By Salem Reporter
The coronavirus has blown a hole in the state’s budget and economy, new forecast shows
The Oregon State Capitol canceled a Cherry Blossom Festival scheduled in March due to COVID-19. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) Cuts to schools and other public services as well as a reduction to the number of state jobs could be on the…
PHOTOS: Election goes on, even in a pandemic
Amy Vandegrift removes ballots from their envelopes at the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) As a vote-by-mail state, Oregon’s May 19 primary election went on largely as planned in the midst of a pandemic,…
As businesses go bust, a Salem donut shop finds a sweet spot
Talwinder Dhaliwal the owner of Dude Donut City. (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter) Even when the economy’s in free fall and there’s no end in sight to a global pandemic, you can count on people’s appetite for fried dough and sugar. Dude…
Oregon’s unemployment rate rises to 14.2%
A graph from the Oregon Employment Department, released May 19, illustrates job losses during previous recessions and how they compare to the current economic downturn. (Courtesy/Oregon Employment Department) Oregon’s unemployment rate has risen to 14.2% as the economy has hemorrhaged…
PHOTOS: Life as a leader during the pandemic – Jimmy Jones
Ashley Hamilton, program director of the ARCHES Project, shows Jones recently donated supplies that are currently stored in the building’s unused sobering center on May 7, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Work has changed dramatically for Jimmy Jones, the executive director…
Judge undoes order to stay home and out of church. But governor hopes an appeal will revive it
Gov. Kate Brown listens to an update from the state Employment Department during a revenue briefing on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Oregonians wanting to reopen businesses and churches scored a legal victory on Monday when a judge threw…
Judge rules that Gov. Kate Brown’s coronavirus orders are invalid
Gov. Kate Brown listens in during a phone call with Vice President Mike Pence and other governors on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) A state judge in Baker County ruled Monday that Gov. Kate Brown’s restrictive orders related to…
Flickers of life in downtown Salem emerge as state orders are relaxed
Kristina Wargnier, of Salem, waits outside of Cooke Stationery Company on May 12, 2020. Wargnier was dropping off face masks for employees to the store. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Colleen Henery has felt like her store has been on an island.…
PHOTOS: Sunday service at the Capitol presses for right to gather, worship
More than 400 people attended the All-Church Worship Service at the Capitol on Sunday, May 17. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) An outdoor worship service on the steps of the Capitol on Sunday, May 17, drew about 400 people. The event was…
PHOTOS: The Oregon State Fairgrounds in photos – then and now
A fire destroyed two key buildings at the state fairgrounds in 1967. (Oregon State Fair Archives photo) A fire destroyed two key buildings at the state fairgrounds in 1967. (Oregon State Fair Archives photo) Gov. Tom McCall gets a briefing…