Salem Reporter

The Salem Reporter is an online news platform dedicated to covering stories in the Salem region. Owned and operated locally, it offers readers high-quality investigative journalism, straightforward reporting on local government matters, and a closer look at the influential figures within the Salem community.

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Parents fear special education classroom move will disrupt stability, progress

1 day ago | salemreporter.com | Rachel Alexander

After moving through five Salem schools in five years, Mindy Stubenrauch finally found a classroom that worked for her son. In the year and a half he’s been at Salem Heights Elementary School, she said he’s made friends and progressed after being placed in the school’s emotional growth center. That is a special education classroom intended for students with serious difficulty regulating their emotions. “This is the most stable he’s ever been,” she said.
State pension tweaks will save Salem-Keizer School District $6 million next year

2 days ago | salemreporter.com | Rachel Alexander

The Salem-Keizer School District is getting a small reprieve on its pension costs after legislators approved a change intended to provide schools help with skyrocketing rates. The change, announced by the state’s pension system last week, reduces the amount school districts must pay to the state to cover expected pension costs for already-retired employees. Superintendent Andrea Castañeda estimated it would save the school district about $6 million next year.
Salem-Keizer music programs win bevy of state awards

3 days ago | salemreporter.com | Rachel Alexander

Salem is home to the best high school orchestras in Oregon. That’s according to the annual Oregon State Activities Association competitions held in May, where local high schools dominated the competition, and choir and band programs also took home state honors. Among the top honors: South Salem High School again placed first in the string and full orchestra competitions after winning both competitions last year. The ensemble is under the direction of Damian Berdakin.
What’s showing at Salem galleries, museums in June

3 days ago | salemreporter.com | Abbey McDonald

From fish prints to outdoor yoga, Salem’s galleries are welcoming summer this month with celebrations of nature and community. Between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, June 6, the Salem Art Walk will bring artists and musicians to local businesses downtown. Here’s what’s showing this month.
How Salem Hospital responded to a mass casualty event

4 days ago | salemreporter.com | Abbey McDonald

The mass stabbing at Union Gospel Mission on Sunday night was the first time in at least eight years that Salem Hospital activated its mass casualty protocol. A dozen people were injured and 11 were sent to Salem hospital, according to the Salem Police Department. In such circumstances, emergency department doctors brace to receive more patients than their resources can handle. Under Salem Hospital’s plan, the team has 20 minutes to clear treatment bays and prepare equipment.
Bend man accused of stabbing 12 during check-in at Salem Union Gospel Mission

4 days ago | salemreporter.com | Rachel Alexander

A Bend man with few apparent connections to Salem is accused of going on a rampage Sunday night, stabbing 12 people at the Union Gospel Mission men’s shelter during check in. Police named Tony L. Williams, 42, as the suspect in the stabbing at the mission, 777 Commercial St. N.E. He faces 12 counts of second-degree assault in Marion County Circuit Court. He is scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon.
Oregon Sen. Lisa Reynolds mulls conflict of interest declaration after ethics report

4 days ago | salemreporter.com | Shaanth Nanguneri

Oregon’s statewide ethics watchdog on Thursday referred a Portland-area lawmaker to the Legislature for clarity over whether a bill she authored that could benefit her medical practice raises a substantial conflict of interest. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission said Sen. Lisa Reynolds’ decisions regarding votes and bill introductions were within the purview of the Legislature and its legal counsel, according to a Thursday letter written by Susan Myers, the commission’s executive director.
Fundraising event showcases art projects, business skills of Eagle Charter students

1 week ago | salemreporter.com | Madeleine Moore

As people packed a classroom to buy succulents and wandering dude plants, Neriah Baldwin, a fourth grader at Eagle Charter School, sat at a desk, overseeing it all. During a school showcase on Tuesday night, Baldwin was in charge of a room full of plants that third grade students spent months raising from seeds. When the project started around four months ago, Baldwin, one of two older co-managers, said she liked helping the younger students work together and get to know one another.
Here are the 12 Salem, Keizer educators honored with 2025 Crystal Apple awards

1 week ago | salemreporter.com | Rachel Alexander

Educators who went above the call of duty with 5:45 a.m. van pick-ups, leading school clubs and tracking booster seats for families in need were honored Thursday at the Crystal Apple awards. Teachers, parents, principals and students put forward 101 outstanding local educators as contenders for the 2025 awards. The annual gala event recognizes the people who make a difference in students’ lives, from office support workers to experienced teachers.
Committee unanimously passes new budget restoring city jobs, services

1 week ago | salemreporter.com | Joe Siess

Splash pads will go on as scheduled this summer and the public library will stay open longer after the city budget committee voted unanimously Wednesday evening to approve an updated budget proposal likely to go into effect in July. The passage of the updated budget, which factors in new revenue from a property tax increase approved by voters last week, was met with applause, and budget committee members seemed relieved and were able to conclude their meeting within about an hour.