🌱 Salem PD Shoots Suspect + May Day Marches + Sec. Of State Resigns

Welcome back, Salem. I'm here in your inbox per usual to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: A couple of afternoon showers. High: 68 Low: 47.
• Thursday: Mostly cloudy with a shower. High: 58 Low: 49.

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Here are the top three stories in Salem today:

1. On Monday, a Salem Police SWAT officer, identified as Cpl. Adam Waite, shot 34-year-old Andrew E. Kjostad while attempting to take Kjostad into custody in an east Salem business district. Waite was linked to three separate shootings in less than three hours on Sunday, Apr. 30, throughout the Salem area. Kjostad was taken to Salem Hospital and was still there being treated as of Tuesday morning, May 2. Officials have not released any information on his medical condition. (Salem Reporter)
2. On May Day (May 1), about 200 workers marched around the Oregon State Capitol to celebrate International Workers Day. In Salem, mostly Latino and Native Americans marched to support several bills, including Senate Bill 610, and to bring attention to farm field working conditions and food insecurity. (KOIN)
3. Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan announced her resignation, effective May 8, after many political leaders —including Gov. Tina Kotek, House Speaker Dan Rayfield and Senate President Rob Wagner — expressed concern about Fagan's consulting job with a cannabis company. while state auditors were looking at state regulation of the industry. On Monday, May 1, Fagan released a statement apologizing and said, "I exercised poor judgment by contracting with a company that is owned by my significant political donors and is regulated by an agency that was under audit by my Audits Division." (Blue Mountain Eagle)

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Today and tomorrow in Salem:

Wednesday, May 3

• Live Music Happy Hour with Dylan Santiago At Taproot Lounge & Cafe (4:00 PM)
• May Open Caption Showing: The Super Mario Bros Movie (PG) At Northern Lights Theatre Pub (4:30 PM)

Thursday, May 4

• Women's Empowerment Workshop At Journeys A Center for Your Soul (4:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Salem Police Department posted on its Facebook on May 1 asking the community to help in the search for 65-year-old Phillip. He suffers from dementia and is not from Salem. Call Salem Police Dispatch at 503-588-6123 if you see or know of Phillip’s whereabouts. (Salem Police Department via Facebook)
• A Salem man, 49-year-old Michael Padrta, shared his story of fentanyl addiction and his journey to sobriety with Fox 12 Oregon. According to the Centers for Disease Control, illicit fentanyl is "now king of the opioid crisis and linked to tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S." (Fox 12 Oregon)
• Finding your next home shouldn't be a headache! Check out the latest homes for sale in the Salem area, including a three-bedroom on Tumbleweed Circle for $125,000. (Salem Patch)

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you around.

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!