South Salem High School teacher Brennan Young was recognized for his work in special education.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/23/this-is-so-well-earned-salem-keizer-educator-named-regional-teacher-of-the-year/
Salem Reporter
@salemreporter.bsky.social
Delivering news of Salem, Oregon, from experienced local reporters. Accurate, in-depth, trusted.
The watchdog Citizens’ Utility Board called the agreement with Pacific Power “the strongest from a for-profit electric utility yet” under Oregon’s POWER Act.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/23/pacific-power-to-charge-new-oregon-data-centers-for-all-costs-associated-with-growing-energy-need/
Events in Salem this week include the movie premiere by a lawyer-turned-filmmaker, a community market at Chemeketa Community College and two different open mic events.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/22/5-things-to-do-in-salem-this-week-open-mics-twilight-day-local-film-premiere/
Students aim to gather $20,000 in donations to purchase and repair instruments and buy new uniforms.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/22/mcnary-music-students-to-gather-band-day-donations/
The county’s largest union will not go on strike after reaching an initial agreement with Marion County. The agreement still needs to be ratified by union members.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/22/marion-county-strike-called-off-after-tentative-agreement/
Haven Garber, a licensed attorney, will soon see her movie, “Getting Back,” screened for the first time for a general audience at Salem Cinema this Saturday, Sept. 26.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/22/lawyer-turned-filmmaker-soon-to-premiere-oregon-made-film-at-salem-cinema/
Members of the Marion County Employees Association plan to strike in downtown Salem starting 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/21/marion-county-employees-set-to-strike-tuesday/
A man reported to be from Keizer has been arrested and accused of arson for the roof fire at Hallman Elementary School that broke out late Thursday night.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/18/keizer-man-arrested-accused-of-arson-for-roof-fire-at-hallman-elementary-school/
There will be no school Friday at Hallman Elementary School after a late-night fire drew a 2-alarm response from at least three local fire agencies.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/18/2-alarm-fire-closes-hallman-elementary-in-northeast-salem/
The new playground at Riverfront Park is set to temporarily reopen by early October, following a series of setbacks.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/17/riverfront-park-playground-slated-to-reopen-by-october-following-construction-delays/
Salem food pantries are seeing more visitors as thousands of Oregonians lose their food benefits.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/16/our-community-is-getting-hungrier-salem-food-pantries-see-record-high-demand-amid-federal-snap-cuts/
A week after other Salem-Keizer students, the district's youngest learners are in the classroom — some for the first time.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/16/photo-gallery-auburn-elementary-welcomes-kindergarten-students/
The committee posted a 20-page report of “preliminary learnings and questions” the public can comment on through Oct. 24.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/16/9-months-in-koteks-data-center-advisory-committee-shares-many-questions-few-answers/
The result is in line with an earlier poll, but the Republican’s 2-point lead is less than the margin of error.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/15/new-poll-shows-drazan-with-slight-lead-in-governors-race/
In recent months, Oregon has been placing foster children with their relatives at rates higher than the nationwide average, a state report found.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/15/new-report-on-child-welfare-finds-oregon-keeping-more-kids-with-family-instead-of-foster-care/
Salem Reporter stopped by the South Salem Ace Hardware for this profile of a longtime community business.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/14/weve-really-got-a-community-neighborhood-hardware-store-celebrates-20-years/
Majority of Chemeketa students face basic needs insecurity, study finds.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/11/salem-area-community-college-debuts-resource-hub/
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, along with scheduling and location changes, organizers for Salem Art Fair are hoping that attendance will bounce back in its 77th year.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/10/organizers-hopeful-for-salem-art-fairs-77th-year-after-dip-in-attendance/
Marion County employees have voted to strike, rejecting an offer from commissioners which union leaders say won’t protect households from major healthcare costs in the coming years.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/10/marion-county-employees-vote-to-strike/
Up to 20% of Salem-Keizer’s public elementary schools will be closed in 2027. Officials just finalized how those schools will be chosen.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/09/salem-keizer-school-board-decides-on-11-factors-that-will-be-used-to-shutter-schools/
Salem-Keizer Public Schools students are back in the classroom for the 2026-27 school year. Salem Reporter visited schools across the city to capture the first day.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/09/photo-gallery-salem-keizer-students-start-new-school-year/
Salem Reporter visited four schools on the first day for most Salem-Keizer students.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/09/always-the-best-day-of-the-year-joy-excitement-on-first-day-at-salem-keizer-schools/
Gubser Elementary School students walked down a red carpet on the first day of school. They were greeted by school employees, fire fighters, police officers and Mayor Cathy Clark.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/09/gubser-elementary-students-enter-school-on-red-carpet/
Celebrations of hometowns, winemaking and Indigenous art are among the exhibits showing in Salem this month.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/09/5-exhibits-to-see-at-salems-galleries-museums-in-september/
Salem Health and Santiam Hospital began combining their hospitals and clinics this week over a year after hospital leaders decided to pursue the merger. Here’s how it happened.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/04/one-year-later-salem-health-now-owns-santiam-hospital-how-did-it-happen/
The Tuesday vote will give Salem-Keizer Public Schools officials the green light to choose which elementary schools they will recommend for closure ahead of the 2027-28 school year.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/04/salem-keizer-school-board-to-vote-tuesday-on-school-closures-policy/
Editor's Note: Young journalists learned the value of community reporting in a summer with Salem Reporter's team. Their work was supported by community donors.https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/09/04/editors-note-what-interns-learned-in-a-summer-in-salem/