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.
Parents concerned about racial discrimination, transportation in Salem-Keizer boundary shifts
Olga Cobb, Salem-Keizer director of elementary education, explains proposed boundary changes to parents at Four Corners Elementary School on Dec. 4, 2018. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Parents are concerned a Salem-Keizer School District proposal to ease high school overcrowding by shifting…
Leaving office, Janet Carlson hopes to see continued push to help Marion County homeless
Outgoing county commissioner Janet Carlson has spent 16 years in office focused on helping people get a second change after coming out of jail. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Janet Carlson’s office is lined with a stack of plastic tubs, carefully labeled…
Federal climate change report says more wildfires, droughts and extreme weather in store for Oregon
Outdoor recreation and Oregon’s natural beauty are already seeing effects from climate change, according to a new federal report. (Salem Reporter/File) Extreme weather, severe wildfires, winter storms and droughts will all become more common as the effects of climate change…
Salem-Keizer school officials want citizen opinion about boundary changes affecting thousands
Proposed changes to Salem-Keizer high school boundaries are being reviewed. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) A group of community volunteers and Salem-Keizer School District staff wants to hear from the community before finishing a proposal that would shift thousands of local students…
A day in the life of a Salem-Keizer school bus driver
Alan Booth checks his bus’ emergency exits before setting off to pick up his first student. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Just before 6 a.m., the Salem-Keizer School District’s south bus lot starts to wake up. Bus drivers trickled in, checking tire…
Salem-Keizer board approves eminent domain to take St. Edward church land
St. Edward parish member Karen Scharosch urges the Salem-Keizer School Board not to pass a resolution authorizing the district to take church land. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) With the sole school board member representing Keizer abstaining, the Salem-Keizer School Board voted…
Marine-owned Vagabond Brewing gears up for weekend celebrating veterans
James Owens, a Marine Corps veteran and one of Vagabond Brewing’s first employees, drinks a can of Haze Yourself, the brewery’s Veterans Day release. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) At Vagabond Brewing, Nov. 10 is the most important day of the year.…
Woman lying on Highway 22 killed by multiple cars
Salem Police believe a woman hit and killed by two cars Saturday night was lying on Highway 22. The woman, who police identified Monday as Dallas resident Alexandria Tereshka, 27, died following the collision at 9:15 p.m. She was hit…
2018 Crystal Apple awards recognize outstanding Salem-Keizer educators
2018 Crystal Apple Award winners pose following the awards ceremony on Nov. 1, 2018 (Courtesy/Salem-Keizer Education Foundation) The Salem-Keizer Education Foundation recognized twelve teachers, administrators and support staff with Crystal Apple awards Thursday evening. The foundation selected those staff from…
At Battle Creek, Karin Moneke connects with students through reading
Karin Moneke, who teaches fourth and fifth grade at Battle Creek Elementary School, discusses children’s novel “On My Honor” with a group of students on Oct. 25, 2018 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Parents, students and colleagues nominated sixty-one Salem-Keizer educators for…