Your morning starts here.

David Ellingson of Woodburn High School has led digs near the school, uncovering an 8 1/2-foot bison skeleton now on display at the city museum.

His final dig will take place this August to give locals a chance to experience hands-on paleontology + learn about Oregon’s ice age past.

On Aug. 15, hundreds attended Capital City RetroFest in Salem where tribute bands Hysteria, Wild Boys, and TribU2 performed—food trucks served the crowd at the event.

Hundreds gathered at Riverfront Park for Capital City RetroFest, where tribute bands played hits from iconic bands + energized local music fans.

Manufacturers in Salem can get up to $10,000 in job tax credits after Oregon expands Qualified Jobs Creation Tax Credit to cover three groups — architectural metals, engine equipment, and aerospace parts.

Employers must meet wage and industry rules to get certification from Business Oregon for tax years from 2026.

Verrus, a California-based firm planning a data center at Salem's Mill Creek Corporate Center, was chosen by SEDCOR for its sustainable approach over several competitors.

The project will advance further as development plans continue.

Salem Health and Santiam Hospital will complete their $61-million merger by Aug.

31 after months of review (including hundreds of public comments and state feedback). The merger will blend the two hospital systems' insurance agreements and workforce structures.

Salem's Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge got a $15,000 lighting upgrade that added 21 color-changing LED lights to its arches, brightening the roadway at dusk.

Recent federal data shows that women's workforce participation in Oregon dropped from 57.6% to 56.4% between July 2025 and July while job growth in healthcare + social services kept unemployment steady.

State analysts say high childcare costs and fewer work-from-home options may be pushing many mothers out of the labor force.