Category Government
Salem councilors to outline plans for city’s major issues
The Marion Street Bridge pictured last summer. (Salem Reporter files) Salem city councilors have a massive to do list for 2019. They are set to talk about it at a work session Wednesday. Budgetary shortfalls, traffic problems, homelessness and environmental impacts will headline the work…
Salem gathering data for snapshot into future growth
The lobby of Salem City Hall. (Salem Reporter files) As Salem plans for the future, staff are undertaking a data project to be a sort of statistical crystal ball. The city’s Community Development Department on Wednesday released a list of 20 facets of life in…
After a decade of delay, Oregon officials finally launching child abuse call center
A state worker answers calls to Oregon’s child abuse hotline, operating from a new call center in Portland. (Portland Tribune/Jaime Valdez) PORTLAND — The caller told Hannah Lene about a child disciplined at school for spraying water who begged school employees not to send a…
City, police, service providers prepare for homeless eviction Tuesday
A bike secured at a barrier along the Marion Square Park homeless encampment on Friday. The city of Salem is will clear the camp Tuesday morning. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Workers from Northwest Human Services will be among the first to arrive at a homeless camp…
Harassment investigation hangs over swearing in of Oregon’s 80th legislature
Gov. Kate Brown gets congratulated during her inauguration Monday in the Oregon House chambers. (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) SALEM — Claims that legislative leaders mishandled sexual harassment reports cast a shadow over the Capitol Monday as lawmakers gathered to kick off the 2019 Legislature. A report…
Brown calls on Oregon to be ambitious, speed help for homeless
Gov. Kate Brown takes the oath of office on Monday, Jan. 14, as she starts her final term as governor. (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) SALEM — Gov. Kate Brown wants the state to get ambitious about solving major challenges such as a homelessness, challenging legislators Monday…
Oregon legislative leaders, regulators to meet behind closed doors to settle harassment claims
SALEM — The Oregon Legislature wants to settle a complaint accusing legislative leaders and administrators of creating a hostile work environment at the Capitol. In so doing, the Legislature will enter into confidential negotiations with the state’s Bureau of Labor and Industries, which brought the…
With eviction looming for homeless camp, its residents and city leaders left with questions
Scattered trash and belongings at an encampment near Marion Square Park. The city announced this week it plans to evict the camp Tuesday. Concerns arose afterward about a program that provides free meals. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) After word spread the city of Salem would cancel…
Three weeks into shutdown, Oregon state government weathering the storm
(Photo by Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) Oregon state government has yet to see deep impacts from a three-week federal government shutdown, but some Oregonians are feeling the pinch. Today, the shutdown tied the longest in U.S. history at 21 days. With President Donald Trump…