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Good morning, Northwest.
The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire yesterday after President Trump’s threats of mass destruction set off global panic.
Leaders in Oregon, including some with family in Iran, said the president’s words stoked fear and anxiety. Today’s newsletter starts with that story. Find the latest on the war from NPR here.
In other news, poor conditions this winter left growers and processors in Eastern Oregon with tons and tons of bad onions.
Here’s your First Look at Wednesday’s news.
—Bradley W. Parks
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., speaks during a press conference in Portland, Ore., April 7, 2026, along with Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., left, and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.
Saskia Hatvany / OPB
Oregonians with family in Iran spend Tuesday in fear after Trump’s ‘apocalyptic words’ before ceasefire deal
Oregonians with ties to Iran spent Tuesday living in fear for their family members as President Trump warned that “a whole civilization will die,” only to ultimately back off his threats of mass destruction by agreeing to a ceasefire.
With less than two hours before the president’s self-imposed deadline of 5 p.m. Pacific Time for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, an oil shipping route, the president announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran. Some Oregonians breathed a sigh of relief.
It was not immediately clear what the agreement would mean for the war. But yesterday’s saga had Oregonians worried that the conflict in the Middle East might grow to a new level of destruction, showing how the president’s foreign policy efforts are stirring anxiety among Americans.
“Nuclear war is probably the biggest concern,” state Rep. Farrah Chaichi said Tuesday. “No matter if you have family in the region that might be attacked or not, we should be worried.” (Bryce Dole and Dirk VanderHart)
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A seven-story, mixed-use housing development in downtown Vancouver, Wash., called 12th and Main on April 6, 2026.
Erik Neumann / OPB
3 things to know this morning
- Vancouver is not building housing fast enough to meet the needs of a growing population. According to the city’s 2025 Housing Report, there were 51% fewer residential units that started under construction last year compared to the six-year historic average. (Erik Neumann)
- An unusually warm winter and early harvest thunderstorms last summer left growers and processors in Malheur County with an excess amount of damaged onions – roughly 800 million pounds. And they’re trying to get rid of them, fast. (Alejandro Figueroa)
- A proposal to boost pay for Uber and Lyft drivers in Portland has rankled some of the city’s most prominent businesses and the ride-hailing companies themselves. Here’s what you need to know about it. (Kyra Buckley)
FILE - Federal officers deploy tear gas, flash-bangs and pepper balls on nonviolent protesters outside the U.S. Immigrations and Customs building in Portland, Ore., Oct. 18, 2025.
Eli Imadali / OPB
Headlines from around the Northwest
- Federal appeals court weighs limits on tear gas use outside Portland ICE building (Conrad Wilson)
- Second woman sues Multnomah County, jail deputy over sexual abuse claims (Troy Brynelson)
- Attorney claims former OHSU hospital VP raised patient safety concerns before he was fired (Amelia Templeton)
- Oregon Opportunity Grant remains key access point for low-income college students (Tiffany Camhi)
- Oregon to offer free webinars to help rural communities respond to disasters (Mia Maldonado)
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):
- Jackson County nonprofit health provider rolls out new mobile health clinic
- OHSU program helps children on Medicaid prepare for kindergarten
- Nurses say patients at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem still at risk
Poet Ada Limón at home in Sonoma, Calif., on June 25, 2025.
Carolyn Fong / Carolyn Fong
Poet Ada Limón emphasizes being present and breathing with trees ahead of Eugene event
Ada Limón served as the 24th poet laureate of the United States. Ahead of her talk at the Oregon Humanities Center at the University of Oregon today, she spoke with KLCC’s Rachael McDonald.
“Poetry is really about noticing and paying attention, and I think many of the arts are like that, that it’s about looking and deeply looking at the world. And when you do that, you are absorbing the moment,” Limón said.
“You are living in the present, and you’re also recording it and I think there’s something about that that gives us an appreciation even when we are experiencing really difficult times like right now.” (Rachael McDonald)
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