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Today’s edition · Sat., Nov. 7

Salem council weighs data center code Monday; Agility goes public

Plus, Agility Robotics begins trading on the Nasdaq after raising about $465 million.

The Daily Salem team2 stories14 sources5 min read

City HallTop story

Salem City Council holds a hearing Monday on whether city code bars AI data centers

$10 millioncommunity benefits agreement offered by Verrus's CEO

Abramson sent the proposed deal to the full council ahead of Monday's decision.

Source: Salem Reporter

If you've followed Salem's data center debate, Monday is the night to watch. The City Council will hold a public hearing before deciding whether the city's zoning code already excludes AI and hyperscale data centers, like the Oakline at Mill Creek project has planned for southeast Salem.

Ahead of the vote, Verrus CEO Nelson Abramson personally offered city leaders a deal worth $10 million. The proposed community benefits agreement went to the entire council, with copies to City Manager Krishna Namburi and City Attorney Dan Atchison.

Atchison said in a report to the council that this would be a code interpretation, not a code amendment, which takes a more extensive process. When "data center" entered the code in 2013-2014, he wrote, AI and hyperscale facilities "were rare in Oregon." The interpretation would apply to Verrus's pending application.

  • When: 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9
  • Where: , Salem Public Library, 585 Liberty St. S.E.
  • Watch: YouTube livestream, in English and Spanish

Salem's data center code question comes to a hearing Nov. 9

  1. 2013-2014The term "data center" was added to Salem's city code.
  2. July 27Residents testified before the council on the proposed Mill Creek data center.
  3. Nov. 9The council will hold a public hearing on a code interpretation of "data center".

Sources: Salem Reporter, Statesman Journal

Asked

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Will you watch or attend Monday's Salem City Council data center hearing?

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Business

Salem robot maker Agility goes public on the Nasdaq after raising about $465 million

Agility, the humanoid robotics company headquartered in Salem, began trading on the Nasdaq Nov. 5. The business combination and related financing raised approximately $465 million in gross capital before transaction expenses.

CEO Peggy Johnson said the money will help fill customer orders, expand deployments and increase production of , the company's bipedal, human-sized robot. Digit already works at GXO, Schaeffler and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada. Agility builds its robots at the , 4698 Truax Drive SE, which opened in 2024.

Agility's Salem RoboFab covers 70,000 square feet

Floor area of the RoboFab factory, beside places you know

The RoboFab factory70,000 sq. ft.4698 Truax Drive SE
A football field57,600 sq. ft.end zones included
A basketball court4,700 sq. ft.NBA size

15 basketball courts would fit inside the RoboFab factory

Sources: Daily Tidings, Central Oregon Daily

View as table
Floor area
The RoboFab factory70,000 sq. ft. (4698 Truax Drive SE)
A football field57,600 sq. ft. (end zones included)
A basketball court4,700 sq. ft. (NBA size)
  • Tickers: AGLT for shares, AGLTW for warrants
  • Digit 5 early customer access: expected first half of 2027
  • Digit 5 general availability: targeted for end of 2027
  • Pittsburgh expansion: 50,000 square feet, announced in October

Agility raised about $465 million and reports orders topping $300 million

$465 million
raised in gross capital before expenses
$300 million+
in committed multi-year Digit 5 orders
65,000+
hours of robot operation
10,000
robots a year the RoboFab can produce

Sources: Daily Tidings, Central Oregon Daily

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Gifts for retirees, students, and healthy living

News Notes

Schools

Eight years after voters approved a bond, Salem-Keizer parents question whether they'll back another as the district considers closing six schools. The classified staff union, the Association of Salem-Keizer Education Support Professionals, has new leaders. President Zacharia Wilson and vice president Claudia Mendoza took office in August, with school closures and budget cuts on the horizon. Statesman JournalSalem Reporter

Keizer sidewalks

The Keizer City Council voted 6-0 on Nov. 2 to redirect $1,393,229 toward a sidewalk project along Verda Lane, with Councilor Soraida Cross absent. The Salem-Keizer Area Transportation Study Policy Committee controls the money, and the vote lets city officials ask it to shift the funding. 1430 KYKN

Ballot count

The envelope sorting machine in the Marion County clerk's office was unusable for about six hours on election night, from roughly 4-10 p.m. Tuesday. County Clerk Bill Burgess said it "slowed down the process quite a bit." Salem Reporter

Home

Two home kitchen upgrades under $24 while sales last: super-absorbent dish towels that come in an eight-pack and include a hanging loop, and a water-absorbing stone sponge holder that’s minimalist, compact, and keeps counters and sponges dry with natural diatomite stone.

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Job

You have job openings; our job is filling them. List your available positions with our Self-Service Ad Portal and connect with top talent citywide. Submit here in seconds.

Content marked with an * is advertising.

Around Oregon

Fire season

The Oregon Department of Forestry ended fire restrictions across all districts, closing out the 2026 wildfire season. More than 2.5 million acres burned statewide across all jurisdictions, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, passing the 2024 record of about 1.9 million acres. State officials pointed to reduced snowpack, drought, dry vegetation, lightning and hot, windy weather. KEZI1430 KYKN

Oregon's 2026 fire season passed the 2024 record for acres burned, in millions

Sources: KEZI, 1430 KYKN

View as table
Value
2024 record1.9M
2026 (more than)2.5M

Gas tax

Oregon's motor fuels tax revenue is down 2.2% for 2026 compared with the first nine months of 2025, officials said Friday. ODOT deputy director Travis Brouwer said city, county and state agencies will have fewer dollars to maintain and improve the transportation system. KTVZ

Asked

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Asked

What's on your Salem weekend list?

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.

— Cesar A. Cruz

Things to Do

Things to Do

Salem, OR

Saturday, Nov. 7

See every Salem eventFeature your event

Jobs

Jobs

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The Buy

Around the Block

Around the Block

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“Does anybody have any experience when it comes to dealing with school bullies? My child has been bullied since 3rd grade by one girl and now that girl has made a new friend and both have been ganging up on my child. My child has 100% attendance, she’s in Talented and Gifted classes, she’s very respectful and the…”

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The Wrap

Towering dinosaurs, toothy sea monsters and a stroll through the Ice Age are all parked at the Oregon State Fair & Expo Center. Jurassic Quest gives you three exhibits on one ticket, including the all-new Frozen Frontier, and it runs through Sunday, Nov. 8. Roar-some weekend plan.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Oregon's 2026 fire season is over after a record 2.5 million acres burned

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Every source in this edition14 links · 9 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. Salem Reportersalemreporter.com
  3. Salem Reportersalemreporter.com
  4. Statesman Journalstatesmanjournal.com
  5. Daily Tidingsdailytidings.com
  6. Central Oregon Dailycentraloregondaily.com
  7. Statesman Journalstatesmanjournal.com
  8. Salem Reportersalemreporter.com
  9. 1430 KYKNkykn.com
  10. Salem Reportersalemreporter.com
  11. KEZIkezi.com
  12. 1430 KYKNkykn.com
  13. KTVZktvz.com
  14. Salem events calendardailysalem.com

Past issues

  1. Fri., Nov. 6Oregon's 2026 fire season is over after a record 2.5 million acres burned
  2. Thurs., Nov. 5Judge denies Salem's bid to stop Detroit Lake drawdown
  3. Wed., Nov. 4Oregon voters returned more than 1.5 million ballots by Tuesday morning
  4. Tues., Nov. 3Oregon's new health insurance marketplace is open for 2027
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Daily Salemto me · Sat., Nov. 76:00 a.m.

Salem council weighs data center code Monday; Agility goes public

Plus, Agility Robotics begins trading on the Nasdaq after raising about $465 million.

The TLDR

  1. Council holds a data center code hearing Monday at 6 p.m.
  2. Verrus's CEO offers Salem a $10 million package
  3. Salem's Agility Robotics begins trading on the Nasdaq
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Daily Salem’s other editions

All the news
Fire SeasonOregon's 2026 fire season is over after a record 2.5 million acres burnedIf you've got a burn pile in mind, check before you light it. All Oregon Department of Forestry districts have terminated fire restrictions, ending the 2026 fire season. More than 2.5 million acres burned statewide across all jurisdictions, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. That tops the 2024 record of 1.9 million.Friday’s editionRead WaterA judge denied Salem and Marion County's bid to stop the Detroit Lake drawdownIf you live in the Mid-Willamette Valley, this one's about your water. A federal judge denied requests Wednesday from the city of Salem and Marion County to stop the deep drawdown of Detroit Lake. The reservoir could now drop to a level tied for its lowest on record as soon as this month.Thursday’s editionRead BusinessSalem's Agility Robotics starts trading on Nasdaq today after closing a $465 million dealSalem's own Agility Robotics starts trading on the Nasdaq today under the symbol AGLT. The company closed a deal Wednesday to raise $465 million by merging with a SPAC, a publicly traded investment fund. Shareholders in that fund approved the deal Monday, with more than 84% of votes cast in favor.Thursday’s editionRead

Around Salem

From Statesman Journal, OregonLive.com and 2 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news

  1. Statesman Journal2 hours ago

    Salem artist, business owner keeps creativity local

    Jessica Ramey, 48, of Salem, owns Art Department in downtown and uses art as a way to connect community members.

  2. OregonLive.com2 hours ago

    Why planting perennials in fall leads to decades of garden blooms

    Fall is an ideal time to plant long-lived perennials like peonies, hostas, and false indigo, some of which can survive for a century or more with minimal care.

  3. Statesman Journal13 hours ago

    Oregon high school football scores from OSAA playoff games

    The Oregon high school football playoffs are underway, and the Statesman Journal will have scores when games are final. Come back to follow along.

  4. Pacific Index13 hours ago

    Student Public Art VS School Board

    Written by Samara Day for MEDA 240 Tyler Brumfield never intended to study art. But one class as an undergraduate set him on a different course—and now, nine years later, he is an art professor at Pacific University, and he has made it his mission to share the brilliance of art with undergraduate students and

  5. Salem Reporter15 hours ago

    Marion County ballot count slowed by broken machine on election night

    On election night, the machine key to processing ballots in Marion County broke for around six hours, stalling the counting process, according to Clerk Bill Burgess.

  6. Salem Reporter16 hours ago

    Salem-Keizer classified staff union’s new leadership sets priorities

    Salem Reporter sat down with new union leaders Zacharia Wilson and Claudia Mendoza for a wide-ranging conversation about classified staff.