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.
Seeking Latino representation, Oregon farmworker union throws muscle into Salem-Keizer school board races
Miguel Barrientos, a paid field organizer for Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, walks door-to-door in southeast Salem, canvassing for school board candidates Raul Marquez and David Salinas. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Miguel Barrientos wore a button-down shirt and sneakers as…
Thousands of teachers, educators march on Oregon Capitol to demand funding
Educators rally in front of the Capitol as part of a statewide teacher walkout on May 8, 2019 (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) One llama and a handful of dogs joined about 2,000 educators from Salem, Eugene and the Mid-Willamette Valley for…
McKay engineering team planning for June trip to MIT
McKay High School sophomores Isabel Mejia, left and Jazmin Morales Rodriguez show off a 3D printer to students at a science fair at First Baptist Church in Salem (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) By 5 p.m. on a Friday, most McKay High School…
AGENDA: Salem-Keizer budget committee to take input on proposed 2019-20 budget
The Salem-Keizer school board and budget committee will review Superintendent Christy Perry’s proposed budget for 2019-20 and hear public input at a Tuesday meeting. The $1.19 billion budget maintains current district services while shifting some staff around to accommodate a…
Salem Reporter growing team of local journalists
Salem Reporter is growing and seeking a fourth reporter to cover community and breaking news. We started last August with a team of three reporters and an editor and an ambitious plan: become Salem’s go-to news source, with a special…
Ballots are out for Salem-Keizer school board. Here’s who’s running.
School board candidates David Salinas (top left), Satya Chandragiri, Raul Marquez, Marty Heyen, Danielle Bethell and Chuck Lee. If you’re registered to vote in Marion or Polk County, you’ve likely gotten a ballot for the May 21 special election. Voters…
As Willamette Heritage Center curator, Kylie Pine finds treasures in local history
Even when walking a visitor to her office at the Willamette Heritage Center, Kylie Pine can’t help being a guide. She walks backwards across the center’s 5-acre campus, pointing out the former Methodist mission and an under-development exhibit showcasing a…
Art Witkowski, Diane Watson face off in Chemeketa board race
Art Wiktowski, left, and Diane Watson, are running for Chemeketa Community College board. (Photos courtesy of candidates) For the first time in six years, a Chemeketa Community College board race has drawn a challenger. Art Witkowski, a former Chemeketa instructor…
In nonpartisan Salem-Keizer school board races, interest groups spend thousands
School board candidates David Salinas (top left), Satya Chandragiri, Raul Marquez, Marty Heyen, Danielle Bethell and Chuck Lee. With three weeks to go until the election, candidates are spending tens of thousands of dollars in hopes of winning a seat…
Mental health counselors first priority if Salem-Keizer gets extra schools funding
Students at Hallman Elementary School gather for a morning assembly. (Fred Joe/Special to Salem Reporter) Superintendent Christy Perry knows her first step if her district gets more money: hire a mental health counselors for each of Salem-Keizer’s six high schools.…