With just days until Christmas, local nonprofits are still gathering goods and help for needy people in the community. Marion County officials issued a list last week of where donors can make a difference. If you know of another nonprofit that has a holiday project under way, send an email[Read More…]
Latest News
Power outages possible overnight in Salem as storm hits
Be sure you know where you’re flashlights are. The National Weather Service is warning Salem will see winds of 25 to 35 mph overnight with gusts to 50 mph as a powerful, wet storm rolls into Oregon Monday night. And for those living up on the hills, “brief gusts” up[Read More…]
Oregon agencies may find more watchdogs keeping an eye on them
SALEM — A dozen large state agencies could find themselves with watchdogs tethered within their ranks, guarding against wasteful spending and questionable government practices. They’ve been without internal auditors for more than a decade ago, ignoring a mandate that they have such positions. That lack of oversight was highlighted in[Read More…]
Hey, Salem, prepare for blustery, wet weather Monday into Tuesday
Heavy rain – up to two inches – and gusty winds could hit Salem late Monday into Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service said one of the most potent storms of the season is rolling towards Oregon from the Gulf of Alaska. The Weather Service said[Read More…]
Senator’s anonymous delivery under doors triggers Capitol worries
SALEM — A state senator caught on tape slipping anonymous packets under the doors of at least seven other senators last month has been warned his conduct could be considered workplace harassment. The letter’s public disclosure is the latest in a series of actions by Boquist that have raised eyebrows[Read More…]
Change in Oregon’s DNA law could free wrongly convicted defendants, legislators told
SALEM — After 18 years in prison, Gerard Richardson walked free in 2013. He had been found wrongfully convicted of murder. Richardson was serving time in New Jersey, but experts say if an Oregon court found him guilty, he would still be imprisoned. That’s because Richardson’s freedom followed testing of[Read More…]
Salem library review paused following outcry from residents
Shelves at Salem Public Library in late November. The library’s new, more rigorous review policy is on pause until a public meeting Jan. 9. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter files) A rigorous review of items in the Salem Public Library’s collections is on hold after residents worried that books would be needlessly[Read More…]
COLUMN: Have a minute for a cup of coffee?
Reporter Troy Brynelson of Salem Reporter (Moriah Ratner/Special to the Salem Reporter) Editor’s note: This is the third of a continuing series of personal columns from the staff of Salem Reporter to the community explaining how we perform our journalism. Read Rachel’s and Aubrey’s. I think my best reporting tool[Read More…]
Oregon education reforms could cost $3 billion, legislators told
Meme Branch talks about her high school experience with state Sen. Rob Wagner during a Joint Legislation Committee on School Success town hall earlir this year. (Pamplin Media Group/Jonathan House) SALEM — In an effort to put more Oregon students on track to graduate, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on School[Read More…]
Secretary of State Dennis Richardson releases video updating the public on his cancer
For the first time since August, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson on Thursday updated the public about his brain cancer, releasing a social media video. Since disclosing the tumor in late May, Richardson has receded from the public eye, deferring interviews and public appearances to executive staff. The videos have[Read More…]