SALEM, OR – A 31-year-old man was arrested Sunday night, February 22nd, after police say he violated a restraining order and refused to surrender for several hours at a Southeast Salem home.
Officers responded around 7 p.m. to a reported restraining order violation at a residence in the 4900 block of Periwinkle Drive Southeast. Police said Cristian Mercado, of Salem, was at the home in violation of a protection order that barred him from contacting the victim and her three children.
The victim was at work when she contacted authorities. Police said location services for her children’s cellphones had been turned off.
Mercado also had an outstanding warrant for a domestic violence-related assault involving the same victim and was known to have access to firearms, according to police.
Officers surrounded the home and attempted to negotiate with Mercado for several hours. Police said he spoke briefly by phone at times but did not maintain communication, complicating efforts to resolve the situation.
Salem police SWAT officers and the Crisis Negotiations Team were called to the scene. At about 11:45 p.m., Mercado surrendered without further incident.
He was booked into the Marion County Jail on four counts of violating a restraining order and the outstanding warrant.
Photo provided by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Update: Kaiya has been located and is safe. The original story is below.
MARION COUNTY, Ore. — The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing and endangered 10-year-old girl who was last seen Tuesday morning.
Authorities say Kaiya Bermanis was last seen around 9 a.m. in the area of Lancaster Drive NE and Jade Street NE.
Kaiya is described as a Hispanic female, approximately 4 feet 9 inches tall with a medium build and dark, curly hair. She was last seen wearing a black, baggy sweatshirt with “USA” on the sleeve and blue jeans.
Deputies say there is concern for Kaiya’s safety due to her age and a medical condition.
Anyone who sees Kaiya or has information about her whereabouts is urged to contact the Marion County Sheriff’s Office immediately at 503-588-5032 or call 911.
HUDSON, N.H. — A Staten Island man is being held without bail after police said he carried out a coordinated retail theft operation, stealing 455 containers of over-the-counter medications from Walmart and several Hannaford grocery stores before fleeing from officers.
The Hudson Police said they arrested 28-year-old Yasin Shearin after Walmart employees on Lowell Road reported a “repeat theft suspect” they wanted removed for trespassing. When officers approached him, Shearin displayed a New York driver’s license on his phone, but the photo did not match him, and he struggled to answer questions about his identity, including his Social Security number, according to a police affidavit.
Police said they linked him to a prior felony theft at the same Walmart involving nearly $1,500 in merchandise on Oct. 29. According to the affidavit, during that prior incident, the store’s asset protection employee took surveillance of Shearin placing items into a tote and walking past all points of sale. The employee told police Shearin appeared to be attempting the same method again on Dec. 17, concealing Zyrtec inside a closed tote.
Police said the store’s asset protection employee also alleged Shearin had “numerous open cases around the area regarding past thefts with Walmart.”
As police moved to arrest him, Shearin allegedly resisted and ran from the store. Officers chased him across the parking lot and apprehended him by the nearby McDonald’s.
Police said Shearin tried to get into a black 2025 Nissan SUV with New York plates during the chase. The vehicle was seized, and a search warrant allegedly uncovered 455 items of over-the-counter medications — Tylenol, Zyrtec, Nexium, Nicorette, Motrin, Dulcolax, Nexium, Pepcid, Breathe Right nasal strips and more — packed into bags.
Police said they also found marijuana and what they believe to be butane hash oil.
The affidavit states GPS data obtained from the vehicle showed it had stopped at several Walmart and Hannaford supermarkets in New Hampshire, including locations in Salem, Bedford, Seabrook, Manchester, Derry, Londonderry and Hudson.
Surveillance footage from the Hudson store showed Shearin entering alone, heading directly to the vitamin and health aisle, and concealing medications in a blue bag hidden inside a shopping cart before walking out without paying, according to the affidavit.
Police later matched the blue bag to one allegedly seized from the SUV.
Shearin was arraigned in the 9th Circuit Nashua District Court on Friday. Court documents state he entered a not-guilty plea to willful concealment, a Class A misdemeanor, and no pleas to receiving stolen property ($1,501 or more), a Class A felony, and organized retail crime enterprise and theft by unauthorized taking ($1,001-$1,501), both Class B felonies.
A judge ordered him held without bail, citing his risk of flight, multiple open cases in other states, and what was described as a safety risk to himself and the community if released.
Shearin was appointed a public defender, Alex Charles Fernald, who was not immediately available for comment.
Follow Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
A police officer in Salem, Massachusetts, suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being hit by a driver who fled the scene, authorities said Thursday night.
Salem police said a female officer was conscious and alert after being hit around 8:30 p.m. on Pope Street, where she was conducting a criminal investigation.
The officer was taken to Salem Hospital to be evaluated and treated.
Massachusetts State Police said they were searching for the driver in the hit-and-run.
SALEM, Ore. — ODOT crews are busy this week on a section of I-5 South of Salem. Drivers should expect overnight closures of I-5 both directions through Wednesday night from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
This Battle Creek Bridge Section of work is part of a much larger vision of turning I-5 into 3 lanes both directions long-term in that stretch between Delaney Road and Keubler Boulevard – exits 248 to 252.
Eventually, ODOT hopes to have roundabouts installed on the east side of I-5 for safety as well.
SALEM, Mass. — Hundreds filled the halls of Salem High School on Saturday to kick off the city’s quadricentennial celebration.
Providing a snapshot of what’s to come throughout the year, the event saw more than 60 community organizations share information about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities for community members to get involved and make Salem’s 400th year as a settlement all the more special.
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BOSTON — Cities and towns are slated to get millions of dollars from a grant program that helps the state’s waterfront communities rebuild infrastructure, boost tourism and support the commercial fishing industry.
On Wednesday, the Healey administration announced that the Seaport Economic Council was awarding more than $16.7 million to 21 projects that “contribute to job and economic growth” while preparing coastal communities for the impact of rising seas levels and climate change.
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SALEM. N.H. — Described by the FBI as a “highly dangerous individual capable of extreme violence,” Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente was found dead in a storage facility Thursday night.
Neves-Valente, 48, was a Portuguese national and former Brown University physics Ph.D. student. He was wanted in two states for fatal shootings at Brown University and of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor.
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Willamette Univ. Campus in Salem (left) and Pacific Univ. in Forest Grove (right). Courtesy of Willamette and Pacific universities.
Forest Grove, Ore. – Pacific University, in Forest Grove, and Willamette University, in Salem, are negotiating a deal to merge into what would become Oregon’s largest private university. Provisionally, the new institution would be called the University of the Northwest.
Willamette President Steve Thorsett says the goal is to leverage the power of a larger school, while maintaining the individual campus personalities, “Both of these institutions originated in the 19th century as early models of this great American invention: the liberal arts college, and the human scale that came with these academic residential communities. And we don’t want to lose that.” Pacific University President Jenny Coyle says both schools would maintain their respective campuses in Forest Grove and Salem, but would be better positioned to offer future professional programs and career pathways. Thorsett adds, “A big piece of what we’re trying to do here is to build those pathways and that’s a lot easier to do as a big, unified university.”
Coyle admits the proposal is – in part – in response to changing political and social opinions on higher education, “We do believe that by coming together and hopefully being stronger together, we’ll be able to navigate headwinds that we haven’t even thought about right now because we will have much larger scale, much larger capacity.”
Thorsett says the boards of both schools are ready to move forward, but more work is needed, “We are two very old nonprofit organizations and those two organizations first need to merge. We’re at the very early stage. If everything moves forward smoothly, that process could be finished by this summer.” But, he says, that only begins the federal approval process, which could take another 12 to 18 months.
So what does that timeline mean for the diplomas of this year’s freshman class? Coyle tells KXL News, “We’ll have one degree granting institution, in theory, as we move ahead. But diplomas – we have flexibility to make sure that our students can still have Pacific pride and Willamette pride.”
SALEM — A Quincy man was arraigned Thursday in Salem District Court on seven charges related to a shooting that took place on Route 128 North about 11:30 p.m. on Monday, according to the Office of Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker.
Thomas D. Perkins, 26, is charged with two counts of armed assault with intent to murder with a firearm, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a firearm without a license (second offense), possessing ammunition without a firearm ID car (subsequent offense), discharging a firearm near a highway, and defacing property.
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OR State Rep Greg Smith https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithg
SALEM, Ore — The longest serving representative in the Oregon State House is facing at least his 4th ethics investigation. The republican from Eastern Oregon Greg Smith will find out on either Friday or at a January meeting whether the The Oregon Government Ethics Commission plans to continue with action surrounding the allegation that Smith broke state ethics laws when he used his influence to ty and secure a $66,000 raise.
On Tuesday, the Commission decided they needed another 30 days to investigate.
They will be looking into a case revolving around his work as eecutive director of the Columbia Development Authority.
SALEM — Patriots quarterback Tommy DeVito participated in Tuesday in a charitable event in which 250 Thanksgiving baskets were donated to local families coupled with a $15,000 donation to The Salem Pantry.
The player was joined by his agent and Salem native Sean Stellato, and Marc Trachtenberg of Silk Title outside The Market on Leavitt Street to join in the Pantry’s annual distribution.
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SALEM — While there are contested mayor’s races this Tuesday in Beverly and Peabody, in Salem, there is none.
Mayor Dominick Pangallo is running unopposed for a full four-year term — after first winning a special election in 2023 to fill the remainder of Kim Driscoll’s term — and is looking ahead to what he says is a crucial time for the city to advance its long-term goals.
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Beverly Bootstraps and The Salem Pantry have seen a surge in donations and people seeking help over the weekend in anticipation of SNAP payments ending Nov. 1 amid the ongoing government shutdown.
Some of the pressure on local food pantries could ease after Monday, when the Trump administration announced it would pay out about half of regular SNAP benefits this month after two federal judges ruled the administration’s prior decision to stop all SNAP payments was unlawful.
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SALEM — The Salem Pantry will soon lease a 20,000-square-foot warehouse with five times the food storage capacity of the organization’s current warehouse with the help of a $2 million grant.
The new warehouse, strategically located on Highland Avenue at the border of Peabody and Lynn, will provide warehouse space, cold storage, and distribution infrastructure for up to 20 additional emergency food distribution partners in lower Essex County, according to the Greater Boston Food Bank.
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Witches freak me out. 8 years ago I made the mistake of mentioning this to Ben, who told everyone else at the office. For weeks I would get E-mails from Dougy, Mac, and Ben of random scary photos of witches.
Good times, indeed… now onto what this post is actually about.
In 1692, the quiet Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts descended into hysteria. What began with a few strange fits among young girls spiraled into one of the darkest chapters in colonial American history: The Salem Witch Trials.
Fear, superstition, and the weight of religious fervor turned neighbour against neighbour as accusations spread like wildfire. Within a year, dozens were executed or imprisoned, and the town was forever scarred by its own paranoia.
The government shutdown coincides with the arrival of Halloween in the Witch City.
Salem’s National Park Visitor Center was closed, just when huge crowds eager to see October’s Haunted Happenings began arriving.
“Shutting down everything — people need the services, and nobody’s proving a point,” one man said.
It’s more of the same at the USS Constitution. The oldest commissioned warship sits silently in Charlestown as people from places like Nebraska react to Republicans and Democrats failing to reach a deal on funding the government.
“We showed up yesterday from Kansas City and we thought, oh we’ll get in, and no, it was shut down,” one woman said.
The U.S. government officially shut down at midnight after Congress and the White House failed to reach an agreement on how to extend federal funding.
For Ellen Mei, the stakes are much higher. She is a federal worker in Boston, and president of NTEU, Local 255, and is now out of work.
“I am in an OK financial situation, but for some of my coworkers, where they may be the sole breadwinner with children or they may have parents that they need to care for or just other others in their family,” she said. “Nobody is pleased about having to shut down because it’s always the last thing that we want.”
At the Old North Bridge, federal park rangers have all been furloughed. October is the biggest month for tourism in Concord, prompting the historic town to adjust.
“We will be staffing a temporary visitor center seven days a week, 10 to 3, as long as needed and we’re bringing in portable restrooms,” said Beth Williams, the town’s tourism director.
There are more than 25,000 federal employees in Massachusetts, essential and non-essential.
For those who love the macabre, it’s the most wonderful time of year. Plenty of historic hotels around the world are great for haunted stays, but Airbnb also has a number of options for spooky slumber parties for paranormal investigations or cinema buffs who want a shot at staying in a movie house.
Here’s some inspiration for to die for Halloween getaway this October.
Top 3 Halloween Destinations
No. 1: Salem, Massachusetts
Essex Street in Salem.
With the countdown to Halloween on, Airbnb says its top trending destination for a spirited weekend is Salem, Massachusetts. This Halloween headquarters is famous for its witch trials and Halloween celebrations and has starred in movies like “Hocus Pocus.”
Stay at the Henry Derby House, which was built in 1838 for tailor Henry Derby. The Salem home features creaky stairs and rattling windows.
Henry Derby House
No. 2: New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is the country’s most “paranormal playground,” according to Airbnb. In fact, a mansion in the Garden District is the platform’s most haunted, according to reviews. (More on that below!)
No. 3: San Bernardino, California
Another top spot for horror seekers, San Bernardino is known for its top-notch haunted houses plus a Halloween EDM Festival.
The haunted room at the Parks-Bowman mansion on Airbnb
Some guest reviews claim that this Garden District mansion is haunted. The historic mansion is famed for sightings of a ghostly young girl in a yellow 1890s dress. The listing says: “Don’t worry, our ghost is very shy; you probably won’t see her, although some people swear she exists!”
Stay in the original home from Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film “Poltergeist,” which is about a family that’s haunted by ghosts. This four-bedroom suburban house blends Hollywood history with eerie nostalgia and is perfect for movie fans and has some cool amenities like a pool, hot tub and fire pit. Note: Ghost hunting is not permitted without a written agreement. Ouija boards, séances, spirit summoning are also strictly prohibited.
You can book a stay in the iconic movie home of Bella and Charlie Swan, where the fan-favorite series first began. Featured in the first movie of the cult following vampire franchise, this charming 1930s house in downtown St. Helens is perfect for fans and close to the riverfront and Portland.
Dating back to the 1600s, Linville Manor is known as one of Maryland’s most haunted spots and was featured on HGTV’s :Scariest Houses America” this season. Legend has it that spirits convene in the house at 1:11 AM, and mysterious crashes echo through the halls. The four-bedroom historic home sits on four acres.
Book a stay at the The Stranger Things’ Byers home
Did you know that you can stay in the home where Strangers Things was filmed? The Byers home isn’t associated with Netflix, but it’s the iconic location that served as the home to Jonathan, Joyce, and WIll Byers in the hit show.
For more than a year, dozens of fans and professionals worked to design this vacation rental, curating every VHS tape, vinyl record, board game, and trinket for you. Unique amenities include the opportunity to watch “Stranger Things” episodes under the interactive Christmas light wall inspired by the Byers’ living room from the series and play board games or Dungeons and Dragons in the Upside Down-inspired bunk room. You can also listen to vinyl records or play Amiga 500 games in Jonathan’s recreated room and ride BMX bikes around the property.
This immersive retreat features fan-favorite replicas and ghostly illusions, making guests feel like they’re spending the night in the beloved theme park mansion. If you choose, the home contains elements of illusion, sights, and sounds that occur throughout your entire stay.
DANVERS — Municipal leaders from various North Shore communities met Wednesday for the North Shore Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the Region discussion that was dominated by housing and infrastructure issues.
The breakfast meeting at Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School featured updates about the projects and initiatives underway in each community
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