Friday, July 17, 2026

A local bakery shift: Dutch Bros ended its seven-year pastry partnership with Salem’s A&M Sweets, affecting 25 shops and 4,000 weekly baked goods, as the company shifts away from third‑party food vendors -- read the full story.

Oregon’s global playing field: Forty percent of 2026 World Cup stadium turf was grown in Oregon, as Oregon Seed Council representatives explain how local growers prepared grass for soccer’s biggest stage -- read how it came to be.

New development takes shape: Alphabet spin-out Verrus announced Oakline at Mill Creek Corporate Center, a three-building data center campus in Salem, with closed-loop cooling to save water and LFP batteries to curb emissions -- read the full story.

Watch your credit card balance drop. Here's a rare one: this card lets you skip interest charges until nearly 2028, and you won't pay a cent in annual fees to do it. On top of that, every purchase earns at least 1.5% cash back, with some categories as high as 5%. Spend a little early on and there's up to a $200 bonus waiting too -- take a look.*

Big markdowns on makeup made for women over 40: Laura Geller formulates for mature skin specifically. There's even a collection called The Over 40 Edit. The brand is offering new email subscribers up to 65% off, with an extra 22% off layered on top. Your email is all it takes to unlock it — worth a look.*

The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*

Engines, trolleys, nostalgia: Powerland Heritage Park is a 62-acre playground for history nerds and curious kids alike, with vintage farm machinery, the Pacific Northwest Truck Museum, and, during events, trolley and miniature train rides. When your weekend needs an easy win, wander, press your nose to glass, and let the engines do the talking.

Glow-up without the gym: Radiant Wellness, LLC is all about legit self-care right here in Salem with FDA-cleared red-light therapy and a Luxury Fitness Pod that blends infrared heat, vibratory massage, aromatherapy, and salt air. Book a quick session this week, then casually tell your coworkers you optimized your mitochondria.

Press start this week: The Coin Jam is a 21+ retro bar and grill where fresh-made comfort fare, beer, wine, and cider fuel late-night high scores on a constantly rotating mix of nostalgic and new arcade games. Bring a buddy, brag a little, then blame the joystick.

Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. *This one's 50% off right now →

The fitness trend that doesn't require leaving your living room: Chair yoga is having a moment, and for good reason. It's low-impact, easy on the knees and back, and you do the whole thing seated. No floor, no equipment, no studio. A quick quiz turns it into a personalized plan built around your body and goals, then adjusts as you build the habit. *See your plan →

Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →

Plastic and wood are no good: Every time you use a plastic cutting board, microplastics end up in your food. You can’t see it, but it's happening and it’s gross. Wood isn't any better since it absorbs bacteria so deep into the grain you can’t get it out. More than 50,000 people have already ditched both for something better. *See what they're using instead →

Could you cover a $7,000 car repair tomorrow? For most people the honest answer is no, and that's the problem, because the big repairs don't wait for the right time. An extended warranty is what stands between you and that bill: the engine, transmission, and electrical failures that come out of nowhere. You bring it to any certified mechanic, pay a deductible, and the rest is handled. A free year of Elite Benefits and a 30-day money-back guarantee are included. *See what's covered →