Gov. Kate Brown takes the oath of office on Monday, Jan. 14, as she starts her final term as governor. (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) SALEM — Gov. Kate Brown wants the state to get ambitious about solving major challenges such as a homelessness, challenging legislators Monday in her state of the[Read More…]
Latest News
Salem-Keizer School Board to hear boundary change plan
The Salem-Keizer School Board will hear Tuesday the district’s plan to shift school boundaries starting next year to relieve overcrowding at many school in northeast Salem. The board isn’t scheduled to vote on the plan until Feb. 12 and have asked people with comments on the changes to wait until[Read More…]
Salem’s student salon teaches customers as well as high schoolers
Mannequins await their appointments with student hairdressers at Salem-Keizer’s Career and Technical Education Center. (Salem Reporter photo) Cade Burckhardt was all business as he considered what to do with my hair. He looked over my untidy mess. He asked what products I used on it (none, thanks.) He asked what[Read More…]
Oregon legislative leaders, regulators to meet behind closed doors to settle harassment claims
SALEM — The Oregon Legislature wants to settle a complaint accusing legislative leaders and administrators of creating a hostile work environment at the Capitol. In so doing, the Legislature will enter into confidential negotiations with the state’s Bureau of Labor and Industries, which brought the complaint. A neutral, third party[Read More…]
With eviction looming for homeless camp, its residents and city leaders left with questions
Scattered trash and belongings at an encampment near Marion Square Park. The city announced this week it plans to evict the camp Tuesday. Concerns arose afterward about a program that provides free meals. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) After word spread the city of Salem would cancel a program that helped feed[Read More…]
Three weeks into shutdown, Oregon state government weathering the storm
(Photo by Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) Oregon state government has yet to see deep impacts from a three-week federal government shutdown, but some Oregonians are feeling the pinch. Today, the shutdown tied the longest in U.S. history at 21 days. With President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats unwilling to[Read More…]
Marion County team recognized for efforts to prevent human trafficking
From left to right, Hillary Roeder, Wendy Matthews and Arielle Crist make up the core of a team fighting human trafficking in Marion County. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) When a 16-year-old Marion County girl was arrested on delinquency charges, authorities and the judge saw another bad kid facing commitment to the[Read More…]
Salem to talk committees, aid for vulnerable populations and a 111-unit apartment complex
Salem City Hall (Salem Reporter files) Salem City Council’s first meeting of 2019 will include two agenda items that will address the city’s role in helping vulnerable populations in the region and an information report on a 111-unit apartment complex proposed in the South Gateway Neighborhood. The mayor will also[Read More…]
Decades later, Courtney again takes aim at DUI threshold
As a state representative in 1983, Peter Courtney introduced legislation to lower the drunk driving threshold from .10 blood alcohol content to .08. It was a radical move from a new lawmaker who was expected to bide his time. Courtney had little support outside of a budding advocacy group called[Read More…]
Disgraced former city manager tapped to help lead Marion County Public Works
Courthouse Square, where the Marion County Board of Commissioners offices are located, pictured in December. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) A former government executive whose dishonesty over an affair with an employee cost him his job running the city of Newberg has been tapped to help lead Marion County’s troubled[Read More…]