20and%20fund%20managers,Climate%20Change%20Minister%20James%20Shaw.

• Last week, New zealand became the world’s first country to introduce climate change law for financial fir...

Intro: Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News:
https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2021/04/as-multnomah-county-returns-to-high-risk-portland-restaurants-must-reduce-capacity-again.html

• Due to rising COVID-19 cases last week, Multnomah county was moved from “moderate” to “high” in Oregon’s risk categories. This change will impact restaurant dining restrictions the most. Multnomah County spent just four weeks in the “moderate risk” category as restaurants were allowed to expand service March 12. The change will remain in effect until April 22nd. 

Here are the following guidelines for restaurants and bars in “high risk” counties:

• Indoor dining allowed
• Takeout highly recommended
• Indoor capacity: not to exceed 25% maximum occupancy or 50 people, whichever is smaller
• Outdoor dining allowed
• Outdoor capacity: 75 people maximum, including individual dining pods.
• Individual dining pods allowed outdoors subject to outdoor capacity limit.
• Indoor and outdoor seating: 6 people per party and per table maximum, limit 2 households
• 11 p.m. closing time

In-state news:
https://www.kezi.com/content/news/Oregon-reports-highest-daily-COVID-case-count-since-early-February-574180071.html

• Last Saturday, the Oregon Health Authority reported 761 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily total since early February. The last time the state reported more than 700 cases in a day was on Feb. 5, when 846 cases were reported. https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/three-oregon-covid-deaths-reported-among-those-vaccinated/
• Last week, the OHA also reported that 168 vaccinated individuals across 25 Oregon counties have received a positive COVID-19 test result at least 14 days after receiving their final dose of the vaccine. Three Oregon COVID deaths were reported among those vaccinated. A news release from last week stated quote “It’s a reminder that while the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are all highly effective at preventing severe COVID-19 illness and death, no vaccine is 100% effective, and vaccine breakthrough cases will occur,”

In National News:

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/09/covid-19-cases-deaths-vaccinations-daily-update.html

• One in five Americans are fully vaccinated, according to the latest data published on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website last Thursday. A third of the population has received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. The U.S. is currently administering a seven-day average of 3 million vaccine doses per day, as daily case counts remain at levels below the winter peak but in line with the surge seen over the summer.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/arkansas-ban-gender-affirming-care-trans-youth

• Last week, Arkansas became the first U.S. state to ban health care for transgender kids. Arkansas lawmakers overrode Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s veto on a bill banning gender-affirming medical treatment for trans youths last Tuesday, making the state the first to prohibit physicians from providing what they and activists have described as life-saving healthcare. The law, called the Save Adolescents From Experimentation Act, or SAFE Act, bars healthcare professionals from providing gender-affirming care — including surgery, puberty blockers, and hormone therapy — to anyone under 18. Physicians are also banned from referring minors to other professionals for such care.

In International News:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/09/uk/prince-philip-dies-gbr-intl/index.html
https://people.com/royals/queen-elizabeth-enters-8-day-period-of-mourning-after-prince-philip-death/

• Last Friday, the  Buckingham Palace announced quote: "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will be made in due course.” The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss. The death of the duke comes after a period of poor health. Prince Philip reportedly spent a month in two London hospitals, where he was treated for an infection and underwent heart surgery, before being discharged in mid-March. Prince Philip's funeral plans are currently being arranged as Queen Elizabeth enters an eight-day period of mourning following the death of her husband last Friday. The monarch, 94, will refrain from carrying out any royal duties during this time. Affairs of state will also be put on pause. The funeral will take place at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Following the eight days, a further period of official Royal Mourning is expected to continue. While the country is expected to go into a period of 10 days of mourning, the royal household will do so for 30 days, and guardsmen will be seen with black armbands on their tunics during that period.

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:
https://www.businessinsider.com/beijing-new-york-city-billionaires-comparison-2021-4

• Step aside, New York City, there is a new billionaire capital in the world. For the first time ever, Beijing, China is home to more billionaires than New York City, according to Forbes' annual World's Billionaires List for 2021. The Chinese capital gained 33 new billionaires in 2020, bringing its total to 100 billionaires and just edging out New York City's 99 billionaires, as  reported by Forbes. New York City added only seven new billionaires in the same time span. In terms of total population, New York City is about 40% of the size of Beijing, with a population of 8.4 million versus Beijing's roughly 21 million. 
• The world's ultra-wealthy got even richer last year despite a pandemic and economic recessions. Globally, 660 people became new billionaires, bringing the world total to 2,755 billionaires worth a collective $13.1 trillion, according to Forbes.

Closing:  Well that wraps up What a Week! Stay safe and see you guys next week. 

Intro: Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News:
https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2021/04/portland-city-council-declares-homeless-living-quarters-will-not-be-allowed-in-parks-adjacent-parking-lots.html

• Last Wednesday, the Portland City Council voted unanimously to change the wording of a proposal to grant wide latitude on sitting temporary housing for homeless individuals to make clear that parks, green spaces and park parking lots are off limits. The change came as Portland City Council members continued to clarify proposed rule changes to allow tiny house pods, tent encampments and other forms of shelter for people experiencing homelessness throughout the city. The council also voted last Wednesday to extend the  state of housing emergency for another year. This state of housing emergency, first declared in 2015, allows the city to drastically waive zoning codes to keep current alternative shelters operating and allow more to pop up if needed.

In-state news:
https://ktvz.com/news/coronavirus/2021/04/02/were-back-on-alert-oregon-hits-fourth-surge-of-covid-19-gov-brown-officials-say/

• Last week, Oregon officials noticed a spike in COVID cases in the state. Despite a rising number of vaccinated Oregonians and widening eligibility, governor Kate Brown said in a statement quote “the fourth surge of the virus is at our doorstep,” Fortunately, Brown said, Oregon hasn’t matched some other state’s large spikes in cases, but quote “our numbers are rising, and we’re back on alert.” Despite the contamination that destroyed 15 million doses of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, increased shipments allowed Brown to announce that family members of frontline workers newly eligible for the vaccine are now also eligible for the vaccine as of last week. When grocery workers and other frontline workers make their appointments, Brown urged them to quote  “make them for your entire family – adults of course.” Last Friday, Oregon also expanded its criteria of “underlying conditions” to match the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s list.

In National News:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/03/health/us-coronavirus-saturday/index.html

• In Covid news… last saturday, the U.S. hit 4 million Covid-19 vaccine doses in a day for a new record. More than 4 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine were reported on Saturday, setting a new record and bringing the seven-day average to more than 3 million vaccine doses a day, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.  It has been nearly 109 days since the first Covid-19 vaccine shot was administered in the US, and 104 million people have since received at least one dose, the agency said. More than 59 million of them are fully vaccinated. More than 161 million doses have been administered in the US, according to agency data published last weekend. 

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/covid-travel-guidelines-cdc

• Last Friday the CDC released a new updated guidance regarding COVID-19, stating that vaccinated people can safely travel. Fully vaccinated people must continue to oblige with other COVID-19 safety precautions such as wearing a mask in public and social distancing. Release of the long-expected guidelines comes as U.S. COVID-19 vaccinations have increased nationwide and as the summer travel season approaches. People are considered fully protected by the vaccines two weeks after their second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, or two weeks after their single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Masks are still required on planes, buses, and trains under the CDC guidelines, as well as in airports and other travel hubs.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/salvadorhernandez/capitol-police-officers-injured-rammed

• Last Friday, a  U.S. Capitol officer was killed and another injured after a suspect drove his vehicle into them and then emerged armed with a knife, authorities said. After ramming his vehicle, the suspect got out of the car "with a knife in hand" and started to "lunge toward" the officers, authorities said. He was then shot by at least one officer and later died of his injuries. President Joe Biden said in a statement that he was "heartbroken" to learn of the attack and that he had ordered  the White House flags to be lowered to half-mast. Biden issued a statement saying quote "We know what a difficult time this has been for the Capitol, everyone who works there, and those who protect it.” Robert Contee, acting chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, told reporters there did not appear to be an ongoing threat after last Friday's attack, but said investigators were still looking for a possible motive.

In International News:
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/02/983709293/train-crashes-in-eastern-taiwan-killing-34-injuring-dozens

• Last Friday, a  train partially derailed in eastern Taiwan after colliding with an unmanned vehicle that had rolled down a hill, killing 48 people. With the train still partly in a tunnel, survivors climbed out of windows and walked along the train's roof to reach safety after the country's deadliest railway disaster. The crash occurred near the Toroko Gorge scenic area on the first day of a long holiday weekend when many people were hopping trains on Taiwan's extensive rail system. The train had been carrying more than 400 people. The National Fire Service confirmed the death toll, which included the train's young, newly married driver, and said all aboard had now been accounted for. More than 100 people have been reported to be injured. Railways news officer Weng Hui-ping called the crash Taiwan's deadliest rail disaster.

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/31/nyregion/cuomo-ny-legal-weed.html

• Last week, New York became the latest U.S. state to legalize recreational weed making it legal for anyone over 21 to possess up to three ounces of weed in New York, as well as up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis, such as oils. It’s also now legal to smoke and use marijuana in public, anywhere smoking tobacco is allowed. 

Closing:  Well that wraps up What a Week! Stay safe and see you guys next week. 

Intro: Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News:
https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2021/03/1000-gather-for-stop-asian-hate-event-in-se-portland.html

• Last Friday, roughly 1,000 people rallied against anti-Asian racism in Southeast Portland, marking the city’s most recent Stop Asian Hate event. The crowd gathered at Harrison Park for an event featuring speakers and performances, as well as an array of tents where people offered resources and information. The event comes one week after a series of shootings at three Atlanta-area spas. Of the eight people killed in the shootings, six were Asian-American women. Hate crimes targeting Asian people in major U.S. cities rose by nearly 150% in 2020, even though hate crimes overall decreased by 7%, according to a study by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino. Stop AAPI Hate, an organization that tracks and reports bias crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, reported nearly 3,800 incidents from March 19, 2020, to the end of last month nationwide. Bias crimes against Asian American women comprised 68% of the reports. Thirty-five percent of them happened in businesses.

In-state news:
https://katu.com/news/local/oregon-house-cancels-monday-session-after-covid-19-case-discovered

• A confirmed case of the coronavirus canceled Monday's session for the Oregon House of Representatives. House Speaker Tina Kotek's office says an individual who was at the Capitol on March 16th has tested positive. Those who were in close contact with that person have already been notified. The speaker's office says the next floor session is expected to be on Tuesday unless they are notified of more cases. 

In National News:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/active-shooter-reported-grocery-store-colorado-boulder-police/story?id=76614488

• Last Monday afternoon, ten people, including a police officer, were killed in Boulder, Colorado,when a gunman opened fire at a King Soopers grocery store, where residents had gathered to shop and receive COVID-19 vaccines. The victims range in age from 20 to 65, Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said. The suspect suffered a leg wound and was taken into custody that same day. He has been charged with 10 counts of murder. 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2021/03/27/covid-19-cases-in-the-us-are-increasing-again/?sh=7d94c6981243
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-19-cases-are-rising-states-are-opening-anyway-n1261912

• After several weeks at a plateau, Covid cases in the U.S. are rising once again. The U.S. recorded 77,339 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University, and the rolling 7-day average of cases nationwide has increased by more than 10% over the previous week, with more than two dozen states trending in the wrong direction, leading to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to warn it is "deeply concerned" about the rising numbers. As of last week, the CDC reported that just 14 percent of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated.

In International News:
https://www.npr.org/2021/03/27/981958889/race-to-free-giant-ship-from-suez-canal-continues
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/suez-canal-boat-ship-stuck-memes

• A giant cargo ship, called the Ever Given, got stuck in the  (sooez) Suez  Canal last Tuesday, disrupting global trade. A Dutch company working to wiggle the boat free has compared the vessel to a quote "beached whale" and said it "might take weeks" to accomplish, according to Reuters. The economic implications of this are massive — about 12% of trade transported by sea goes through the canal, according to CNBC, so each day the ship blocks the route, billions of dollars in goods are unable to reach their destinations. On a positive note though, the  stuck container ship has inspired some amazing memes and jokes on the internet. 

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-03-27/china-announces-sanctions-on-individuals-entities-in-us-canada

• This past saturday, the United States condemned China's sanctions against two American religious-rights officials and a Canadian lawmaker in a dispute over Beijing's treatment of (wee-gr) Uighur Muslims and other minorities. China's stand quote "only contribute to the growing international scrutiny of the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in (shin-jaang) Xinjiang. We stand in solidarity with Canada, the UK, the EU, and other partners and allies around the world in calling on (China) to end human rights violations and abuses," U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a statement. Beijing's sanctions followed those imposed by the United States, European Union, Britain and Canada last week for what they say are violations of the rights of (wee-gr) Uighur Muslims and other Turkic minorities in the western Chinese region of  (shin-jaang) Xinjiang.

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:
https://www.businessinsider.com/krispy-kreme-giving-free-donuts-with-covid-vaccine-card-2021-3

• Last week, Donut and coffee house chain Krispy Kreme announced that it will give away a free glazed doughnut to anyone who comes in with a COVID-19 vaccination card through the end of 2021. This means, customers who come with their COVID-19 vaccination card can receive one free glazed donut every day until the end of the year.

Closing:  Well that wraps up What a Week! Stay safe and see you guys next week. 

Intro: (Cue intro music) 

Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News: 

• https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2021/03/13-arrested-after-police-kettle-over-100-protesters-in-portlands-pearl-district.html

Last Friday night, police arrested 13 protesters after detaining a group of more than 100 in the Pearl District. Officers kettled the protesters, employing a controversial police tactic used to contain people within a perimeter. The practice has been at the center of multiple lawsuits and criticized by  numerous civil rights advocates. The protest was billed as a direct action march with no specified target. Shortly after the march began, police told the protesters they were detaining everyone within the kettle boundary. The police did not immediately provide details about the alleged criminal conduct, but Sergeant Kevin Allen, a police spokesperson, later said there was a quote “reasonable suspicion” that everyone inside the kettle perimeter had  quoted “committed at least one criminal violation.” Police also said demonstrators had smashed windows and blocked traffic by marching in the street.

In-state news:

• https://ktvz.com/news/coronavirus/2021/03/14/oregon-reports-no-new-covid-19-related-deaths-one-year-after-states-first-death

Last Sunday marked one year since Oregon’s first COVID-19 death. There were no new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon on the anniversary and the state’s death toll remains at 2,322 as reported by the Oregon Health Authority. OHA also reported on Sunday, 234 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 159,617.

In National News:

• https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryancbrooks/coronavirus-vaccine-eligible-biden

Last Thursday, president Joe Biden announced that he’s directing all states, tribes, and territories to allow every adult in the U.S. to be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination by May 1st. This is considered to be a key part of moving the country into the next phase of battling the pandemic. In Biden’s national address on the one-year anniversary of the pandemic being declared, he said quote "All adult Americans will be eligible to get a vaccine no later than May 1. That's much earlier than expected. Let me be clear: That doesn't mean everyone's going to have that shot immediately, but it means you'll be able to get in line beginning May 1." The announcement marks a sharp shift toward federal control over the pandemic response. As of recent, individual states have primarily been the ones tasked with leading vaccine rollout and setting eligibility requirements.

• https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/biden-signs-1-9-trillion-stimulus-bill-making-1400-checks-and-3600-child-tax-credit-official/

Last week, President Joe Biden also signed the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package bill into law, which includes a third stimulus check, for up to $1,400, and an expanded child tax credit. The bill signing was just one day after the amended bill passed in the House by a vote of 220-211. The House initially passed the bill on Feb. 26th, and the Senate approved it two weeks ago, after making some changes. The IRS stated last Friday that more rounds of stimulus checks will be deposited into bank accounts over the next few weeks. For this third stimulus check, eligible adults will each qualify for a $1,400 check and their dependents will  add to the family's overall total -- even those left out of the first two rounds of payments. 

In International News: 

• https://abcnews.go.com/International/disappearance-sarah-everard-sparks-national-discussion-womens-safety/story?id=76424354
• https://www.vice.com/en/article/3angqk/police-criticised-for-unacceptable-shutdown-of-sarah-everard-vigil
• https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tasneemnashrulla/sarah-everard-vigil-met-police-investigation

Last Friday the search for Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old woman who went missing in London officially ended, after remains found earlier in the week were confirmed to be hers. Sarah was last seen on March 3rd according to police. She had been at a friend's house and was walking back to her home in Brixton, a trip that should have taken about 50 minutes.

Sarah’s kidnapping and death— allegedly at the hands of a police officer, has sparked a national conversation around women’s safety. Women from all over the world have spoken out about the all-too-common reality of walking alone in fear. This past Saturday, organizers in London held a peaceful vigil for Sarah. Thousands of people gathered at the memorial for Sarah in London to pay their tributes and raise their voices to end violence against women, before being swarmed by police. Footage shared on social media shows police in London using force against peaceful women protesters and making multiple arrests. The Metropolitan Police have been widely criticized for their part in shutting down the vigil shortly after nightfall and pulling demonstrators away from the scene.

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:

What A Week Episode 4  (3/1- 3/7)

Intro: (Cue intro music) 

Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News: 

• https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2021/03/portland-public-schools-headquarters-vandalized-in-malicious-act-of-arson-and-property-destruction.html

This past Saturday, the headquarters of Portland Public Schools was vandalized overnight in what the district superintendent is calling quote  “an attack on our city’s public school system.” It was reported that multiple school district vehicles were set on fire, office windows were broken and graffiti was scrawled on the district headquarters on 501 N. Dixon St. The vandalism comes after it was reported that the school  district is preparing to return students to school buildings. 

In-state news:

• https://www.kgw.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/gov-kate-brown-orders-oregon-public-schools-in-person-learning/283-d8063498-bc8a-45c8-ad13-c23fd2e1d71b
• https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2021/03/gov-kate-brown-orders-oregon-schools-to-prioritize-in-person-instruction-by-spring-break.html

Last Friday, Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order to return all Oregon public school students to the classroom for in-person learning. Brown said in a letter  quote "Thanks to the smart choices Oregonians have made, our COVID-19 numbers have declined… All but six counties now meet or exceed Oregon’s advisory metrics for a return to in-person, hybrid learning for all K-12 grade levels. And... five of those counties meet the advisory metrics for a return to elementary school." 

After the weeks of March 29 and April 19, all Oregon public schools will either be in a fully on-site learning model or a hybrid learning model when their counties meet or exceed Oregon’s advisory COVID-19 metrics. Parents and students will have the option to decide whether they want to go back to school or remain in comprehensive distance learning. Governor Brown has faced increasing pressure over the past few months from parent groups and some lawmakers to reopen the state’s public schools.

In National News:

• https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/03/02/972952844/texas-and-mississippi-to-lift-covid-19-mask-mandates-and-business-capacity-limit
• https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/us/coronavirus-reopening-texas.html

Early last week, Texas Governor  Greg Abbott announced that he is lifting the state's mask mandate and increasing capacity of all businesses and facilities in the state to 100%.  His new executive order goes into effect on Wednesday, March 10, and it rescinds most of the governor's earlier executive orders related to the coronavirus. This is the  most expansive step by any state to remove coronavirus restrictions. Shortly after Abbott’s decision, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves made a similar announcement, lifting mask mandates and motioning for businesses to operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules. All around the country, governors and mayors are gauging what is feasible, what is safe and what is politically practical for their own respective states and counties.

• https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/03/06/973126199/senate-passes-1-9-trillion-coronavirus-relief-package
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/03/06/biden-stimulus-poverty-checks/
• https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paulmcleod/coronavirus-checks-unemployment-passes-senate-manchin

This past Saturday, President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill narrowly passed the Senate by a vote of 50-49 with all 50 democratic senators voting for it and 49 republicans voting against it. The package will now go to the House for one more vote before it can be signed into law. The bill contains hundreds of billions of dollars in aid for individuals, schools, local governments, and businesses, as well as programs ranging from COVID-19 vaccinations and contract tracing to funding for raising children, but many aid programs like checks for most Americans were reduced down in order for the bill to pass. According to the Washington Post, the American Rescue Plan is one of the largest federal responses to a downturn Congress has enacted and economists estimate it will boost growth this year to the highest level in decades and reduce the number of Americans living in poverty by a third.

In International News: 

• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56314173
• https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/07/switzerland-on-course-to-ban-wearing-of-burqa-and-niqab-in-public-places
• https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/07/europe/switzerland-referendum-face-covering-intl/index.html

Switzerland follows France, Belgium and Austria after narrowly voting in a referendum this past Sunday to ban full face coverings including the burqa or niqab (nuhqab)  worn by Muslim women in public spaces. The controversial ban was passed by a narrow margin; Official results show the measure had passed by 51.2% to 48.8%. The only exceptions to this measure include places of worship and other sacred sites. According to the text of the proposal published by the Swiss federal government, face coverings will also be allowed if worn for health and safety reasons, because of the weather and in situations where it is considered a quote "local custom" to do so, such as at carnivals, 

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:

• https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvx4qd/photos-thai-navy-rescue-cats-ship

Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News: 

• https://nypost.com/2021/02/28/portland-protesters-smash-businesses-as-locals-scream-go-home/
• https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/protests/vandals-smash-windows-in-portlands-pearl-district-during-a-planned-protest/283-3061f782-d068-4b9e-8329-d89e0876bdec
• https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2021/02/2-arrested-windows-damaged-in-pearl-district-protest-late-sunday.html

Last Saturday a planned protest opposing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE,  in the Pearl district got out of hand, leading to the arrest of 2 people.  The two-hour protest began at The Fields Park, near the north end of the neighborhood, and continued through the Pearl District. Photos show an estimated 150 people gathered at the park at around  9 p.m.  Fliers for the protest called for quote “No borders! No nations! Abolish deportation.” While protesters smashed the windows of  several businesses, many fed-up locals screamed at protestors to quote  “go home,” according to reports. The Portland police reported quote “Windows were broken at a grocery store, restaurant, bank, shipping business, and multiple coffee shops,” end quote. 

In-state news:

• https://katu.com/news/local/1-year-of-coronavirus-in-oregon-gov-brown-takes-moment-to-say-thank-you
• https://www.kgw.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-numbers/oregon-reports-0-new-deaths-on-1-year-anniversary-of-first-covid-19-case/283-ba51d4dc-5cfd-4fde-beca-bad943ff9d89

This past Sunday, February 28th,  marked 1 year since the first Coronavirus case was found in the state of Oregon. In a statement Governor Kate Brown released on the anniversary of the first COVID-19 case diagnosis, she said quote “For so many Oregonians, after living through the COVID-19 pandemic, wildfires, flooding, severe winter weather, and a long-overdue reckoning on racism and racial justice, our lives are far different than they were on February 28, one year ago. Through it all, I have been inspired by the way Oregonians have pulled together and helped one another. Because of your smart choices to protect friends and family, Oregon has maintained some of the lowest infection, hospitalization, and death rates in the nation throughout the pandemic. Today, I want to take a moment to say: Thank you, Oregon.”   Governor Brown also thanked frontline workers and noted that this pandemic has disproportionately impacted (bye-poc) BIPOC communities. Brown also pointed to the quote "light at the end of the tunnel," as vaccination efforts continue to ramp up across the state. 

In its daily report this past Sunday, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported 0 new deaths and 292 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 in the state. The OHA also reported that 29,330 new doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been added to the state immunization registry. Oregon has now administered a total of 973,022 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. To date, there have been 1,194,495 doses delivered to sites across Oregon.

In National News:

• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56226979
• https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/johnson-coronavirus-vaccine-authorization

Last week, the FDA formally approved the single-shot Johnson & Johnson (J&J) coronavirus vaccine, the third vaccine to be authorized in the country. Johnson & Johnson's vaccine has been shown to be effective at reducing severe cases of COVID-19 with just one shot. Trials found that it prevented serious illness but was 66% effective overall when moderate cases were included. The vaccine is set to be a cost-effective alternative to the (fizer) Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and can be stored in a refrigerator instead of a freezer. President Joe Biden made a statement on the authorization saying quote, "This is exciting news for all Americans, and an encouraging development in our efforts to bring an end to the crisis… Though we celebrate today’s news, I urge all Americans to keep washing your hands, stay socially distanced, and keep wearing masks."

• https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-02-26/militia-official-us-strike-in-syria-kills-1-wounds-several
• https://www.vox.com/22302970/biden-syria-iran-strike-kaine-sanders-khanna-murphy-legal
• https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/25/politics/us-iraq-iran/index.html

Last week, President Biden took his first known military action as President, targeting Iran-backed Militias in Syria. Last Thursday, the US military struck a site in Syria used by two Iranian-backed militia groups in response to rocket attacks on American forces in the region in the past two weeks. "Up to a handful" of militants were killed in the strikes, a US official told CNN. The strikes, which took place at President Biden’s direction, quickly drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers. The site was not specifically tied to the rocket attacks, but Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said he was quote "confident" it was used by the same Iranian-backed Shia militias targeting US and coalition forces in Iraq with rocket attacks.

In International News: 

• https://www.npr.org/2021/02/28/972296756/at-least-18-killed-by-myanmar-security-forces-in-deadliest-day-since-coup-began
• https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/27/asia/myanmar-un-ambassador-fired-intl-hnk/index.html

This past Sunday was the bloodiest day in Myanmar since a military (hoonta) junta seized power there one month ago. According to the United Nations Human Rights Office, at least 18 people were killed and more than 30 people were wounded after security forces fired live ammunition into crowds of peaceful demonstrators in several cities acr...