Salem Reporter’s Sunday newsletter
Good morning!
A member of our Salem Reporter family is moving on.
Rachel Alexander, the very first Salem Reporter employee in 2018 who became managing editor, has elected to step down. Friday was her last day.
You never want to lose a valuable team member, and Rachel has been key to Salem Reporter. She ably handled schools and education reporting, developing an expertise that helped readers understand a sometimes complex world.
She produced award-winning journalism and, as managing editor, helped guide other Salem Reporter journalists to their own awards.
Along the way, she became infused in Salem, arriving here from Spokane. She and her family joined local organizations, participated in local events. I dare say her daughter Lilith now has more friends than I do. You can continue to expect to see her and her family around town.
All of us at Salem Reporter wish Rachel the very best in her path ahead – and give her profound thanks for helping lead us to where we are today.
That means she gets to skip the late-night work that goes into covering election results. The team is getting ready to get you the numbers next week.
As of Friday, voter turnout remains low in the area – typical for a primary election in a year when there is no presidential campaign. The state Elections Division reported that as of Friday morning, 5.17% of Marion County’s 233,757 registered voters had returned ballots. In Polk County, 7.10% of 64,918 ballots had been returned. The state average for 36 counties: 5.68%. The leading county? Gilliam in eastern Oregon: 14.31%
You still have plenty of time to fill out your ballot and get it in for the May 19 election.
We wrapped up our profiles of candidates last week, finishing up with the folks running for Polk County commissioner. An incumbent is facing four challengers.
If you’re still undecided on your local races, we’re here to help with our online election guide. Read more, for instance, about the 2026 Salem city election here.
And let us inspire you to be active in these local decisions.
Senior reporter Abbey McDonald introduces you to an elementary school student who isn’t afraid of a microphone – or politics. Take a moment to read about Zoey Harper.
In local government reporting…
•Six young men facing trouble were invited to a face-to-face meeting with Salem’s police chief and others. The results were surprising.
•The Salem-Keizer School District is moving ahead with eliminating jobs and some classes to make the budget numbers balance.
•A local judge decided a man accused of killing his 70-year-old mother needs treatment at the Oregon State Hospital. That’s just one update you’ll find about local criminal matters in this edition of “Whatever Happened.”
•Columnist Mark Wardell tackles one more necessity about getting prepared for an emergency. He writes: “We tackle the topic no one wants to talk about, but everyone needs to plan for: sanitation.”
In local business news…
•Salem’s economy added jobs while the state as a whole went backwards, an economist reports. The economist, as quoted in our story: “Salem is really bucking the trend that we’ve seen across the state. The only substantive job growth of any metro area in the state in the last year was the Salem (metropolitan statistical area).”
•One of Oregon’s largest health insurers is speaking out against a proposed merger between two local hospitals. Reporter Hailey Cook continues to break ground in keeping an eye on this deal.
•A big warehouse in Salem is about to be transformed into a giant pantry, feeding Salem’s hungry.
And for fun…
•A new music series is coming to Salem – “Music at the Mill.” The concerts begin in June.
•We’re here to help you catch up all the summer events in Salem to get them on your calendar.
Other news from Oregon Capital Chronicle…
•A local brew pub got a lot of attention around Oregon over a dustup with a Republican candidate for governor’s hoped-for event.
•After a dry winter, it’s no surprise that wildfire season is coming early to Oregon this year.
•Some who receive federal food benefits can stay on the rolls if they join a state program. The problem: Not enough slots.
Have thoughts about our reporting? A story we should do? A person we should profile? Or do you have questions about how we do our work? You’re welcome to send me an email – I read every one of them.
Email: [email protected]
–Les Zaitz, editor and owner
DONATE: Salem Reporter News Fund
Salem Reporter is preparing to ask tough questions about the education of 38,000 children in our local school system.
The $1 billion a year spent on Salem-Keizer schools each year is a mystery to many people. Where does that money go? What does it buy? What results is the community seeing?
That’s why we’re bringing on two nationally-recruited reporters in July.
If you want to support this work, contribute now to the Salem Reporter News Fund.
The national nonprofit Report for America, is funding part of this reporting position. We’re asking readers like you to help fund the rest.
You can contribute in several ways:
• Donate securely online in just a few moments.
• Write a check (Salem Reporter, 494 State St., #410 Salem OR 97301 — note News Fund on your check).
• Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution through your IRA custodian (details are on the News Fund page).
When you contribute, you become part of the group of Salem readers making this reporting possible. Scores of your neighbors have already stepped forward to support deeper coverage of our schools.
Copyright © 2025 Salem Reporter. All rights reserved. |
Our mailing address is: 494 State St., #410 • Salem, Oregon 97301 |
You are receiving this email because you signed up through our website or participated in a promotion. |