Good morning…..
Our team is enjoying a long weekend off and we hope you are too.
We anticipate a busy week of news ahead.
Employees from the Oregon Department of Transportation are expected to learn on Monday if they are losing their jobs .
Gov. Tina Kotek last week indicated as many as 700 jobs are disappearing. She is blaming the Legislature’s failure to provide any new funding for the state’s road and transit systems. Those state jobs are spread across the state and not all are filled. Whatever the number, the impact will be felt in Salem since ODOT is headquartered here.
As soon as state officials make clear what’s happening, we’ll let you and other readers know.
And it’s going to be a week of untangling what the big federal legislation means. That won’t be easy. Government officials themselves can’t agree on what’s going to happen. The White House through its chief spokeswoman said no Social Security recipients would face taxes. The Social Security Administration, though, didn’t go quite so far.
There is confusion about what cuts to food and health care programs will mean. Those in the federal government so far are contending no one who deserves federal help will lose it. Others, including Democrats, say kids will go hungry, veterans will lose care and rural hospitals are going to shutter.
Salem Reporter’s focus will be on divining what this means for our local community. We don’t plan to report arguments. We intend to get you facts supported by authoritative sources. We’d welcome any help from readers with knowledge, such as anyone who actually works for the Social Security Administration.
Speaking of facts, we quietly made an new addition to our website. You’ll now find a weather feature at the top of the home page. This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive analysis, but rather a quick glance at what’s coming. Let us know what you think – and what more you want.
This new feature is a result of a reader speaking up, wondering if we could add some weather information. As this shows, we listen closely to our readers.
Now, let’s catch you up on news you might have missed while getting ready for the Fourth of July.
Reporter Madeleine Moore produced a story about how Marion County law enforcement has been asked for more help by federal immigration officials than any other county. Federal authorities have yet to respond to her questions about why.
In our other public safety reporting:
•A man who abused workers at a local spa is going to prison for 20 years.
•Reporter Mirandah Davis-Powell covered a night-time shooting at a McDonald’s in south Salem. Authorities are being tight lipped about the gunfire and later arrests.
•Marion County officials have new equipment to help investigate shootings. “This bullet trap is another tool for us to use to combat the gun violence problem occurring in our community,” a staff report said.
•Columnist Mark Wardell has tips on developing your own family emergency plan.
In our community news reporting:
•Managing Editor Rachel Alexander explains the dream of developers for that empty JC Penney building in downtown Salem.
•Willamette Art Center finally lands a new home.
•Salem gets a new bookstore – with a twist, as reporter Abbey McDonald explains.
•Reporter Joe Siess talks to owners of local businesses who are being cut out of the mail business by the U.S. Postal Service.
Regarding that federal legislation:
•Oregon leaders are criticizing the big Congressional package for what they say will be harm to Oregonians.
After that story was published, U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz broke his silence on the bill with a social media post. Bentz, the only Republican in Oregon’s congressional delegation, wrote on July 4: “I voted YES because I believe that the laws and policies contained in this bill, among many things in the bill, will protect America’s credit, drive the economy to new heights, and begin the long and difficult road toward reducing dependence on government.”
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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].
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