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.
School board to hear long-awaited plan for $35 million in new state funding
The 2019-20 Salem-Keizer School Board (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem-Keizer school board members and the public will get a first look Tuesday night at priorities for spending millions in new state money to close educational gaps in the district. Community volunteers…
Miller students get creative with art and history inspired field trip
David Wilson, gallery manager for the Salem Art Association, talks with Miller Elementary School fourth-graders about a painting by Salem artist John Oberdorf on a class field trip. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Laurie Hoverson’s fourth-grade students relish any chance to do…
Pacific Islander high schoolers mentor Auburn Elementary students with ukelele and dance
Eliandra Yatilman, a fourth grader at Auburn Elementary School, and Dale Dela Cruz, a North Salem High School senior, sing “Lava” at the Auburn Islander Club’s first family night on Feb. 6, 2020 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) When Kimo Lewis attended…
North Salem senior wins laptop to help on her quest for higher education
Myrka Morales Romero poses with mentor Amanda Stubblefield Jan. 31, 2020 in the North Salem High School library after winning a Chromebook from Google and Best Buy (Courtesy/Amanda Stubblefield) When Myrka Morales Romero was called to the North Salem High…
Rotary Club of Salem celebrates 100th birthday with ambitious park project
Gerry Frank, 96, acknowledges a standing ovation at the Rotary Club of Salem’s 100th birthday celebration on Feb. 5, 2020 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Gerry Frank proudly sports his button labeled #1, marking him the longest-standing current member of the Rotary…
After a facelift, Oregon’s 1857 constitution on display at Capitol
Mary Beth Herkert holds the 1857 Oregon Constitution in the Oregon Capitol galleria on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Mary Beth Herkert starts her day walking down Summer Street carrying an unremarkable bag at her side. Inside is…
From Mickey Mouse to Civil War veterans, learn about the clubs that shaped Salem’s history
Visitors read about Salem’s Mickey Mouse Club at Willamette Heritage Center’s new “Join the Club” exhibit (Courtesy/Willamette Heritage Center) For much of the 1930s, more than 1,000 children flooded Salem’s Elsinore Theatre on Saturday afternoons to watch Mickey Mouse cartoons…
Oregon wants your help gathering better radon risk data
Radon risk for the greater Salem area is mostly low or moderate, according to January 2020 data. (Courtesy/Oregon Health Authority) Oregon public health officials want a better picture of radon levels across the state, and they’re looking for your help.…
Grab a book, then head to an open mic night, discussion or movie screening for Salem Reads
Salem Reads 2020 gets underway Feb. 5 (Courtesy/Salem Public Library Foundation) The Salem Public Library might be temporarily closing its doors, but book lovers will still have plenty to do in February as the city’s annual Salem Reads event gets…
Whiteaker 8th grader wins national poetry contest commemorating Kent State massacre
Rachael Lang, an 8th grade student at Whiteaker Middle School, recently won a national poetry contest (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Whiteaker Middle School eighth-grader Rachael Lang hadn’t heard of the Kent State massacre until two of her teachers covered it in…