Good morning, Salem.

Oregon residents can vote for the state's official dish in an America250 poll featuring marionberry pie, Dungeness crab, and more; voting is open online until Nov.

1 (the winning dish will join the official state registry).

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.

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.

The Salem-Keizer School Board will vote on Sept.

8 on new achievement goals that focus on classroom reading and math instead of attendance and graduation rates — the goals will take effect for the 2027 to 2028 school year.

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.

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.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a rule on Aug.

14 to require that traps for bears + cougars be checked every 56 hours to reduce the time animals remain trapped. The regulation applies to traps set for public nuisance and damage control.

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.