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.
Meet the team tasked with fixing the city’s revenue issues
The Salem City Council approved 25 people and two alternates to its revenue task force on Monday, Jan. 22. The team will make recommendations for new money sources to support city services.
After resident concerns, Church at the Park will insulate water pipes, prioritize bathroom access in future storms
City Manager Keith Stahley said the city’s homelessness liaison would be part of future emergency management meetings ahead of extreme weather events to alert city leaders to potential challenges facing homeless service providers.
Pentacle Theatre looks forward to 70th season opener
If road conditions allow, the Pentacle Theatre will launch its 70th season with the comedy Brighton Beach Memoirs this weekend. It’s the 50th play directed by Jo Dodge, and the acting debut for longtime volunteer Beverly Freitas.
Residents say they face ‘public health crisis’ at Salem micro shelter not readied for icy weather
Residents at Salem’s Village of Hope micro shelter site have gone nearly three days without running water when pipes froze during the winter weather, and said management failed to shovel snow so people using wheelchairs and walkers can reach the bathrooms.
Salem won’t have its annual homeless count this year
The Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance has decided not to do a Point-in-Time Count of unsheltered people this year, and hopes it can develop it into a less invasive system of collecting and managing data about people who are homeless in Salem.
WEATHER: Freezing temperatures linger Sunday; Salem-Keizer cancels school Monday, Tuesday
Salem saw one of its coldest days since 1990 on Saturday, and freezing temperatures mean the snow and ice will likely remain through at least Tuesday.
Avelo “pleased” with Salem airport performance, serving 13,000 passengers
Three months after the first commercial flight in over a decade took off from the Salem Municipal Airport, Avelo Airlines said most flights have been over 80% full. The airline hasn’t tapped a pool of money the city set aside to guarantee revenues.
Eco-Earth sculpture continues to deteriorate as fundraising efforts lag
The Salem Parks Foundation remains short of its fundraising goal to restore the Eco-Earth Globe at Riverfront Park. President Carol Snyder hopes legislative funds and continued community support can fund the project in the next few years.
UPDATE: City Council sets goals for 2024
During their meeting on Monday, Jan. 8, councilors heard an update about the city’s team that will seek money to maintain services, which had 160 community applicants. They also approved an alternate contracting method for major projects.
Salem saw a drier 2023 with May, August heat records
In Salem, long stretches of hot weather broke heat records in 2023. It was the hottest May yet for the city, and August tied for first with 2017, according to the National Weather Service’s year in review.