Nonaffiliated voters key to victory in governor’s race

With polls showing the two main gubernatorial candidates only a few percentage points away from victory, their campaigns are focused on winning votes from nonaffiliated and independent voters in the final days before Tuesday’s election. The last-minute choices of those voters could determine the outcome of the…
Parents recognize eclectic West Salem French teacher Christy Beckstrom

Christy Beckstrom reviews French grammar with senior Olivia Caudell in class on Nov. 1, 2018 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Parents, students and colleagues nominated 61 Salem-Keizer educators for Crystal Apple Awards this year. The award, given annually by the Salem-Keizer Education…
From stormtrooper to Snow White, Salem students show off Halloween costumes

Maria Mendoza Toribio, a fourth-grader at Yoshikai Elementary School, poses in her Snow White costume during lunch. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Students and staff at Yoshikai Elementary School went all-out for Halloween, with dozens of princesses, animals, superheroes and book characters…
Early voting hits new high for mid-term elections

Perhaps there is something to all the fundraising, television ads and “get out the vote” efforts. According to the Secretary of State’s Office, 2018 is seeing more voter activity so far than any other mid-term election in Oregon history. By…
At Judson Middle School, student pushes teacher beyond comfort zone with Crystal Apple nomination

Kristin Micklewright helps a seventh-grader take a reading test on Oct. 30, 2018. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Parents, students and colleagues nominated 61 Salem-Keizer educators for Crystal Apple Awards this year. The award, given annually by the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, recognizes…
Changes ahead as enrollment opens for Oregon health plans

EDITOR’S NOTE: Salem Reporter is pleased to announce yet another collaboration to be sure Salem readers get important information from credible, trustworthy sources. The Lund Report, expert at covering Oregon health issues, will be sharing its work with Salem Reporter.…
After 28,000 registered Independents voted, the party’s candidate dropped out. Voters will not get a second chance.

SALEM — If you cast a ballot for the Independent Party of Oregon candidate in the governor’s race and now want to vote for someone else, you’re out of luck. Patrick Starnes announced Tuesday he was dropping out of the…
New effort afoot to rein in big money in Oregon political campaigns

SALEM — Advocates have long tried to curtail political spending in Oregon, and are back at it again now, circulating an initiative petition in an effort to let voters decide, in 2020, whether to allow limits. Those efforts got a boost…
Oregon governor’s race jostled by independent’s switch to back Brown

Gov. Kate Brown, Democratic incumbent, Patrick Starnes, Independent Party candidate for governor, and KATU anchor Debora Knapp at the station’s studio Tuesday after Starnes decided to endorse Brown. (Oregon Capital Bureau/Paris Achen) On Sunday evening, Patrick Starnes, a cabinet maker…
Independent candidate backs Brown in surprise move

Gubernatorial candidate Patrick Starnes, of the Independent Party, has endorsed Gov. Kate Brown. (Paris Achen/Portland Tribune) Patrick Starnes, a Brownsville cabinetmaker who took the political stage to spotlight campaign finance reform and third-party inclusion, announced Tuesday that he was dropping…

