Category Government
VOTE 2020: Political spending in Oregon could soon be reined in. Local legislative candidates aren’t sure how to do that
Oregon State Capitol, rotunda (Salem Reporter/file) Money could become less of a factor in elections in Oregon. If voters approve Measure 107 Tuesday, the Legislature and local governments could regulate the amount of money that can be donated to those running for public office and…
Salem, you have a new police chief, moving from California
SALEM – The city has a new police chief in December – Trevor Womack of Stockton. Salem City Manager Steve Powers announced his choice in a news release Saturday, just hours after Womack and another finalist answered community questions about becoming the chief. Womack is…
Investigations into workplace harassment at state agencies lack oversight, audit concludes
Oregon State Capitol, governor’s office (Salem Reporter/file) A state agency overseeing personnel issues has taken a hands-off approach to workplace discrimination and harassment investigations, a recent report concluded. The report, released Wednesday by state auditors, found that the Department of Administrative Services doesn’t do enough…
Concern about homelessness grows and many think Salem is headed in the wrong direction, survey shows
Tent sites at Wallace Marine Park on Wednesday, May 27. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) A growing share of Salem residents consider homelessness the most-pressing issue facing the city, and most aren’t happy with how the city is serving the needs of unsheltered people, according to an…
Salem sets goals for walkable neighborhoods, zoning changes in long-range planning document
Jost Rist, left, of Salem, and Noah Grunberg, of Keizer, chat at Riverfront Park on Thursday, April 9. “It’s my first time out in two weeks, we’re all just trying to find some human connection,” said Grunberg. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) After receiving 1,600 survey responses,…
Salem man seeks to retire city’s obscure, “ugly” flag
Brian McKinley holds up the flag for the city of Salem in city council chambers on Wednesday, September 30. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) You probably didn’t know Salem had a flag. Or that its design is so bad by certain standards that someone is hosting a…
Oregon public records advocate resigns after conflict with board over independence
Becky Chiao Oregon’s top transparency official resigned Tuesday, after clashing with the state board she chairs over its efforts to make her office more independent from the governor. In a resignation letter obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive, Public Records Advocate Becky Chiao wrote that “a disagreement has arisen…
Costco-centered shopping center moves ahead with council approval
The site of the proposed Kuebler Gateway Shopping Center in South Salem.(Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) A new Costco and accompanying shopping center are on their way to Keubler Boulevard, after Salem Council voted overwhelmingly to approve a site plan for the project that’s rankled the neighborhood…
AROUND OREGON: Small businesses vow lawsuit unless Oregon compensates pandemic losses
The Wilsonville Family Fun Center is one of 32 businesses who have decided to take part in a possible class-action lawsuit stemming from revenue lost due to the governor’s executive order to shut down some businesses during the COVID pandemic. (Portland Tribune photo) PORTLAND –…