Abbey McDonald
Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
Salem’s housing production strategy aims to make it easier to build homes
The city’s six-year plan to make renting or buying a home in Salem more affordable includes speeding up permitting processes, allowing more housing to be built in more places and using federal funds to support first-time homebuyers.
New counseling office expands Salem mental health care
Brightways Counseling Group recently opened an expanded office to more than double their staff to serve children, families and adults in Salem. Many of their clients are on the Oregon Health Plan.
City budget committee to reconvene, restore city services with levy funds
The city of Salem’s budget committee will reconvene on Wednesday, May 28, to discuss restoring planned cuts to next year’s library, Center 50+ and parks budget following the passage of a tax levy.
Punx With Purpose moves into downtown resource center
Hundreds of youth have already gotten support at Stormie’s Place, a new youth resource center in downtown Salem offering a safe haven, needed supplies and connections to resources for all teens in the community, including those without a safe place to stay.
City cancels Viva Salem event due to understaffing
Viva Salem, a popular community celebration of Hispanic heritage at Riverfront Park, won’t return for its third year due to understaffing at the city.
How a group of library lovers convinced a reluctant Salem to raise property taxes
Salem’s public library, parks and Center 50+ will likely avoid deep cuts with Salem voters favoring the levy as of late Tuesday night. It’s a victory for library advocates, who knocked on doors and secured a wide range of endorsements to get the public’s backing.
Voters pass Salem’s levy, initial counts indicate
Salem’s public library, parks and services will likely avoid deep cuts after 54.2% of voters in initial count support a new city tax levy to fund them.
Marion County sees increase in syphilis among pregnant women
Oregon is seeing an alarming increase in congenital syphilis, which is when the infection transmits to a fetus during pregnancy. Nearly one in four Oregon cases last year was in Marion County.
State Street construction to add some traffic through the fall
Intermittent construction work at the intersection of State Street and Southeast 25th Street will slow down traffic in the area through October. Another project on a section of Southeast McGilchrist Street will close eastbound traffic between Southeast 22nd and 25th streets through the end of the year.
Fearing federal cuts, Liberty House seeks state money to advocate for abused children
The Liberty House Children’s Advocacy Center provides medical exams, forensic interviews and therapy to hundreds of abused children in Marion and Polk counties each year. They’re seeking additional support from the state and community to meet the need.