In September, most industries in the Salem area’s private sector shed jobs. But those losses were offset by a few sectors that added back jobs.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said it doesn’t believe it was a random act of violence. No arrests have been made or suspects identified.

A scaled-back online version of the Boys & Girls Club's Cinco de Micro fundraiser runs this week online. Proceeds for beer cases and wine bundles are shared between the club and the brewery or winery.

The biggest fundraiser of the year for the Willamette Humane Society typically draws hundreds to bid and help. This year, with the pandemic, the auction will go on - but virtually.

Salem Police Department spokeswoman Debbie Aguilar said officers will intervene when laws have been violated but have to consider the need to act in cases such as drinking in public.

New health guidelines Monday require everyone to wear a mask at indoor workplaces, even if they're more than six feet apart. The changes reflect a growing scientific consensus that the coronavirus travels via aerosol and can spread farther indoors.

A new legal challenge argues that Gov. Kate Brown's pandemic orders violate the state constitution's separation of powers provisions. A lawmaker from the Salem area has signed on to the lawsuit.

Asking a teacher one question by email counts as “attendance” in local schools, making it difficult to track how much time students actually are spending on classwork. Salem school officials say about 9 out of 10 students are recorded as being at school, but some groups of kids are struggling.

Oregon's Department of Corrections rejected a plan from six community colleges to reshape their basic education and GED programs, ending 20-year-old contracts.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Signs are that voter interest in the 2020 election is intense, judging by huge turnout in other states during early voting. Salem Reporter is doing what it can to help you understand how Oregon elections function and what's being done to guard against fraud.

Both candidates have decades of experience in law enforcement, one in California and the other in Texas.

Health authorities fear the cold weather combination of flu season, increasing Covid cases and more people gathering indoors will tax Oregon’s hospital system.

Numbers show Oregon is rebounding, but more slowly. Marion County offers grants to help businesses reduce food waste. A Salem bistro prepares for its last day. The Employment Department’s website is in 16 languages. State officials want you to avoid a surprise at tax time next year.

Bethell, a Republican, is running against Democrat Ashley Carson Cottingham for Marion County commissioner in the upcoming election. The pair are approaching the role from two different backgrounds, one in the private sector and the other from her role in government.

The Democrat is making a bid for a seat on the Marion County commission that has been a Republican stronghold for decades.

State auditors found that the Department of Administrative Services doesn’t do enough to track or oversee workplace discrimination and harassment investigations, leaving taxpayers on the hook for potentially hefty legal fees.

Salem-Keizer administrators had to scale back an ambitious $35 million plan to narrow student achievement gaps after expected state money from a new business tax dried up.

Democrats have gained a small advantage in voter registration in the crescent-shaped district that includes south Salem and surrounding areas. But Republicans are hoping that there's enough discontent with Democratic rule to help Boles keep the seat.

Senate District 10, which includes south Salem and other areas, has long been held by Republicans. But with the longtime incumbent not on the ballot this year, Democrat Deb Patterson sees a chance. The race's outcome could tilt the state's political balance.

Highway 22 reopened to through traffic Tuesday night, allowing for a more complete picture of the damage caused by the Beachie Creek Fire. The county has said it will waive permitting fees for people rebuilding.

The highway has been partially closed since the Sept. 7 wildfire. Volunteers are now operating hubs for people displaced by the fires in Gates and Sublimity.

Businesses in the Portland area will be paying an additional $177 million in new taxes annually once a new income tax for housing and homeless services kicks in next year, Ernst & Young estimates.

This Friday, you can pick up a decorated pumpkin at Sprague High School for a contribution to the Choose to Stay Aaron Brown memorial scholarship fund. Plus, get $20 for taking a brief state survey about child care.

Citing a lack of improvement in Salem-area measures of Covid spread, district leaders said students in fourth grade and up would stay online through the end of the first semester of the school year. They're still hopeful younger students might be able to return in-person.

Abigail Agustin-Paz, 19, was found dead in Minto Brown Park on Oct. 2. Salem police today said she died by suicide.

Signature mismatches and late ballot returns cost about 2,500 Marion and Polk county voters a say in Oregon's 2018 election for governor. We asked elections clerks what you need to know for 2020.

“Your Vote Counts” features interviews with candidates for secretary of state, Legislature, as well as a guide to statewide ballot measures. They'll also air on local television and radio.

An annual city survey also found that homelessness continues to be the top concern for residents. The survey also contained some bright spots about how people feel about city services.

The Salem economy is improving. However, most of those who remain unemployed are in the lowest-paying industries, a unique aspect of this economic downturn.

Half of those who died from Covid in Marion County are 80 or older, and more than 60% got the virus in a nursing home outbreak. But Salem Hospital doctors are still regularly seeing younger people get seriously ill, sometimes requiring weeks of care.