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.
A bridge-builder between Salem churches, neighborhoods named First Citizen
Retiring nonprofit leader Sam Skillern will be honored April 13 as Salem’s First Citizen for his work forging connections through the Salem Leadership Foundation.
A headless husband, daycare shenanigans among new plays hitting Salem’s summer stage
A whirlwind day of six mini plays in one is part of Theatre 33’s expanded lineup for its summer 2024 season in Salem.
Donated home gives Salem family much-needed stability
A Salem family of five evicted during the pandemic has a new home to get back on their feet after almost two years of couchsurfing. Clayton Homes donated the house to Family Promise.
YMCA will move forward on downtown service hub with state grant
The vacant Statesman Journal building on Church Street will be remodeled as a self-storage facility with space for over a dozen social service providers.
Union says new contract will give Salem’s teachers more time to plan class, meet student needs
Union leaders say a tentative contract reached with Salem-Keizer School District gives teachers meaningful input on how Oregon's second-largest district runs schools.
Eco Earth restoration, domestic violence housing among Salem projects getting state help
Six Salem projects will get millions of taxpayer dollars out of the 2024 legislative session. The money will help kickstart construction on a new Vietnam veterans memorial and social service center in downtown Salem.
Salem-Keizer teachers, district reach deal averting strike
Teachers reached a tentative agreement with the Salem-Keizer School District on a two-year contract just after 1 a.m. Tuesday, ending nearly a year of tense negotiations.
What to know as Salem schools consider weapons detectors for middle, high schools
Equipping Salem middle and high schools with weapons detectors would cost about $800,000 upfront, school district leaders said, with no new employees required to operate them.
Salem teachers authorize strike, but union and district close to agreement
Union leaders said Friday that 94% of Salem teachers who cast a vote this week supported a strike, the first such vote in district history. The union isn’t setting a strike date in hopes they’ll resolve remaining issues in their contract during a Monday mediation session.
With state money, Bridgeway will build long-awaited sobering center in Salem
Oregon legislators gave Salem’s largest addiction treatment provider $11.5 million to open two residential treatment houses and build a new clinic to house a seven-bed sobering center alongside detox services.