Category Government
Lawmakers poised to spend $400 million on housing projects
The Oregon House in session (Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Hundreds, and perhaps thousands of people, could be helped to get off the streets under plans being worked on by the state Legislature. Democratic lawmakers, who have made homelessness a priority, are poised to approve hundreds…
Unpermitted Oregon white oak cutting cost owners, developer $2,000 per tree in fines, city documents show
Trees cut down on a property in south Salem that led to an investigation by the city of Salem. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) An out-of-state property owner, Salem developer and local tree service were fined $2,000 a pop for Oregon white oaks that were cut down…
Salem lists sidewalk on Southeast Commercial Street as priority for federal funding
Center Street Northeast on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) It will be easier to walk along Southeast Commercial Street across from Roth’s Fresh Market and Wilco if the city of Salem is able to get additional federal funding. That project would add an…
Oregon Supreme Court upholds decision to keep Kristof from running for governor
Nick Kristof (Kristof campaign photo) Secretary of State Shemia Fagan was right to keep former New York Times columnist Nick Kristof off the ballot for governor, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled Thursday. In a 33-page unanimous opinion, the court affirmed Fagan’s early January decision that Kristof…
Salem could have new flag to represent the city following a council decision
To cull down the list of finalists for Salem’s future flag, Brian McKinley had to sort through heaps of emails from people scoring each of the potential options. He said there were 175 submissions and with the help of judges, they narrowed that number down…
West Salem Councilor Jim Lewis resigns to spend more time with friends, family
Councilor Jim Lewis during a volunteer event at Orchard Heights Park. (Helen Caswell/Special to Salem Reporter) There’s a line in a Jackson Browne song that goes, “If I could be anywhere right now, I would want to be here.” For now-resigned Salem city Councilor Jim…
In final address, Mayor Chuck Bennett urges residents to pass infrastructure bond, consider public safety needs
Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett films a video acceptance for a literacy award in April 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Mayor Chuck Bennett beseeched Salem residents to vote for an upcoming infrastructure bond, highlighted the Salem Fire Department’s record call volume and said the city will do…
Oregon lawmakers looking to make child care more affordable, available
Preschool students play in a Salem-Keizer classroom (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) As Portland resident Jasmine Casanova-Dean spoke to legislators at a hearing about child care last week, her 67-year-old grandmother watched her 2-year-old daughter in another room. Casanova-Dean can only afford professional child care two days…
Push to pay overtime to Oregon’s farmworkers up against strong industry opposition
(Yadira Lopez/Malheur Enterprise) A fight is brewing in the Oregon Legislature over a proposal to give farmworkers overtime pay after 40 hours a week. Democratic supporters say the change is long overdue and that extending overtime pay to a group of essential workers who toil…