Western University of Health Sciences Lebanon Oregon

Your Wednesday evening update on Salem news

Salem Reporter logo

Good evening, Salem.

Gov. Tina Kotek is forging ahead with banning cellphones in Oregon schools after a bill to do so died during the 2025 legislative session.

Western University of Health Sciences Lebanon Oregon

Our colleagues at Oregon Capital Chronicle covered her executive order, which requires school districts to adopt policies banning phones and providing consequences for students who violate those bans.

The Salem-Keizer School District already bans phones, but some schools allow their use during lunch or breaks during the school day – something Kotek’s order doesn’t allow. District officials said Wednesday that they’d need to revise the policy to comply with the governor’s directive.

Kotek wants bans in place by Halloween.

Here’s some of our latest news. Catch all of our reports anytime on our website.

www.salemreporter.com

Salem’s newest bookstore offers much more than something to read

Beauty, Beverages, and Books, a combination used book store and salon, recently opened on Northeast Broadway Street. Owner Andrea Randall’s effort to build a community space with unique offerings has…

Read more
www.salemreporter.com

Keizer councilor won’t face prosecution after May dust-up

Prosecutors have decided not to press a case against Keizer City Councilor Soraida Cross. She was cited for harassment after a woman reported she was injured in a confrontation in…

Read more
www.salemreporter.com

Marion County Sheriff’s Office buys machine to make linking shootings easier

A new machine to analyze bullet casings will speed up evidence processing for a backlog of gun-related crimes in Marion County, officials with the sheriff’s office said.

Read more
www.salemreporter.com

Gov. Tina Kotek orders Oregon schools to prohibit students from using cellphones

Kotek’s ban on phones in schools follows the failure to pass a similar bill during the 2025 legislative session and will help student mental health and learning, the governor said.

Read more
www.salemreporter.com

Pedestrian, 71, killed in NE Salem crash

PUBLIC NOTICE: This notice is published to meet the requirement of Oregon law for publication so the public is aware. This notice is delivered as a service for a fee…

Read more
Theatre 33 Willamette University Summer Festival Performances Salem Oregon

SEE LOCAL EVENTS: Our new events calendar lets you browse what’s happening in Salem – completely free. Want to submit an upcoming event? You can do that here.

TIP US TO NEWS: We welcome your tips about possible Salem stories – a community event, a local resident doing something extraordinary, a government action that needs investigating. Send your information, ideas or questions to our editor, Les Zaitz, at [email protected].

SHARE: Readers like you are our very best marketing. We spend very little on promotion, instead investing in covering the news you want. Help us build our readership by forwarding this email and sharing stories with family, friends and associates. Let people know they can sign up for our free newsletter.

SUBSCRIPTION ISSUE? Get clear answers from our Subscription Policies and Help page.

Copyright © 2025 Salem Reporter. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is: 494 State St., #410 • Salem, Oregon 97301

You are receiving this email because you signed up through our website or participated in a promotion.

Create a free account, or log in.

Gain access to read this article, plus limited free content.

Yes! I would like to receive new content and updates.