Kindergarten through second-grade students would get four days per week of in-person class, and all parents could choose full-time online school for Oregon's second-largest district. More details will be developed over the next month.

Jessica Rogers-Hall was one of 57 incarcerated individuals tapped for early release by the governor. While the pandemic creates new challenges for her transition, she remains upbeat.

The federal lawsuit filed on behalf of Glamour Salon owner Lindsey Graham alleges that state government violated her civil rights after defying pandemic restrictions. The lawsuit is the latest legal effort challenging Brown’s response to the pandemic.

Local high schools will host multiple small graduation ceremonies in August to honor seniors while following health guidelines. Nearly all will be outdoors.

The state’s weekly report shows one new workplace outbreak in Salem and three additional deaths at Brookstone Alzheimer’s Special Care Center.

Travel restrictions, a halt to student visa processing and the closure of many study abroad programs means Willamette University expects about 30 international students on campus this fall instead of the usual 200 or more.

The Salem City Council in June denied federal funding to a project that would have brought 14 units of affordable housing to central Salem. Councilors said they didn’t like a proposal to turn a church parsonage into a commercial office.

Now budgeted at $84 million, the renovation of South Salem High School is the costliest of dozens of Salem-Keizer school construction projects planned over the next five years. Taxpayers won't be on the hook for more money, however - contingency funds are expected to cover the increases.

VIDEO: As controversy continues over the fate of police in Salem-area schools, Salem Reporter sat down with a school resource officer to learn about the role. Keizer police officer David Zavala explains the ways he’s helped keep students out of trouble.

Salem Hospital nurse Sierra Schneider was shocked when Teresa Miranda came into the ICU on March 15 with her lungs shutting down from a serious Covid infection. Now, Schneider details how she and her colleagues cared for Miranda and what they've learned since about the virus.

The dynamics of the current recession are unique and will present a challenge to economic recovery. In a new feature for Salem Reporter readers, Pam Ferrara of the Willamette Workforce Partnership continues a regular column examining local economic issues.

The much-vaunted Paycheck Protection Program was set up to help businesses to keep employees. On Monday, the federal government released the most detailed numbers yet on how many jobs were kept and which companies benefited.

The city is laying the groundwork for the future Gerry Frank Amphitheater, which is expected to be complete in 2021.

Salem Police Chief Jerry Moore’s account of police actions during the protests against police violence describe unprecedented actions in Salem with police facing violent protests like they’ve never seen in Salem.

With new building to rise, the Salem YMCA also readies for new leadership. Tim Sinatra is no stranger to Salem nonprofits, and he's ambitious to see the Y provide even more services to Salem families.

As an antidote to the ongoing coronavirus news, Salem Reporter is providing nature photography.

The purpose of a face mask is not to protect the wearer from getting the virus. It is to keep an infected person from spreading the disease, as a health expert explains in this video

The picnic- style event will feature giant Black Lives Matter chalk drawing in front of the Oregon State Capitol.

New cases of Covid in Oregon are increasingly tied to private gatherings that bring multiple households together, state officials warned Thursday. But the Salem area is seeing less of an increase than many parts of the state.

Ranch Records has been an integral part of Salem for close to 40 years. But the allure of retirement, and pandemic safety concerns, prompted the owners to close their shop. When the last record is sold, the doors will close for good.

The health department made the announcement Thursday after a February assessment found there was a 75% decrease in patients coming in for family planning over the last decade. The clinic will continue offering STD testing.

A survey of about 14,000 Salem-Keizer students, families and educators found many struggles in the hasty switch to online classes, despite what most described as a strong effort from teachers.

The Society for Professional Journalists on Thursday recognized five journalists for their extraordinary contributions to the profession. Malheur Enterprise and Salem Reporter editor Les Zaitz is among the honorees, along with Marty Baron, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Jorge Ramos, and, posthumously, Gwen Ifill.

COMMENTARY: The Salem community is being wrenched by divisions at every turn. Are there ways we can all work together better to make vital changes that are so needed? At Salem Reporter, we'd like your thoughts.

Brookstone Alzheimer’s Special Care Center now has the second highest number of active Covid cases in the state at a care facility. The center said it’s doing everything it can to stop the spread, but was cited by state officials Tuesday for failing to comply with infection control recommendations.

The Salem Keizer Volcanoes are hosting a drive-in firework display Saturday and Independence is celebrating Indy Days with block parties.

Salem, like the rest of Oregon, is seeking a steady uptick in new coronavirus cases, but doing better on other statewide measures of how well-controlled the virus is.

Board directors facing intense public pressure elected two of their less controversial members to leadership roles Wednesday, but the decision is unlikely to please community groups who had called for Sheronne Blasi to take the chair seat.

Oregon is seeing too many new cases of Covid spreading too quickly, Gov. Kate Brown and health officials said Wednesday. She resisted naming specific data points that would trigger closures.

The annual election of a Salem-Keizer school board chair and vice chair typically takes a few minutes and garners little or no public comment. That's not the case this year.