Unemployment since the pandemic began in Salem and Oregon (Pamela Ferrara/Special to Salem Reporter) Even though Salem’s unemployment rate stood at 4.7% in September, the lowest since the beginning of the pandemic, some eight thousand area residents are still unemployed and looking for work (see graph). A workforce system, with[Read More…]

It was unclear how this could have happened, and it seemed rude to ask. The Medicare beneficiary, who had Medicare Part A only, made an appointment with a Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) counselor to ask how to enroll in the rest of Medicare. Unless they have employer insurance,[Read More…]

Glaucous-winged Gull with webbed feet. (Harry Fuller/Special to Salem Reporter) We two-legged animals must know we’re outnumbered. All those insects and spiders, not to mention crabs, starfish, squid and centipedes. There are mostly four-footers among our fellow mammals. At the other end—snails, slugs, snakes and earthworms. Could that be why we feel[Read More…]

American goldfinches in molt (Harry Fuller/Special to Salem Reporter) Birds have unique characteristics setting them apart from other animals. Perhaps the most central: feathers. They are formed from keratin, a lightweight, fibrous protein. Feathers’ strength with minimal weight is crucial for birds. Keratin shapes hair and fur, horns, claws, hoofs[Read More…]

A blue jay enjoys a peanut treat in a Salem driveway (Courtesy/Harry Fuller) Our species has been using plants and their fruit throughout our existence. First, our ancestors took what they found. Later, some plants were favored and encouraged because they were so tasty or useful. Eventually agriculture evolved and[Read More…]

A Virginia Rail at Taking Waters Garden in Albany (Courtesy/Albert Ryckman) Birds differ from us and other mammals in many ways. There’s flying, and being toothless, plus all those feathers. Among both the feathered and the furry are nocturnal species—kiwis for them, bats for us—who aren’t always visually directed. But[Read More…]

In recent days, we’ve served you a strong diet of local news about Salem. We shared word of improving graduation rates at local high schools, and let student leaders explain their own assessment of the results. We kept you up to date on the Salem-Keizer School District’s effort to take church land for school expansion.[Read More…]

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…]