Rachel Alexander
Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers education, economic development and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade and is a past president of Oregon's Society of Professional Journalists chapter. Outside of work, you can often find her gardening or with her nose buried in a book.
Sue Bloom retires after championing children at Boys & Girls Club
After 15 years in leadership roles at Boys & Girls Club, Sue Bloom has played a pivotal role in making sure kids in Salem have safe places to explore and grow.
From cadaver lab to high jump, South teacher pushes students toward excellence
Whether it's in the classroom or on the track, teacher Tyson Gilmour has a simple goal: every student gets coached every day. He's one of the Salem educators nominated for a 2025 Crystal Apple Award.
Chemeketa, Willamette presidents join national move denouncing “political interference” at U.S. colleges
More than 200 U.S. college and university leaders signed a letter Tuesday objecting to the "coercive use of public research funding."
West Salem teams heading to robotics world competition
Students this year designed robots that can pick up rings of the correct color and place them on stakes to score points. Two teams from West compete in Dallas, Texas in May.
Englewood students read about bravery with Gov. Kotek
Students in Pikachu onesies questioned Gov. Tina Kotek about her job during a special assembly Friday at Englewood Elementary School in north Salem.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Here’s how we prepared our series rooted in the story of Melinda Lou Kayser
In “Sentenced to the Sidewalk,” reporter Abbey McDonald took a deep look at flaws in Oregon’s civil commitment and mental health systems, providing a human-centered, readable account of complex issues.
Where to learn more about Salem candidates for school board, city council
Forums over the next two weeks give Salem residents a chance to meet candidates who will be on the May ballot.
Sprague duo wins national constitution competition
Competing against teams with dozens of students, Sprague seniors Colin Williams and Matthew Meyers clinched a national trophy in Washington, D.C. last week.
Peek inside Salem’s shuttered Macy’s as local owners prepare for next chapter
With Macy's stripped of its wares, pieces of the original 1955 Meier & Frank store are more visible, including wallpaper in a former beauty salon and handwritten maintenance logs for the store's boiler.
Kotek says Oregon won’t comply with Trump’s anti-DEI education directive
Salem-Keizer Superintendent Andrea Castañeda said "holding funding for children hostage" is not the right way for the federal government to change education policy.