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.
Wanted: Salem high school students who love hands-on learning
Science teacher Jasmine Filley works with Lincoln Feiring, a year two student in the agriscience program at the Career Technical Education Center, to set up a team meeting on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Most Salem high school…
New bubble exhibit will welcome the first kids back to Gilbert House
Gilbert House Children’s Museum on Friday, March 12, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) A ghostly ping echoes off the walls inside the Gilbert House Children’s Museum. The historic home near Riverfront Park would normally be filled with the sounds of children…
Neighborhood by neighborhood, a new project wants to change the odds for Salem’s kids
Hallman Elementary students gather during the school’s morning assembly in March 2019. (Fred Joe/Special to Salem Reporter) In the decades he led Salem’s Catholic Community Services, Jim Seymour’s job was to help kids and families with health care, housing and…
Cowboy costumes, baby chicks mark first day back for fourth and fifth graders
Fourth grade students work on an assignment in Stephanie Madison’s classroom on the first day back to in-person class for fourth and fifth grade students at Myers Elementary School on Wednesday, March 17, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Stephanie Madison, a…
No change for May 2021 school board elections as Salem-Keizer adopts longer process for review
The Salem-Keizer School Board in 2019 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) The Salem-Keizer School Board on Monday said they’ll reevaluate how board elections are conducted, but won’t make any changes to the process ahead of the May 2021 contest where four seats…
With open conversations about addiction, Bridgeway’s primary care provider tackles health and recovery
Sarah Hadfield, physician assistant, runs Bridgeway Recovery Services primary care in Salem (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Even before she became a physician assistant, Sarah Hadfield spent more time attending medical appointments than most people. While working at a residential treatment center…
Oregon health officials expect Covid vaccinations to accelerate, but more contagious Covid variants and looser restrictions could challenge progress
Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the Oregon state health officer, announces new state restrictions in a news conference in Portland on Thursday, March 12. (Jonathan House/Pamplin Media) Oregon health officials and Gov. Kate Brown on Friday said the state is on the…
Salem-Keizer ended its school resource officer program, but police will still have a scaled-back role in the district
Salem-Keizer Superintendent Christy Perry surprised her own school board and some members of the public Tuesday night when she announced the end of the district’s school resource officer program. But the district will keep in place a newer contract with…
Salem area on track to see pandemic restrictions further loosened if Covid case counts keep falling
Signs in the window of Brown’s Towne Restaurant and Lounge on Wednesday, September 30. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) The number of people diagnosed with Covid in the Salem area is falling, giving local leaders hope restrictions designed to stop the virus’…
Salem-Keizer won’t renew contracts for police in local schools
Protestors rallied outside of the Salem-Keizer school district offices on Thursday, June 18 to urge the district to cancel their contract for police officers in schools. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) The Salem-Keizer School District will no longer contract with local police…