Latest news with #Salem-area
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek backs Salem livability levy, concept of state payment to capital city
Gov. Tina Kotek promised to protect Oregon values during her first press conference after the Nov. 5 election. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Oregon governor and Salem resident Tina Kotek plans to vote for a temporary new property tax levy that aims to keep the city's library, parks and senior center open as the capital city faces a $14 million budget gap. Kotek told reporters Monday that she will support the levy, which would charge property owners 98 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, or about $229 annually for the average Salem homeowner. She said she hoped other residents would join her. 'They've made a strong case that (the levy) will help keep the senior center open, the libraries open,' Kotek said. 'It's a really important measure.' Kotek, who lives in the state-owned governor's mansion, Mahonia Hall, wouldn't pay the new levy if voters approve it. The state government doesn't pay property taxes, which is part of the reason Salem's in such dire financial straits. About 8% of property in the city is owned by the state government, and the city provides resources like police and fire response to those properties but can't collect taxes from it. 'I have been publicly supportive of the state helping the city of Salem out, because we do have obviously a lot of state buildings that don't pay local property tax,' Kotek said. 'We do need to have a conversation.' But she said she hasn't yet seen a proposal this legislative session for the state to aid Salem. A bipartisan group of legislators led by Rep. Tom Andersen, D-Salem, introduced House Bill 2531 to send $7 million annually to the city to pay for emergency response services stressed by the state government. Kotek said she hasn't talked with Andersen about the proposal. Andersen confirmed the two haven't spoken about his bill, which didn't receive a hearing before a legislative deadline. His next step is to ask the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee to take up the request and consider including it in the state budget or the 'Christmas tree bill,' an end-of-session bill laden with lawmakers' pet projects like a tree with ornaments. It's a tough year for budget requests, as lawmakers brace for cuts to federal spending and the impact of tariffs. But Andersen stressed that his $7 million request is small compared to the state's budget. '$7 million, we can find that in the legislative couches,' Andersen said. And, he said, the bipartisan coalition of Salem-area representatives — Democratic Sen. Deb Patterson, Republican Rep. Kevin Mannix and Democratic Rep. Lesly Muñoz, all of whom represent portions of Salem, are cosponsoring it, as are Republican Rep. Ed Diehl and Democratic Rep. Paul Evans from neighboring districts — will help convince lawmakers from other parts of Oregon of the capital city's importance. The last time Andersen testified to a committee about an earlier version of the bill, he held up a picture of the state Capitol burning in the 1930s, the second time the statehouse was destroyed by fire. 'It was the city of Salem fire department that rescued and saved people's lives in that fire,' Andersen said. 'So the city provides valuable, extremely needed and necessary services to the state property within the city limits. That should be acknowledged, and there should be some sort of payment from the state to the city for those services.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vote: Who should be the Statesman Journal's girls swimmer of the year?
Vote: Who should be the Statesman Journal's girls swimmer of the year? Silverton's Breeza Rodriguez competes in the 100-yard freestyle at the state meet. Rodriguez is a nominee for Statesman Journal girls swimmer of the year. There were plenty of strong performances from Salem-Keizer swimmers through the 2024-25 season, with a handful of local athletes nabbing podium spots at last month's state championships. Now we want you to vote for the girls swimmer of the year. Vote at The poll will be open until 11 a.m. Sunday, March 30. Here are the nominees for the top Salem-area girls swimmer for the 2024-25 season. Sophia Buswell, South Salem Buswell took sixth place in the 100-yard butterfly (59.52 seconds) at the Class 6A state championships. Leah Ellerbee, Stayton Ellerbee took third place in the 500 freestyle (5:33.47) at the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state championships. Abby Evans, West Salem Evans took ninth place in the 100 freestyle (54.82) and 200 freestyle (2:01.53) at the Class 6A state championships. Ellie Gladow, Salem Academy Gladow took sixth place (58.29) in the 100 freestyle at the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state championships. Gentry Hagedorn, Central Hagedorn took fifth place in the 50 freestyle (25.56) at the Class 5A state championships. Odelya Laroya, West Salem Laroya took third place in the 50 freestyle (24.32) at the Class 6A state championships. Breeza Rodriguez, Silverton Rodriguez took fifth place in the 100 freestyle (57.43) and sixth place in the 100 backstroke (1:05.54) at the Class 5A state championships. Advertisement Jarrid Denney covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at JDenney@ or on X @jarrid_denney This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Vote: Who should be the Statesman Journal's girls swimmer of the year?
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon Uber, Lyft drivers could see new protections under Senate bill
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon lawmakers are considering a rideshare driver rights bill, in an effort to improve working conditions for Uber and Lyft drivers across the state. On Thursday, the Senate Labor and Business Committee held an informational hearing on Senate Bill 1166, which received support from some rideshare drivers and Drivers Union Oregon — a union representing over 10,000 rideshare drivers in the state — while representatives from Uber and Lyft raised concerns about the legislation. If the bill passes, the protections for Oregon rideshare drivers will take effect in the summer of 2025. Hwy 26's 'The Bump' sends cars airborne as locals fight for improvements 'Driving for Uber and Lyft is becoming more precarious,' said Salem-area rideshare driver Seth Aniagyei in a Drivers Union Oregon press release. 'The majority of trips are done by full-time drivers like me whose only income comes from these apps, and the big out-of-state corporations have all the control. They manage us through algorithms, fire us via email, lower our pay and raise fees with no accountability. There has to be some limit to that, and that's what we're fighting for.' Currently, there is not a statewide rideshare policy, rather local jurisdictions, such as the City of Portland, set their own regulations. Among the provisions in the bill, SB 1166 would set per-mile and per-minute minimum compensation for drivers, create just cause protections for unwarranted driver terminations, would require rideshare companies to create an appeals process for terminations, extend sick leave, and establish a resource center for rideshare workers to help them access benefits. 'This cause has been brought to my attention by drivers who are really struggling in terms of getting their decent wages and also need some protection,' bill co-sponsor Senator Kayse Jama (D-East Portland, Damascus, Boring) testified during the hearing, noting even though rideshare plays an important role in transportation infrastructure, rideshare drivers are getting 'left behind.' Vancouver considers annexation that could make it Washington's second-largest city Testifying in favor of the bill, Stephanie King shared her experience working as a full-time rideshare driver in the Portland area since 2018, saying even though rideshare driving has been viewed as 'gig work,' or a 'side hustle,' she says, 'the bonus structures that were in place always demanded full-time participation. Many were unobtainable even working back-to-back 12-hour shifts.' 'In Portland, we're paid 40-60% less than in other Oregon markets like Salem, Eugene, Bend and Medford,' King said. 'Over the years, Lyft and Uber have continually cut wages for doing the same work. Long story short, over the last year and a half or so, that's amounted to $1,600 a month pay cut for me,' King claimed. 'When Lyft cut the $100 (electric vehicle) bonus, it was the tipping point for me personally and now I'm literally selling my body, having to sell blood plasma in order to not quite make ends meet,' King said. 'Our current pay is 70 cents a mile and 24 cents a minute. Seventy cents a mile is the current IRS deduction, and we're only paid when we're in an active ride,' King continued. Multiple cougar sightings reported near Beaverton shopping center 'Driver pay does not correlate to the surge passengers pay in any way,' King said, pointing to one trip where she drove someone from Clackamas to Portland International Airport. While the rider paid $116 for the trip, King said she was paid $18. Nathaniel Hudson-Hartman, another Oregon rideshare driver testifying in favor of the bill, highlighted the need for an appeals process when drivers are terminated from the app. 'No worker should ever have to choose between their health and their income. But I, like many of us, had to take unpaid time off from work when I was sick for weeks from COVID and when my sister and father were both in poor health near the end of their lives. And I can also speak to what it's like to wake up and turn on your app only to find out you've been terminated, most times without a clear explanation why or the right to representation. It happened to me right after my father passed away and I was devastated to know that all it took was canceling a trip out of grief,' Hudson-Hartman said. While some rideshare drivers shared frustrations with current Uber and Lyft policies, representatives for the companies raised concerns with the bill. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Zahid Arab, a public policy and communications representative for Uber explained, 'When it comes to SB 1166, we're concerned. It seeks to set minimum per-mile and per-minute rates. It also prevents restricting dangerous drivers from the platform and creates a driver resource center with unprecedented regulatory powers. Make no mistake, the compensation rates in this proposal are among the highest in the country and when you add in cost of living, and insurance factored into that, these rates far outpace the rideshare models.' Arab continued, 'We know this proposal will reduce demand, which will directly impact driver earning opportunities at the same time — effectively pricing out countless low-income and senior Oregonians who rely on rideshare for essential services.' Representatives for Uber and Lyft said Rep. Susan McLain (D-Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro) agreed to hold a workgroup with the rideshare companies over the summer to find a compromise between safeguarding driver earnings while maintaining the rideshare company's driving models. Eugene limited edition sneaker shop owner, CFO plead guilty to $80M fraud scheme KOIN 6 News reached out to Rep. McLain's office for comment but has not heard back. Representing Lyft, Marissa Cade said the company is interested in participating in the workgroup rather than seeing the bill pass the Oregon legislature. 'Lyft is in support of participating actively in a conversation with drivers, and Uber and the community in the potential workgroup,' Cade said. 'I think those conversations have been happening. There's not been an official amendment put forward or a bill for that workgroup put forward, but we are working on details put together in a more substantial way for the legislature this session.' Kade continued, 'Also just wanted to reflect…about the need to respond with an Oregon solution to the needs of rivers here in Oregon. Lyft completely agrees and that's another reason to move into a workgroup scenario rather than moving forward with this bill. There's some market analysis and things that need to be done in order to weigh the impacts of the changes that are being recommended and how to best help drivers accomplish their end goals here as opposed to what we've seen in the other states that have had unintended consequences on things like driver remuneration.' Following the hearing, SB 1166 is heading to the Senate Rules Committee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vote: Who should be the Maps Credit Union girls Athlete of the Week?
During the winter sports championship season, high school athletes throughout the Salem-Keizer area delivered outstanding performances on the biggest stage. This week's Maps Credit Union high school girls Athlete of the Week nominees are: Sarahi Chavez, McKay wrestling Marlina Martinez, McNary wrestling Runon Muroya, Western Christian basketball Polly Olliff, Dallas wrestling Jennifer Soto, North Salem wrestling Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at The poll closes at 11 a.m. Thursday. McKay senior captured her second consecutive state wrestling title when she won the 100-pound title March 1 at the OSAA Class 6A/5A wrestling state championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Chavez won the final by a second-round technical fall — and did so despite competing with a ruptured cruciate ligament. McNary sophomore Marlina Martinez captured her first state wrestling title when she won the 110-pound title March 1 at the OSAA Class 6A/5A wrestling state championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Martinez won the final by third-round technical fall. Western Christian senior Runon Muroya scored 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting and tallied four assists March 7 to lead the Pioneers to a 54-27 win over Weston-McEwen in the Class 2A state semifinals at Pendleton Convention Center. Dallas senior Polly Olliff captured her third consecutive state wrestling title when she won the 115-pound title March 1 at the OSAA Class 6A/5A state championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Olliff won the final by a 10-3 decision. North Salem senior Jennifer Soto captured her first state wrestling title when she won the 235-pound title March 1 at the OSAA Class 6A/5A state championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Soto won the final by fall. To submit an Athlete of the Week nomination, please email Statesman Journal sports reporter Jarrid Denney at JDenney@ with the athlete's name, stats and any other relevant information about the performance they are being nominated for. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Vote for Maps Credit Union Salem-area girls Athlete of the Week
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vote: Who should be the Maps Credit Union boys Athlete of the Week?
During the winter sports championship season, high school athletes throughout the Salem-Keizer area delivered outstanding performances on the biggest stage. This week's Maps Credit Union high school girls Athlete of the Week nominees are: Kenya Johnson, Sprague wrestling Isaiah Koehnke, Regis basketball Carson Langford, Dallas wrestling Teagan Scott, South Salem basketball Bo Zurcher, Silverton wrestling Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at The poll closes at 11 a.m. Thursday. Sprague senior Kenya Johnson captured the 190-pound title March 1 at the OSAA Class 6A wrestling state championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Johnson won by a 5-2 decision. Regis senior guard Isaiah Koehnke broke the Oregon high school boys basketball record for most career points, surpassing Kevin Love's previous record of 2,628. Koehnke surpassed Love's record March 7 during a 75-48 loss to Western Christian in the Class 2A state semifinals. Dallas freshman Carson Langford captured the 190-pound title March 1 at the OSAA Class 5A wrestling state championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Langford won the final by 15-1 major decision. South Salem junior guard Teagan Scott scored a team-high 31 points March 5 to lead the Saxons to a 60-41 road win over Sheldon. With the victory, Scott and South Salem advanced to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs. Silverton senior Bo Zurcher won the 165-pound title March 1 at the OSAA Class 5A wrestling state championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Zurcher won the final by 5-3 decision. To submit an Athlete of the Week nomination, please email Statesman Journal sports reporter Jarrid Denney at JDenney@ with the athlete's name, stats and any other relevant information about the performance they are being nominated for. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Vote for Maps Credit Union Salem-area boys Athlete of the Week
