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 Community College board to discuss tuition increase, vote on service animal policy
The Chemeketa Community College board will hear recommendations on increasing tuition for the 2019-20 school year at their regular meeting Wednesday. Neva Hutchinson, the board chair, said the board is aware tuition will have to increase next year, but is…
For Salem school foundation, a year of turmoil and challenge
The Salem-Keizer Education Foundation will close its longtime gift shop in March as part of a push to cut back expenses and keep the organization financially solvent. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) A year ago, education leaders and volunteers gathered for a…
Salem-Keizer School Board to hear boundary change plan
The Salem-Keizer School Board will hear Tuesday the district’s plan to shift school boundaries starting next year to relieve overcrowding at many school in northeast Salem. The board isn’t scheduled to vote on the plan until Feb. 12 and have…
To improve teacher diversity, Salem-Keizer focusing on training its own students, classroom aides
Jessica Zamarron helps students with a math assignment in a bilingual Swegle Elementary School classroom. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Jessica Zamarron was inspired by her first-grade teacher at Swegle Elementary. Seeing Karina Rodriguez, another bilingual Latina, in front of the classroom,…
Salem-Keizer educators cheer legislative proposal to boost education funding
Salem-Keizer Superintendent Christy Perry addresses a room full of educators at a meeting with Rep. Teresa Alonso Leon (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem-Keizer educators are cheering an ambitious legislative package to reduce class size, hire more counselors in schools and help…
Marion County Sheriff Jason Myers to retire in June
Sheriff Jason Myers (Courtesy/Marion County Sheriff’s Office) After a decade on the job, Marion County Sheriff Jason Myers will step down in June to work for the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association. Myers told his staff of the decision Tuesday. “It’s…
In Salem, police team up with social workers to offer help instead of jail
Josh Lair stands by Marion Square Park, where many of his clients spend their time. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Josh Lair has learned one secret to earning trust when police call him out to meet a prospective client. Don’t look like…
Salem-Keizer seeks eminent domain over St. Edward land to begin McNary construction
The Salem-Keizer School District is going to court to force a Keizer church to sell its land. At issue are about six acres of bare land owned by St. Edward Catholic Church that district leaders say they need to expand…
Retired Salem couple fixes up homes for resettled refugees
Janet Neuberg, left, stands with friends Jim and Joan Stembridge outside the Stembridge home in south Salem. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Jim and Joan Stembridge didn’t set out to spend their retirement years as landlords. But after purchasing and remodeling their…
Salemtowne man collects 18,000 cans and bottles a year for charity
Chuck Zobrist inspects a bag of bottles and cans dropped off by a neighbor. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Chuck Zobrist doesn’t drink much soda or beer. But the 80-year-old has become a fixture at the North Salem Bottle Drop, where he…