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Salem seeks input from northeast residents on service expansions  

Joe Siess·
The city of Salem wants to hear from northeast residents to get a sense of what issues people face as it prepares to expand services into the area. A community survey designed to help the city pinpoint resources in northeast Salem is available through Aug. 2. To comment on this story, use the form at…

Salem Health asks emergency approval from state for Stayton hospital acquisition

Hailey Cook·

Salem Health and Santiam Hospital & Clinics are asking state officials for accelerated, emergency approval of an acquisition they say would keep Santiam solvent. That coincided with a request to withdraw the hospitals’ initial application going through the state’s approval process

To comment on this story, use the form at the end of the report.

Salem sues U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over planned Detroit Reservoir drawdown 

Joe Siess·
The city of Salem filed a lawsuit in federal court Wednesday, July 8, against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over a deep drawdown of the Detroit reservoir scheduled for the fall. The drawdown is meant to facilitate young salmon migration, but city leaders say it will temporarily overwhelm the sand filters that clean the…

Chemeketa instructor charged with assault after causing large Center Street Bridge crash

Madeleine Moore·
Thomas D. Ewing, a psychology instructor at Chemeketa Community College, is facing assault and reckless endangering charges in Polk County after witnesses said he sped along the Center Street Bridge and damaged five vehicles. Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton said he’d heard community concerns about Ewing’s driving months ahead of the crash. To comment…

Betsy Vega qualified to serve on Salem City Council, per city officials 

Joe Siess·
The city of Salem announced Tuesday afternoon that Betsy Vega is qualified under city charter to serve on the Salem City Council representing Ward 6 in northeast Salem, after a complaint claiming she was not eligible due to discrepancies with her address. City Recorder Amy Johnson made the final determination based on a review and…

Three young men sentenced for West Salem attack

Madeleine Moore·
Since January, three men ages 18 and 19 have been sentenced to years in prison for assaulting a man near Wallace Marine Park last August. Polk County’s top prosecutor said there “was no validity” to the men’s claim the attack had been an act of retaliation. To comment on this story, use the form at…

FEMA, DHS say Salem aims to ‘obstruct President Trump’s agenda’ with lawsuit

Abbey McDonald·
In response to the city of Salem’s lawsuit claiming that the White House has illegally imposed its political agenda against immigration and diversity, equity and inclusion, spokespeople for federal agencies named in the lawsuit said it “is another attempt to obstruct President Trump’s agenda and the will of the American people.” To comment on this…

UPDATE: 5 injured by northeast Salem fireworks explosion

Madeleine Moore·
Late Saturday night, on the Fourth of July, an explosion of illegal fireworks injured five people on a northeast Salem street. Neighbors recalled seeing people lying on the ground in the aftermath, surrounded by glass from broken car windows. The victims are in stable condition as of Sunday afternoon. To comment on this story, use…

Mean Girls musical brings humor and high school drama to Salem stage

Hailey Cook·

Chemeketa Community College’s production of “Mean Girls the Musical” will premiere Tuesday, July 7, for the college’s third year of outdoor evening shows at Riverfront Park.

To comment on this story, use the form at the end of the report.

Longtime volunteer historian reflects on love for Salem ahead of 100th birthday

Reilly Norgren·

On the precipice of her 100th birthday, Virginia Green was honored by Salem’s mayor for decades of volunteer work recording local history. Though her fact-finding days are now in the past, Green’s website still catalogs over a century of local knowledge.

To comment on this story, use the form at the end of the report.

Oregon’s top public health official resigns

Mia Maldonado – Oregon Capital Chronicle·

Oregon Health Authority director Dr. Sejal Hathi will step down effective Aug. 1

To comment on this story, use the form at the end of the report.

City of Salem sues FEMA, DHS, citing federal overreach in disaster relief funding

Abbey McDonald·

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, the city of Salem said conditions within federal grants providing critical money to repair damages from the 2025 winter flood include unlawful terms limiting local diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

To comment on this story, use the form at the end of the report.

Negotiations between Cherriots, business leaders paused after months of meetings 

Joe Siess·
Talks between the Salem Area Mass Transit District and representatives from a coalition of six business and real estate groups, and citizens were halted last week, Cherriots said in a press release. The two groups formed a task force to find a compromise after a proposed payroll tax sparked frustration last year. To comment on…
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