Western University of Health Sciences Lebanon Oregon

Your Tuesday evening update on Salem news

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Good evening, Salem.

The Oregon Legislature today passed two bills with implications for Salem schools.

Western University of Health Sciences Lebanon Oregon

The first, HB 4160, was sponsored by Salem Rep. Kevin Mannix and is intended to make it harder for teachers to groom students for abuse. The Senate unanimously passed the bill Tuesday morning and now heads to Gov. Tina Kotek for her signature.

It extends the timeframe where state law prohibits sexual contact between educators and their former students to one year after graduation. Current law considers a teenager a student until 90 days after graduation.

The bill was introduced at the request of Salem-Keizer Superintendent Andrea Castañeda in response to a case of alleged grooming against a former McNary High School choir teacher.

“On behalf of Salem-Keizer Public Schools, we thank Representative Mannix and all members of the Oregon delegation that voted in support of House Bill 4160. This legislation adds a critical new stitch in the legal fabric that keeps our students safe,” Castañeda said in a statement Tuesday.

Also heading to the governor is HB 4082, which will provide $30 million toward summer learning programs.

That money may trickle to some Salem organizations that have put on summer programs in the past, like the Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality’s fparent-child summer camps. State money for summer programming expanded significantly during the Covid pandemic in an effort to re-engage kids in school.

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

www.salemreporter.com

Oregon School for the Deaf sends 2 finalists to state poetry recitation championship

Seniors Traiton Kramer and Brayden Olsen will represent Oregon School for the Deaf at the state Poetry Out Loud competition in Salem this weekend, signing poems in American Sign Language.

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YOUR GOVERNMENT: Marion County Commissioners to hear update on federal wildfire recovery funds

Commissioners on Wednesday will consider expanding a contract with an insurance agency for services covered by the state’s publicly funded Medicaid program.

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‘Right to repair’ bill passes Legislature, heads to Gov. Kotek

A recently-passed bill would make it easier for individuals to fix their electronic gear themselves or to take it to an independent shop

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Mayor, police chief to hold community meeting Wednesday on reducing gun violence

City leaders are hosting a “community conversation” kicking off an effort to prevent shootings by working with community organizations. The event will be held Wednesday evening at the East Salem…

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