Category City News
After ordeal, new parents look forward to New Year as a family
Jessica Warren was 25 weeks pregnant in October when abdominal pain sent her to the emergency room at Salem Hospital. She ended up on a helicopter to OHSU, and later welcomed her son into the world weighing just over 2 pounds.
Major developments in downtown Salem nearing completion
Two downtown affordable housing developments and a large apartment building are scheduled to open in 2024.
Hundreds of millions are being siphoned out of Oregon Health Plan
With more withdrawals on the horizon, some health leaders say it’s time to curb the flow of profits being pulled out of the state’s health program for low-income Oregonians.
Salem Reporter’s most-read stories of 2023
A downtown construction boom, arson at St. Joseph and a fatal collision involving a DEA agent were some of Salem Reporter's top stories this year.
Wavra Farms opens winter farmers market in Salem
Wavra Farms & Nursery is running a weekly winter farmers market on Saturdays, with about 30 vendors, art classes and more.
Oregon’s labor bureau failed to collect nearly $5 million in wage theft claims since 2015
Oregon has struggled to hold employers accountable for their failure to pay workers, leaving millions in back wages and penalties uncollected.
Salem to invest in Vision Zero road safety plan
The City of Salem hopes to eliminate pedestrian and road deaths in the next decade. Its goal to lower speed limits and develop a “Vision Zero” plan was recently awarded $2.8 million by the federal government.
Record need has Salem food pantries stretched thin
Despite low unemployment, Salem-area food pantries are serving more than 18,000 families per month - nearly double the number pre-Covid.
More Salem property owners add apartments, cottages to increase housing
Over 50 permits to build accessory dwelling units, like a “mother-in-law” cottage or a basement apartment, have been filed so far this year. It’s twice as many as last year, and city planners say it’s something that will chip away at Salem’s housing needs. Officials hope to make the option more accessible with new ready-build plans.