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.
Trades center will be among first projects following Chemeketa bond passage
Chemeketa Community College's $140 million tax renewal passed after voters turned down the same measure in November. It will keep an existing tax in place.
Zone 3 Salem-Keizer School Board race too close to call as progressives clinch other seats
Conservative candidate Jennifer Parker leads progressive Angelo Arredondo Baca by 294 votes, with thousands of ballots remaining to count. Marion County election officials expect to release an updated county Friday evening.
Turnaround Awards honor 23 Salem, Keizer students who beat the odds
Local students who are graduating or achieved academic success after initially struggling in school were recognized in a Thursday ceremony at the Keizer Civic Center.
Progressives winning in three Salem-Keizer School Board races
Initial ballot counts showed current board members Lisa Harnish and Karina Guzmán Ortiz winning election alongside Mel Fuller and Jennifer Parker.
Without cuts or changes, committee signs off on Salem-Keizer School District budget
After three meetings, the Salem-Keizer School District’s budget committee on Monday approved a $1.15 billion spending plan for next school year. It would add behavior, special education and dual language staff, leaving Superintendent Andrea Castañeda’s initial proposal intact.
Campus safety worker uses Connect 4 to help students at Leslie, South open up
Cesar Villareal sometimes challenges students to games and focuses on building connections instead of lecturing. He's among the Salem educators nominated this year for a Crystal Apple Award.
West Salem High School hosts live fire training for high school students
Eleven juniors and seniors in West's fire science program will be able to graduate high school with a firefighter certification after the first fire training exercise in the school's burn tower on Friday.
Michelle Muth works overtime to make her library a safe place for kids
At Wright Elementary School, kids flock to the library during recess and clamor over a diverse selection of books. The school’s library media assistant, Michelle Muth, is nominated for a Crystal Apple award this year.
UPDATED: Salem-Keizer School Board approves superintendent contract, new curriculum
If the school board approves a new three-year contract for Superintendent Andrea Castañeda, her pay raises would be the same percentage district teachers receive under the contract currently being negotiated.If the school board approves a new three-year contract for Superintendent Andrea Castañeda, her pay raises would be the same percentage district teachers receive under the contract currently being negotiated.
In Salem speech, top U.S. business lobby group lays out data on tariff harm in Oregon
Reversing or carving out exemptions to tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump are a top focus of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an executive told Salem business leaders in a presentation Monday.