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.
Salem warming centers short on volunteers to shelter people from snow
People cross the street in downtown Salem during following a snowstorm on Feb. 5, 2019 (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) At least ten homeless people seeking shelter from the snow Tuesday night were turned away from Salem warming shelters because…
AGENDA: Chemeketa board to consider tuition increase
Update: Due to snow, the board has changed its meeting time to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27. Chemeketa Community College board members will consider a tuition increase for the 2019-20 school year at a meeting Wednesday. College administrators proposed raising…
Center for Hope and Safety building pet shelter for people fleeing domestic violence
Jayne Downing, left, executive director of the Center for Hope and Safety, and advocate Steven Broncheau, look over plans for the Safe Paws Pet Shelter. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Last year, Jayne Downing fielded a call at her Salem office from…
AGENDA: Salem-Keizer School Board to consider St. Edward land sale, apartment tax exemption
Members of the Salem-Keizer School board during a meeting. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) The Salem-Keizer School Board will consider putting the finishing touches on a land sale agreement with St. Edward Catholic Church at a Tuesday meeting. District attorneys last week…
Chemeketa to host community forums, candidate interviews for president finalists
Finalists for Chemeketa Community College president are Julie White (top left), Tod Treat (bottom left), Jessica Howard (top right), Robert Wynegar and Kimberlee Messina, who has since dropped out. Students, faculty and community members will have a chance to question…
Salem psychiatrist seeks seat on school board with platform focused on student mental health
Satya Chandragiri is running for Salem-Keizer School Board in zone 4. (Courtesy/Satya Chandragiri) As a child in India, Satya Chandragiri had a teacher who changed his life. Now, after decades working as a psychiatrist in Oregon, Chandragiri is running for…
Two Salem students chosen to represent Oregon in U.S. Senate leadership program
Justin Thach, senior at West Salem High School (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) For West Salem senior Justin Thach, moving to Oregon from New Jersey in the middle of high school was a shock. Thach, the son of Cambodian and Vietnamese immigrants,…
Oregon teachers say large classes and assaults by students show need for more funding
Schirle Elementary teacher Jamie Keene, center, said she’s regularly hit by a student in her 33-person class who has trouble regulating his behavior and needs more support than staff can provide. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem teacher Jamie Keene went to…
PHOTOS: Teachers from across Oregon rally in Salem for increased funding
Portland fourth-grade teacher Nichole Watson, of Rosa Parks Elementary, said her students deserve “my undivided attention,” drawing cheers from thousands of educators at the Feb. 18 March for Our Students. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Thousands of teachers and educators from across…
St. Edward agrees to sell Salem-Keizer vacant land for $2.26 million, ending eminent domain case
Vacant land now owned by St. Edward Catholic Church will soon be part of McNary High School. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Keizer’s Catholic church has agreed to sell about six acres of land to the Salem-Keizer School District, ending a legal…