Good morning, Salem.
With the end of August comes the completion of duty by our reporting interns who spent 10 weeks working alongside the Salem Reporter team.
Mirandah Davis-Powell returns to the University of Oregon for her senior year.
Hailey Cook, who graduated this year from Oregon State University, isn’t going anywhere. She is joining our staff as a regular full-time reporter.
Mirandah and Hailey come to us through the Snowden program at UO’s School of Journalism and Communication. This is a prestigious internship and we’re delighted to be part of it. I asked these two go-getters to reflect on their summer with us – and with you.
“Throughout my time reporting in Salem this summer, I have seen firsthand the value of local journalism and how it can fill important gaps in coverage,” Cook wrote. “Being a part of this newsroom has shown me how our work is not only rooted in reporting the facts, but also in our commitment to the community and the trusting, lasting relationships we build with the people in it.”
She added, “I’ve also had the opportunity to meet so many kind and welcoming Salemites this summer dedicated to their roles in our community and passionate about what they do. I am thrilled to continue to be a part of this community as I stay on at the Salem Reporter.”
Davis-Powell focused on deepening our coverage of local agriculture.
“Much of the work I did this summer was in an effort to bring complex issues to a human level,” she wrote. “Whether that was zeroing in on a local impact of a national headline or breaking down jargon to be something relatable, editors always emphasized focusing on what you, dear reader, are looking for.”
She learned the vital ties between a local news source and its community.
“Local news is here to help you make sense of what that big news you heard about really means for your community, ask hard-pressed questions to local officials and get a consensus from our downtown neighbors on different topics,” she wrote. “Thank you for reading my words on your screen this summer, in whatever form they took.”
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Now, let’s turn to the news of the week, and Cook provided a great enterprise report on her last day as an intern.
Some vendors at the Oregon State Fair packed up and headed out, unhappy with the volume of business. They left with refunds from the fair operation.
Our team continued to track developments with the Cherriots and the controversial payroll tax. Managing Editor Rachel Alexander reports the tax is now being delayed.
And state representatives are expected to convene again on Sunday to finish up a special session focused on state transportation money. As Oregon Capital Chronicle reported, the House gave up Friday night when it came up short of enough legislators to do business.
In other local government reporting:
•Sheriffs across Oregon are lining up behind Marion County’s effort to resolve the conflict between Oregon and federal immigration policies.
•The city of Salem is on track to establish a new Hispanic Advisory Committee.
•To mow or not to mow? The city considers its options for Bush’s Pasture Park.
In community news reporting:
•Punx in the Park gets underway Sunday. As we reported, “Salem’s home-grown combination of a punk music festival and youth resource fair expects to draw thousands for a day of music, food and booths offering makeovers, activities and support for youth ages 11-18.”
•The impact of federal budget cuts continues to show up in Salem, including less money to help kids learn about nutrition and other reduced services from nonprofits serving children.
•A Marion County farmer is set to head overseas on Monday as part of a leadership program.
•A chocolate business in Salem is scaling way back, blaming tariffs in part for the decision.
In public safety reporting:
•Salem police dealt with two middle-of-the-night murders. One of the victims was a key figure in a Salem Reporter story three years ago.
•A Parrish Middle School teacher was charged with abusing his 6-week-old twins. Reporter Madeleine Moore got an exclusive interview just ahead of the teacher’s resignation.
•A second Salem man is heading to federal prison for his part in an illegal manufacturing operation making marijuana-infused candy and cereals.
EVENTS IN SALEM
Looking for something to do? A show? A class to take? Get the latest details on what’s happening with our Events Calendar. You can find this link at the top of our news site every day.
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