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.
Salem-Keizer leaders seek community input for $35 million in new state school funding
Students eat breakfast on the first day of school at Bush Elementary School. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) The use of millions of state dollars to improve local schools rests in the hands of about three dozen Salem-Keizer community members and local…
West Salem land purchase on the table for Salem-Keizer school board
A half-million dollar land purchase near West Salem High School is among the items Salem-Keizer school board members will consider at their Tuesday meeting. Board members will hear a proposal to buy a 1.3 acre property at 1755 Doaks Ferry…
Oregon Black Pioneers show the deep roots of African-Americans in Salem
Willie Richardson, president of the Oregon Black Pioneers, speaks about the group’s research at their Salem office. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) When Gwen Carr moved to Oregon from southern California in the 1980s, she got some skepticism from her black friends.…
Dogs rescued from Texas flooding need new homes in Salem
Luke, a two-year-old lab mix, is among the Texas rescue dogs waiting to be adopted at Willamette Humane Society. (Courtesy/Willamette Humane Society) Ten dogs are looking for new homes in Salem after being displaced from Texas shelters affected by heavy…
With unexpected millions flowing, Salem-Keizer school officials add more building projects
New additions under construction at McNary High School on Aug. 23, 2019 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Seven local schools will get more hefty remodeling projects than planned as Salem-Keizer School District executives spend an unexpected infusion of $65 million. The money…
Capital Park church steps up to shelter Salem homeless in winter
Capital Park Wesleyan Church will house about 50 homeless people on below freezing winter nights, becoming the fourth Salem church to join the warming center network. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) A fourth Salem church will shelter homeless people overnight during the…
These Salem teens want a seat at the table on suicide prevention
Eric Martz, center, and other board members of Live to Tell discuss suicide prevention during a board meeting on Sept. 26, 2019 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Eric Martz sat quietly in the third row of a school board meeting with two…
“We are in danger of losing our humanity”: Willamette law professor speaks about migrant child detention
Postcards featuring the words of detained migrant children and their parents were featured at a Salem City Club presentation by Willamette University law professor Warren Binford (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) “He said that we were going to sleep on the floor.…
Two volunteers needed for Salem-Keizer budget committee
The Salem-Keizer School District needs two community volunteers to weigh in on the district’s $1 billion annual budget. Two seats are currently open on the district’s budget committee, a 14-member group that meets regularly in April and May to review…
Kiwi berries a hit in program to get fresh fruits and veggies to Salem elementary schoolers
Bella Blessing smiles while eating a kiwi berry during her first grade class at Hoover Elementary School. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Most students in Veronica Sedlacek’s first grade class had never heard of a kiwi berry. Before serving the grape-sized fruit…