Good morning!
About the only feature to go up on a prime downtown block in recent years has been a chain-link fence.
If you’re like me, you wonder: What’s going on here?
Managing Editor Rachel Alexander has the answer in a detailed investigative report. Rachel poured through reams of records, did interview after interview and parsed the highly technical world of environmental contamination.
The result is worth your attention. This is the type of probing journalism that flows from the community support we get at Salem Reporter.
Her account is detailed, tracing the history of key downtown land going back decades. She leaves you with a clear sense of what’s ahead. Retailers and apartment dwellers are part of the dream. But obstacles remain.
And otherwise, here’s where your local news team put its efforts in recent days. You should know we have some amazing enterprise stories in the works, ranging from a mystery in Marion County government to immigration enforcement here in Salem.
In local government reporting:
•Mayor Julie Hoy gave a bullish speech on the condition of Salem city government in her State of the City address. Reporter Joe Siess provides an account – and you can read the full text of her speech here.
•City politics are heating up ahead of the May primary. Hoy faced off with Councilor Vanessa Nordyke in an online debate in the mayor’s race.
•Trevor Womack has announced he’s retiring from law enforcement, leaving as Salem’s police chief in May. Reporter Madeleine Moore talked to the chief about his decision.
•Guests visiting Salem and staying at Airbnb-style lodging will be facing higher fees.
•Salem scored money from the recent legislative session for some improvements at the local airport.
•The community got its first report on how a new public safety team is working.
In community news reporting:
•The criminal prosecution is over for a DEA agent over the 2023 death of Salem cyclist Marganne Allen. Prosecutors drop the charges in the face of federal court rulings.
•A local women’s shelter has finished upgrades to make life better for families.
•A small island of green space needs attention and the Southwest Association of Neighbors is inviting people to help to tidy up Bonham Corner. That’s only one aspect of life in Salem you’ll get from our monthly roundup of association reports.
•Salem families are moving into new affordable housing in northeast Salem, welcome news in a community with tight housing.
In Oregon news from Oregon Capital Chronicle:
•A judge has ruled and you’ll be voting on the state transportation money hike in May. Petitioners had wanted it on the general election ballot in November.
•Despite the steady flow of competing finger-pointing press releases, legislators do often work in a bipartisan fashion for the state. Here’s a look at how they did in the 2026 session.
•The door is closed on those wanting to run for state office. See who’s running for what after the recent filing deadline.
Finally:
•What is considered Salem’s oldest tree is what you might call arborist hospice care. The tree will pass from the scene in April.
UPDATE: Salem Reporter’s fundraising drive to bring in a talented education reporter continues to draw strong community support. I thank every donor. It’s not too late to learn what we’re up to and add a tax-deductible contribution.
DONATE: Salem Reporter News Fund
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 owner
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