Good morning………
With temperatures down to freezing or lower, it may seem odd to worry about heat.
But reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian has an interesting look at Salem’s weather. Climatologists explain why they think the city is going to be warmer – and what that means for you and the rest of us.
This comes as our colleagues at Oregon Capital Chronicle share a report about statewide weather projects – more rain, less snow in the years ahead across Oregon.
And things will be heating up at City Hall as officials move towards choices about services from police protection to libraries to dances for senior citizens. The Salem City Council as soon as Tuesday is likely to signal whether it wants the city to ask voters for more tax money. We’ll keep you closely updated on the debate.
This comes as the new year brings new leaders in the city. Photographer Laura Tesler captured the formal swearing-in ceremony for Mayor Julie Hoy and councilors. Reporter Joe Siess sat down with Hoy for an interview. His story has been generating a lot of social media commentary, so don’t miss it.
On the money front, city councilors decided to forge yet another committee to study city spending. The group is charged with finding efficiencies to save money in city operations. And then comes word that the city’s not as bad off as expected. The gap between income and outgo projected for the year ahead narrowed a bit, but city officials say they still need millions more to keep everything running as-is.
Out in the neighborhoods, your local associations and their volunteers have been busy. Catch up with our unique monthly roundup about what’s going on, from Faye Wright to North Lancaster. In the Northgate area, residents learned they can get trees at low or no cost. Reporter Madeleine Moore explains the program and how people can get in on this deal.
We know many readers are anxiously watching the boxing match underway between Salem Health and one of the area’s biggest health insurers, Regence. Reporter Abbey McDonald shares that negotiations are back on track and she explains what’s at stake for thousands of people in Salem.
Two public agencies revealed there has been a breach of employer information. The hack exposes personal information for employees at the Salem-Keizer School District and Chemeketa Community College, as reported by Managing Editor Rachel Alexander.
With Donald Trump ready to return to the White House, the Salem-Keizer School Board is anticipating his long-promised immigration sweep to deport undocumented people. The board affirmed the sanctuary status of schools in Salem.
A sixth-grader told board members what it means when a relative is deported.
“My dad was the main provider in the family so when he got deported it took a big hit on us,” he said, giving his name as Sirr. “Not only did it hit us financially, but also our mental health.”
In other news:
•Salem Golf Club is under new ownership, and Madeleine Moore reports on what’s ahead.
•Investigators are looking into an arson at Straub Middle School.
•Police accuse a man of 80,000 baseball cards during a string of business burglaries.
•A traditional and moving firefighter’s service was held to remember the founder of the Spring Valley Fire Department.
•Columnist Harry Fuller writes about snipes around Salem and columnist Jim Sellers addresses changes in Medicare.
Finally, make sure to catch one our latest new features. Rachel Alexander is producing a review of the week’s top stories in an Instagram post, a regular feature now on Friday afternoons.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK:
Uniformed personnel from fire departments in Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties honored Louis Fowler at his Jan. 10 funeral. (Ron Cooper/ Salem Reporter)
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