Category Government
Marion County team recognized for efforts to prevent human trafficking
From left to right, Hillary Roeder, Wendy Matthews and Arielle Crist make up the core of a team fighting human trafficking in Marion County. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) When a 16-year-old Marion County girl was arrested on delinquency charges, authorities and the judge saw another bad…
Decades later, Courtney again takes aim at DUI threshold
As a state representative in 1983, Peter Courtney introduced legislation to lower the drunk driving threshold from .10 blood alcohol content to .08. It was a radical move from a new lawmaker who was expected to bide his time. Courtney had little support outside of…
2018 law lacks teeth for overprescribing doctors
(Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) SALEM — State officials know of 160 doctors with suspicious prescribing patterns but Oregon law shields those doctors from further scrutiny. Legislators put little teeth into a 2018 law that requires doctors to register for a program that monitors drug…
Salem library to pause review another month following lengthy public hearing
A person examines a book at Salem Public Library. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) Debate that was sometimes contentious and sometimes poetic lead to the shelving for at least a month of a rigorous review of library books. The Salem Public Library Advisory Board unanimously…
Salem to evict homeless camp at Marion Square Park
The homeless camp under the Marion Street bridge pictured in December. The camp was given a notice to evict by the end of the week. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter files) UPDATE 4:35 p.m. Jan. 9: The city of Salem issued a press release. The release said…
Fates of downtown trees to be decided by Salem parks board after outcry
A tag reading “Please Don’t” hangs from a tree that Salem marked for removal in December. Salem Public Works Director Peter Fernandez said an advisory board will decide in February what to do with the trees. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Trees in downtown Salem that residents…
Photos: A day at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility
Ezequiel, 23, takes a reporter on a tour of the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility grounds. While he wishes he wasn’t incarcerated, he credits Oregon Youth Authority for helping him figure out there is more to life than gangs and crime. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) Austin, 18,…
Legislator blasts Avakian for including unsubstantiated rumor in salacious report
Rep. Diego Hernandez, D-East Portland, sits at his desk on the floor of the Oregon House of Representatives Feb. 5, 2018. (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) When state Rep. Diego Hernandez heard a rumor in May 2017 accusing him of keeping a list ranking women lobbyists at…
Oregon Youth Authority tries to find the balance between safety and child welfare as it transitions from isolation
John, a youth mentor at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility, helps 18-year-old Zack understand the various personalities of staff at the facility. John regularly works in the STEPS program, an alternative to isolation, which Zack uses several times each week. (Courtesy of Oregon Youth Authority) WOODBURN…