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.
Some Salem leaders never stopped fighting gangs. They’re skeptical of the city’s new push.
For 30 years, underfunded nonprofit organizations serving families in north and east Salem have done the hard work of strengthening families and advocating for youth. If Salem leaders are serious about tackling violence, neighborhood leaders say their communities need real investment.
Traffic accident takes out power for 2,000 in north Lancaster
Portland General Electric estimated power would be restored around 11 p.m. after a traffic accident caused a large outage.
Salem, here’s how much your utility rates are going up in 2024
State regulators approved big rate hikes for Portland General Electric and Pacific Power effective January, and city utility bills are increasing too.
Salem Reporter’s most-read stories of 2023
A downtown construction boom, arson at St. Joseph and a fatal collision involving a DEA agent were some of Salem Reporter's top stories this year.
Wavra Farms opens winter farmers market in Salem
Wavra Farms & Nursery is running a weekly winter farmers market on Saturdays, with about 30 vendors, art classes and more.
TOP STORIES: Zucchini, a retiring superintendent and a neighborhood transformed
Managing Editor Rachel Alexander shares her favorite Salem stories this year.
Record need has Salem food pantries stretched thin
Despite low unemployment, Salem-area food pantries are serving more than 18,000 families per month - nearly double the number pre-Covid.
Sensory garden, salad growing lessons and more coming to Salem schools in 2024
Twenty-one Salem teachers are taking on special projects with recent grants from the Maps Community Foundation.
Teacher union, district hopeful Salem-Keizer can reach contract without a strike
Teachers are seeking more help to address students who are violent or act out in class and more planning time, in addition to cost of living raises. Both sides said a mediation session Tuesday went well.
Mixing irreverence with beauty, Salem Tuba Holiday returns Dec. 24
After an ice storm cancelation in 2022, Salem Tuba Holiday is back at the Elsinore on Christmas Eve.