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.
Facing intense scrutiny, Salem-Keizer board will elect new leaders Wednesday
The 2019 Salem-Keizer School Board (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) A normally routine task for the Salem-Keizer School Board – the election of a chair and vice chair for the coming year – will take place Wednesday, July 1 with a heightened…
YMCA to get new leader as construction on new building begins
YMCA demolition in progress, seen from Cottage Street on Dec. 10, 2019 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) The executive who took over Salem’s YMCA when it was near bankruptcy won’t stay on to see his largest project complete. Sam Carroll, CEO of…
Marty Heyen won’t resign, but won’t seek Salem-Keizer school board chair this year
Marty Heyen, left, and Jesse Lippold, right, take new seats during a Salem-Keizer School Board meeting after being unanimously elected chair and vice chair for the 2019-20 school year next to Superintendent Christy Perry, center. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Marty Heyen…
Thousands call on school board directors to resign as Salem-Keizer leaders discuss police in schools
The 2019 Salem-Keizer School Board (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem-Keizer school board members spent much of a four-hour public meeting Tuesday night explaining they want to listen to the community about the future of police in local schools, but devoted only…
Superintendent Christy Perry rebukes school board over “discounting” experiences of students of color
Superintendent Christy Perry publicly rebuked her supervisors – the elected Salem-Keizer School Board – during a Tuesday meeting, saying she can no longer ask thousands of district employees to fight against racism without sharing how board members have discounted the…
Board director, community leaders call on Salem-Keizer school board chair Marty Heyen to step down
A screenshot of the Salem-Keizer School Board’s March 30 meeting shows board member Paul Kyllo, top center, holding a mask of former Portland Trailblazers player Cliff Robinson over his face. A school board member and others in the community calling…
Marion County sets two daily COVID-19 records: 51 new cases, 540 tests reported
Marion County reported 51 new residents with COVID-19 on June 22, setting a new county record. (Screenshot from Marion County Health & Human Services data dashboard) Marion County on Monday reported 51 residents newly-diagnosed with COVID-19, the highest one-day total…
For 50 years, police have patrolled schools in Salem. Now, some say it’s time for a new approach.
A 50-year-old program of police in Salem-Keizer schools has become a flashpoint in local discussions about racial justice as activists who have long pushed for changes to school discipline say people in power can no longer ignore them. A petition…
Here’s where you can celebrate Juneteenth in Salem
Gregg Simpson, march organizer, leads protesters in taking a knee during the March for Floyd on Saturday, June 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Salem residents can gather virtually or from a safe distance at a local park to celebrate Juneteenth on…
Salem can have a little more fun – but get those masks on
Customers grab drinks at Vagabond Brewing, 2195 Hyacinth St. N.E., during the first phase of Salem’s reopening on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Residents in the Salem area on Friday can once again go to the movies, play Pac-Man…