12 Hole-In-The-Wall Oregon Soul Food Restaurants That Locals Would Rather Keep To Themselves
Oregon might be famous for its food carts and farm-to-table dining, but tucked away in quiet corners across the state are soul food treasures that locals protect like secret family recipes. These humble spots serve up the kind of comfort food that warms you from the inside out—crispy fried chicken,...
Effort to Erase Homeless Camping Protections Moves Closer to the Ballot
A coalition of business interests and Oregon cities are moving toward the November 2026 ballot with an initiative that would allow cities to broadly criminalize homeless camping. On Dec. 19, the chief petitioners for Initiative Petition 2026-054—Salem Mayor Julie Hoy; Portland attorney John DiLorenzo; and Preston...
Western Oregon Weather Alert: Showers Fade, Frost and Black Ice Risks Grow This Weekend
Country Herald is Local News, Independent Pulse. Covering breaking local news, sports, lifestyle and events. Oregon – Rain beads on windshields and darkens sidewalks across the southern Willamette Valley this morning, while cold air settles close to the ground. The damp chill is noticeable, and winter hazards...
Historic drive-in raises $3,600 after storm damage
Last week’s wind storm caused the partial collapse of the Twin Cinemas building at the 99W Drive-In in Newberg. Sight of the damage had fans and patrons worried for the 72-year-old drive-in movie theater. But never fear: The building was unused, and the drive-in’s owner said it will have...
What went up in Salem in 2025 and what construction is coming in 2026?
This year brought a string of new construction projects and businesses to Salem, including a renovated mall, the start of a mixed-use apartment building at the former city hall site and hundreds of affordable housing units. Kristin Retherford, Salem's director of community planning and development, said downtown is...
Community artists invited to design 2026 Benton County Fair logo
Benton County is opening its annual fair planning process to the public through the inaugural Design Rodeo, a logo contest open to artists of all ages and skill levels. The competition is underway and runs through Feb. 15. The winning design will represent the 2026 Benton County Fair and Rodeo,...
Oregon State Offensive Lineman Keyon Cox Will Use Transfer Portal
Oregon State offensive lineman Keyon Cox, who played 4 games in 2025, will enter the transfer portal. Learn more in this piece.
Deadline extended for Marion County SNAP recipients to replace food lost in recent storms
People living in 19 Oregon counties who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have a larger window to ask for replacement benefits if their food was lost due to the effects of recent storms. The additional benefits can be used to replace spoiled food caused by Dec. 17...
Strategic Salem Police Investigations Unit Nets 13 Firearms and Significant Drug Haul
Salem, Ore. — Salem Police detectives with the Strategic Investigations Unit served a search warrant on December 22, 2025, at a residence on 18th Street NE, resulting in the seizure of a significant quantity of firearms and illegal drugs. Salem detectives were working an ongoing case involving Juan Tenorio...
Wine Wednesday: Maysara Winery
A local winery is raising a glass to a new national honor!
