Subscribe to OPB’s First Look to receive Northwest news in your inbox six days a week.
Good morning, Northwest.
Two schools in Canby are closed this morning following the explosion yesterday of an argon gas tank at Kittyhawk Inc., a business off Highway 99E.
We start today’s newsletter with the latest on the emergency.
Also this morning, a judge has limited federal agents’ use of tear gas, projectiles and other crowd control munitions against peaceful protesters outside the Portland ICE building.
And we speak with Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson about the protest environment there.
Here’s your First Look at Wednesday’s news.
—Bradley W. Parks
Firefighters respond to a gas explosion in Canby, Ore., Feb. 3, 2026.
Courtesy of Canby Fire Department
2 Canby schools closed following Tuesday gas explosion at business
The explosion of an argon gas tank at a nearby business forced the evacuation of about 100 homes in Canby yesterday and the closure of two schools today. Officials could extend an evacuation order this morning. (Courtney Sherwood)
Federal officers use crowd control munitions as demonstrators protest outside outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland on Jan. 31, 2026.
Eli Imadali / OPB
Judge limits federal officers’ use of crowd control munitions at Portland ICE building
A federal judge in Oregon has temporarily limited federal officers’ use of force on peaceful protesters outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland.
Yesterday’s decision applies only outside the federal facility in Portland.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon’s ruling blocks federal officers from using “chemical or projectile munitions,” including pepper balls, tear gas and other crowd control munitions “unless the specific target of such a weapon or device poses an imminent threat of physical harm to a law enforcement officer or other person.”
The judge’s ruling also blocks federal officers from firing munitions or using weapons directed “at the head, neck, or torso of any person, unless the officer is legally justified in using deadly force against that person.” (Conrad Wilson)
FILE - A MAX light rail train waits for a green light in downtown Portland, Ore., June 26, 2025.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
3 things to know this morning
- The federal spending package approved by Congress yesterday included $100 million for light rail on the Interstate Bridge replacement. (Erik Neumann)
- Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson spoke to OPB’s “Think Out Loud” yesterday about escalating protests in town and reflected on her first year in office. (Riley Martinez)
- Oregon Rep. Maxine Dexter announced plans yesterday to visit the Gresham family currently being held at a Texas immigration detention center where multiple cases of measles have broken out. (Holly Bartholomew)
Gerald D. Skelton Jr., a citizen of the Klamath Tribes, now serves as the city of Portland’s new tribal government relations manager, as of Feb. 2, 2026.
Jarrette Werk/Underscore Native News
Headlines from around the Northwest
- 99% of Oregon school districts have implemented cellphone bans (Elizabeth Miller)
- Critics say Eastern Oregon nitrates report shows more progress on policies than pollution (Alejandro Figueroa)
- Portland finds additional $15 million in unspent housing dollars (Alex Zielinski)
- Washington health officials announce 6 additional measles cases in Clark County (Amelia Templeton)
- Southern Oregon cities push back on state housing goals (Jane Vaughan)
- Oregon Democrats hope to ride blue wave to unseat Bentz in midterms (Roman Battaglia)
- City of Portland announces Gerald Skelton Jr. as the new tribal government relations manager (Nika Bartoo-Smith)
- Trail Blazers fall to Suns 130-125 for 6th consecutive loss (Associated Press)
Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation
“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):
- OSU researchers ask: What can we learn from the sounds of melting glaciers?
- OSU researchers are 3D printing more sustainable concrete
Portland record store Music Millennium in an undated photo.
James Allenspach/Flickr
Music Millennium, Portland’s oldest record store, is looking for new ownership
Music Millennium opened in Portland in 1969. A couple of years later, 17-year-old Terry Currier discovered it.
“I found myself going to Music Millennium two or three nights a week after I got off work,” he wrote in a recent Instagram post explaining his plan to find a buyer.
“I got out of school at noon and was able to work 40 hours a week my senior year, and all the money went to music.”
He called the store his university, because that’s where he received an invaluable musical education.
It’s the oldest record store in Portland. And Currier, now 70, wants to find someone to carry on his dream. (Kristian Foden-Vencil)
Subscribe to OPB’s First Look to receive Northwest news in your inbox six days a week.
