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 over 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.
School district budget proposal would finalize cuts, impacting some high school courses
Years of school cuts are likely ahead as enrollment in the Salem-Keizer School District continues to decline, Superintendent Andrea Castañeda said in her budget proposal for the 2026-27 school year.
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VOTE 2026: Meet your candidates for Polk County Commissioner, position 3
There's a four-way race for Polk County Board of Commissioners Position 3 in the May primary. Incumbent Jeremy Gordon is running for reelection. His opponents include Dallas City Councilor Carlos Barrientos, Salem business owner Mark Gordon Adams and Polk County Treasurer Steve Milligan.
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Hoy, Nordyke usually vote together. Here’s where they’ve been at odds on the Salem council.
Mayor Julie Hoy and Councilor Vanessa Nordyke are in the midst of a contentious mayoral race after three years together on the Salem City Council. Salem Reporter reviewed three years of city council and budget committee meeting records to see where the contenders for mayor have stood apart.
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CITY MEETING: Council considers Salem’s strategic plan, downtown programs
Salem city councilors are taking up plans to improve downtown, a new strategic plan and another federal grant to subsidize air travel at their Monday, April 27 meeting.
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Updates on park playground renovations, Ruby Bridges shirt lawsuit
The Crooked House Playground at Bush's Pasture Park reopened early, while construction is expected to go through July at Riverfront Park's playground.
Salem Reporter is returning to that and other past stories this month to provide brief updates.
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Salem man gets 16 years for causing crash that killed McNary student
Christopher J. Atkinson, 34, pleaded guilty Friday, April 17, to manslaughter and other charges stemming from a March 2025 crash that killed 16-year-old Zolayha Johnson and injured three other teens who Atkinson had supplied with alcohol and marijuana.
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Man accused of immigration crime turned over to feds outside Marion County Courthouse
Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a 49-year-old Woodburn man inside the Marion County Courthouse on Thursday, April 16, based on a warrant signed by a judge accusing him of re-entering the U.S. illegally. He was facing local sex abuse charges.
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School district leaders want earlier state data to avoid unexpected budget cuts
Salem-Keizer Superintendent Andrea Castañeda is among 11 school district leaders calling on the state education department to share financial information earlier in the school year so districts can budget accurately.
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Salem-Keizer will pull $14m from savings after state funding comes in low
Superintendent Andrea Castañeda said an inaccurate state method of counting how many students live in poverty means the Salem-Keizer School District will lose millions in state funding next school year.
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UPDATED: School board approves new reading curriculum, appoints student advisers
The Salem-Keizer School Board is poised to adopt new reading materials that have a stronger phonics component for elementary school classrooms.
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