Category State
City of Salem is again asking the Legislature to help fund housing and homeless projects
A camp pictured at Oregon State Capitol State Park in December 2019 (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) Oregon’s capital city will see millions in state money for a homeless shelter and affordable housing if the Legislature approves funding requests from the city of Salem. Salem…
Clarno tries again to retire after stint as Oregon secretary of state
Bev Clarno retired in January 2021 after serving as Oregon secretary of state. She is the last Republican to hold statewide office. (Oregon Secretary of State’s Office photo) SALEM – Bev Clarno, the last Republican to hold statewide office in Oregon as the new year…
Embattled state legislator stays in office with less clout and less access to Capitol building
State Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, reading an agreement on the House floor Monday, Jan. 1, that he will have diminished access to the Capitol after he let a group of rioters into the building. (Screen grab/Oregon Legislature) State Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, hasn’t heeded the…
State legislator accused of creating chaos at Capitol says House speaker is putting politics over safety
State Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence. (Courtesy/Freedom Foundation) A Salem area legislator who allowed a confrontational group of demonstrators into the Oregon Capitol has lashed out, saying he is being subject to “mob justice” by the House speaker. State Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, released a withering…
Video shows Rep. Mike Nearman letting demonstrators into Capitol in Salem
Capitol surveillance footage shows state Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, allowing demonstrators into the building. (Screengrab.) A video released Friday shows state Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, allowing a confrontational group of demonstrators into the state Capitol during a special session last month. The release comes after…
Rep. Mike Nearman let demonstrators in Capitol during tense protest, House speaker says
Protesters fed up with pandemic restriction gathered outside the Capitol as lawmakers met on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter) State Rep. Mike Nearman, a Republican legislator from Independence, allowed a confrontational group of demonstrators to enter the Capitol last month, endangering legislators and…
In a swift session, lawmakers pass pandemic-relief package
The Oregon State Capitol. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) In Salem, and the rest of Oregon, renters will keep roofs over their heads, landlords will have more cash coming in, schools will be less worried about lawsuits as they reopen and restaurants will have an easier time…
Arrests and outrage follow violent protest at state Capitol
Protesters fed up with pandemic restriction gathered outside the Capitol as lawmakers met on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter) Oregon State Police have arrested four individuals and are seeking a fifth involved with Monday’s violent demonstration at the Capitol, which has drawn strong…
As lawmakers meet, protesters attempt to storm Capitol building
Far right demonstrators kicked in a door to the Oregon State Capitol during a special legislative session Monday. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) Far-right protesters on Monday attempted to forcibly disrupt a legislative session at the Capitol, where they smashed windows, blocked streets, assaulted journalists and sprayed…