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Your Wednesday evening update on Salem news

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Good evening, Salem.

Salem residents get one more chance Thursday to share their thoughts about violent crime during a city “listening session.”

Western University of Health Sciences Lebanon Oregon

This will be the fifth time city officials and their consultants have hosted such a community meeting in recent months, dating back to March.

These meetings share some details about gun-related violence, a topic that has alarmed the community for some time. Citizens then can speak up about what they think needs to be done.

Thursday’s meeting starts at 6 p.m. in Cedar Hall at Salem Alliance Church, 555 Gaines St. N.E. in the Grant neighborhood.

Police Chief Trevor Womack is using the meetings as part of developing a strategy for gun violence that has particularly surged among youth. He created the Community Violence Reduction Initiative last year.

A consultant is expected to distill the community comments and propose a strategy for Salem to follow. That report is expected to go to a joint meeting of the Salem City Council and Marion County Board of Commissioners in November.

Our team will be at Thursday’s session with a report Friday.

AN UPDATE….

A public service has been set for Derek Morganstern, the man who died recently while trying to rescue a woman from the Willamette River.

The Celebration of LIfe is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at Wallace Marine Park at the old boat ramp.

“His ashes will be setting sail in a Viking mini boat,” according to a social media post from his family. “This is the closest way we can get to what he wanted. If you want to bring a small trinket or letter to put in his boat you’re more welcome to.”

Read all our latest coverage anytime on our website.

Here’s some of the news of the day. You can read all our latest coverage anytime on our website.
 

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19-year-old Riley John Adams died in the hospital Monday. He had been stabbed multiple times at Wallace Marine Park early in the morning on July 27, according to Salem police…

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After a migrant farmworker died of heat-related illness in Marion County during the 2021 heat dome, Oregon made stricter workplace safety rules. Idaho has done little following a similar death.

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The inmate, 35-year-old Jesse Banks, suffered from a mental health condition and died while in solitary confinement after hours without anyone checking on him, the lawsuit alleges.

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