Category City News
NW Natural opposes Salem’s proposed ban on new natural gas hookups
A natural gas meter outside a Salem home (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) The natural gas utility that serves nearly 40,000 Salem customers is opposed to an objective in Salem’s proposed Climate Action Plan that aims to ban new natural gas hookups in the city. The final…
Chopped trees on south Salem property trigger review, possible fines by city
Trees cut down on a property in south Salem that led to an investigation by the city of Salem. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) A field of cut down trees on a property in south Salem triggered a review by the city of Salem that could lead…
City grant aims to help Salem child care providers stay in business
Preschool students work on a paper mache project in class (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Leah Peay already had experience working in daycare when she had her first child. Rather than put her daughter in someone else’s care, she decided to open her own business: a small…
City manager Steve Powers will retire Feb. 28
City Manager Steve Powers responds to questions from a crowd of neighbors at Pringle Community Hall on Jan. 17, 2020. Salem’s city manager, Steve Powers, announced Monday that he will retire Feb. 28 after six years at the city. Powers began working for the city…
Salem’s economic development plan aims to help businesses recover from the pandemic
The Chang Tuh facility expansion on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) When the pandemic first sent many businesses into a shutdown, Annie Gorski was getting dozens of calls and emails each week. Gorski, the city of Salem’s economic development manager, said businesses knew…
Salem to ask voters to approve $300 million infrastructure bond next November
The Salem Fire Department (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) The city of Salem plans to ask voters to approve spending $300 million over 10 years to pay for infrastructure improvements, fire equipment and parks. The bond would be on the November 2022 ballot. City officials said it…
Salem City Council chooses new ward boundaries that plan for future growth in west, south Salem
Screengrab of the third map proposed for new ward boundaries. Current wards are outlined in black; new boundaries are shown in color. In a near unanimous vote on Monday night, the Salem City Council chose to re-draw ward boundaries in a way that will accommodate…
Library staff felt Covid concerns were dismissed by now-resigned librarian
Former city librarian Sarah Strahl stands near the automated materials handler, a machine that will process returns immediately, at the Salem Public Library on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) An email accidentally sent to Salem library employees triggered more than a dozen grievances…
Mayor Chuck Bennett doesn’t plan to seek fourth term
Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) When Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett ran for a third term in 2020, he made his wife, Cherie, a promise. He agreed that it would be his last two years. Now he’s making good on that promise as he…