People camp downtown, along the former home of Nordstrom. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Oregon cities struggling with homelessness are expected to be one of the biggest beneficiaries under legislation sponsored by House Speaker Tina Kotek. But not every city official fully supports the idea, some worrying it could limit local governments’[Read More…]
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Salem Cinema shines a light on homelessness with documentary screening and discussion
Salem photographer Diane Beals has been making portraits of homeless residents around the city (Courtesy/Diane Beals) When tents pop up downtown with homeless occupants, some people look down as they walk past and others cross to the other side of the street. But Salem Cinema owner Loretta Miles wants Salem[Read More…]
Apartment development to become easier under city code changes
Salem wants to make it easier to build apartments and other multifamily homes. Changes aimed at accomplishing that were announced last year, and the Salem City Council is expected to vote on them later this month. “The main goal is to help Salem meet its housing needs broadly,” said City[Read More…]
Legislature week 2: What’s still moving, what’s been spiked
The Oregon State Capitol. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) SALEM —The first major deadline of this year’s legislative session hit the Capitol on Friday, Feb. 7. Legislation that hadn’t been scheduled by that day for a committee vote was headed for the political dustbin. These proposals may not have made headlines, but[Read More…]
Wanting more input, lawmakers drop legislation concerning threats to churches and schools
Students at memorial fence following the 1998 shooting at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon. (Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons) The Oregon Legislature has abandoned a bill that would create the new crime of threatening a school or house of worship. In response to concerns from community organizations, the Legislature will instead convene[Read More…]
Audit: State tourism agency should be more transparent about managers’ pay, strengthen contracting controls
Oregon Caves Cascade, one of Oregon’s many tourist destinations. (Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons) SALEM — The semi-independent Oregon agency overseeing tourism initiatives should be more transparent about managers’ pay and strengthen controls on contracting, Secretary of State Bev Clarno said in an audit report released Thursday. The Oregon Tourism Commission — also[Read More…]
New amendments to cap and trade bill borrow from Republicans, Timber Unity
SALEM — Lawmakers revealed on Wednesday changes to the plan to cut back on the state’s greenhouse gas emissions that would ease the impact on rural Oregon and adopt elements proposed by Timber Unity. The revisions are part of the continuing effort of Democratic sponsors to drive a policy that[Read More…]
Mayor urges Salem City Council to pass sit-lie ordinance in annual address
Delivering the annual state of the city address on Wednesday, Mayor Chuck Bennett focused on one major issue facing Salem: homelessness. “Overriding every other issue was homelessness and its impact on our city,” Bennett said, citing a citywide survey last year that found homelessness was at the top of Salem[Read More…]
Here’s everything Salem-Keizer plans to do with an extra $35 million
Students get off the bus for the first day of school at Bush Elementary, Sept. 4, 2019. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem-Keizer administrators want to help thousands of kids do better in school with more than two dozen changes to district programs affecting everything from math class to yellow buses. The[Read More…]
Uncategorized Bill giving Oregon public records advocate independence heads to vote
It took less than two minutes Wednesday for a Senate committee to approve legislation to solidify independence for Oregon’s public records advocate and the Public Records Advisory Council. During a Feb. 12 work session, members of the Senate Committee on General Government sent Senate Bill 1506 to the Senate floor[Read More…]
