By Troy Brynelson and Rachel Alexander — Salem Reporter

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SPECIAL REPORT: The region’s busiest ER is in Salem, facing more critical cases and climbing patient counts

Nancy Bee, nurse manager for the Salem Health emergency department, shows a treatment room for a less seriously ill patient. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) The sound system crackled to life in the busiest emergency room in the Northwest. “Code blue, three minutes, room seven,” came the announcement. An ambulance was about[Read More…]

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Sam Brentano won’t seek re-election in 2020

Marion County Courthouse. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) Sam Brentano, who has served on the Marion County Board of Commissioners since 2003, won’t seek reelection in 2020. Brentano also plans to endorse current Salem-Keizer School Board member Danielle Bethell, who announced her candidacy Wednesday. “I have been a County Commissioner[Read More…]

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Marion County, Covanta continue seeking ‘renewable’ status amid threats to close plant

Marion County’s waste disposal partner was unable to secure from 2019 legislators a lucrative deal that would deem the company a renewable energy producer and now the Brooks plant’s future is in question. Now, Covanta and the county are publicly making veiled threats that, if lawmakers don’t pass a proposal[Read More…]

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Costco-anchored shopping center sent back to Salem City Council

The site of the proposed Kuebler Gateway Shopping Center in South Salem. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) A sprawling shopping center on Kuebler Boulevard, anchored by a Costco Wholesale, will likely go back before Salem City Council. The State Land Use Board of Appeals on Wednesday remanded the council’s decision from December,[Read More…]

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With eviction looming for homeless camp, its residents and city leaders left with questions

Scattered trash and belongings at an encampment near Marion Square Park. The city announced this week it plans to evict the camp Tuesday. Concerns arose afterward about a program that provides free meals. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) After word spread the city of Salem would cancel a program that helped feed[Read More…]

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Park crew calls Minto-Brown assault a one-off, says the area is historically safe

Two women jog Monday at Minto-Brown Island Park on a trail less than a mile south of the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) After a report surfaced Thursday of a man kidnapping and trying to rape a woman in Minto-Brown Island Park, some Salem residents took to[Read More…]