Your morning starts here.

The Salem Public Market building, Oregon’s oldest farmers market, suffered fire damage on Oct.

21 after a late-night blaze — photos captured the extent of the damage.

At a Salem business forum on Oct.

19, Sen. Ron Wyden proposed a tax on AI data centers and faster tariff refunds as local leaders assess utility costs — Salem’s Task Force is set to share policy recommendations with City Council by end of December.

Chemeketa Community College will cut $5 million from its budget next year (2027) due to a deficit, but President Jessica Howard said no layoffs have been planned yet.

City Manager Krishna Namburi unveiled a plan to convene local governments, nonprofits & service providers to prevent homelessness, and local shelters remain cautiously optimistic as questions linger on how the plan will work with current efforts.

At AmeriTitle's Oct. 14 conference, Salem real estate experts said that high mortgage payments and redevelopment costs keep homes out of reach despite $368-million in commercial sales.

Builders are shifting to rental projects, a trend that may reshape the market to benefit residents and local businesses.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released Tuesday shows Oregon’s workforce declined less than 1% in the past year amid nine states and D.C. losing jobs due to federal-workforce cuts; South Carolina and others posted gains in construction, health care and leisure.

Oregon Humane announced a mobile veterinary clinic coming to Salem next summer—financed by a large donation—to deliver spay, neuter and wellness care to pets in underserved and rural communities.

State regulators admitted they mistakenly informed insurers that a law delayed doula coverage until 2028, so claims denied since the start of the year may be reprocessed without fear of enforcement actions until early next year.

Insurers will update their practices after reviewing those claims.