Building a Better Oregon: Priorities for the Upcoming Legislative Session
We have the November 5 election behind those of us who are in my Keizer and North Salem district. I thank everyone who volunteered to help with my campaign, donated to my campaign, and who voted for me in the election. This gives me a chance to continue to reach out and represent the needs of everybody in House District 21 and also address …
Lawmakers Address Business Challenges, Opportunities at Leadership Summit
Whether you believe in big government or small government, Oregon House Democratic Leader Ben Bowman (D-Tigard) said government must be effective and efficient to grow the state’s economy and help businesses thrive.
Speaking at the 22nd annual Oregon Leadership Summit at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland on Dec. 9, Bowman said a bipartisan gr…
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…
Oregon Warns Residents of Rising Affinity Fraud Schemes Exploiting Trust within Communities
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) recently issued a warning to Oregonians about the dangers of affinity fraud, an investment scam that exploits trust within tightly knit groups to defraud members. The DFR highlighted that affinity fraud is on the rise, preying on bonds in communities, religious organizations, immigrant groups, and other af
Giving Back: Salem Health Foundation Offers a Helping Hand
Working behind the scenes to ensure a healthy community is the Salem Health Foundation.
Despite fully supporting Salem Health, the foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1968 by a group of citizens that wanted to improve the health of the community.
“We are separate from Salem Health, but our missions align,” Salem Health and W…
Commercial Business Furniture is Salem’s Longest Running Business
The oldest and continuously run official business has changed ownership and model over the years but has remained committed to providing business for the local community.
The current iteration is called Commercial Business Furniture (CBF), run by the Mizer family. Katy is the Principal Owner, Dale is the Business Manager and their son Sawyer is the Sales …
Affordable Housing Takes Center Stage in Oregon’s Local Elections
As election day approaches, candidates are wrangling to stake out their positions on issues to earn the votes of an electorate hungry for progress on Oregon’s most important issues. Affordable housing has taken center stage in many local races, acting as somewhat of a proxy for a generalized feeling that Oregon is becoming too expensive.
Here is a…
SEDCOR awards ceremony celebrates the industries that sustain us
The Strategic Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR) hosted their annual Awards and Membership Meeting at the Salem Convention Center last week, celebrating the achievements of the organization and its members over the past year.
SEDCOR acts as a support network for industry and economic vitality in the Willamette Valley, serving Marion, Polk and Yamhi…
Urgent Solutions for Oregon’s Housing Crisis: How We Got Here and the Path Forward
It's no secret that Oregon is in a housing crisis. But what does that mean?
Oregon has built too few homes for years – at least 140,000 too few – and researchers suggest we'll need to build over a half million new housing units in the next 20 years to catch up. In fact, Oregon ranks 4th nationally in the underproduction of housing.
This short…