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Good morning, Northwest.

A panel of judges yesterday paused a lower court ruling limiting federal agents’ use of force against protesters outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland.

The decision comes just days before “No Kings” rallies are set to take place in Portland and across the country. We have the latest to start today’s newsletter.

Also this morning, we sum up five essential issues shaping the crowded and high-stakes race for Deschutes County Commission in May.

Here’s your First Look at Thursday’s news.

—Bradley W. Parks

Appeals court pauses ruling that limits federal force outside Portland ICE building

A federal appeals court late yesterday temporarily blocked a ruling that drastically limited when federal officers can use force on protesters outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland.

In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Trump administration’s request.

The appeals court also appears to have consolidated two cases regulating the federal government’s response outside the Portland ICE facility.

In both cases, federal judges in Oregon issued injunctions this month that limited when officers with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies can use crowd control weapons, such as tear gas and pepper balls. (Conrad Wilson)

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3 things to know this morning

• Officials with Portland Community College announced yesterday evening they’ve reached a tentative agreement with the college’s classified employee union, one of two unions on strike. (OPB staff) 
• The race for Deschutes County Commission features a crowded field of 15 candidates including a pastor, a medic, a rancher, a teacher and just one incumbent. The high-stakes election is set to take place in May. (Jen Baires) 
• Pacific University debuted its first sensory room last month. Studies show that such mental health resources help the academic achievement of all students, not just those with learning differences. (Tiffany Camhi)

Headlines from around the Northwest

• Supreme Court denies Chinook petition for federal recognition (Nika Bartoo-Smith)
• Oregon state grant program providing millions for child care infrastructure projects winds down (Alex Baumhardt)
• Chinook salmon found naturally hatching in Upper Klamath River for first time in a century (Justin Higginbottom)
• Ferguson signs law to undo Washington estate tax increase enacted last year (Jerry Cornfield)
• Former Eugene Weekly business manager pleads guilty to theft against paper (Nathan Wilk)
• ‘Stand by Me’ stars reflect on the movie, Rob Reiner and its return to theaters 40 years later (Lindsey Bahr)
• After an undefeated start to the season, the Portland Thorns lose 3-1 to San Diego (Amanda Vogt)
• Henderson has 23 and the Trail Blazers rout the fading Bucks 130-99 (Anne M. Peterson)

Medford teen chases pro downhill mountain biking

Last April, Alyana Van Horn and her dad Izaak Van Horn made the long drive from their home in Medford, Oregon, to Port Angeles, Washington.

They spent eight hours in the car that day so Alyana could compete in the opening race of the NW Cup — the flagship downhill mountain bike race series in the Pacific Northwest.

The premise of downhill racing is simple: Start at the top and race to the bottom as fast as you can. But the terrain changes everything. Riders have to navigate steep drops, jagged rocks and mangled roots — all while moving at dangerously fast speeds down a mountain.

At 18, Alyana is making a name for herself on the national stage in one of the most dangerous extreme sports. (Noah Thomas, Brandon Swanson)

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/26/tear-gas-portland-ice-no-kings-first-look/