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.
To improve lives of Oregon’s children, collaborators focus “upstream” on first 1,000 days
The Marion Polk Early Learning Hub is one of five organizations across Oregon that have crafted a plan to support families from pregnancy through the first three years of a child’s life. They’re hoping funding from the 2025 Legislature could help kickstart a Salem collaboration.
School board will consider sale of former Hazel Green elementary to Valley Inquiry
Salem-Keizer School District officials want to sell an old elementary school northeast of Salem to Valley Inquiry Charter School, which has occupied the school for over a decade.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Salem Reporter launches new events calendar
From trivia nights to city council meetings and theater productions, we’re introducing a better way to learn about what’s coming up in Salem.
From screaming fights to planning graduation, Intercept program helps families in crisis heal
Months of intensive help through Intercept, a home visit program teaching communication skills, helped a Salem teen and her mother process their anger, talk to one another and get back on track.
School district won’t collect or share immigration information, Salem-Keizer officials say
The Salem-Keizer School Board will consider on Tuesday a resolution reaffirming that immigration agents will not be allowed inside schools or have access to student records. The district has had such policies in place since 2016.
Salem-Keizer superintendent fulfills her personal donation promise made amid budget cuts
Last year, Superintendent Andrea Castañeda made a public pledge to donate $30,000 over two years toward nonprofits and programs serving schools and young people. Records reviewed by Salem Reporter showed she’s on track, with more than $23,000 donated to date.
Salem-Keizer School District settles lawsuit over alleged McNary choir teacher abuse for $400,000
Two McNary High School graduates agreed to drop a lawsuit against former choir teacher, Joshua Rist, and the school district. The suit prompted the school district to place teacher Joshua Rist on leave, where he remains, and led to a change in state law.
McKay baseball dugout damaged in suspicious fire
It will cost about $5,000 to replace a dugout that burned over the weekend at McKay's baseball field, district officials said.
Students safe after Parrish Middle School bus catches fire
Firefighters quickly put out a fire in a school bus engine compartment Tuesday afternoon in the Highland neighborhood.
Masquerade-themed SnoBall dance returns Saturday
About 1,000 local high school students will gather at the Oregon State Fairgrounds Saturday for the 71st annual SnoBall dance, a student-organized event.