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.
Fourth of July gatherings led to more coronavirus cases in Marion County, health officials say
Katrina Rothenberger, incident commander at the Marion County Health and Human Services COVID-19 incident command works in the office on Monday, July 13. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Private Fourth of July gatherings are behind Marion County’s highest one-day increase in new…
State health authorities warn of exponential growth in virus cases, but Salem area hitting most health goals
State health metrics updated July 8 show the Salem area is meeting most goals for controlling the spread of Covid, but the number of new cases is increasing too quickly. (Screenshot from Oregon Health Authority) The Salem area is seeing…
With smaller ceremonies and more sanitizer, graduation will go ahead for Salem-Keizer’s Class of 2020
McKay High School 2019 summer graduates wait in the West Salem High School lunchroom before the ceremony (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem-Keizer’s high schools will host dozens of small in-person graduation ceremonies in August, recognizing the Class of 2020 while following…
With or without new ICE rules, Willamette will have fewer international students in the fall
Two people walk through Willamette University on May 15. 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Willamette University will have significantly fewer international students when classes resume in the fall whether or not a Trump administration rule limiting international student visas announced this…
Seismic work, expanded auditorium behind $18 million cost jump for South Salem High renovation
A sign reminds spectators of COVID-19 prevention measures as the demolition of old Leslie Middle School gets underway Wednesday, April 15 (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter). A decision to build a larger auditorium coupled with higher-than-expected seismic and street costs have already…
A ventilator, paralyzed lungs and a long recovery: how Salem Hospital cared for one of the region’s first Covid patients
Pastor Jerry Miranda and wife Teresa pose for a photo outside of their Keizer home on Wednesday, July 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Thirteen days of Teresa Miranda’s life are blank. The 56-year-old remembers her husband, Jerry, driving her to Salem…
Birthday parties, family reunions and other social gatherings driving Oregon Covid spread
Andrea Davila, a nurse at the Kaiser Permanente North Lancaster clinic administers a test for COVID-19 at the clinic’s drive-thru testing site on Wednesday, April 29. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Birthday parties, graduation celebrations and other private social gatherings are behind…
Salem-Keizer students report little social contact or academic challenge during two months of distance learning
Judson Middle School students in a seventh grade language arts on Oct. 30, 2018. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Thousands of Salem-Keizer students struggled with a hasty switch to remote classes this spring, with most saying classes weren’t academically challenging and fewer…
DATA: Coronavirus cases still climbing in Salem, with most traced back to known source
Viviana Gourley, a medical assistant at Salud Medical Center, adjusts one of her two masks at the center’s COVID-19 testing area in Woodburn on Wednesday, April 29. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) The Salem area is still seeing a steady increase in…
Chandragiri, Bethell elected to Salem-Keizer school board leadership for 2019-20
Salem-Keizer School Board members elected Satya Chandragiri chair for the 2019-20 school year in a split vote after hundreds of public comments. (Screenshot from public meeting) The two newest members of the Salem-Keizer School Board will serve as chair and…