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.
Record number of homeless people counted in Marion, Polk counties
An annual count which attempts to measure the number of people experiencing homelessness in the region counted over 2,100 people, and nearly half said they were homeless for the first time in their lives.
What’s showing at Salem galleries, museums in May
New exhibitions on display this month include a showcase of local photography, a multi-medium celebration of flowers and partially concealed portraits.
Timeline: How Salem’s city government got to its current budget crisis
City leaders have spent years warning of an impending budget cliff, studying the issue and proposing ways to raise money to keep police, fire, the library and parks operating at current levels. Here’s a timeline of their efforts over the past seven years.
Salem Housing Authority pulls out of homeless outreach effort due to limited budget
For the past eight years, the Salem Housing Authority has helped unsheltered people move into permanent housing. Following budget cuts, they’ll pivot to focusing on keeping people housed, leaving homeless outreach work to other agencies in the network they helped build.
Sentenced to the Sidewalk: 4 takeaways from our series
A lengthy investigation by Salem Reporter led to publication recently of a three-part series on flaws in Oregon’s civil commitment process. Here are the key findings.
Salem Hospital shares behind-the-scenes look at emergency care
Doctors and nurses in Salem Hospital’s emergency department shared stories about how Salem’s growing and aging population has changed the landscape of trauma care for the region during a Tuesday presentation to community leaders.
Longswords to clash at Salem tournament
Fighters from around the Pacific Northwest will journey to Salem this Saturday, April 26, for an all-day longsword tournament. The explosive medieval fighting style is a blend of fencing and wrestling, and the tournament is free for anyone to watch.
HUD funding delays threaten rent assistance for Salem domestic violence survivors
With $4 million in funding toward Salem-area homeless services in limbo, providers worry that changes in federal contracts indicate deeper cuts and more restrictions on care ahead.
At 104th birthday, Salem resident recalls lifetime of music and community
Nellie Watson, a 23-year resident of The Springs at Lancaster Village, celebrated her 104th birthday with neighbors, family and carrot cake on Friday, April 11.
Residents raise questions about long-term plans to fix city budget gap at town hall
A town hall hosted by Salem Reporter on Tuesday drew hundreds for a discussion about Salem’s proposed property levy, which aims to prevent cuts to services like the library and parks by taxing property owners.