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.
Health officials announce possible measles exposures at Salem Hospital ER, Kaiser Skyline clinic
People who were at the Salem Hospital emergency room on Monday, March 16, from 6:10 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. should advise a health care provider they may have been exposed to measles, the Oregon Health Authority said Thursday evening.
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Salem-Keizer School Board OKs sale of 2 shuttered rural schools
School district leaders plan to sell the closed Fruitland and Lake Labish school properties, as well as an office complex in central Salem.
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Gene Derfler, ‘generational leader’ in Oregon Legislature, dies at 101
As a lawmaker, Gene Derfler helped reform Oregon’s workers’ compensation system to reduce lawsuits and accidents. In retirement, he took up woodworking, crafting trucks for Salem preschoolers and lifelike fish.
State won’t seek Supreme Court review in DEA agent fatal crash
An earlier judge’s ruling to dismiss a negligent homicide charge against a federal agent in the death of Salem cyclist Marganne Allen will stand. The Oregon Department of Justice announced Friday it wouldn’t appeal the case further.
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Salem’s long-promised Block 50 development delayed by contamination, rising costs
The city of Salem has spent at least $5 million on a high-profile effort to develop a major downtown property which still faces gasoline contamination, financing hurdles and no construction timeline. City officials insist the project remains viable.
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Hoy not offered chance to sign immigration letter, Kotek records confirm
Records obtained by Salem Reporter show a staffer for Gov. Tina Kotek reached out to Mayor Julie Hoy three days after releasing an open letter calling for a pause on federal immigration enforcement. Mayors from several cities had signed, raising questions in the community why Salem was absent.
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School board to consider new reading curriculum for Salem’s elementary schools
For years, Salem teachers and principals have said they need better materials to teach students to read. Now, the school board is poised to adopt a new curriculum that's supposed to help.
Salem’s teacher union plans to use major grant for a year of training supporting educators
A recent $1 million grant from the Mountain West Center for Community Excellence will pay for hundreds of teachers to receive paid training in classroom management and other topics union leaders say are in high demand. The money will also reinstate a home visiting program and pay for books for classroom libraries.
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Updates on Willamette baseball field renovations, food share move, Dollar General warehouse
Renovations are nearly complete on Willamette University's baseball field, which will also be used by local schools.
Salem Reporter is returning to that and other past stories this month to provide brief updates.
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State police identify driver killed in Monday morning crash with school bus
Luke R. Brittan, 68, died after a crash with a Salem-Keizer School District bus on Highway 22 Monday morning, according to the Oregon State Police. The crash occurred after the school bus made an unsafe left turn, the police investigation found.
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