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.
Los líderes del Distrito Escolar de Salem-Keizer describen planes para mejorar la lectura de los estudiantes
Las escuelas ahora tienen mejores datos para ayudar a los maestros a identificar a los estudiantes que necesitan ayuda con la lectura y concentrarse en las habilidades de escritura, dijeron los administradores del distrito a la junta escolar la semana pasada.
Salem-Keizer School District leaders outline plans to improve student reading
Schools are gathering better data to help teachers identify students who need help reading and zeroing in on writing skills, district administrators told the school board during a work session last week.
Salem-Keizer will expand weapon detectors to all high schools this school year
During a six-week pilot of weapon detectors at South Salem High School, no firearms were seized and tardies increased slightly, but the school reported fewer behavioral issues, improved attendance and more students and educators saying they felt safe with detectors in place.
Salem students weigh inflation, democracy, international conflicts as they cast mock ballots for president
Thousands of middle and high school students across the Salem-Keizer School District participated in a mock election organized by the League of Women Voters, which wraps up this week. Results will be shared Nov. 1.
Salem plans to raise utility costs by about $5 per month starting in January 2025
The city of Salem is considering an 4.5% increase in water and sewage bills for both 2025 and 2026. City councilors will vote following a public hearing on Nov. 12.
Six Salem-Keizer schools will roll out pouches to lock up student phones
Schools across the U.S. are getting more serious about banning cellphones during the school day. McKay and Sprague high schools, and Houck, Stephens, Straub and Whiteaker middle schools will start using lockable pouches over the next few months.
Good school attendance gets some Salem families a phone call from the governor
Gov. Tina Kotek and state schools chief Charlene Williams joined a phone bank Tuesday evening at Waldo Middle School to check in with parents who have improved their students’ attendance this year.
Cannery redevelopment project gets green light from city
The developer buying the former Truitt Brothers cannery site on Front Street plans to preserve the 1914 building and two piers over the Willamette River while redeveloping the site as a 382-apartment neighborhood with a food hall, market and more.
Well driller seeks to unseat veteran legislator who serves West Salem, Polk County
Rep. Paul Evans, a Democrat from Monmouth, is running for re-election to a sixth term in House District 20. Challenger Kevin Chambers is a Monmouth well driller who’s been active in local civic groups and the county Republican Party.
Man stabbed in dispute at Cascades Gateway Park
A 24-year-old man injured in a stabbing Thursday night ran to the nearby Church at the Park micro shelter site to get help, shelter officials said.