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-Keizer School Board candidate Q&A – Zone 3 (south Salem)
May 2021 Salem-Keizer School Board candidates for zone 3: Ashley Carson Cottingham, left, and Linda Farrington On May 18, local voters will select four new members of the Salem-Keizer School Board. Although candidates must live in the district they represent,…
Salem-Keizer School Board candidate Q&A – Zone 1 (west Salem)
May 2021 Salem-Keizer School Board candidates for zone 1, from top left: Osvaldo Avila, Richard Riggs, Ross Swartzendruber and Kari Zohner On May 18, local voters will select four new members of the Salem-Keizer School Board. Although candidates must live…
Salem-Keizer sees 11 candidates for four school board seats in heavily polarized races
A year of contentious school board meetings and public conflicts with the superintendent hasn’t scared candidates away from the Salem-Keizer School Board. Eleven candidates are vying for four seats in the May 18 election, and the races are heavily polarized…
One year after pandemic closures, fewer child care providers operating in Salem
Children play outdoors at the Oregon Child Development Coalition’s North Lancaster preschool on March 20, 2020 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Dozens of child care providers in the Salem area have closed over the past year, and parents across Oregon reported greater…
Expanded eligibility hasn’t closed Oregon’s vaccination gap for Latinos
Florinda Velasquez, 74, prepares to receive her second dose of Covid vaccine from medical assistant Ana Barcenas at Lancaster Family Health Center in southeast Salem on Thursday, March 4 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Latino health organizations say Oregon officials are failing…
In violation of state policies, Salem-Keizer students won’t be given standardized tests this spring
Giovanni Fajardo Perez, a student in Crystal Magee’s kindergarten and first grade classroom, uses colored pencils on the first day back to school at Richmond Elementary on Tuesday, March 2. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Students in Salem-Keizer schools won’t take state…
Despite J&J pause, Covid vaccine clinics targeting farm workers, rural areas will go on as scheduled in Salem area
Moderna vaccine doses at a drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Centennial Park in Woodburn, Ore. on Thursday, April 1, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) A pause on using the Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine will temporarily mean fewer shots available in…
Marching band, red carpets and balloons for middle and high school students returning in Salem-Keizer
Gabriela Rendon and sister Vanessa head in to Houck Middle School for the first day of in-person sixth grade on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) As the first four Houck Middle School students walked in the front door…
Despite financial setback, vision for Salem veteran’s housing project takes shape
A rendering of the front of the YMCA veteran housing project planned for 220 Cottage St. NE by Doug Circosta Architect. Salem veterans are one step closer to a new housing option after the Salem Planning Commission last week approved…
Salem-Keizer School Board delays recognition of student journalist following critical coverage of school board campaigns
Eddy Binford-Ross, a junior at South Salem High School, photographs the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) The chair of the Salem-Keizer School Board is delaying the planned recognition of a high school journalist after her…