Abbey McDonald
Senior Reporter Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022, where she covers homelessness and housing. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
Salem’s latest budget leaves warming shelters out in the cold
The city of Salem’s budget for the next year does not include money toward warming shelters, which accept anyone on freezing winter nights. Jimmy Jones, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, said it shows the city is now putting its energy toward responding to what business owners ask, rather than ensuring homeless people are comfortable and safe.
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How homeless youth help guide shelter policy in Salem
Backbone is a youth action board that helps Salem-area policymakers decide where to invest state and federal money for homeless sheltering and support services. The board, which is seeking new members, is entirely made of people ages 11 to 24 who have been homeless.
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Salem to work with ODOT on Center Street encampment cleanup
The city of Salem’s service teams will be working with the state for a scheduled encampment cleanup starting July 13 underneath the Center Street Bridge. The collaboration comes ahead of an anticipated agreement between ODOT and the city which the city said will allow it to get more people referred to resources and prevent camps from returning to cleared areas.
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In a packed courtroom, Polk County celebrates a child’s return home
Friends and family of Kammi Murray and Jordan Hoover filled a Polk County courtroom on Tuesday, July 7 to celebrate the couple’s graduation from Family Recovery Court. The program brings together case workers, service providers, lawyers and a judge to help families navigate housing and substance use treatment in order to regain custody of their children.
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FEMA, DHS say Salem aims to ‘obstruct President Trump’s agenda’ with lawsuit
In response to the city of Salem’s lawsuit claiming that the White House has illegally imposed its political agenda against immigration and diversity, equity and inclusion, spokespeople for federal agencies named in the lawsuit said it “is another attempt to obstruct President Trump’s agenda and the will of the American people.”
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UPDATE: 5 injured by northeast Salem fireworks explosion
Late Saturday night, on the Fourth of July, an explosion of illegal fireworks injured five people on a northeast Salem street. Neighbors recalled seeing people lying on the ground in the aftermath, surrounded by glass from broken car windows. The victims are in stable condition as of Sunday afternoon.
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City of Salem sues FEMA, DHS, citing federal overreach in disaster relief funding
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, the city of Salem said conditions within federal grants providing critical money to repair damages from the 2025 winter flood include unlawful terms limiting local diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
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5 things to do in Salem this week: Marion Berries fireworks, ‘Mean Girls the Musical’
This week in Salem, the Marion Berries baseball team will play against the Portland Pickles at home, a new outdoor market will open downtown and Chemeketa Community College’s production of “Mean Girls the Musical” will show at Riverfront Park.
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5 exhibits to see at Salem’s galleries, museums in July
This month, local artists will share their interpretations of America’s 250th anniversary, and the Salem Art Association will showcase ceramics and sketches by studio artist Mya Cluff.
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Church at the Park expansion to give dozens of unsheltered seniors a place to rest
On Thursday, June 25, Church at the Park celebrated the completion of its Village of Hope microshelter expansion, which added 35 beds and increased accessibility to the central Salem site. The project aims to get more people off a waitlist of 3,000 people, amid rising rates of senior homelessness.
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