Salem’s Mill Creek Correctional Facility opened in 1929. Now, the minimum-security facility is scheduled to close July 2021. (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter) With state officials aiming to cut Oregon’s prison population, Gov. Kate Brown is moving forward with closing three prisons including Salem’s Mill Creek Correctional Facility. Mill Creek, a 2,000-acre[Read More…]

Passage through the Capitol rotunda is restricted to one-way to maintain social distancing requirements during the 2021 session of the Oregon State Legislature.( Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) If local legislators have their way, it’ll be easier to buy cold medicine, the state’s emergency management system will be overhauled and there will[Read More…]

A camp pictured at Oregon State Capitol State Park in December 2019 (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) Oregon’s capital city will see millions in state money for a homeless shelter and affordable housing if the Legislature approves funding requests from the city of Salem. Salem has faced a growing problem[Read More…]

State Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, reading an agreement on the House floor Monday, Jan. 1, that he will have diminished access to the Capitol after he let a group of rioters into the building. (Screen grab/Oregon Legislature) State Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, hasn’t heeded the House speaker’s calls to resign[Read More…]

State Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence. (Courtesy/Freedom Foundation) A Salem area legislator who allowed a confrontational group of demonstrators into the Oregon Capitol has lashed out, saying he is being subject to “mob justice” by the House speaker. State Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, released a withering statement Tuesday evening saying House[Read More…]

Capitol surveillance footage shows state Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, allowing demonstrators into the building. (Screengrab.) A video released Friday shows state Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, allowing a confrontational group of demonstrators into the state Capitol during a special session last month. The release comes after House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland,[Read More…]

Protesters fed up with pandemic restriction gathered outside the Capitol as lawmakers met on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter) State Rep. Mike Nearman, a Republican legislator from Independence, allowed a confrontational group of demonstrators to enter the Capitol last month, endangering legislators and staff, House Speaker Tina Kotek[Read More…]

The Oregon State Capitol. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) In Salem, and the rest of Oregon, renters will keep roofs over their heads, landlords will have more cash coming in, schools will be less worried about lawsuits as they reopen and restaurants will have an easier time selling cocktails and meals. Those[Read More…]

Protesters fed up with pandemic restriction gathered outside the Capitol as lawmakers met on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter) Oregon State Police have arrested four individuals and are seeking a fifth involved with Monday’s violent demonstration at the Capitol, which has drawn strong condemnation from state and local[Read More…]