Good Morning, News: Ways to Celebrate May Day, Gretchen Whitmer and Trump Share a Controversial Embrace, and Ron Wyden Isn't Helping Us Beat the Gerontocracy Allegations
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Temp Check: Weather Update
We'll be in the high 60s today. Prepare for overly hot weather tomorrow 🥵, and then, *fingers crossed* some much-needed rain over the weekend.
May Day: A Celebration of Labor Unions
Tomorrow is May 1, AKA May Day, AKA International Workers' Day. Many Americans haven't been privy to May Day as a labor holiday, 'cause the history of it was suppressed during the Cold War for being "communist" or whatever. (It's a product of mass worker strikes in the late 19th century, which we can thank for the eight-hour workday.) Well, let Joe McCarthy turn in his grave, because Portlanders are going to be celebrating workers on May Day this year. It's always a good time to uplifting the world's working people, but cultivating solidarity is especially important now, as the federal government attacks workers, immigrants, and marginalized folks across the board.
Find out more about the history of May Day—and all the different ways you can commemorate it in Portland this year—right here.
Ron Wyden: Standing Up for Labor, But Not Himself
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden has been doing a good job standing up against President Trump, which we appreciate him for. However, the 75-year-old senator isn’t exactly helping our country beat the gerontocracy allegations…especially since he announced his plans to run for another term in 2028, when he’ll be almost 80.
This decision puts him at odds with the growing number of people who want older politicians to STEP DOWN and make way for new ideas and ways of governing. But it’s only 2025, so he has time to change his mind. (And the United States has time to collapse entirely.)
Student Workers on Strike at the University of Oregon
Student workers at the University of Oregon have been on strike since Monday. The employees, who work at the UO’s dining halls and cafes and serve as Residential Assistants in the dorms, are seeking a better contract, and haven’t been able to come to an agreement with the university.
BOTH sides are set to meet for mediation today. With graduate employees at Oregon State University going on strike earlier this year, and Portland State faculty nearly striking, it’s been a busy time for labor action at Oregon’s universities.
The Oregon Book Awards
The Oregon Book Awards took place Monday night, hosted by The Mercury. If you're a book lover, you might want to check out the list of winners and nominees.
Cutting Down Trees: A Weird Saga in Los Angeles
A guy in Los Angeles rode his bike around the city last week…cutting down trees? The saga is weird, and the alleged perpetrator was arrested on Earth Day last week after hacking away at about a dozen trees in different neighborhoods of the city.
The incident has left a mark on LA residents, who are obviously dismayed at the callous act. As the person who first reported the trees asked, “at the end of the day, what did the tree ever do to you?”
Million Birds Migrating Across the Pacific Northwest Tonight
Millions of birds are estimated to be migrating across the Pacific Northwest tomorrow night, so turn off your porch lights (and other house lights) to reduce light pollution and allow the birds to pass safely. A post shared by Bird Alliance of Oregon (@birdallianceoforegon)