Troy Brynelson - Salem Reporter
Congestion task force to recommend 18 ideas to ease downtown traffic
The Marion Street Bridge in early September. A task force has since February worked on ideas to cut traffic congestion around the bridges and will soon present ideas to Salem City Council. (Moriah Ratner/Special to Salem Reporter) Travel times over…
Wine wars: Oregon and Napa Valley clash over labeling, state and federal regulators investigating
Rows of grapes growing at Willamette Valley Vineyards in Turner on Tuesday. The vineyard is part of a fight against what it perceives as misappropriation of the region’s pinot noir by a Napa Valley winery. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) TURNER —…
Former mushroom field could be site of 800-home development
The former site of PictSweet Mushrooms, which closed in 2001, pictured on Friday. A Lake Oswego developer proposes building 800 homes there. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) A former mushroom farm in east Salem could sprout more than 800 homes, as well…
Workers and land in short supply for future growth, SEDCOR’s outgoing president says
Chad Freeman, pictured in his office has one week left as the president of the county’s regional economic development arm. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Like the economy, Chad Freeman has to keep moving. While starting a conversation about his time leading…
Report: Salem’s lack of communication during water crisis fueled disarray
The city of Salem’s initial response to cyanotoxins breaching the water supply this summer caused a frenzy, an independent report found. The 34-page report, conducted by Ohio-based Novak Consulting Group, found that the city focused too much on sensational messaging…
Cherriots, Walmart at odds over potential transit center in south Salem
Walmart on Southeast Commercial Street worries it could lose more than 140 parking spaces if Cherriots pursues its transit station. (Special to Salem Reporter/Moriah Ratner) Update Sept. 12: Cherriots and Walmart have not yet struck a deal. The two sides…
Salem, cities must disclose arrest records even involving child abuse, appeals court says
The city of Salem lost a case in the Oregon Court of Appeals last week that could have broader implications on the disclosure of arrest records. The appellate court last Thursday overturned a Marion County Circuit Circuit ruling that supported…
$6 million gone as Salem’s third bridge plan idles
A task force on Friday will wrap up its work on Salem traffic congestion that could be one more step away from the long-discussed third bridge in downtown Salem. (Special to Salem Reporter/Benjamin Brink) While many in the state play…
Bennett biding his time, but plans to seek investigation into city’s water crisis
Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett (Special to Salem Reporter/Moriah Ratner) Mayor Chuck Bennett’s lasting memory of his long trip to England earlier this year is a lot of confusion. Bennett, 70, and his wife had carefully planned to celebrate his retirement…
Plastic bags ban heads to city council Monday
Updated 9 p.m. Sept. 10: After nearly two hours of public testimony, the Salem City Council decided not to ban on single-use plastic bags — at least not yet. Council voted 5 to 4 to send the proposed ban back…