Category City News
Oregon judge issues 14-day temporary order halting Grants Pass homeless ordinance
A judge blocked a Grants Pass law that restricts homeless people to pitching tents at one site in the city.
Oregon cities push for infrastructure funding, more leeway to remove homeless camps
Oregon’s cities will push the state Legislature to give them more money for roads, water and sewers, more power to remove homeless camps and more flexibility to spend hotel tax revenue on basic services.
Salem Health says medical waste bill will more than double, to $2 million per year
Salem City Councilors voted unanimously Monday to raise medical waste collection rates after the Brooks garbage incinerator stopped taking Marion County’s trash.
Salem police chief promises his officers won’t cooperate with immigration enforcement
Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack issued a bilingual statement Thursday seeking to ease any “anxiety or confusion” that his officers would take part in immigration enforcement, which is expanding rapidly under the Trump administration.
Outside committee gets to work examining city’s budget for efficiencies
Nine Salem executives will take a deep dive into the city’s budget over the next two weeks. They’re tasked with finding ways to provide the same city services more efficiently.
Oregon needs to build 29,500 more homes each year, chief economist says
Housing is most needed in the Willamette Valley and Portland area, Oregon's chief economist told lawmakers.
Salem agencies take a new approach to annual homeless count
A series of resource events aimed to make a required federal homeless count more accessible and beneficial to people living unsheltered in Salem. A Wallace Marine Park event on Tuesday offered food, winter weather supplies and community resources.
Salem agencies unclear if federal money spigot is off
Government and nonprofit leaders were scrambling Tuesday to understand the impact of a sweeping halt to federal payments that cover preschool, rental assistance and other local services.
UPDATED: Council advances new airport fees, tables Siletz tribe agreement
Salem city councilors voted unanimously Monday to advance new airport fees that would generate an anticipated $50,000 to $100,000 annually. The extra revenue would help balance the airport’s budgetary shortfall which grew after Avelo Airlines brought commercial air service to Salem in 2023.