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Good morning, Salem.

Happy Halloween! Here’s a quick summary of a few things you might be wondering about.

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Food: SNAP benefits won’t go out Nov. 1, but other food programs will continue. That means WIC benefits go out, Meals on Wheels continues operating, and free school meals continue. If you need help with food, there are resources in our guide below, and Marion Polk Food Share has a list of pantries and free meal sites here.

Housing: Federal housing vouchers, often called Section 8, are funded through the end of the year, the Salem Housing Authority told us Wednesday.

Trick or treating: Free community events for trick-or-treating this evening:

Deepwood Museum, 1116 Mission St. S.E. 3-6 p.m. Pumpkin sugar cookies, candy, music and lawn games. Event designed for children 10 and under.

Salem Elks Lodge, 2336 Turner Rd. S.E., 3-6 p.m., open to kids and families for treats, a movie and games.

Fairmount Halloween Parade, starting at Fairmount Park, 650 Rural Ave. S., 5 p.m. Families invited to parade in costume and collect candy, ending at the governor’s residence, Mahonia Hall, 533 Lincoln St. S.

North Salem High School, 765 14th St. N.E., 5-7 p.m.

McKay High School, 2440 Lancaster Dr. N.E., 5:30-7 p.m. Trick or treating and games.

South Salem High School, 1910 Church St. S.E., 5:30-7 p.m. If able, families are asked to bring a donation of non-perishable food items for a food drive.

Here’s some of our latest news. You can always find our latest stories anytime on our website.

www.salemreporter.com

Marion County, Cherriots announce plans to support people losing SNAP benefits

Marion County announced Thursday evening that its Board of Commissioners is considering spending $100,000 per week on food baskets for people who rely on SNAP benefits locally amid the federal…

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www.salemreporter.com

Oregon Treasury reducing public pension investments in private equity

After criticism that the Oregon Investment Council overinvested public pension dollars in private equity funds, Treasurer Steiner is calling for a strategy shift.

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www.salemreporter.com

PODCAST: Food benefits, Dia de Muertos

Salem Reporter is teaming up with What’s Happening Salem for a regular recap of top Salem news. Here’s our latest episode, covering local events and the loss of SNAP benefits.

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www.salemreporter.com

COLUMN: I run a shelter. Here’s why people can’t always stay in them.

Columnist Lynelle Wilcox, who runs the Safe Sleep United shelter, shares stories from her day-to-day work with homeless Salemites.

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www.salemreporter.com

How to help people or get food in Salem as SNAP benefits are delayed

From food drives to mutual aid efforts, here’s where Salem people are coming together to help feed each other.

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www.salemreporter.com

What to do in Salem from Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Día de los Muertos, new Willamette University musical, harvest festivals

Events this week in Salem include several places to celebrate Día de los Muertos, community trick-or-treat events and live performances of music and theater.

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Garden Angels Landscape Design and Consulting Salem Oregon

READER SURVEY: We’ll be closing our reader survey on Friday.

You are invited to take a few moments to rate the importance to you of key Salem topics – from government to business to the arts.

We’re asking what local topics you would like to read more about.

And we want your candid advice: What would make Salem Reporter better, more useful?

If you participate, you get a chance at a $50 local gift certificate. Eight names will be drawn at random for a certificate good at any business in The Forge downtown.

Ready to participate? Here you go: SALEM REPORTER SURVEY

SEE LOCAL EVENTS: Our new events calendar lets you browse what’s happening in Salem – completely free. Want to submit an upcoming event? You can do that here.

TIP US TO NEWS: We welcome your tips about possible Salem stories – a community event, a local resident doing something extraordinary, a government action that needs investigating. Send your information, ideas or questions by email to our editor, Les Zaitz, at [email protected].

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