Category City News
City picks veteran Salem developer to transform Block 45 next to Riverfront Park
A firm led by Charles Weathers, the developer behind the Fork Forty Food Hall, will get a chance to remake a vacant south downtown block with a mix of apartments, event space and more (but no grocery store).
Community celebrates new Salem welcome sign years in the making
Community members celebrated a new Salem welcome sign during a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, after a since-corrected spelling mistake sparked frustration in the community.
Salem Chamber once backed letting Cherriots impose taxes, but says agency broke promises of business involvement
Former leaders of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce agreed to a version of a 2018 bill that allowed Cherriots to tax businesses without a public vote but are now criticizing Cherriots’ efforts to do so.
‘A big step’: Record rate of Oregon mental health workers seek anti-suicide trainings
More than 80% of behavioral health workers are now getting trained in suicide prevention, but Oregon still has a higher than average suicide rate.
Oregon ditches farm stand regulations after public outcry
Land use groups say they're fine dropping farm stand regulations and want to focus on other efforts like urban growth planning and the rezoning of agricultural land.
Homeless advocates say mayor’s rhetoric during council meeting was “inflammatory”
Salem Mayor Julie Hoy said during an Aug. 11 meeting that placing more public restrooms downtown is not a viable solution to perceived unsanitary conditions because people have ‘firebombed’ them in the past. Salem police said they had one record of a fire reported in a portable toilet in Marion Square Park last year, which was out when officers arrived.
Uncertainty looms over Medicare amid federal health shakeups; Oregon experts say coverage mostly stable
Republicans’ sweeping federal spending law makes few direct changes to Medicare, the federal insurance program for seniors, but the program could see funding cuts starting in 2026.
UPDATED: School board unanimously approves teacher union contract
School board directors approved with little discussion a $38 million two-year contract for district teachers.
UPDATED: Council, city leaders will evaluate interim city manager
Council President Linda Nishioka said she hopes to appoint Krishna Namburi as Salem's permanent city manager.