Rachel Alexander

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public feedback on its plan for a late 2026 deep drawdown of Detroit Reservoir, which is expected to increase the amount of sediment in Salem’s main source of drinking water.

District leaders said Wednesday they need to cut at least $25 million in school district spending next year, with deeper cuts possible as the state faces a budget crisis.

It's still unclear if or when thousands of Salem-area families who receive food benefits will get their November payments.

Money from the property tax increase Salem voters approved earlier this year is paying to restore most public library hours that were cut in 2024, including opening the West Salem branch on Mondays.

Local investors announced Monday they were pulling out of purchasing the former JC Penney building after evaluations found the building needs "significant investment.” The store is owned by a Portland developer and has been vacant since JC Penney closed in 2020.

County officials said in a court filing that they support deporting people convicted of serious crimes and want to release parole records requested by ICE to help locate three local men.

Salem-Keizer schools posted a small gain in the number of students reading at grade level in 2025, but three in four third-graders remain behind.

Salem police said they were able to locate a woman injured in a kidnapping after her 8-year-old son reported her missing.

Lillian Anderson, a Sprague High School graduate, is focused on helping students at Chemeketa Community College learn about and use resources to help them succeed in school, whether that’s tutoring or the college’s food pantry.

School district administrators said Thursday that all 12 Salem and Keizer middle schools will start security screenings this year, with the first rolling out in late October.