Good morning….

The “atmospheric rivers” aimed at Oregon will continue for the next couple of days, keeping Salem plenty soggy.

According to local data, the city had about 1.5 inches of rain since Friday, and up to another inch is expected through today. The National Weather Service is leaving in place its flood watch through Tuesday afternoon.

The city of Salem’s network of stream gauges lets you keep an eye on those little creeks in your neighborhood. The water level’s rising.

Here’s the city’s map on Sunday morning showing 24-hour rainfall totals around Salem:

Our team is keeping an eye on all of this and you can go to our earlier report for useful links to the forecast and even where to get your hand on sandbags.

None of this is keeping Salem or us away from the holiday spirit. The Downtown Salem Holiday Parade drew a big crowd and photographer Laura Tesler caught the fun and flair in her photo essay.

At Salem Reporter, we’re putting the finishing touches on a guide to holiday shopping in Salem. We asked local businesses to tell us about one item they have for sale. This will be published Tuesday and we’re betting you will learn of businesses – and gift possibilities – you didn’t know were in town.

And if you’re feeling in a charitable mood, several Salem organizations could use your help in making the holiday season better for many. We detail how you can contribute.

On a more serious note, Managing Editor Rachel Alexander is tracking the unfolding budget cuts for the local school system. Officials at the Salem-Keizer School District are rolling out announcements in a series. Bottom line: Schools won’t look the same next year. This is one topic you’ll want to keep an eye on, and we’ll do the heavy lifting for you.

Money is also top of mind for those at Salem City Hall. As reporter Abbey McDonald shares, the Salem City Council plans to create another task force to look for money to cover city costs. Meantime, city officials continue to assess their own plans to cut city spending. As with the school cuts, our team will give you stories that explain in real terms what cuts could mean.

One evergreen solution is to get the state to pitch in. Oregon government owns a lot of real estate in Salem but doesn’t pay a nickel in property taxes. Momentum might be building for the state to start writing checks, an idea backed by Gov. Tina Kotek (a Salem resident these days).

We also continue our reporting on gun violence in Salem. This time, we look at how local schools have been facing issues of gang involvement. Salem Reporter is planning a Town Hall in January to give the community a revealing look at this community crisis – stay tuned for details.

Reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian continues to track the case of a federal drug agent accused of killing a Salem cyclist. Officials are mum about curious developments in the case.

What about us as a holiday gift?

 And since it’s the holiday season, consider giving a GIFT SUBSCRIPTION. This is easy, can be done online in just moments, and allows you to deliver a gift message. You give someone a year’s worth of local news – and help Salem Reporter thrive.

As always, thank you for reading and feel free to reach out to me anytime at [email protected] with ideas, questions or concerns. If you enjoy and value our work, help spread the word and suggest your friends and neighbors join in.

–Les Zaitz, CEO and editor