January 2018

February 8, 2018

January was busy, but really fun. I was able to focus on some more significant stories. The first female national commander of the American Legion visited Oregon and I spent almost a full day with her as she visited the Capitol and an all-female post. The Womxn’s March again drew thousands, despite the rain. And January was the start to the Statesman Journal’s big push to focus on stories of homelessness this year. On the day of the annual Point-in-Time homeless count, we sent out 12 reporters and photographers. We met with people experiencing homelessness, as well as advocates and volunteers. We hope to do many more stories, and more in-depth stories, this coming year on all issues surrounding homelessness.

People raise their hands to signify #MeToo during the Salem Womxn’s March, part of a weekend of worldwide demonstrations supporting equal rights, at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018.

Myah Jamison, 19, stands outside the motor home she shares with her fiancee in the WinCo parking lot on Lancaster Rd. SE in Salem on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018.

James Claunts, 57, stands for a photo outside the Union Gospel Mission men’s shelter in downtown Salem on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018.

Clarissa, 28, participates in the Homeless Point-in-Time Count outside her tent where she lives with her boyfriend and four dogs along Highway 22 east of Lancaster Rd. SE in Salem on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018.

Denise Rohan, the first female National Commander of the American Legion, visits American Legion Post 149 in Salem on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018.

Joshua Rist, the choir director, leads the Something Dangerous a cappella choir during rehearsal at McNary High School in Keizer on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. The group is competing in the International Championship of High School A Cappella Northwest Semifinal on Jan. 26 at the Elsinore Theatre.

Tammy DuMond, 47, Makayla Dumond, 6, and Maxwell Holcomb, 54, stand outside the van they live in with their pit bull Chloe and two guinea pigs, Panda and Monkey, at McKay School Park in Salem on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. The family had stayed most nights in Walmart parking lots since being evicted from their trailer home four years ago, until recently when local Walmart policy changed and no longer allows overnight parking.