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.
How will distance learning impact Salem-Keizer students? No one really knows.
Jared Vergara Santana, left, Evelyn Francis, right, Iris Johnson, right back and Lillyana Green, back left, work on newspaper articles at Hoover Elementary School. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) In late May, about 10 teachers and classroom aides from Judson Middle School…
After a week of protests, thousands plan to attend Salem’s Saturday march for George Floyd
Protesters march to the Capitol for a rally and vigil on Monday June, 1. The event was the third day of protests against police violence in Salem. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Saturday could be the biggest march yet in a week…
For black Salemites, recent protests highlight longtime concerns over racial profiling and equity
Zack Jackson speaks to protestors on the Oregon State Capitol steps during the third night of demonstrations against police violence on Monday, June 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Five days of protests and marches over the death of George Floyd have…
Local data shows scattered new COVID-19 cases in past week, but no large outbreaks
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) Marion County has so far avoided large spikes in residents with…
Hundreds gather for vigil, march in third night of Salem protests over George Floyd’s death
Protestors gathered at the Oregon State Capitol and marched to the site of the new Salem Police Department during the third night of demonstrations against police violence on Monday, June 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Zack Jackson stood on the steps…
With riots erupting across the country, Salem prepares for a third night of protests
Update: This story was updated to reflect that the Marion County District Attorney’s Office on June 29, 2020 dismissed criminal charges against all 14 people arrested during protests the previous month. Salem City Manager Steve Powers imposed a curfew as the…
Latino groups push for improved bilingual education, mental health support in budget
Students organized by Latinos Unidos Siempre urged the new Salem-Keizer School Board to address the mental health needs of immigrant students and stop policies that disproportionately punish students of color at a July 2019 meeting. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Latino community…
Silver Falls, Detroit Lake campgrounds will open June 9
Visitors make s’mores during a July 2019 camping trip at Silver Falls State Park (Courtesy/Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation) Oregonians will be able to camp at more than two dozen state campgrounds beginning June 9, including Detroit Lake and…
Salem nursing home failed to follow infection control guidelines as coronavirus spread, report says
Salem Transitional Care (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Employees at a Salem nursing home hit hard by the coronavirus re-used protective masks and didn’t sanitize or change protective equipment in between sick patients and those not yet tested for COVID-19, according to a report…
In bid to protect workers, Oregon ag department hands out free masks, sanitizer
Audrey Comerford loads a box of masks into Ethan Smith’s pickup. Smith was picking up masks for B&D Farms, of St. Paul. Oregon State University extension employees and the Oregon National Guard distributed masks and hand sanitizer to farmworkers and…