Oregon’s attorney general said the number of people deemed criminally insane who commit new crimes after their release is “definitely too high” and must be addressed by the state. She was “surprised” by the frequency of crimes, often violent, documented by the Malheur Enterprise and ProPublica. Slightly more than a[Read More…]
Latest News
Uncategorized Marion County’s turn coming to raise garbage rates
Art Kuenzi, vice president of Suburban Garbage Services, examines a recycling bin on Southeast 45th Avenue on a recent morning. He said his company has struggled in 2018. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) It will now be Marion County’s turn to sift through the issue of garbage collection fees. Days after Salem[Read More…]
Oregon secretary of state privately shares dire medical news with leaders
Secretary of State Dennis Richardson privately notified top Oregon officials earlier this summer that he had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive and fatal form of cancer, according to two state executives. The Republican from Central Point is first in line to succeed the governor. Richardson declined comment and didn’t[Read More…]
Oregon governor stops bid to raise alcohol taxes
SALEM — Tax hikes on beer, cider and wine are “off the table,” Gov. Kate Brown said Friday. The Oregon Health Authority wanted to increase taxes on beer, wine and cider by 10 percent, which officials said could raise nearly half a billion dollars over two years. The agency also[Read More…]
City commission derailed over potential conflicts of interest
Potential conflicts of interest have destabilized a city commission tasked with earmarking millions of federal dollars for local projects. The Community Services and Housing Commission has for years been a keeper of grant dollars from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, and where affordable[Read More…]
A day in the life of a Salem-Keizer school bus driver
Alan Booth checks his bus’ emergency exits before setting off to pick up his first student. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Just before 6 a.m., the Salem-Keizer School District’s south bus lot starts to wake up. Bus drivers trickled in, checking tire pressure and outside lights before heading off to pick up[Read More…]
Salem-Keizer recruiting bus drivers
Alan Booth inspects his bus’ lights before starting his morning route. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Alan Booth is now used to no one knowing his name at work. “Bus driver! Can you turn the heater off?” The question was yelled out from the back of Booth’s 40-foot school bus. Booth turned[Read More…]
Economists say you’re sending an extra $1 billion into Oregon’s treasury
SALEM — Taxpayers and lottery patrons are pouring millions of extra dollars into state coffers. By the end of the current budget cycle, state economists say, the state will tuck $1 billion more into its treasury than forecast 18 months ago. That comes on top of the $21 billion the[Read More…]
After eight years of decline, enrollment at Chemeketa Community College starting to stabilize
(Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) After eight years of declining enrollment at Chemeketa Community College, college leaders believe they are slowing the trend. Four weeks into the fall term, full-time enrollment is at 3,217, a 1 percent drop from the same time last year. That’s less than the 3 percent drop the[Read More…]
More than 1,000 Oregonians’ information stolen in data breach
A data breach of a tool used to enroll people in health care plans exposed the personal information of at least 1,094 Oregonians. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services officials discovered the breach on Oct. 16. Attackers hacked into a direct enrollment tool that insurance agents and brokers use to[Read More…]
