Category City News
How Salem Hospital responded to a mass casualty event
The stabbing at Union Gospel Mission was the first time since at least 2017 that Salem Hospital implemented its Mass Casualty Incident protocol as eleven patients arrived in short succession. A doctor described last night’s emergency department as “organized chaos.”
UPDATE: Bend man accused of stabbing 12 during check-in at Salem Union Gospel Mission
Tony L. Williams, 42, of Bend, will appear in court Monday afternoon on assault charges. Staff reported the assailant was checking into the men's mission when he became agitated and began stabbing people.
City services moving this summer as civic center seismic retrofit gets underway
Many services currently housed at the Salem Civic Center including the municipal court and customer service department will be temporarily moved this summer as the civic center seismic retrofit project gets underway. The retrofit is meant to make the 50-year-old brutalist building more resistant to earthquakes.
UGM closed Monday morning following stabbing of employee, 10 shelter guests
All victims of the Sunday night mass stabbing at Salem's Union Gospel Mission survived the attack, according to Mark Hunter, the shelter's community engagement director.
Oregon sees a rise in eviction filings, but rent assistance programs are working
Preventing eviction is less expensive than re-housing people who are homeless, experts say.
Committee unanimously passes new budget restoring city jobs, services
Salem’s budget committee unanimously approved an updated budget proposal on Wednesday for next fiscal year restoring library, parks and Center 50+ jobs that were expected to be cut if voters had rejected a property tax increase last week. Library hours will increase after new employees are hired.
City investigates toxic “forever chemicals” found in soil samples taken at Salem airport
The city of Salem has begun an investigation into PFAS, a group of so-called forever chemicals, at the Salem-Willamette Valley Airport. The toxic substances have been found in the soil at the airport including in areas used for firefighting foam testing and training, and the initial steps of the investigation are expected to cost $50,000.
Federal judges side with Oregon in striking down tariffs imposed by President Trump
New tariffs imposed on nearly all imports into the U.S. since April were struck down Wednesday by three federal judges in the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York City. The judges ruled in favor of Oregon and 11 other states in their suit, as well…
Salem’s housing production strategy aims to make it easier to build homes
The city’s six-year plan to make renting or buying a home in Salem more affordable includes speeding up permitting processes, allowing more housing to be built in more places and using federal funds to support first-time homebuyers.