Category City News
A unique library tucked away at Salem Health helps professionals and citizens
Paul Howard, Salem Health's medical librarian, has overseen significant changes to the library during his some 15-year tenure – including expanding its services to all clinical staff and opening a health library for the public.
Mayor Julie Hoy stands alone as all councilors concede ethics violation
Five Salem city councilors who, along with Salem Mayor Julie Hoy, were found to have participated in an illegal serial meeting in February, now have conceded they violated state ethics laws concerning public meetings. Hoy has insisted she did nothing wrong and hasn’t agreed to a sanction.
Salem-area organizers opt to skip unsheltered homeless count this year
Due to better methodology and rising costs of living, last year’s unsheltered Point-in-Time count measured a record number of people living on Salem’s streets. The Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance won’t be conducting a count this year due to a lack of staff availability in the region.
New search launched for a state hospital leader despite challenges
Oregon State Hospital is falling further behind targets for admitting patients without delays, but an interim leader says he is making progress to improve operations.
Council split on who to appoint to city boards and commissions
Salem city councilors and Salem Mayor Julie Hoy approved several appointments and reappointments to city boards and commissions tasked with shaping city policy last week. The council was split 5-4 on the appointments, with some sharing concerns over Salem attorney Michael Sewell and current police review board member Kyle Hedquist.
Federal funding for Salem-area homeless services in limbo after HUD withdraws controversial policy
After getting sued by 20 states including Oregon for its plan to shift nationwide homeless policy, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development temporarily pulled guidelines for distributing money to homeless shelters that prioritized those that require people to work and be sober before getting housing. Salem-area providers don’t know when applications will be due, or what will be asked of them.
Northwest Human Services balances optimism, realism while preparing for influx of Medicaid patients
Northwest Human Services plans to take on 2,500 additional Medicaid patients from Salem Clinic after the clinic and PacificSource failed to agree on a new contract.
Ethics commission finds Greg Smith repeatedly violated state law in boosting his pay
After a lengthy investigation, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission on Friday concluded that Greg Smith violated prohibitions against using his public position to arrange a substantial pay raise from a small agency. Smith is a Republican state representative from Heppner.
Unemployment rose in half the states in September, worst in Oregon
Oregon reported the largest increase in unemployment over the past year, and has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.