Salem’s Public Works Department won an award for its work on the Mill Creek Corporate Center wetland. (Courtesy/Diego G Díaz at Otak) For years, Salem Public Works Department has worked to create new wetlands on land being developed for commercial use. The Mill Creek Corporate Center in southeast Salem now[Read More…]

A row of pallet shelters under construction on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) A vacant lot along Wallace Road in west Salem could soon be the site of temporary shelters for seniors experiencing homelessness. On Monday night, the Salem City Council unanimously approved a recommendation that would allow[Read More…]

Salem residents are more concerned about homelessness than ever and are increasingly pessimistic about the direction the city is headed in. That’s according to an annual survey conducted from Aug. 12 to 16 by DHM Research on behalf of the city of Salem to better understand residents’ priorities. SURVEY LINK[Read More…]

A sign in front of 2230 Doaks Ferry Road on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) When Ken Bierly looked at the property where a subdivision is proposed in west Salem, it was obvious there was a stream. Looking on from Northwest Doaks Ferry Road, he saw depressions in[Read More…]

An out of service bus at the Downtown Transit Center on Monday, April 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Salem would need to have a renewable energy-only electricity grid, capture all its wastewater emissions and reduce all of its trash through composting and recycling to achieve city goals to cut carbon emissions.[Read More…]

Survey results showing forms of discrimination Salem residents reported experiencing personally, from the city’s 2021 survey. People without housing experience discrimination at a higher rate and frequency than any other group of Salem residents according to a survey by Salem’s Human Rights Commission and Western Oregon University released Tuesday. One[Read More…]

The Kitchen on Court Street installed a platform for outdoor dining ahead of a city program that will start in September. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) On-street dining was such a success in downtown Salem during the pandemic that the city is handing out money to keep it around. The city of[Read More…]

Some Salem renters got a notice on their door advising them the eviction moratorium came to an end on June 30, 2021. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) St. Francis Shelter kept getting calls from people needing help paying their rent as a statewide eviction moratorium was ending on June 30. Jill Tucker,[Read More…]

Matt and Lisa Caswell, of Salem, take advantage of the nice weather to get out of the house and ride their bikes over the Union Street Railroad Bridge on Thursday, April 9. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) In two weeks, people will be able to walk to the Salem Saturday Market using[Read More…]

Sparklers and fireworks on sale at the discount fireworks stand at Commercial Street SE and Bush Street SE in Salem on June 26, 2019 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) A Salem city councilor’s motion to ban the sale and use of fireworks fizzled Monday evening when councilors ultimately voted learn more before[Read More…]