Joe Siess
Joe Siess is a reporter for Salem Reporter. Joe joined Salem Reporter in 2024 and primarily covers city and county government but loves surprises. Joe previously reported for the Redmond Spokesman, the Bulletin in Bend, Klamath Falls Herald and News and the Malheur Enterprise. He was born in Independence, MO, where the Oregon Trail officially starts, and grew up in the Kansas City area.
CITY MEETING: Council approves adding four ambulance workers to fire department
The Salem City Council will consider authorizing four more full-time ambulance workers for the fire department to help address strain on the city’s ambulance system as call volumes rise.
UPDATED: Salem city councilors move forward plan to refund businesses for downtown parking tax
Six months in, Salem’s downtown paid parking system continues to earn far more for the city than projected. That’s prompted city leaders to recommend a repeal and refund of a tax charged to downtown businesses to support parking infrastructure.
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Salem Reporter won’t host free mayoral debate after mayor doesn’t respond to invitation
Salem Mayor Julie Hoy did not respond to an offer by Salem Reporter to participate in a televised public debate by a Wednesday deadline and later said she would not give a definitive answer. Her opponent in the upcoming May election, Salem City Councilor Vanessa Nordyke, had accepted.
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Hundreds gather at Oregon Capitol on MLK Day to protest ICE, show support for immigrants
A small crowd swelled into hundreds on Monday as the plaza in front of the Oregon Capitol building was transformed into a festive gathering space in support of the immigrant community.
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Budget committee votes to seek $400,000 fund for social needs, ICE impacts
The city budget committee voted 11-7 on Wednesday night to recommend a city fund to provide assistance to those in need, including people impacted by federal immigration enforcement activities in Salem. A final decision would come from the city council.
Hoy, Nordyke spar on ethics, homelessness during chamber mayoral debate
Salem Mayor Julie Hoy and Salem City Councilor Vanessa Nordyke faced off during a debate hosted by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Monday, taking questions from the chamber, each other and the audience.
Mayor Julie Hoy asks city to coordinate with ODOT for homeless camp cleanups in Salem
During Monday’s city council meeting, Salem Mayor Julie Hoy will propose taking steps to work with the Oregon Department of Transportation to improve cleanliness and maintenance of ODOT property within Salem. Councilors will not take any action until a meeting later this month.
Salem protest on Saturday draws 1,000 over ICE killing
A crowd approaching 1,000 people gathered Saturday in Salem at the north end of the Oregon State Capitol grounds, near the intersection of Northeast Center Street and Summer Street. Protesters in Salem, and across the nation, came out largely in response to a Minneapolis ICE shooting that killed a 37-year-old woman.
Salem chamber to hold mayoral debate Monday morning
A debate between Mayor Julie Hoy and challenger City Councilor Vanessa Nordyke will guide the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce’s endorsement decision for the May 2026 election.
Salem City Council removes Kyle Hedquist from police review board, civil service commission
Salem city councilors voted 6-2 Wednesday night to remove convicted murderer Kyle Hedquist from volunteer roles on the city’s Community Police Review Board and Civil Service Commission. A special meeting to discuss the issue was called due to safety concerns as councilors received threats.