Latest issueSalem's data center vote moves online for Tuesday nightRead now

Today’s edition · Sat., Nov. 14

City HallTop story

Salem City Council will vote Tuesday on AI data centers, and you can watch online

If you've followed the fight over the Verrus data center, mark Tuesday, Nov. 17.

The Daily Salem team · 1 min read · 3 sources

Read the story The full edition

The council has already moved against data centers three ways

ActionWhat it does
MoratoriumCovers data center construction
NDA banApplies to data center developers
Zoning resolutionBegins updating zoning and land-use rules

Source: USA TODAY

Today in SalemSat., Nov. 14

56 degreesCloudyHigh 58° · Low 51° · 92% chance of rain

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  3. MonShowers.High 52°Low 39°32%
  4. TuePartly cloudy.High 51°Low 43°
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From Daily Salem’s editions this week

All the news
City HallSalem pushes its AI data center vote to Tuesday, and testimony is open until 5 p.m. todayIf you've got something to say about Salem's AI data center rule, you have until 5 p.m. today, Fri., Nov. 13, to send it. The City Council was set to vote Thursday on Resolution 2026-46, but the meeting was rescheduled to Tue., Nov. 17. City spokesperson Rob Layne said the move gives residents enough time to submit testimony after Microsoft Outlook, the city's email client, went down.SafetyCarbon monoxide calls climb in Oregon's cold months, so test your alarms nowIf you've been running the furnace more lately, it's a good week to check your alarms. November is Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal says 62% of the state's carbon monoxide emergencies happen in fall and winter.UtilitiesMost speakers pushed back on PGE's proposed 4.8% rate hike at a state meetingIf you pay a PGE bill, more than a dozen people spoke at a Nov. 10 Oregon Public Utility Commission meeting on the company's request. PGE wants to raise overall rates 4.8% and residential rates 3.9%, which it says would add $8.33 a month for the average home. Its territory includes Salem, Woodburn and Silverton.RoadsOregon's gas tax revenue is down 2.2% this year, ODOT saysOregon's gas tax money is shrinking. The Oregon Department of Transportation says motor fuel tax revenue is down 2.2% in the first nine months of 2026 compared with the same stretch last year. Gas use in the state peaked in 2018 and has slipped since.City HallSalem City Council delays its vote on a rule that could block the Mill Creek data centerSalem City Council hit pause Monday night on a vote that could block Verrus' Oakline at Mill Creek AI data center. After more than two hours of testimony on Nov. 9, councilors voted 7-0 to close the public hearing and keep the written record open. City Attorney Dan Atchison proposed the delay to give councilors time with a large amount of written testimony.SchoolsSalem-Keizer families push back as the district weighs closing six elementary schoolsIf your kid goes to Brush College, Candalaria, Cummings, Englewood, Liberty or Richmond, the clock is ticking. Salem-Keizer Public Schools has recommended closing all six at the end of the 2026-27 school year, and the school board's final vote is slated for Dec. 8.

In brief

The edition’s short notes. Open one to read it, with its sources.

  • Walling PondSalem wants to buy Walling Pond for a park, but a 6-9 month delay has supporters fearing a sale to developers.

    Salem wants to buy Walling Pond for a park, but a 6-9 month delay has supporters fearing a sale to developers.

    News Notes · Today’s editionSource: Statesman Journal

  • Homelessness panelOn Monday, Nov. 16, a panel of 10 local service providers will tell city leadership at a special meeting what's working, where the gaps are and what they want next.

    On Monday, Nov. 16, a panel of 10 local service providers will tell city leadership at a special meeting what's working, where the gaps are and what they want next. In the coming months, the city plans to convene local governments, shelters and service providers to define those gaps.

    News Notes · Today’s editionSource: Salem Reporter

  • VolleyballSprague swept the state tournament to claim the OSAA 6A crown.

    Sprague swept the state tournament to claim the OSAA 6A crown. KPTV calls it the first high school volleyball championship for Salem-Keizer.

    News Notes · Today’s editionSource: KPTV

  • Hallie FordJonathan Bucci, the collections manager and curator for 20 years, stepped into the director's role in September at Willamette University's Hallie Ford Museum of Art.

    Jonathan Bucci, the collections manager and curator for 20 years, stepped into the director's role in September at Willamette University's Hallie Ford Museum of Art. The museum has been on campus since 1998.

    News Notes · Today’s editionSource: Oregon Public Broadcasting

  • New eatsA new Hawaiian quick-serve restaurant is coming to Willamette Town Center along Lancaster Drive in east Salem.

    A new Hawaiian quick-serve restaurant is coming to Willamette Town Center along Lancaster Drive in east Salem.

    News Notes · Today’s editionSource: Statesman Journal

  • FastTrack permitsOregon is now accepting business applications for its FastTrack Permitting Program, created under House Bill 4084, Gov.

    Oregon is now accepting business applications for its FastTrack Permitting Program, created under House Bill 4084, Gov. Tina Kotek's 2026 economic development bill. It's meant to speed timelines for major projects that advance the state's economic goals.

    Around Oregon · Today’s editionSource: FM News 101 KXL

Things to do

450 events in Salem this week, from the Salem events calendar.

Every event

6 of 87 events todaySee all 87

Around Salem

From 1430 KYKN, Polk County Itemizer-Observer and 5 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news
  1. 1430 KYKN5 hours ago

    Close Polk County Election Races Await Next Ballot Count, on 1430 KYKN

    Several local election contests in Polk County remain closely contested as officials work toward final certification of the November 3 general election. In West Salem’s City Council Ward 8 race, incumbent Micki Varney was leading challenger Chris Cummings by 392 votes in the November 9 unofficial count. Other close races include the Independence mayoral contest,

  2. Polk County Itemizer-Observer8 hours ago

    September restaurant inspections, on Polk County Itemizer-Observer

    Editor’s Note: Polk County Health Department conducts a bi-annual, unannounced inspection of licensed restaurants. The establishments receive an overall grade on food temperatures, food preparation practices, worker hygiene, dish washing

  3. 1430 KYKN11 hours ago

    Salem-Keizer School Board Pushes for Changes to Oregon School Funding, on 1430 KYKN

    The Salem-Keizer School Board is asking Oregon lawmakers to reconsider how public education is funded as the district faces declining enrollment and difficult budget decisions. Board members unanimously approved the district’s legislative priorities for the 2027 Oregon legislative session during their November 10 meeting. One of the biggest requests is the creation of a statewide

  4. Here is Oregon11 hours ago

    Wine & Cheese 101 at Tillamook Creamery is the class you won’t want to ditch, on Here is Oregon

    Combine your next trip to the coast with a wine and cheese education.

  5. Philomath News12 hours ago

    Philomath councilors invited to join statewide City Day at the Capitol in January, on Philomath News

    League of Oregon Cities event on Jan. 26 gives local officials a chance to meet with legislators in Salem

  6. Statesman Journal12 hours ago

    Dominant lines lead the way as Silverton football bulldozes Dallas, on Statesman Journal

    No. 1 Silverton defeated No. 9 Dallas, 31-13, Nov. 13 in the OSAA 5A football quarterfinals.

  7. Statesman Journal12 hours ago

    Salem bagel shop opens commercial kitchen to meet demand, on Statesman Journal

    Lauren Fuhrman-Burch may not have a brick-and-mortar for Best Coast Bagels, but demand is so high she needs a commercial kitchen.

  8. Statesman Journal13 hours ago

    2027 Salem City Council is set. Here's what to expect, on Statesman Journal

    With 2026 elections coming to a close, Salem City Council will see new faces but a similar ideological split in 2027. Here's what to expect.

  9. KPTV21 hours ago

    Sprague celebrates first high school volleyball championship for Salem-Keizer, on KPTV

    FOX 12’s Nick Krupke has our High School Spotlight with the history makers from Sprague after they swept the state tourney to claim the OSAA 6A crown.

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Daily Salemto me · Sat., Nov. 146:00 a.m.

Salem's data center vote moves online for Tuesday night

Plus, a homelessness panel Monday and Sprague's first volleyball title for Salem-Keizer.

The TLDR

  1. Council's AI data center vote is Tuesday at 6 p.m., streamed online
  2. Hearing on data center and battery storage rules set for Nov. 23
  3. Salem wants to buy Walling Pond for a park
Read this edition