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.
AGENDA: Chemeketa board to consider contract for new president
Chemeketa Community College (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Chemeketa Community College board members will consider a contract for incoming President Jessica Howard at a meeting Wednesday, the final step in hiring her to take over college operations in July. Board members selected…
Second measles case confirmed in unvaccinated Marion County resident
Salem Hospital (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) Oregon Health Authority has confirmed a second case of measles in Marion County, health officials announced Tuesday evening. Both cases are in unvaccinated people and are linked to an out-of-state traveler contagious with…
Following tuition increase, Chemeketa looks to layoffs to balance 2019-20 budget
Responding to declining enrollment and revenue, Chemeketa Community College is planning to cut 33 positions, including laying off seven employees for the 2019-20 school year. The announcement comes after the college’s board voted to raise tuition and fees by $10…
Fear and peace during Friday services at Salem mosque following New Zealand mass shooting
Tam, left, a member of the Salem Islamic Center, stands with her granddaughter as Brittany Cox, right, and Cherie MacDougall offer flowers and condolences following a mass shooting at two New Zealand mosques. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Women entering the Salem…
Measles case confirmed in unvaccinated Salem patient
Salem Hospital (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) Measles has been confirmed in a Marion County resident, county health officials announced Tuesday. The patient is from Salem and is unvaccinated for measles, said Katrina Rothenberger, the county’s public health director. Rothenberger…
Salem’s IKE Box is moving – and taking the building with it
IKE Box, the downtown coffee house, will be moving to a new location in the same neighborhood – and taking the building with it. IKE Box director Mark Bulgin knew the coffee shop and community hub on Cottage Street at…
AGENDA: Salem-Keizer School Board to review superintendent, extend contracts for district administrators
The Salem-Keizer School Board (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem-Keizer School Board members will conduct their annual evaluation of Superintendent Christy Perry at a meeting Tuesday night and consider new contracts for two high-level district administrators. Chief operations officer Mike Wolfe and…
Chemeketa board chooses Jessica Howard as college’s next president
Jessica Howard will be the 11th president of Chemeketa Community College (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) A Portland Community College administrator will be Chemeketa Community College’s next president, the college board announced Monday. Jessica Howard, who currently serves as campus president for…
Latinos Unidos Siempre teams up with Salem Art Association to spotlight, support urban art
Sandra Hernández-Lomelí, Latinos Unidos Siempre director, holds paintings made by young people at the organization’s northeast Salem office. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) When Sandra Hernández-Lomelí was 12, she was arrested for tagging on a Salem street. Like many of her peers,…
Substitute teacher fired from Salem-Keizer after allegedly telling student “go back to Mexico”
Students enter Swegle Elementary on the first day of school in 2018. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) A substitute teacher was fired by the Salem-Keizer district after students reported she told a fifth-grade student to “go back to Mexico” when he declined…