The governor fired Reginald Richardson from his post running the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission more than a week after Salem Reporter first asked about his employment status. Richardson was convicted in October for shoving an eight-year-old into a wall during a Salem after-school program.
Tag: "free"
Oregon drug policy director pleads guilty to assaulting boy in Salem school program
Reginald Richardson pleaded guilty in October to a misdemeanor charge after prosecutors say he shoved a boy against a wall. It’s unclear whether he’s still employed in his governor-appointed role.
A tight rental market puts strain on Salem women’s shelters
At the Center for Hope and Safety, the average shelter stay length for domestic violence survivors has tripled over the past year because of the time needed to find an apartment.
Longtime city employee honored for work making lifelong friendships overseas
Linda Berman, who died in February, spent over thirty years working for the City of Salem, where she helped develop the Salem-Kawagoe Sister Cities program.
Loved ones remember “The Potato Lady” of Salem
Lisa Letney, an outspoken advocate for people who are homeless in Salem, died on Nov. 7 leaving behind a legacy of leading with empathy.
Drifted into the system: Salem police restrain, jail man in apparent crisis
Salem police suspected Peter Leonard may have been having a mental health crisis. They wanted to detain him anyway, triggering a confrontation that resulted in Leonard’s hospitalization as well as criminal charges.
BREAKING: Brush fire forcing evacuations in south Salem as crews surround the blaze
A major brush fire has erupted in south Salem, forcing evacuations as more than 50 pieces of fire equipment respond on Friday, Sept. 9.
Deputy police chief’s retirement remains a mystery as city withholds documents
The city of Salem Friday refused to release public records sought by Salem Reporter of events leading up to the retirement of Deputy Chief Steve Bellshaw. Awarded extra public money, he left while facing misconduct allegations.
A Salem deputy police chief quietly retired under an agreement. City leaders aren’t saying why
A longtime Salem Police Department official left his job in February with no public fanfare and under a separation agreement that has since triggered a state investigation. Secrecy surrounds the circumstances of the retirement of Deputy Chief Steven Bellshaw after 32 years. City officials have so far not publicly released[Read More…]
Rising costs, supply chain problems plague construction projects in Salem
For Pence Construction, a Salem commercial contractor, this year marked the first time a construction project hinged on dimmer switches. All other supplies are in, but Brent Pence, owner and senior project manager, said they can’t have dimmable light switches in hand until August. “My whole project ties into this[Read More…]