Oregon Retail Employee Charged with Theft of $25,000 Winning Lottery Ticket
A retail employee at Short Stop convenience store in La Grande faces criminal charges after allegedly stealing a $25,000 winning Oregon Lottery ticket. The ticket was presented during a routine “Retail Integrity Check” conducted by the Oregon State Police (OSP) and the Oregon Lottery to ensure fair and secure lottery transactions.
On September 19, 202…
Oregon Housing and Community Services Invests $165 Million to Build 550+ Affordable Homes
In a landmark decision on Friday, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announced a $165 million investment aimed at tackling the state's critical affordable housing shortage. This funding, approved by the Oregon Housing Stability Council, will support the construction of eight housing developments across the state, ultimately providing over 550 af
Oregon’s Corrections System: A Call for Reform and Support
As your State Representative and a long-time advocate for public safety, I recently had the opportunity to visit Coffee Creek Correctional Facility and meet with the Association of Oregon Corrections Employees (AOCE). These experiences have reinforced my belief in the critical role our correctional facilities play in maintaining public safe…
City of Salem Projects $18 Million Budget Shortfall for 2026, Plans for Financial Strategy
The City of Salem recently released its preliminary five-year financial forecast, projecting an $18 million shortfall in the General Fund for Fiscal Year 2026, with the gap expected to widen over the next few years. This forecast, presented to the City’s Budget Committee, will guide decisions on service prioritization and financial planning.
The financi…
Marion County Reentry Initiative
The Marion County Reentry Initiative is all about return on investment. Helping former prison inmates successfully reintegrate into the community is less expensive, financially and socially, than having them commit new crimes.
That is why area businesspeople joined law enforcement officers, politicians, social service providers, the faith community and ot…
What is the intersection between optimal sales leadership… and the optimal use of today’s technology? Part II
At the conclusion of part one, we mentioned that once you have a deep understanding of your buyer’s journey, you can use technology to give your team a much better chance of meeting the buyer where they are. This is important, because where the buyer is at that moment is where all the best discussions happen.
So – what kind of information should …
Salem Housing Authority Earns National Recognition for Historic Yaquina Hall Restoration
The Salem Housing Authority (SHA) has received its second prestigious award for the transformation of Yaquina Hall, a historic building repurposed to provide supportive housing for the community. The project, which offers 52 residential units for individuals experiencing homelessness and those with disabilities, is situated on the former Oregon State Hosp
Latino Business Alliance: Bridging Gaps and Building Businesses in Salem
Founded during the challenging economic times of the Great Recession, the Latino Business Alliance (LBA) emerged as a response to the needs of small Latino business owners in Salem, Oregon. Co-founders Jose Gonzalez and Balthazar Molina saw firsthand the struggles that local business owners were facing and set out to create a network to support them.
“M…
The Forge: Reigniting Salem’s community spirit downtown
You’ve probably noticed construction on the old Liberty Plaza building by now. A group of local investors seek to pull it from the grave, transforming the building into a hub of business and community.
A Canadian company previously owned the Liberty Plaza, but without their personal investment in the Salem community, it fell into disrepair. Anthem Strat…
Marion Berries Are Newest Semi-Pro Team in Salem
Salem is about to add another semi-pro team to the fold when the Marion Berries make their debut next summer.
The Marion Berries are the latest expansion team for the West Coast League (WCL), a summer collegiate wooden-bat league with teams based in Oregon, Washington and Canada.
They are the 17th team to join the league, forming a natural rivalr…