By Salem Reporter
With months until primary, Oregon’s Secretary of State race getting crowded
SALEM — The job of Oregon secretary of state may not bring fame or fortune, but it’s an essential state post. And politicians are lining up to get it. The race for secretary of state will determine who will manage…
Why does a diverse group of Oregon’s political interests want to take redistricting out of the legislature’s hands?
Oregon State Capitol, Legislature (Salem Reporter/file) After years of trying, Norman Turrill of Portland thought he had finally made some progress in preventing Oregon politicians from picking their voters. In 2017, then-Secretary of State Dennis Richardson invited Turrill to serve…
Salvation Army urges supporters to “Be the Light” at fundraising lunch
Raising funds at Salvation Army’s “Be the Light” luncheon. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter) The nostalgic tune of “Good King Wenceslas” and the aroma of cinnamon and pumpkin pie greeted you when you entered the Kroc Center for the…
Hate crimes in Oregon decreased in 2018
The number of hate crimes reported in Oregon dropped in 2018 after a three-year increase, according to a new report released earlier this week by the FBI. There were 118 hate crimes reported last year in Oregon, a drop from…
Former state exec who questioned Oregon emergency spending gets $500,000 settlement
SALEM — The state has agreed to pay $510,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a former deputy director at the Oregon Office of Emergency Management. Laurie Holien sued the state agency overseeing that office two years ago, alleging sex…
Finding police orders unjustified, Supreme Court reverses conviction
(Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons) Determining that police need more than a “hunch” to stop citizens, the Oregon Supreme Court has reversed a man’s conviction of interfering with a peace officer. The decision, issued last week, could affect encounters between police and the…
Trust is stronger in local media, and that’s good for Salem
NOTE: Reader reaction added below. As the country readies for nationally televised impeachment hearings, America’s trust in the press is more in doubt than ever. For those of us in the profession, that’s deeply troubling. If readers don’t trust what…
Two of Oregon’s largest unions see decline in state workers paying dues, but claim they’re bouncing back
(Courtesy SEUI Local 503) SALEM — Oregon’s largest public employee unions have seen double-digit declines in the number of state workers paying dues, state data show. Together, SEIU 503 and AFSCME Council 75 represent about 29,000 workers employed by state…
Oregon State Penitentiary unveils new “healing garden”
Oregon State Penitentiary Memorial Healing Garden gets its first visitors on Wednesday afternoon. (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter) SALEM — Wearing blue prison uniforms and kukui nut necklaces, Toshio Takanobu and Johnny Cofer stood outside of a room at the Oregon State…
Why a new Oregon law seeks to improve how hate crimes are reported
Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon attorney general In late October, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office won the first conviction under Oregon’s new hate crime law. The case involved a 50-year-old man who hurled slurs at two gay men before picking a…