By Salem Reporter
Businesses warn of closures as they prepare for new Covid restrictions
Downtown Salem’s usually busy streets were nearly empty during the lunch hour on March 17, 2020, the first day of a statewide restaurant closure. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Business groups warned on Friday that expansive new restrictions from Gov. Kate Brown…
Salem’s unemployment rate has followed state and nation trends. But the numbers tell a deeper story
Employment in the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area has stayed close to trends in Oregon and the U.S. (Pam Ferrara) Salem’s unemployment rate declined in September to 7.8%, closely tracking Oregon and U.S. unemployment rates (see graph). These rates track closely…
Salem restaurants face new, job threatening restrictions
Signs in the window of Brown’s Towne Restaurant and Lounge on Wednesday, September 30. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) After doing everything he’s supposed to for months, John McGrath, the owner of McGrath’s Fish House, said he feels singled out. When the…
Refrigerators to be posted around Salem to feed the hungry without question
James, a homeless man living around Lancaster Drive, adds mayonnaise to a sack lunch sandwich after answering questions for Salem’s 2019 point-in-time count. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Most families keep refrigerators tucked away in kitchen corners. Two Salem-area women hope to…
After switching over half its bus fleet to renewable fuel, Cherriots eyes other ways to cut emissions
A Cherriots bus powered by renewable natural gas. (Courtesy/Cherriots) More than half of Cherriots buses now get their fuel from landfills. In December last year, the transit provider for the Salem area switched the fuel source for 34 buses from…
AROUND OREGON: Ontatrio’s Bentz caps long political career with seat in Congress
Cliff Bentz, Ontario attorney, discusses his election to be U.S. representative in Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District in an interview on Thursday, Nov. 5. (The Enterprise/Les Zaitz) ONTARIO – Cliff Bentz is going to get pretty used to the Boise Airport…
AGENDA: City’s Urban Renewal Agency could help to homeless services provider
The sign at The ARCHES Project. (Anthony McGuire/Special to Salem Reporter) On Monday, the Salem Urban Renewal Agency will consider agreements intended to help Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency expand homeless services. Also on the agenda is giving the city…
UPDATED | Arrests made as competing rallies form in Salem, drawing hundreds
A rally hosted by the Pacific Northwest Community Action Group, planned for the Capitol on Saturday, was shifted to Pringle Community Hall. Several hundred people gathered for what was billed as speeches and a march. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) UPDATE SATURDAY…
BUSINESS ROUNDUP: CEO retires, money for specialty crops, relief for quarantined workers and loans for wildfire victims
Nothing but ashes and metal is left of Bonnie Sullivan’s home on the banks of the Santiam River just east of Mill City. She escaped the wildfire by riding in an open car trunk. (Photo courtesy of Bonnie Sullivan) There’s…
Salem area Senate seat remains undecided
Senate District 10 extends into Polk County and includes west and south Salem. No clear winner has yet to emerge in a hotly contested state Senate race two days after election night. As of Thursday afternoon, neither Sen. Denyc Boles,…