Originally published on January 22, 2021 6:25 am In normal times, the first day of the legislative session would find the hallways of the Oregon state Capitol flooded with people — lobbyists, legislative assistants, the public, reporters. But these are not normal times. Instead of being a place of bustling energy, the halls of the state Capitol held silence on Tuesday, the first official day of the 2021 session. Lawmakers delayed gathering after heeding warnings from law enforcement that violent demonstrations could coincide with the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. The Oregon state Capitol’s first-floor windows were boarded up. The last-minute delay of legislative action is a fitting beginning for a session lawmakers expect to be more focused on responding to urgent crises than pursuing sweeping policy agendas.