Salem’s proposed payroll tax would fund public safety
The Salem City Council is considering a 0.814% payroll tax on all wages for people who work in the city, regardless of where they live. The proposal exempts people making minimum wage. The city says the tax would help pay for police, fire and homelessness services. (Whitney Woodworth/Salem Statesman Journal)
This land won’t grow solar panels, LUBA says
The Land Use Board of Appeals says a Dayton solar company has no “vested right” to build a 10-acre solar array on high-quality soils in Yamhill County. Statewide regulatory changes attempted to steer solar arrays and similar development to land with lower-quality soil. (Mateusz Perkowski/Capital Press)
Related: Oregon researchers propose innovative path forward for farming’s water woes
Trail Blazers announce the name of G-league team: Rip City Remix
The Portland Trail Blazers announced they’ve picked a name for their NBA G-League affiliate. The team will be called ‘Rip City Remix.’ The Blazers said in a press release on Monday that the name was inspired by Portland’s creators, crafters, makers and pioneers. The Rip City Remix logo is a vintage take on the Blazers’ traditional pinwheel logo, bringing to mind the look of a vinyl record. The team says it pays homage the 1970s Trail Blazers. Rip City Remix will launch its first season this fall, and will play at The University of Portland’s Chiles Center. With the addition of Portland’s team, the NBA’s development league expands to 31 teams. The Trail Blazers have called up 20 players from the G-League since it was established in 2001. (OPB staff)
Unsung heroes: the volunteers maintaining Washington’s hiking trails
In 2022, volunteer trail crews invested more than 150,000 hours into Washington’s hiking trails. Washington Trails Association created the state’s largest volunteer maintenance program. In addition to Silver Star Mountain, WTA’s scope in Southwest Washington includes popular trails along the Columbia River Gorge to Mount St. Helens’ more secluded areas. Opportunities range from daylong work parties, multiple-day front-country and backcountry trips and weeklong volunteer vacations. Preserving trails is central to the Association’s goal to connect people to nature, regardless of their ability, skill or background. Read the full story to learn about these volunteers and why they are so dedicated to maintaining the trails. (Lauren Ellenbecker/The Columbian)
