Category Government
Salem businesses in need have a new place to turn – City Hall
A sign in the window of Coin Jam on March 17, 2020 announcing a closure during the COVID-19 pandemic (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem businesses that could use a cash infusion and haven’t received other pandemic financial aid can apply for thousands of dollars in city…
Councilors call for review of Salem police protest actions and bias training
Salem City Hall. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) The Salem City Council wants a to review of a widely circulated video in which a Salem police officer was recorded last week helping a group of armed people outside a downtown salon avoid running afoul of a city-imposed…
Legislature throws another lifeline to those struggling to pay rent
The sign at The ARCHES Project. (Anthony McGuire/Special to Salem Reporter) Renters and homeowners impacted by job loss or illness during the coronavirus pandemic will soon get another infusion of cash to help pay for living expenses. On Friday, state lawmakers approved an additional $75…
City to make nearly $400,000 available to small businesses in Salem
A view of Liberty Street in downtown Salem on Thursday, April 2. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Hoping to lend a hand to struggling businesses that have been unable to get federal funding to help pay for payroll or rent, Salem has allocated money to help around…
Salem council results indicate voters prefer a progressive agenda
Campaign signs in the Marion County Democrats office in downtown Salem on Friday, May 22, indicate support for progressive candidates for Salem City Council. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Salem continues to head down a progressive path if Tuesday’s election results say anything about the makeup of…
Oregon advocacy group condemns city’s emergency loitering prohibition, saying it had the practical effect of “sit lie”
A homeless person sets up a tarp along a downtown street in March, 2020. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) Legal advocacy group Disability Rights Oregon wrote a letter to the Salem City Council and Mayor Chuck Bennett Tuesday, arguing that the city is using the coronavirus pandemic…
Running for city councilor has gotten costly for one ward as partisan divide shapes a local race
Salem city hall (Salem Reporter) In the race to represent Salem through unpaid, nonpartisan city council positions, one campaign this year stands out for the heavy campaign spending, unusual for such local races. Reid Sund, finance director for Salem Health, has collected $46,846 from his…
Marion County lawmaker will lead Republicans in the state Senate
Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton. (Courtesy/Oregon Senate Republicans). NOTE: Salem Reporter is providing free access to its content related to the coronavirus as a community service. Subscriptions are vital to continue this so please sign up today. Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton, is the new leader of Republicans in…
Former city employee claims in suit he was forced to quit over hearing loss
Salem city hall (Salem Reporter) A Marion County man is suing the city of Salem, claiming he was forced to resign for having a disability. Ronald McHenry, who worked as a communications specialist for the Salem Police Department, said he started losing his hearing and…