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.
Three more McNary students arrested after large fight on campus
McNary High School (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Five McNary High School students are facing criminal charges related to a fight that broke out after school last week. The fight happened immediately after school on Sept. 19 near the school’s gym. Two…
With new tax credit, Oregon treasurer hopes to promote college savings for lower income families
Harmony Terry, a kindergartener at Scott Elementary School, holds a Be College Ready folder during a visit by Oregon Treasurer Tobias Read. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Saving for college is like planting pumpkin seeds in the garden, state Treasurer Tobias Read…
A few weeks into class, Salem-Keizer culinary students eager to serve
Culinary student Rebecca Tipton prepares to serve mozzarella, tomato and salami skewers at a ribbon-cutting event at Salem-Keizer’s Career Technical Education Center (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) The 44 students in the new culinary program at the Salem-Keizer School District haven’t yet…
Student test scores down across Salem-Keizer, but some schools saw big gains
Students get off the bus for the first day of school at Bush Elementary. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) About 400 fewer Salem-Keizer students passed the state’s English test last year than in the previous year, according to state data released Thursday.…
Watchdog work balances with Salem slice-of-life stories to keep reporter going
Rachel Alexander, reporter at Salem Reporter. (Fred Joe/Special to Salem Reporter) The past year has been something of a whirlwind – moving to a new state, starting a new job and getting to know a new community as a reporter.…
PHOTOS: Here’s what it takes to feed 15,000 elementary school kids every day
Food service workers prepare wrapped turkey dogs to serve in Salem-Keizer elementary schools (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) In Salem-Keizer School District’s central food production kitchen, servings are often measured by the thousands. The industrial kitchen in a nondescript building in southeast…
Seeking more Oregon students, Willamette University will match Oregon college savings accounts
Willamette University President Steve Thorsett speaks at the kick-off for a university match program for Oregon College Savings Plan account holders. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Oregon students who enroll at Willamette University can get up to $40,000 towards tuition and school…
Urban Art Fest brings color, culture and resistance through art
A graffitied car on display at a prior Urban Arts Fest (Courtesy/Latinos Unidos Siempre) If you’ve ever wanted to see graffiti artists paint a 30-foot wall, Salem’s Urban Art Fest is the place for you. The free, all-ages event this…
More college options coming to downtown Salem with WOU expansion
The Vick building in downtown Salem will become a new Western Oregon University campus over the next year. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) A now-empty building on the edge of downtown Salem will be transformed into a new Western Oregon University campus…
UPDATED: Police arrest armed felon near Four Corners
Robert Dailey (Courtesy/Marion County Sheriff’s Office) Police arrested a man they said fled into a southeast Salem neighborhood with a gun after several hours of searching Thrusday afternoon. Lockdowns at four Salem-Keizer Schools were lifted before the man’s arrest. All…