Good morning…..
You’ll have a chance to weigh in on a new tax proposed for the area by the Salem Area Mass Transit District.
The district is considering adding a payroll tax to cover costs for an expanded operation of Cherriots.
No vote by the public is needed to impose the tax.
Madeleine Moore of Salem Reporter spent days tracing the source of that taxing power. She discovered a long-ago deal between the transit district and Salem’s business community. But those involved in that deal say Cherriots didn’t keep its word, as Moore reported.
Transit officials say they are planning public forums in September to gather local opinion. Moore’s carefully-researched story is the kind of local enterprise journalism that no one but Salem Reporter produces here in town.
Speaking of enterprise journalism, reporter Joe Siess provides the first video explaining how we do our work. We intend this to be a continuing effort by Salem Reporter to be transparent about stories of importance and how we did our work.
In this video, Joe explains the work that went into his recent enterprise story looking at the city of Salem’s effort to collect millions of dollars from a private ambulance. Give the video a look: Joe Siess explains.
With recent federal legislation, there remains uncertainty about what’s happening to federal health benefits. Reporter Hailey Cook talked to experts to find out what’s ahead for Medicare, used by about a million Oregonians.
“There is a great deal of confusion and concern, especially among elderly and disabled patients,” said Maggie Hudson, president and CEO of Santiam Hospital and Clinics.
Here’s what else was going on in Salem in recent days:
In our government reporting:
•Advocates take issue with recent statements by Mayor Julie Hoy about why she doesn’t think more rest rooms downtown will work. This is proving to be a hot topic as the community tries to resolve cleanliness issues.
•That big empty space downtown next to Riverfront Park could finally get a makeover, as Managing Editor Rachel Alexander reports. “I am beyond excited for the opportunity to bring to life a new building that will contribute to the vibrancy and livability of the Riverfront-Downtown area,” Charles Weathers said in an email to Salem Reporter.
•A welcome sign for those entering town from Portland Road finally comes to life. It wasn’t as easy as it might seem, as Hailey Cook reports.
In our community news reporting:
•Local teens harvest local produce to feed local families, as explained in this story by Mirandah Davis-Powell with photography by Hailey Cook.
•Gene Shriner, 90, went on a flight of his dreams.
•Young adults in Salem have come together to form a new theater group – Cascadia Creative Conservatory.
In our public safety reporting:
•Our colleagues at the Lincoln Chronicle shared their report about a Salem man, Ishan Pillai,
who died in an ocean boating accident.
•Fire officials estimate a runaway grass fire near Turner did $1 million in damage. An investigator details what caused the fire.
•A man walking at Wallace Marine Park early one morning was attacked and stabbed. Police said they later arrested the suspected assailant.
EVENTS IN SALEM
Looking for something to do? A show? A class to take? Get the latest details on what’s happening with our Events Calendar. You can find this link at the top of our news site every day.
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Have thoughts about our reporting? A story we should do? A person we should profile? Or do you have questions about how we do our work? You’re welcome to send me an email – I read every one of them. Email: [email protected].
–Les Zaitz, Editor and co-founder
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