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Good morning, Salem, and happy last day of 2025.

For the past several years, we’ve asked the city’s librarians for a roundup of popular library books.

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The takeaway is always the same: kids are the true literary tastemakers in town. Their picks often dominate overall checkouts, though the Salem Reads 2026 pick – a heartwarming tale of a cleaner and an octopus – topped charts this year.

Our reporters contemplated sending our own recommendations to readers this morning, but due to a wide variation in how many books we actually read in 2025, we decided you’re better off going with the pros. Librarians included their picks below. (“Sunrise on the Reaping,” the latest Hunger Games installment, proved popular among library patrons, librarians themselves and local reporters, for whatever that’s worth.)

We wish you a wonderful celebration to ring in 2026. Our team will be off tomorrow for New Year’s Day and back in your inbox Friday morning.

Here’s some of today’s headlines. Head to our website anytime for the latest in Salem local news.  

www.salemreporter.com

Oregon Health Plan to remain in network at Salem Health in 2026

Salem Health and PacificSource reached a new contract agreement to cover patients on Medicaid, a Salem Health spokeswoman said Tuesday. The news comes a day before the existing contract was…

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What books, movies, and things people in Salem loved checking out in 2025

Salem residents checked out 1.5 million books, movies and things this year, according to data from the Salem Public Library, up from about 1 million in 2024.

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Salem’s biggest stories of 2025

Reactions to federal upheavals, shifts in health care access, community efforts to help feed people and a mass stabbing were among the major events in Salem in 2025.

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www.salemreporter.com

Conservation groups urge Oregon to reduce whale deaths from crab fishing gear

Several groups are petitioning the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to adopt pop-up buoys for crab pots to limit entanglements for whales.

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www.salemreporter.com

Where to celebrate New Year’s Eve, ring in 2026 in Salem

From swanky dinners to kid-friendly daytime celebrations, Salem has plenty of options to ring in 2026.

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WHAT READERS SAY:

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TIP US TO NEWS: Email Managing Editor Rachel Alexander – [email protected]

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