By Salem Reporter
Woman breaks free of attacker in Minto Brown Park
A 29-year-old woman fought off an unknown attacker last night at Minto Brown Park, escaping a man who tried to kidnap her at knifepoint, according to the Salem Police Department. Police said they arrested 23-year-old David Belluno and booked him…
DHS seeks more than 1,000 new employees to support child welfare in proposed budget
Oregon’s largest state agency is asking for more than $1 billion to add 1,664 new employees. But the proposed salaries won’t fill Oregon Department of Human Services’ cubicles with high-paid lawyers or bolster a public relations team. It will go…
Swegle kindergarten students kick off year with dual language classes
Rashelle Méndez, left, and Albeiro Reyes, right, listen during a lesson on the first day of kindergarten at Swegle Elementary. (Salem Reporter/Rachel Alexander) Karina Rodríguez sounded out her name, writing each letter on the board as her students shouted out…
Salem Keizer school board won’t take position on immigration ballot measure
Students enter Highland Elementary on Friday, Sept. 7. (Special to Salem Reporter/Moriah Ratner) The Salem-Keizer School Board Tuesday night renewed a resolution supporting “safe and welcoming schools” but declined to take a public position on a more controversial Oregon ballot…
ACLU takes aim at Measure 11 in a plan to cut Oregon’s prison population in half
Oregon State Correctional Institution east of Salem (Salem Reporter/Aubrey Wieber) In recent decades, Oregon’s prison population has ballooned. In 2016, it was nearly five times that of 1980. In January, 14,713 people were held in Oregon prisons. Now, a civil…
Salem students start school year amid push to improve attendance
Classmates talk over breakfast at Highland Elementary School on Friday, Sept. 7. (Special to Salem Reporter/Moriah Ratner) As Salem students head back to school, the district is launching a campaign to improve student attendance. Early efforts are focusing on North…
Chronic absenteeism: see how Salem-Keizer schools stack up
(Graphic by Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) As school kicks off, Salem schools are trying to reduce student absenteeism. Students who miss 10 percent or more of school are less likely to graduate on time, and districts across the country are looking…
Career center adds law enforcement, business options for Salem-Keizer students
Students applaud at the opening of two new programs at the Career and Technical Education Center in northeast Salem on Friday, Sept. 7. (Special to Salem Reporter/Moriah Ratner) McKay High School senior Cory Kudna grew up hunting deer and elk…
Brown holds cash edge on Buehler as campaigns crank up.
Democrat Kate Brown and Republican Knute Buehler both have logged $500,000 single contributions for their campaigns. (Photo courtesy Kate Brown Committee) As the race to become Oregon’s next governor enters its late stretch and attack ads take a fiercer tone,…
Salem-Keizer school officials say too many kids missing too much school
Sara LeRoy, North Salem High School principal, is focused on driving down student absenteeism. (Special to Salem Reporter/Moriah Ratner) When Sara LeRoy became principal at North Salem High School, she knew she was in for a lot of work. The…