A map of the minimum wage increases across Oregon starting July 1. (Courtesy/Oregon Employment Department) Low-wage workers in Marion and Polk counties will get a 75-cent raise starting next week when the state’s minimum wage increases for the fourth time since 2016. Workers will now be paid at least $12[Read More…]
Latest News
Thousands call on school board directors to resign as Salem-Keizer leaders discuss police in schools
The 2019 Salem-Keizer School Board (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem-Keizer school board members spent much of a four-hour public meeting Tuesday night explaining they want to listen to the community about the future of police in local schools, but devoted only one hour to hearing community input after more than 180[Read More…]
Salem Hospital employees testing positive for COVID-19 increase
Salem Hospital (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) An outbreak of COVID-19 at Salem Hospital has risen to 15 cases, according to the latest report from the Oregon Health Authority. The COVID-19 Weekly Report, released Wednesday, shows the number of employees who have tested positive for the virus has risen from[Read More…]
Superintendent Christy Perry rebukes school board over “discounting” experiences of students of color
Superintendent Christy Perry publicly rebuked her supervisors – the elected Salem-Keizer School Board – during a Tuesday meeting, saying she can no longer ask thousands of district employees to fight against racism without sharing how board members have discounted the experiences of students of color they are supposed to serve.[Read More…]
Salem area sees unemployment rate drop
Bella Malherbe writes out a chalkboard sign at The Kitchen on Court Street letting customers know about new procedures during the first phase of Salem’s reopening on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) After months of dire economic news amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Salem area saw an indication that[Read More…]
Salem’s budget by the numbers: here’s what the city is doing with taxpayer money
Salem City Council Chambers. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) The Salem City Council on Monday passed a $748 million budget as the city faces an economic crisis and communities across the country are demanding significant changes to police funding and practices. Hundreds of citizens sent emails to the council asking that some[Read More…]
Plans to isolate COVID-19 patients in Woodburn hotel sparks community concerns
A sign directs patients at Salud Medical Center in Woodburn on Wednesday, April 29. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) The Super 8 hotel in Woodburn will become a location for residents of Marion County who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 but have nowhere to isolate under an agreement being finalized by the county. [Read More…]
Board director, community leaders call on Salem-Keizer school board chair Marty Heyen to step down
A screenshot of the Salem-Keizer School Board’s March 30 meeting shows board member Paul Kyllo, top center, holding a mask of former Portland Trailblazers player Cliff Robinson over his face. A school board member and others in the community calling for Salem-Keizer’s school board chair to resign over what they[Read More…]
Keizer city officials hand over $48,000 to regain access to computers
The city of Keizer’s computer system was hacked on Wednesday, June 10, and officials were only able to regain access to the data by paying the perpetrators a $48,000 ransom. At this point, no sensitive data appears to have been accessed or misused. About 11:45 a.m., Wednesday, June 17, city[Read More…]
A Salem rehearsal turns into a neighborhood show with jazz group
The Salem group Gail Gage Jazz performs in a driveway on Friday, June 19, watched by neighbors, including Twylla Adams, left, and Deanna French. (Jan Jackson/Special to Salem Reporter) Gail Gage Jazz, a Salem-based group, tuned up for its first scheduled performance since coronavirus restrictions took hold by inviting neighbors[Read More…]