Your Monday evening update on Salem news

Good evening, Salem.

Willamette University students are on their fourth day of a campus occupation urging the university to divest from the U.S. arms industry which they say is profiting from genocide in Gaza. The group joins student demonstrators around the U.S.

Western University of Health Sciences Lebanon Oregon

Reporter Joe Siess checked in with the student demonstrators Monday afternoon.

Zander Huston, one of the student occupation’s organizers and member of the group’s communications team, said that on Saturday morning the group moved its base of operations from the third floor of the Putnam University Center on campus to the Mark O. Hatfield Library. He said between 20 and 25 students have been participating in the overnight occupation since it began on Friday, with more students joining the group during the day.

Students are scheduled to meet Tuesday with Chief Operating Officer Dan Valles to discuss how the university’s $305 million endowment is invested.

“Hopefully, they (the administration) have come around to talking about our demands instead of just about how the endowment works,” Huston said.

In other news, we know many of our readers have been intensely interested in the criminal prosecution of Samuel Landis, a DEA special agent who struck and killed cyclist Marganne Allen last spring after he ran a stop sign while on a surveillance mission.

Attorneys for Landis and the state of Oregon will present arguments tomorrow morning in federal appeals court in Seattle over whether Landis should be immune from prosecution because of his job.

Reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian, who’s been following the case closely, explains more below. The hearing will also be streamed live here at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Here’s some of our latest coverage. Find all our coverage on our website here.

www.salemreporter.com

North Salem teacher resigns after state concludes he sexually abused students

Trever Ball, former Vikings basketball coach, will step down after a year on paid administrative leave following a student protest alleging sexual abuse. The teacher on Monday denied he abused…

www.salemreporter.com

State, DEA agent to argue over immunity defense in fatal cyclist collision

Attorneys for the Oregon Department of Justice and DEA agent Samuel Landis will argue Tuesday over whether he should be allowed to assert his job as a defense for running…

www.salemreporter.com

YOUR GOVERNMENT: School board gets first look at Salem-Keizer budget with deep cuts

The Salem-Keizer School Board and district budget committee meet Wednesday night to review a budget proposal that will cut hundreds of school jobs.

www.salemreporter.com

PHOTOS: A rainy celebration of sheep, archaeology

Willamette Heritage Center was buzzing Saturday as visitors learned about spinning and weaving, watched live sheep shearing and explored an active archaeological dig.

www.salemreporter.com

Salem voter’s guide to the May 21, 2024, primary election

From Salemu0026rsquo;s mayor to Oregonu0026rsquo;s top law enforcement official, local voters have plenty to weigh in on this month. Ballots were mailed to voters starting May 1 and need tou0026hellip;

THANKS FOR THE HELP….

The mayor’s debate last week was a success by several measures.

The candidates, Chris Hoy and Julie Hoy, hung in there for tough questions.

More than 300 of you showed up in person. And more than 1,000 have watched the YouTube video.

Such productions involve the work of many, and allow us to publicly thank them for helping us bring this community service to you.

The Salem City Club joined us as co-sponsors. Russ Beaton, club president, got the debate off to a start, Cindy Condon joined us in framing and asking questions and Jan Margosian helped with endless details. Thank you.

The Elsinore Theatre provided a great venue. Executive Director Tom Fohn and his team that includes Greg Reider, Mark Woodworth and Carlee Wright bend over backwards to make this happen. Thank you.

Capital Community Media arranges the broadcast on cable television and on Youtube. Clarke Hylton and his team, especially producer Ashley Johnson and Hunter Winnen, deserve thanks.

Such community events carry costs. If you’d like to help cover the debate costs, a contribution of $50 – or any amount larger or smaller – would be appreciated. You can do so easily and securely by donating HERE.

Once again, thank you to all those who had some role in this night of democracy on display.

–Les Zaitz, editor, Salem Reporter

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North Salem teacher resigns after state concludes he sexually abused students

State, DEA agent to argue over immunity defense in fatal cyclist collision

YOUR GOVERNMENT: School board gets first look at Salem-Keizer budget with deep cuts

PHOTOS: A rainy celebration of sheep, archaeology

Salem voter’s guide to the May 21, 2024, primary election

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