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.
Teachers, school workers and child care providers in Marion County can now get Covid vaccines
Teacher Kara Buchheit talks with Kristen Gough and son James, an incoming kindergartner at Kalapuya Elementary School on Thursday, September 17. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Teachers, school bus drivers, child care providers and preschool workers in Marion County can now get…
With “car choir,” Chemeketa singers use wireless mics, transmitters to sing safely in person
Christian Campbell, 19, sings during car choir at Chemeketa Community College on Jan. 14, 2020 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Mackenzie Rolf doesn’t usually bring jumper cables to choir class. But when you’ve been holding choir practice from cars parked in the…
With fewer Covid vaccines coming from feds, seniors now behind teachers in Oregon’s inoculation line
Gov. Kate Brown announces new state restrictions in a news conference in Portland on Thursday, March 12. (Jonathan House/Pamplin Media) Teachers in Oregon will be able to get a Covid vaccine starting Jan. 25, but seniors will have to wait…
Confusion over Covid vaccine eligibility as some in Salem report getting shots outside state guidelines
Salem Health began a Covid vaccine clinic at the state fairgrounds on Jan. 7 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Update: This article was updated to reflect the new vaccination timeline Gov. Kate Brown announced Jan. 15. Kerry Burtis was skeptical when a…
Salem-Keizer aims for late February to resume kindergarten, first grade in person
Highland Elementary School students enter the school library for brief in-person classes on Oct. 20, 2020 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Thousands of kindergarten and first-grade students could be back in Salem classrooms by late February as local schools move forward with…
Oregonians 65 and older, teachers and child care providers will be eligible for Covid vaccine starting Jan. 23
Salem Health began a Covid vaccine clinic at the state fairgrounds on Jan. 7 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Seniors, teachers and other school and child care employees can receive a Covid vaccine in Oregon starting Jan. 23, Gov. Kate Brown said…
Delayed vaccinations at Dallas Retirement Village highlight challenges in Oregon’s effort to protect vulnerable from Covid
Grant Thorsett in 2011 (Courtesy/Steve Thorsett) Grant Thorsett should have been near the front of the line to receive a Covid vaccine in Oregon. Instead, he and some other residents of the Dallas Retirement Village’s Health Center were told they were ineligible…
AGENDA: Salem-Keizer board to appoint student representative, discuss plan to zone board elections
Seven high school students are vying for a voice on the Salem-Keizer School Board. Board members will appoint one applicant to serve as the board’s first student advisor at a Tuesday evening meeting, a position intended to make the board…
Salem Health cancels Jan. 11 Covid vaccine clinic, plans to resume Jan. 12
Salem Health began a Covid vaccine clinic at the state fairgrounds on Jan. 7 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) After vaccinating more than 8,000 people in four days, Salem Health is canceling its Monday Covid vaccine clinic at the Oregon State Fairgrounds…
Here’s what you need to know about Salem Health’s Covid vaccine clinics in Salem and Dallas
Salem Health began a Covid vaccine clinic at the state fairgrounds on Jan. 7 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem Health can now vaccinate up to 2,000 Marion County health care workers daily at the state fairgrounds, dramatically expanding the inoculation’s availability…