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Oregon reaches inside to find next leader of ODOT

SALEM – Oregon’s transportation commissioners have chosen Kris Strickler, head of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s highway division, to be the agency’s new leader. The commissioners voted on the appointment Tuesday evening, chosen after a national search to replace longtime director Matt Garrett that took six months. Before leading ODOT’s[Read More…]

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Flood warning in effect after thunderstorm Tuesday afternoon

Cars drive through water along Commercial Street Southeast around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) A flood advisory is in effect for the Salem area following heavy rain, thunder and lightning Tuesday afternoon. The National Weather Service said thunderstorms could produce rainfall “in excess of one inch per hour, causing[Read More…]

Public schools aren’t discriminating by doing business with churches opposed to same-sex relationships, state says

State officials ruled this week that Salem-Keizer School District isn’t discriminating against LGBTQ employees by holding meetings at a community center owned by a church which opposes same-sex relationships. The Oregon Department of Education’s decision comes after a Salem-Keizer employee filed a complaint through the Salem-Keizer Education Association about staff[Read More…]

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AGENDA: Salem-Keizer board meets Tuesday

The 2019 Salem-Keizer School Board at a July 2019 meeting. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Tuesday night will likely be a short meeting for the Salem-Keizer School Board, with just a handful of items on the agenda. Board members will meet in executive session at 5 p.m. to discuss real estate transactions[Read More…]

Oregon’s first public records advocate quits

Ginger McCall (Courtesy/Oregon Secretary of State) SALEM — Oregon’s first-ever public records advocate is resigning from her post on Oct. 11. Ginger McCall, appointed by Gov. Kate Brown in early 2018 to boost transparency and openness in state and local government, said she was stepping down after what she called[Read More…]

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Businesses in Marion, Polk counties to get $14.5 million from SAIF

SAIF headquarters near downtown Salem on Monday. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Business is going well enough at SAIF, a workers’ compensation insurer, that it plans to give $160 million out to policyholders this year. That will land about $14.5 million collectively for policyholders in Marion and Polk counties, according to spokeswoman[Read More…]

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Micro-apartment complex Nishioka Building will break ground Monday

Construction workers prepare to break ground at the Nishioka Building, offering around 150 micro-apartments, at the corner of State and Commercial streets. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) The Nishioka Building, a mixed-use project that could fuel more change in downtown Salem, will break ground on Monday, developers say. “We’re excited. This has[Read More…]