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Good morning, Northwest.
Today, members of at least 30 labor unions are expected to gather at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland for a large protest called “Labor Against ICE,” just one day after hundreds of students across the city walked out of class to protest the federal agency.
Follow this story on “Labor Against ICE,” which will be updated throughout the day with reporting from OPB journalists in the field.
Plus, before “Dry January” comes to an end, OPB “All Things Considered” host Crystal Ligori spoke with operators of bars, breweries and wineries across the state that are embracing the nonalcoholic movement.
Here’s your First Look at Saturday’s news.
— Winston Szeto
FILE - Federal law enforcement agents stand in front of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland, Ore., on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.
Saskia Hatvany / OPB
Oregon unions band together for Portland ‘Labor Against ICE’ protest
A large protest, dubbed “Labor Against ICE,” is expected to start near the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland today.
At least 30 unions endorsed the protest and planned to attend in some fashion. Organizers told OPB it’s a level of union turnout not seen for many years in Portland.
Yesterday’s general strike called on all Americans to refrain from going to work or shopping, while encouraging businesses to close their doors for the day. Many Oregon businesses opted to stay open and donate a portion of their proceeds to causes supporting immigrants’ rights. (Joni Auden Land)
Organizer Tara Velarde writes, “ICE out of PDX health care!” during a demonstration at Dawson Park, across the street from Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, in protest of the hospital working with ICE to treat detainees they harm during arrests in Portland, Ore., on Jan. 10, 2026.
Eli Imadali / OPB
3 things to know this morning
- A federal judge has set the stage for accountability measures on the federal officers who respond to protests outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, which could result in curbing their ability to use force. (Conrad Wilson)
- The Oregon Nurses Association and state Democratic lawmakers announced a bill yesterday that would require hospitals and some federally funded primary care clinics to designate certain areas as off-limits to federal immigration enforcement agents, unless they have a valid judicial warrant. (Amelia Templeton)
- In a letter sent to Portland Fire Bureau staff Thursday, Fire Chief Lauren Johnson said that the bureau could be seeing up to $26 million in cuts this coming fiscal year, which begins July 1. (Alex Zielinski)
Crab pots on Southwest Bay Boulevard near the Pacific Seafood processing plant in Newport, Ore., Nov. 22, 2025.
Alejandro Figueroa / OPB
Headlines from around the Northwest
- Nonprofits take Pacific Seafood subsidiary to court over alleged Clean Water Act violations (Alejandro Figueroa)
- Central Oregon Community College receives $2.2M federal grant to boost machining and welding program (Kathryn Styer Martínez)
- New measles exposure site identified in Clark County (OPB staff)
- Protest in Eugene declared a ‘riot’ by police after daylong ‘general strike’ events (Nathan Wilk and Zac Ziegler)
- Oregon counties get pay bump from federal logging (Justin Higginbottom)
- Stung by a court ruling, Washington looks to clarify what is an ‘election’ (Jerry Cornfield)
- Brunson and Anunoby power Knicks to a 127-97 win over Trail Blazers (Pat Pickens)
A pair of glasses of Underwood Rosé Bubbles — one alcoholic, one not — sits in front of Union Wine founder Ryan Harms on Jan. 22, 2026.
Crystal Ligori / OPB
Oregon bars, breweries and wineries embrace the nonalcoholic movement
As we wrap up the final days of the month, the movement to go alcohol-free for January is also coming to a close.
The idea of a change to start the new year goes back centuries, but the term “Dry January” is more recent — coined and trademarked in the U.K. in 2013 and steadily growing into a global phenomenon in the years since.
The month also coincides with what is typically a post-holiday slump for bars and restaurants. Add to that a younger generation that just isn’t drinking as much, and you could think it would be a detriment to the industry,
But Jeffrey Morgenthaler, an award-winning bartender and author who co-owns Pacific Standard in Portland, sees the nonalcoholic movement differently.
“You’re gonna hear a lot from grumpy bartenders and bar owners that don’t wanna change, just like you did with the smoking ban,” Morgenthaler said. “The places that embraced it and adapted with the times gracefully, made it through.” (Crystal Ligori)
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