What's Happening Salem

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! This week, Jacob Espinoza and Jenn Hays sit down with Julie Hansen, Transportation Planning Manager for the City of Salem, and Hayden Dentinger, Transportation Planner, to discuss the city's eff...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, Jacob Espinoza and Jenn Hays sit down with Irma Coleman, Neighborhood Program Manager for the City of Salem, to explore how neighborhood associations bring people together, addr...

Welcome to this week’s episode of What’s Happening Salem! Jacob Espinoza and Jenn Hays sit down with Julianah Dougals, Climate Action Plan Manager for the City of Salem, to discuss: What it takes to turn 183 climate strategies into real change. Easy wa...

Welcome to this week’s episode of What’s Happening Salem! In this episode, Jacob Espinoza sits down with Michael Wynschenk, CEO of Hunter Communications, to discuss: Hunter’s $50 million commitment to bringing fiber internet to Salem. Affordable option...

Welcome to this week’s episode of What’s Happening Salem! Jacob Espinoza sits down with co-host Jenn Hays for a get-to-know-you conversation about her Salem roots, her career in country radio, and why local storytelling matters now more than ever. They...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! What happens when Salem takes control of its own ambulance service, and can the city actually deliver better emergency response? In this first live episode, Jacob Espinoza and Jenn Hays sit down...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, Jacob Espinoza and co-host Jenn Hayes sit down with Ashley Dunn, the City of Salem's Community Engagement Manager, to talk about Northeast United and the community-driven work h...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening in Salem! In this episode, Jacob Espinoza and new co-host Jenn Hays sit down with Salem-Keizer School District Superintendent Andrea Castaneda to discuss the upcoming school closure recommendations, th...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, Jacob Espinoza sits down with Gretchen Bennett, Community Services Director and Homeless Liaison for the City of Salem, to discuss: The new intergovernmental agreement letting t...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, Jacob sits down with Britt Zijlstra of the Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service (WVMLS) to discuss: The current state of Salem's real estate market — cautious optimism, ri...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, Jacob Espinoza sits down with Susie Rice, Development Director at CASA Marion County, to discuss: The upcoming Superhero Run and how it brings the community together to support ...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, Jacob Espinoza sits down with Susie Rice, Development Director at CASA Marion County, to discuss: The upcoming Superhero Run and how it brings the community together to support kids in foster care. What CASA does and the critical role court-appointed volunteer advocates play in a child's life. Real stories of trust, comfort...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, your hosts sit down at Metronome for a wide-ranging conversation about Salem's live music scene — past, present, and future. From flyering telephone poles in the Myspace era to ...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, your hosts sit down at Metronome for a wide-ranging conversation about Salem's live music scene — past, present, and future. From flyering telephone poles in the Myspace era to navigating today's social media landscape, the conversation covers what it really takes to keep local music alive and thriving. In this episode, we...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, Jacob Espinoza sits down with Rachel from Salem Reporter to discuss: The future of local journalism and what sets community-rooted reporters apart in the age of AI. Salem's down...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, Jacob Espinoza sits down with Rachel from Salem Reporter to discuss: The future of local journalism and what sets community-rooted reporters apart in the age of AI. Salem's downtown development saga — the State and Commercial site's $5 million history, environmental hurdles, and what's next. Local elections and how Salem Re...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, Jacob sits down with David Neely, founder of Better Together Supports — a Salem-based in-home care agency serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities — ...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, Jacob sits down with David Neely , founder of Better Together Supports — a Salem-based in-home care agency serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities — for a wide-ranging conversation about community, purpose, and what it really means to show up for others. In this episode, they discuss: The person...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, recorded live at Metronome Studio, host Jacob Espinoza sits down with Teresa Alonso León — former Oregon state legislator and current candidate for Senate District 11 — to discu...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, recorded live at Metronome Studio, host Jacob Espinoza sits down with Teresa Alonso León — former Oregon state legislator and current candidate for Senate District 11 — to discuss her remarkable journey from migrant farmworker to lawmaker, and her vision for the communities she hopes to serve. In this episode, we cover: Fro...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, we sit down with Steve Harley from Banner Homes to discuss the exciting Headwaters development project — a large-scale subdivision that stands out because it's being built by a ...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, we sit down with Steve Harley from Banner Homes to discuss the exciting Headwaters development project — a large-scale subdivision that stands out because it's being built by a local developer using all local contractors. We dig into what that means for Salem's economy and community, the challenges facing the housing market...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this action-packed episode, Jacob Espinoza sits down with Mason Reeves from the Dax robotics team and Salem's Strongest Man to discuss: The incredible feats of strength you won't believe (car...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this action-packed episode, Jacob Espinoza sits down with Mason Reeves from the Dax robotics team and Salem's Strongest Man to discuss: The incredible feats of strength you won't believe (card tearing, frying pan rolling, and horseshoe bending!) How Dax security robots are keeping Salem safe at Pringle Park and Salem Center Mall The futu...

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this live episode, the hosts sit down with Danielle Bethell, current Marion County Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate, to discuss: Her journey from county commissioner to running for Or...