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.
Dental assisting program for Salem-area high schoolers opens at Willamette Career Academy
With dental assistants and hygienists in high demand, Willamette Career Academy’s new dental assisting program is doing its part to train and educate students for the much-needed roles.
Urban Art Fest brings free, youth-organized celebration of hip-hop culture to Riverfront Park
After a long break due to the Covid pandemic, Urban Art Fest is back Saturday at Riverfront Park from 1-8 p.m. It will feature live graffiti art, dance and music performances, lowriders, beatboxing and free haircuts for youth heading back to school.
U.S. Small Business Administration leader highlights growing Salem businesses during tour
Don Froylan recently expanded cheese production and is planning a new addition to its northeast Salem creamery. U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas and Small Business Administration Administrator Isabel Guzman visited Tuesday as part of a local tour.
UPDATED: Downtown Salem streets reopened after reported gas leak
Northeast Center Street is closed between Cottage and Winter in downtown Salem as police, firefighters and NW Natural respond to a reported gas leak.
Train kills Salem man who lay down on tracks, police say
The rail line through Salem was closed for about three hours Monday evening with a train stopped on the tracks as police investigated a man's death.
Salem’s parks ranger is passionate about eagles, getting kids outside
Ranger Mike Zieker is responsible for patrolling all 91 of Salem's parks, trails and natural areas. The lifelong outdoor enthusiast said it's the job he's always wanted to do.
Woman sentenced for running over, killing ex during custody dispute
Branda Myshelle Myers was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter for the 2022 killing of her ex-partner.
UPDATED: School board approves apartment tax exemption, superintendent talks priorities
At a Tuesday evening meeting, the Salem-Keizer School Board will vote to reaffirm its policy of not collecting or sharing information about students' immigration status, and consider a rewritten equity resolution.
Pedestrian in critical condition, NE Lancaster reopened following crash
Salem police say a driver and pedestrian collided at the intersection Wednesday.
Salem schools crack down on phone use, with Sprague the latest to issue ban
Phones have technically been banned in Salem-Keizer classrooms since a 2022 policy change, though enforcement has varied school to school.