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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2021)
OFF PAGE ONE Thursday, January 21, 2021 East Oregonian A7 Biden: Ending Muslim travel ban among planned executive orders Continued from Page A1 democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed,” Biden said. “This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day. A day in history and hope, of renewal and resolve.” Biden never mentioned his predecessor, who defied tradi- tion and left town ahead of the ceremony, but his speech was an implicit rebuke of Donald Trump. The new president denounced “lies told for power and for profit” and was blunt about the challenges ahead. Central among them: the surging virus that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the United States, as well as economic strains and a national reckoning over race. “We have much to do in this winter of peril, and signif- icant possibilities. Much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain,” Biden said. “Few people in our nation’s history have been more chal- lenged, or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we’re in now.” Biden was eager to go big early, with an ambitious first 100 days including a push to speed up the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations to anxious Americans and pass a $1.9 trillion economic relief package. On Day One, he planned a series of exec- utive actions to roll back Trump administration initia- tives and also planned to send an immigration proposal to Capitol Hill that would create an eight-year path to citizen- ship for immigrants living in the country illegally. The absence of Biden’s predecessor from the inaugu- ral ceremony underscored the national rift to be healed. But a bipartisan trio of former presidents — Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama — were there to witness the ceremo- nial transfer of power. Trump, awaiting his second impeach- ment trial, was at his Florida resort by the time the swear- ing-in took place. Biden, in his third run for the presidency, staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. Four years after Trump’s “American Carnage” speech painted a dark portrait of national decay, Biden warned that the fabric of the nation’s democracy was tear- ing but expressed faith that it could be repaired. Kratom: Continued from Page A1 Kemp proceeded to engage law enforcement in a “physical confrontation,” and it took four officers to restrain him and secure him to a medical gurney to treat his injuries. Officers also tased Kemp, but he was not affected. Officers were exposed to bloodborne pathogens but were not injured, the press release said. Upon further investiga- tion, police said they believe that Kemp’s psychosis was most likely caused by the herbal drug kratom. Kratom, which is part of the coffee family, is derived from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia. It is legal and, for the most part, unregulated and untracked in Oregon and nationally. When kratom is intro- duced into the body in large amounts, it can have a seda- tive effect, similar to that of an opiate. The Food and Drug Administration warns that people who use kratom run the risk of dependency and, in some cases, addiction. Some people, however, use the drug in small amounts as a remedy for chronic pain, depression, anxiety and as a curb for opioid addiction — though it is not medically prescribed. Some veterans have also said it helps control symptoms of post-traumatic stress, according to the Patrick Semansky/Associated Press President Joe Biden speaks during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. “I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we are all created equal and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart,” Biden said. “This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward and we must meet this moment as the United States of America.” Swearing the oath with his hand on a five-inch-thick Bible that has been in his family for 128 years, Biden came to office with a well of empathy and resolve born by personal tragedy as well as a depth of experience forged from more than four decades in Washington. At age 78, he is the oldest president inaugu- rated. More history was made at his side, as Kamala Harris became the first woman to be vice president. The former U.S. senator from California is also the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and the high- est-ranking woman ever to serve in government. The two were sworn in during an inauguration ceremony with few paral- lels. Biden, like all those in attendance, wore a face mask except when speak- ing. And tens of thousands of National Guard troops were on the streets to provide New York Times. Information and data on the positive and nega- tive effects of kratom are limited, and because of this, health officials have voiced concerns that it is largely unregulated. Other reported side effects caused by kratom have included seizures and hallu- cinations. Past government reviews have linked kratom to more than 100 overdose deaths. In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion reported that kratom was the cause of 91 of 27,000 overdose deaths examined by the agency during an 18-month period. The substance is banned in six states, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wiscon- sin, and also in the District of Columbia. “Individuals under the influence of kratom can be unpredictable and danger- ous, as witnessed by this incident,” the press release said. “Several businesses in the Pendleton area currently sell kratom.” Kratom is found most commonly in smoke shops, dispensaries and even in some gas stations. Kemp was taken to St. Anthony Hospital in Pend- leton, and after evaluation was lodged in the Umatilla County Jail on second-de- gree disorderly conduct. More charges are currently pending, the press release said. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters Vice President Kamala Harris bumps fists with President-elect Joe Biden after she was sworn in during the inauguration, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. security precisely two weeks after a violent mob of Trump supporters, incited by the Republican president, stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certifi- cation of Biden’s victory. “Here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people,” Biden said. “To stop the work of our democracy. To drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen. It will never happen. Not today, not tomor- row. Not ever. Not ever.” The tense atmosphere evoked the 1861 inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, who was secretly transported to Washington to avoid assas- sins on the eve of the Civil War, or Franklin Roosevelt’s inaugural in 1945, when he opted for a small, secure cere- mony at the White House in the waning months of World War II. But Washington, all but deserted downtown and in its federal areas, was quiet. And calm also prevailed outside heavily fortified state Capitol buildings across nation after the FBI had warned of the possibility for armed demon- strations leading up to the inauguration. The day began with a reach across the political aisle after four years of bitter parti- san battles under Trump. At Biden’s invitation, congressio- nal leaders from both parties bowed their heads in prayer in the socially distanced service ja few blocks from the White House. Biden was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts; Harris by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina member of the Supreme Court. Vice President Mike Pence, standing in for Trump, sat nearby as Lady Gaga, holding a golden microphone, sang the National Anthem accompanied by the U.S. Marine Corps band. When Pence, in a last act of the outgoing administration, left the Capitol, he walked through a door with badly cracked glass from the riot two weeks ago. Later, Biden, Harris and their spouses were joined by the former presi- dents to solemnly lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Ceremony. Biden was also to join the end of a slimmed-down inau- gural parade as he moves into the White House. Because of the pandemic, much of this year’s parade was to be a virtual affair featuring performances from around the nation. In the evening, in lieu of the traditional balls that welcome a new president to Washington, Biden was to take part in a televised concert that also marked the return of A-list celebrities to the White House orbit after they largely eschewed Trump. Among those in the lineup: Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake and Lin-Manuel Miranda. This was not an inaugu- ration for the crowds. But Americans in the capital city nonetheless brought their hopes to the moment. “I feel so hopeful, so thank- ful,” said Karen Jennings Crooms, a D.C. resident who hoped to catch a glimpse of the presidential motorcade on Pennsylvania Avenue with her husband. “It makes us sad that this is where we are but hope- ful that democracy will win out in the end. That’s what I’m focusing on.” Trump was the first pres- ident in more than a century to skip the inauguration of his successor. After a brief fare- well celebration at nearby Joint Base Andrews, he boarded Air Force One for the final time as president. “I will always fight for you. I will be watching. I will be listening and I will tell you that the future of this coun- try has never been better,” said Trump. He wished the incoming administration well but never mentioned Biden’s name. The very moment Trump disappeared into the door- way of Air Force One, Biden emerged from Blair House, the traditional guest lodg- ing for presidents-in-waiting, and into his motorcade for the short ride to church. Trump did adhere to one tradition and left a personal note for Biden in the Oval Office, according to the White House, which did not release its contents. And Trump, in his farewell remarks, hinted at a political return, saying “we will be back in some form.” Without question, he will shadow Biden’s first days in office. Trump’s second impeach- ment trial could start as early as this week. That will test the ability of the Senate, now coming under Democratic control, to balance impeach- ment proceedings with confir- mation hearings and votes on Biden’s Cabinet choices. The White House, deso- late in Trump’s waning days, sprang back to life Wednes- day afternoon, with Biden staffers moving in and new COVID-19 safety measures, like plastic shields on desks, installed. Biden planned a 10-day blitz of executive orders on matters that don’t require congressional approval — a mix of substantive and symbolic steps to unwind the Trump years. Among the planned steps: rescinding travel restrictions on people from several predominantly Muslim countries; rejoin- ing the Paris climate accord; issuing a mask mandate for those on federal property, and ordering agencies to figure out how to reunite children sepa- rated from their families after crossing the border. Vaccine: 2,472 county residents inoculated Continued from Page A1 ing vaccines from a reserve of around 20,000 doses orig- inally slated to be used as second doses, according to Joe Fiumara, the county’s health director. However, many of these doses were paired with first doses that had yet to reach the arms of Oregonians, so the state has decided that certain counties will receive shipments. “R at her t ha n (t he vaccines) sitting on a shelf, they’ve dished some of them out to these counties, like us, that have a significant portion of the Phase 1a population that has not been sufficiently” immunized, he said. Doses from that reserve will now be used in Umatilla County to help immunize a variety of groups, includ- ing workers from long-term care facilities that were not covered by the Federal Phar- macy Partnership, a national effort to send retail pharma- cists into nursing homes to ramp up COVID-19 immu- nization efforts after a slug- gish initial rollout. Fiumara said the county has reached an agreement with the state to help bring vaccines to eight differ- ent long-term care facilities that did not receive vaccines despite being part of the federal partnership. The new doses come after the Oregon Health Author- ity informed the county last Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian Cars line up for COVID-19 vaccinations during a Umatilla County Public Health vaccination clinic at the Pendleton Convention center on Jan 7, 2021. week that they would not be receiving doses, forcing the county to cancel two sched- uled events. Now that the new shipment has arrived, health officials are prepar- ing to reach out to long-term care facilities to begin inocu- lating residents and workers perhaps as early as Jan. 21. The county’s agreement with OHA also said health officials must administer all 1,000 doses in the next seven days, Fiumara said. Fiumara said the health department is expecting to learn how many vaccines the county will receive in its next shipment on Jan. 21. That next shipment will partly deter- mine whether the county can begin vaccinating educators next week or not, Fiumara said. Gov. K ate Brow n announced last week that educators will be eligible to begin receiving the vaccine on Monday, Jan. 25, but seniors over the age of 80 will have to wait until Feb. 8, followed by people over the age of 75 on Feb. 15, 70-plus on Feb. 22 and 65-plus on March 1. “It’s going to be really hard to focus on educators next week if we still have a lot of long-term care facilities that need to get covered,” Fiumara said, adding the health depart- ment is still concerned they may be perhaps 1,000 doses short in sufficiently covering the Phase 1a group. Umatilla County has immunized 2,472 total resi- dents since efforts began in late December 2020, accord- ing to data from the county health department. “Vaccination gives us hope that the pandemic will end,” the press release said, “but in the meantime, we need to continue safety measures to keep the virus from spread- ing: wear a mask, physically distance from others, wash your hands, avoid gatherings and stay home when you are sick.”
