PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) – The Oregon Zoo has announced a new addition that was born last month: a baby armadillo!

Three-banded armadillo pair Max and Toby welcomed the new pup on June 10. The zoo says Bugsy – named for a favorite armadillo snack food, bugs – is the pair’s second pup.

Care staff only recently got a close look at him during his one-month health check.

“Max is a great mom so we haven’t needed to step in at all,” said Eliza Lee, who oversees the zoo’s armadillo family. “She keeps him nice and cozy in their nest.”

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Among the smallest of the 20 species of armadillo, adult three-banded armadillos weight about three pounds. The zoo says Bugsy weighs just 14 ounces, but he’s growing fast.

“He’s getting bigger every day,” Lee said. “He still stays close to his mom most of the time, but pretty soon he’ll start venturing out a bit and exploring his habitat.”

Max, Toby and Bugsy are currently in a private den behind the scenes. The zoo says care staff have been taking a hands-off approach to help them bond naturally.

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The Ironman 70.3 Oregon endurance competition is making a highly-anticipated return to Salem for its fourth iteration of the annual event on Sunday.

Widely considered one of the fastest courses on the Ironman circuit, the Ironman features a 1.2-mile swim in the Willamette River, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run. Last year, Lionel Sanders won the men’s pro division in 3 hours, 33 minutes 37 seconds. Danielle Lewis won the pro women’s division in 3:59:41.

Once again, this year’s event has sold out and is expected to draw more than 2,500 athletes and supporters to Salem. It will offer age group qualifying slots to the VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in November 2025 in Marbella, Spain.

Travel Salem is the main host of the event, along with City of Salem, Travel Oregon, the Willamette Valley Visitors Association, and Sport Oregon. It estimates that Ironman 70.3 Oregon will generate approximately $11 million in economic impact for the Salem area.

The race begins at 6 a.m. Sunday and is expected to wrap up around 4:30 p.m.

The race begins with the 1.2-mile swim in the Willamette River, a 56-mile bike ride from River Road S. toward the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, and finishes with a 13.1-mile run through Salem’s Minto-Brown Island Park.

Road closures and traffic information for Ironman 70.3 Oregon

For the majority of the event, several road closures will be in effect throughout the race course. According to City of Salem officials, residents along the race course will receive information about these changes, and signs will be posted to alert drivers to potential traffic disruptions throughout the day.

• Vehicles traveling between Salem and Independence on River Road South should use alternate routes between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. as the road will be impacted by the event.
• Street reopening: Roads will reopen for normal use once the street portion of the bicycle race is completed.

Lane restrictions and road closures set for 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday

• Front Street SE to Trade Street SE (Southbound): Two lanes closed, one lane open for vehicle traffic.
• Commercial Street SE (Southbound): Two lanes closed, one lane open for vehicle traffic.
• Mission Street (Commercial Street to Saginaw Street S): Local traffic only.
• Saginaw Street S (Mission Street to Owens Street): Local traffic only.
• Owens Street to River Road South: Local traffic only.
• River Road South to Ankeny Nature Preserve: Local traffic only.

Park closures in Salem for Ironman 70.3 Oregon

Riverfront Park, Minto-Brown Island Park, and Wallace Marine Park will remain open during the event. But access and parking will be limited.

• Riverfront Park Boat Dock — closed from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Wallace Marine Boat Dock — closed from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge — closed to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Jarrid Denney covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at JDenney@salem.gannett.com or on X @jarrid_denney

A report was issued from the National Weather Service on Tuesday at 8:27 p.m. for gusty showers until 9:15 p.m. for Southern Blue Mountains of Oregon, John Day Basin, Ochoco-John Day Highlands, Foothills of the Southern Blue Mountains of Oregon, East Slopes of the Oregon Cascades, North Central Oregon and Central Oregon.

Residents can be ready for wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

“At 8:27 p.m., Doppler radar tracked gusty showers along a line extending from Warm Springs Reservation to 6 miles southwest of Ashwood to Mitchell. Movement was north at 40 mph,” according to the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”

Locations impacted by the alert include Madras, Fossil, Mitchell, Antelope, Shaniko, Ashwood, Warm Springs Reservation, Kinzua, Warm Springs, Clarno, Service Creek, Gateway, South Junction, Willowdale and Simnasho.

The weather service adds, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.”

Rainy day rules: How to stay safe in heavy precipitation

Heavy rainfall may lead to flooding if prolonged or if there is excessive runoff. Excessive runoff can be a result of saturated ground and/or rainfall intensity. Follow these recommendations from the weather service to stay safe in heavy rain:

Beware of swollen waterways:

• Do not play in or around culverts or drainage ditches as swiftly moving water that occurs during heavy rain can sweep you away.

Maintain safe driving distances:

• Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.

Slow down and stay cautious:

• If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.

Choose your lane wisely:

• Stay toward the middle lanes – water tends to pool in the outside lanes.

Visibility matters:

• Turn on your headlights.
• Be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.

Watch out for slippery roads:

• Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

• Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

• Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas. If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers.

In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.