Salem Reporter’s Sunday newsletter
Good morning!
Salem politics continue to heat up as candidates for local office campaign hard before ballots go out later this month.
In city races, candidates form behind progressive or conservative planks. But what do such labels mean?
The news team at Salem Reporter is helping voters answer that question. Reporters are examining key issues facing Salem. They’re talking to politicians and community leaders to get a sense of how issues would be handled under conservative officeholders and under progressive officeholders.
That effort resulted in the first report recently, focused on homelessness. Senior reporter Abbey McDonald and reporter Joe Siess got past the platitudes and political slogans. They tell you what’s been done on this issue. They report observations on how the path ahead would differ, depending on which political force controls the Salem City Council.
You can expect more “What’s At Stake” reporting on Salem issues in the days ahead.
In local government reporting….
•Danielle Bethell, Marion County commissioner, attacked public defenders as she campaigned for governor. She also wants to open closed prisons, but there’s a problem with that idea.
•Mayor Julie Hoy is now formally guilty of violating state law in orchestrating the ouster of Salem’s city manager, She has denied doing so but the state ethics commission concluded that evidence showed otherwise.
•Salem’s city budget would grow a bit in the year ahead, with more policing planned for downtown.
•Makeovers are planned for playgrounds at two of Salem’s most popular parks.
•Get the red carpet ready – nominees are listed for this year’s Crystal Apple Award among employees of the Salem-Keizer School District.
In public safety news…
•Recently-released video shows the role of Marion County sheriff’s deputies during courthouse arrests by federal immigration agents.
•Two bicyclists have died in recent separate crashes on city streets, one in downtown and one in south Salem.
In community news…
•Local health care leaders warn in a Salem presentation what’s ahead as hospitals face higher costs. As reporter Hailey Cook recounted: “The presence of hospitals in our communities is not a given,” said Becky Hultberg, CEO of the Hospital Association of Oregon.
•The deal is done but the details are confidential. Salem Health and a local health clinic have settled a lawsuit over accusations of monopoly.
•U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas talked with Salem Reporter about how her office is dealing with federal immigration enforcement.
•Some Salem residents took to the streets after President Donald Trump threatened widescale destruction of “civilization” in Iran.
Oregon news from Oregon Capital Chronicle…
•State Rep. Greg Smith, a rural Republican, is dodging ethics commission action, winning a delay in state proceedings against him. He’s running to keep his office.
•The question whether the Marion County Sheriff’s Office violated the state sanctuary laws recently won’t be easy to answer. Sheriff Nick Hunter says his staff didn’t.
•Property owners in the Santiam Canyon suing for wildfire damages got bad news from a state court this week.
Finally…
•A reporter and a photographer are joining Salem Reporter for the summer, part of a prestigious internship program. They were placed by the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication.
•We have updated our Honor Roll of Donors as more readers join the campaign supporting a new education reporter for Salem Reporter. We deeply appreciate the community’s partnership to produce in-depth schools reporting. Want to add your name? DONATE: Salem Reporter News Fund.
Gas price watch:
Average price for regular gas in Salem:
Saturday: $4.92. One week ago: $4.91. One month ago: $4.20.
Average price for diesel in Salem:
Saturday: $6.45. One week ago: $6.24. One month ago: $5.09.
Source: AAA
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
OUR FUND DRIVE: We’re taking reporting on local schools and education to a level never done before in Salem. We’re bringing in nationally-recruited talent to tackle this assignment. You can support this with your tax-deductible contribution. Join scores who have already given.
DONATE: Salem Reporter News Fund
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