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Happy weekend, Salem!
In today’s happening-today edition: AI chatbot safeguards bill, a Napoleon Dynamite 20th anniversary celebration, and Water Lilies by Monet on screen + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.
Today’s sponsor (Money.com) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.
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📰 In the news
Shape campus traditions and outreach: Western Oregon University in Monmouth is hiring a Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement to grow programs and events around Salem and Monmouth, offering a $72,276 salary, open until filled — see job duties and requirements.
Guardrails for automated replies: Oregon lawmakers are moving a bipartisan bill to protect chatbot users’ mental health. It would require crisis hotline guidance and clear AI labels. Only one state senator voted against it — see what’s in the bill.
Risk model mandates under debate: Oregon’s SB 1540 aims to link wildfire mitigation with affordable insurance and remains alive this session, but backers and insurers are divided, leaving its path uncertain for landowners statewide — get all the details.
Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.
Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you (or someone you care about) to clean up all that up – learn more here.
Highlights this week:
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🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?
Together with our sponsor Money.com
Auto insurance premiums have been climbing across the country… and most folks won’t notice until it’s time to renew and they’re hit with a higher bill.
The frustrating part? Loyalty rarely gets rewarded. Insurers adjust prices constantly, and new customers often qualify for better rates than long-time policyholders.
I learned that the hard way. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, I saw the charges come in every month and never thought twice about them. Turns out I was paying well above the national average ($175/mo) for a single car… for years.
This free comparison tool lets you check rates from multiple insurers in just a few minutes. It costs nothing to look, and it could save you hundreds this year.
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🫶 We got your back
A quick art detour: A quick downtown alley stroll becomes an optical brain teaser at Mirror Maze, with bold lines, shifting perspectives, and that “wait, was that wall moving?” vibe. It’s a brief detour that resets your eyes and your sense of direction.
Yarn + tea vibes: Wild Knits is a cozy, community-minded spot to grab gorgeous skeins, tools, or a felting kit, sip good tea, and get unstuck in friendly classes. Rescue that WIP, start the next one without guilt, and enjoy yarn, tea, and camaraderie in one welcoming place.
Local taps, zero fuss: At Tsunami Taproom, 20 rotating taps pour West Coast beers and ciders, alongside local wines and balanced craft cocktails. Flatbread pizzas invite just one more slice, and there are growlers and cans to go when the couch calls.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
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📆 Around town today & tomorrow
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🏷 Garage Sale @ Morning Star Community Church | Saturday (3/7) at 8:00 AM – If your garage is full but your heart loves a good rummage, hit Morning Star’s one-day-only mega sale. Thousands of finds, from antiques to air fryers, plus a huge Christmas decor trove, and every dollar backs local teens. Prices drop after lunch, patience rewarded.
🐦 Urban Birding @ Clark Creek Park | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Think you can tell a chickadee from a nuthatch before coffee? Join Salem’s Park Ranger for a free, first-Saturday birding walk that visits a different city park each month, co-hosted by Just Walk Salem and Salem Audubon Society, and you need to register in advance.
🍺 Fermentation Celebration 2026 @ LifeSource Natural Foods | Saturday (3/7) at 11:00 AM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to celebrate good bacteria, this is it. One-day Fermentation Celebration at LifeSource offers free samples, giveaways, and flash sales, with kimchi, kombucha, and sourdough proving that time, salt, and bubbles do the heavy lifting.
🌸 Spring Family Market @ Salem Center | Saturday (3/7) at 12:00 PM – Spring fever calls for a family stroll through Salem Center’s expanded digs, now spilling into the North and South Buildings. Kids hit bounce houses and crafts while you browse 60+ vendors, grab a photo op, and get in free. Makers, applications are still open.
🏘 Sundial Tour Of Homes @ Sundial | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Curious what 55+ living looks like when it’s more pickleball and potlucks than maintenance and mystery leaks? Swing by Sundial in SE Salem to tour model homes, chat with neighbors, snag shamrock prizes, and scoop attendee-only specials. Worth a wander, and maybe a downsizing daydream.
🎰 Play It Forward: Casino Night Fundraiser @ Reed Ballroom | Saturday (3/7) at 5:00 PM – Feeling lucky, and generous? Head to Reed Ballroom in downtown Salem for a casino night backing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, with games you can actually figure out, heavy hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and a cocktail hour. Dress sharp, win bragging rights, fund kids’ books.
🎨 Water Lilies by Monet – Great Art On Screen @ Salem Cinema | Sunday (3/8) at 12:30 PM – Trade your yardwork and Netflix scroll for a front-row glide through Monet’s water lilies at Salem Cinema. Guided by scholars, you’ll tour Marmottan, the Orsay, L’Orangerie, and end in Giverny, soaking in the light, the obsession, and the brushstrokes that rewired modern art.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
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📻 Salem report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 60°F – Low: 44°F – Precip: 9%
Partly sunny. High near 60, with temperatures falling to around 58 in the afternoon. South southwest wind around 5 mph. Later: A chance of rain after 5am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southwest wind around 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
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Tomorrow – High: 55°F – Low: 36°F – Precip: 75%
Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. South southwest wind 2 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Later: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
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