By Salem Reporter
With whirlwind 90-day effort, YMCA inks victory in capital campaign
The Salem YMCA under construction on Feb. 16, 2022 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) After more than four years of lobbying and courting donors, leaders at Salem’s YMCA are declaring victory. The nonprofit last week succeeded in a challenge to raise $3…
Man walks away from corrections laundry sorting building Wednesday
(Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) State corrections officials said Wednesday that a man in custody walked away from an Oregon Corrections Enterprises laundry sorting building in Salem. Bohanna McQuiston walked away from the building on the grounds of the Oregon State Penitentiary…
Virtual series highlights local history, from Oregon Trail to Chinese Americans in Salem
(Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) The Willamette Heritage Center on Thursday will begin a virtual lecture series on the Mid-Willamette Valley’s history, including the Oregon Trail, Indigenous culture and the state’s parks. The Spring Zooming Back to History series will have four…
Republican legislators serving vast area of Oregon have tough time advancing their agenda
State Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, says he focuses on good ideas and people who will work with him in a session where Democrats have the numbers to dominate. (Enterprise file photo) Two weeks into Oregon’s legislative session, Democrats are moving…
Data digest: Covid by the numbers for Feb. 15, 2022
Oregon Health Authority’s hospitalization data shows regional Covid hospitalizations falling as of Feb. 15, 2022. Covid hospitalizations in both Oregon and in Salem are falling from their peaks during the omicron surge, but remain high. Here’s Salem Reporter’s Covid report…
AGENDA: Marion County commissioners consider contracts to expand vaccine access
The Marion County Board of Commissioners meets Wednesday to consider beefing up contracts that would expand access to Covid vaccines and implement a new radio system for first responders, as well as new contract to help keep minors out of…
Coffee grounds get a second life at Chemeketa’s startup farm
Amanda Roberts, a Dutch Bros. barista and leader of the “Tulip Team,” drops off coffee grounds to compost at Chemeketa Community College’s agriculture complex on Feb. 10, 2022 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Amanda Roberts grinned as she dumped a hefty bag…
Proposal to pay farmworkers overtime clears first hurdle in Legislature
A change in Oregon law to require overtime pay for farmworkers passed out of a legislative committee on Tuesday, Feb. 14. (The Enterprise/file) A controversial plan to require overtime pay that would affect the 86,000 farmworkers in Oregon advanced on…
Salem councilor Jim Lewis resigns, triggering need for replacement
Ward 8 city councilor Jim Lewis during a volunteer event at Orchard Heights Park. (Helen Caswell/Special to Salem Reporter) Jim Lewis, a Salem city councilor who has represented west Salem since 2015, has resigned. Lewis announced his resignation in an…
Astoria man takes plea deal, three years probation for macing police at state Capitol protest
Demonstrators break the glass on a door to the Oregon State Capitol during a special legislative session in December 2020. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) An Astoria man accused of spraying three Salem police officers with mace during a violent protest at…