Good Morning, News: Senate Rejects War Powers Bill, House Takes Its Shot, and Is There Some Way to Save the Lloyd Center Mall's Community Hub?

by Suzette Smith

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In an extremely[Charge Nurse Dana Evans voice] Good Morning, Portland! We're looking at rain. A little less today and on Saturday, but rain for the foreseeable future... in a general sense. Y'know, this is what we buy the good coats for. [chomps nicotine gum] Let's sink into some news!

**IN LOCAL NEWS: ** • This might be the last year for Lloyd Center Mall. There’s a plan for what’s next, but a community that’s grown in the mall in recent years isn’t happy with it or the process of deciding Lloyd Center’s future. As the city’s Design Commission is expected to deliver a decision today, March 5, on elements within the plan that it has authority over, the board doesn’t decide demolitions or whether features like the skating rink will persist into the future. For the Mercury Joe Streckert catches us up on the story.

• You may vaguely recall that last year Multnomah Co. DA Nathan Vasquez slammed County Circuit Judge Adrian Brown with a judicial ban that effectively barred any of his office's serious felony trials from her courtroom—the only felony trials that would enter her courtroom. The dubious directive arrived with vacuous reasoning—the sort of no-nothing explanation we receive far too complacently from elected officials. But now, ten months along, the DA finally offered the Oregonian more forthright reasons: he claims Brown bungled half-dozen cases ranging from misdemeanors to murders, and in doing so developed an eyebrow-raising reputation. And he didn't even know about the Teams messages.

• Do you remember that pickup truck that launched into a home in Tigard last week? Well, the driver was charged with additions crimes: Found at the scene were a handgun and a rifle that were later confirmed to be stolen. The driver is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess guns, according to a release from the Tigard Police Department. I bring this up because it means we get to watch the video again. (No one in the home was harmed.)

• Is Portland an international music hub these days? The Mercury thinks so! This week's music picks column features Montreal Madman Bloodshot Bill and artists from all over the globe pulling up for Portland Jazz Festival. This on top of 2026's best named local album release at Spare Room? Jesus-H! Read it up here.

• It's been a hard week—but it's also ssssssandwich week! You're a special girl; get yourself a special sandwich. (Loosen up and be a sandwich girlie, Stan.) You've got to carb up for the hard times. Even if there's no way I can leave my desk during the hours a sandwich shop could be open, I always like to at least check the list. "Croque Ma-Damn" got a chuckle outta me. "Hot & Herby Harissa Sub" sounds like an unsung sando—people always sleep on Worlds Foods. Speaking of which, I may actually make it over for Golden & Garlicky Nakanik Sando because they make their own garlic toum.

**IN NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS: ** • Hey, remember how President Trump keeps attacking other countries? Well, the US Senate rejected a bill last night that could have tempered his power, demanding congressional approval before any further attacks are carried out. Today the House will try to pass a similar bill, but as votes have happened along party lines, that one seems even less likely to succeed. AP points out that these votes—as pointless as they seem—force elected delegates to "take a stand on a war shaping the fate of US military members, countless other lives and the future of the region."

• Meanwhile, we now have all six names of US soldiers killed on Sunday at a command center in Kuwait.

• President Trump's garbage bag slide into war is infuriating for those who oppose his plans (if we can in fact call them plans) but Charlie Savage points out that US presidents have sidestepped Congress to launch limited military strikes for decades.

News Analysis: U.S. presidents have sidestepped Congress to launch limited military strikes for decades. President Trump’s decision to attack Iran is an aggressive escalation.

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— The New York Times (@nytimes.com) March 5, 2026 at 8:40 AM

• Uh... but about the tariffs.

US likely to raise global tariff rate to 15% this week www.semafor.com/article/03/0...

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— Semafor (@semafor.com) March 5, 2026 at 8:04 AM

• It's Britney watch: Singer and former child start Britney Spears was arrested Wednesday night in Southern California, booked early Thursday and subsequently relased. Her charges were not made clear to media, but she has a May 4 court date scheduled.

• Now get out there and celebrate Thursday. It's not Friday, but at least everyone doesn't have senioritis and you might be able to get some shit done.

Oh, we’re celebrating alright

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— Xavier Salazar (@xsalazar.bsky.social) March 2, 2026 at 12:29 PM