Category Government
Travel Salem working with new airline with hopes of resuming commercial air service
Travel Salem is currently negotiating with a new airline and raising money for a revenue guarantee of $1 to $3 million. City councilors on Monday gave little indication of how they’re leaning on approving a new agreement.
U.S. Rep. Bentz talks Republican power, criticizes media in speech at eastern Oregon summit
Oregon's sole Republican federal representative, U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, acknowledged that it will be a “challenge” to protect rural hospitals from Medicaid cuts, but he said he has been talking to Mehmet Oz, who has promised to help.
Salem city councilors discuss Avelo, public meetings law and city drinking water Monday
Salem city councilors will discuss new public meetings requirements and Avelo Airlines’ departure on Monday at an upcoming city council meeting. The council will also consider declaring a state of emergency over a planned 2026 drawdown of Detroit Reservoir meant to improve fish passage.
Salem councilors staying mum in instances, fearing ethics trouble
Salem city officials are temporarily avoiding neighborhood association meetings and other engagements out of fear they might inadvertently participate in illegal serial communications. The concern stems from a recent Oregon Government Ethics Commission training that left councilors uncertain about the rules. The state agency says it will clarify matters soon.
Kotek’s transportation plan: 6-cent gas tax increase, registration fee hikes and doubled transit tax
Gov. Tina Kotek’s plan to prevent layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation and local governments around the state relies on a 6-cent gas tax increase, fee hikes and doubling the payroll tax that funds transit.
City councilors consider pairing mental health professionals with emergency responders
Salem city councilors weighed the costs and benefits of creating a program pairing mental health specialists with first responders to answer mental health and homelessness related calls. Such a program would help free up strained police and fire resources currently burdened by numerous mental health related calls, department leadership said.
Keizer councilor advised officer of position, police connections during incident
Facing accusations of assault, Soraida Cross advised a poilce officer that she was a city councilor and that she talked to the Keizer police chief "all the time," according to a police video obtained by Keizertimes. Cross didn't respond to questions about the disclosures.
Greg Smith sued over role in nonprofit scheme, faces third ethics investigation
Greg Smith took a seat on a rural nonrprofit board and then voted to sell a subsidiary to business associates at price well below its value, according to a state lawsuit. Smith is a Republican state representative from Heppner and holds key leadership positions in the Oregon House.
Salem-Keizer schools will dip into savings to run some programs after federal funding pulled
Schools in Salem this year will continue offering services to migrant students and paying employees after the Trump administration withheld about $6 million that Congress appropriated for various school programs.