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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 2021)
January 27, 2021 Page 2 The Police investigate after a driver struck and injured at least nine people, killing one woman, over a 15-block stretch of Southeast Portland Monday afternoon. Some residents on Southeast Stark who watched the events were convinced the damage and destruction was intentional. (AP photo) Driver Rampage Kills Woman Witnesses suspect destruction was intentional Residents on Southeast Stark who watched a driver plow into pedestrians and bicylists on the sides of streets and sidewalks Monday afternoon, injuring at least nine people and killing an el- derly woman, indicated that they were convinced the damage and destruction was intentional, some- thing police now say appears to be the case. Police continued their inves- tigation Tuesday along a crime scene that spans at least 15 city blocks, from Southeast 33rd Av- enue to Southeast 19th Avenue, along parts of Stark, Pine, Bel- mont and Washington streets. The woman who died has been identi- fied as 77 year-old Jean Gerich of Portland. The suspected driver was taken into custody almost immediately after he crashed his vehicle and tried to flee. Nearby residents first cornered the motorist, keep- ing him at bay until three police officers arrived to tackle him to the ground. Detectives reported Tuesday that they found no evidence that this was an act of terrorism, a bias crime or was politically mo- tivated. But detectives said that C ontinued on P age 12 in Week Review Incitment of Insurrection Impeachment Delivered House Democrats delivered the impeachment charge of “Incitment of insurrection” against Donald Trump to the Senate Monday, but Re- publicans were already easing off their criticism of the former pres- ident and shunning calls to convict him over the deadly siege Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol. It’s an early sign of Trump’s enduring sway over the party. Biden Makes New Push for Tubman on $20 Bill President Joe Biden’s ad- ministration announced Monday it plans to revital- ize the effort to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. “It’s important that our notes -- our money -- re- flect the history and di- versity of our country, and Harriet Tubman’s image gracing the new $20 note would certainly reflect that,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. Wheeler Pepper Sprays Man Who Would Not Back Down Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler pepper-sprayed a man who had con- fronted him and former mayor Sam Adams as they left a restaurant Sunday evening. Wheeler told police he was concerned for his safety and asked the man “to back off,” telling him he had pepper spray and that he would use it. When the man didn’t back away, Wheeler then sprayed the man with pepper spray in the eyes. Graduation Rates Improve; Including Black Students Portland Public Schools have improved graduation rates, including for Black students which had a 4.4% increase in graduating last year, compared to one year earlier. A total of 83.7% of PPS seniors grad- uated in 2020, more than a percentage point higher than the state- wide rate. The graduation rate for students of color was over 75%. Tacoma Police Car Drives Thru Crowd; Protests Break Out Protesters in Tacoma set a large fire and damaged buildings during a march late Sunday in response to a police officer driving his patrol car through a crowd the day before, leaving at least two people injured. The officer claimed he was fleeing in fear of his life. It happened near an intersection where a crowd of pedestrians were gathered Saturday evening for a reported street race. New COVID-19 Strain Arrives in Oregon; Portland Oregon Health Authority was notified on Jan. 15 that a person in Multnomah County has tested positive with the variant COVID-19 virus strain originally detected in the United Kingdom, the first such identification in Oregon. The individual had no known travel history. Viruses constantly mutate, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. Commissioner Apologizes for Offensive Social Media Posts Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull publicly apologized last week for offensive and racist social media posts. Shull, who took office this month, has faced widespread demands that he step down – from his fellow Clackamas County commissioners, the county sher- iff, the county district attorney and a group of state lawmakers -- since his remarks recently came to light. Lovejoy Abortion Clinic Closes after 50 Years A high-profile Portland abortion clinic, Lovejoy Surgicenter, closed Jan. 16 after 50 years of operation, but will reopen at a new location on March 1 under new management, according to an announcement on its website, “We are saddened, but proud of the services we have offered to so many people,” representatives of the clinic said.