The Marion County Board of Commissioners meets Wednesday to consider an ordinance that would allow residents to vote on banning psilocybin manufacturing and service centers in unincorporated areas of the county. AGENDA The board will consider adopting an ordinance that would refer to voters a measure banning psilocybin manufacturing and[Read More…]
City News
Cascades Gateway Park to reopen Monday, a year after city officially ended sanctioned homeless camping
A portion of Salem’s Cascades Gateway Park will reopen Monday after an end to city-sanctioned homeless camping prompted a nearly year-long closure for cleanup. The park has been closed to the public since Aug. 19, 2021. The city’s parks department had hoped to reopen earlier, but parks crews had to[Read More…]
Salem utility bills will increase about $5 monthly for homeowners in 2023
City utility rates will increase about 5% for most homeowners in 2023 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem homeowners can expect to pay about $5 more per month for city water and utilities starting in January. The Salem City Council on Monday unanimously approved a utility rate increase for 2023 and 2024[Read More…]
Grand jury finds Salem officers justified in fatally shooting teen suspect
A Marion County grand jury on Thursday unanimously found three Salem police officers were justified in shooting and killing 16-year-old Robert Brown on July 13 after attempting to arrest him. A statement released Friday evening by the Marion County District Attorney’s Office said the officers fired a total of 20[Read More…]
Get a free blood pressure screening, sports physical at July 29 health clinic
Free health services will be available to community members next Friday, July 29, at the Lancaster Family Health Center in Salem. The event, at 255 Lancaster Drive N.E., will offer a host of health services free of charge as well as games, raffles and entertainment. The clinic is one of[Read More…]
Covid report for July 22: Local hospitalizations up, cases mostly flat
A nurse cares for a Covid patient in the intensive care unit at Salem Hospital on Aug. 20, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) The number of people hospitalized with Covid in the Salem area rose over the past week, while reported new cases remained mostly flat both in Marion County and[Read More…]
AGENDA: City council to vote on utility rate increases
Salem city council chambers on Wednesday, September 30. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Salem’s city council will vote on a plan to raise city utility rates by about 5% at a meeting Monday night. AGENDA The council will first hold a public hearing to gather feedback before the vote. If the council[Read More…]
Nonprofits could pay more to use city parks under new fee policy
A family sits in Northgate Park during a neighborhood event in 2021 (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Salem nonprofit organizations can now receive a maximum 20% reduction in city facility fees for events held in Salem parks after city councilors tweaked an earlier policy that gave the council discretion to approve larger[Read More…]
Keith Stahley selected as Salem’s next city manager
The city announced Monday that the Salem City Council selected Keith Stahley to serve as Salem’s next city manager (Submitted photo) A longtime city government administrator in Olympia, Washington will be Salem’s next city manager. City councilors selected Keith Stahley to be the city’s next top administrator, announcing the selection[Read More…]
Council greenlights sending $300 million infrastructure package to Salem voters
A long-awaited stretch of sidewalk along South Davis Road and an extension of a protected bike lane along Northeast Union Street will now be included in a $300 million city of Salem infrastructure plan. Salem city councilors on Monday gave a thumbs up to a final list of projects to[Read More…]
