Category Government
Salem councilors Kaser, Lewis to file rare joint motion to start planning congestion fixes
The Marion and Center Street bridges pictured last summer. (Salem Reporter files) Two Salem councilors on opposite sides of the now-defunct Salem River Crossing are coming together to help the city’s congestion issues. Councilors Cara Kaser and Jim Lewis say they will seek approval of…
Hundreds turn out for heated, emotional testimony on vaccination bill
Hundreds signed up to give testimony on a bill that would end nonmedical exemptions for vaccines. The opposition was easily spotted, either by their red shirts or yellow stickers stating they are against House Bill 6063. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) SALEM — The Capitol swelled with…
Gov. Brown signs nation’s first statewide rent control bill
Gov. Kate Brown signs the first statewide rent control bill in the country Thursday morning in her ceremonial office. (Paris Achen/Portland Tribune) SALEM – Oregon on Thursday enacted the nation’s farthest-reaching law limiting rent increases and restricting no-fault evictions, providing immediate protection to roughly 1…
Salem management faces claims of ignoring discrimination, harassment
The lobby of Salem City Hall pictured summer 2018. (Salem Reporter files) Several city of Salem employees say they have recently faced discrimination and harassment at work, and are now seeking help from the state and courts. Since December, five current and former employees have…
Friends, colleagues praise Richardson’s integrity, drive
Dennis Richardson’s friends and colleagues from both political stripes remembered him Wednesday for his integrity, warmth, kindness and perseverance. Richardson died at about 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, at his Central Point home, surrounded by family and friends. He had fought cancer since his June…
Oregon passes sweeping rent control bill
Mark Meek speaking on the House floor about the rent control bill Tuesday. (Paris Achen/Oregon Capital Bureau) SALEM – House Speaker Tina Kotek on Tuesday finally accomplished her longstanding goal to protect tenants from abusive landlords with passage of sweeping rent control legislation. The House…
Salem updates construction fees to add parks, help transportation
A man and woman look out at Minto-Island Brown Park in early winter. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) Salem officials are bumping up some costs of building new homes in the city to pay for more parks and traffic improvements. Salem City Council on Monday…
Attorney general, legislators look to protect student loan borrowers from predatory lenders
Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum holds a press conference at the Capitol on Monday for her proposal to protect student loan borrowers from predatory lenders. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) A movement to stop predatory lenders from bilking Oregon students for tens of thousands of dollars has taken…
Vaccine bills prove controversial amid measles outbreak
Rep. Greenlick, D-Portland, introduced a bill Friday that would remove nonmedical exemptions for vaccines for public school children. (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) Introducing vaccine-related legislation is the political equivalent of swatting a hornets’ nest. Regardless of what the legislation does, it’s guaranteed to bring out emotional…