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.
Assessing threats key to Salem’s school shooting prevention
Salem’s police chief says an existing local system to assess threats to students – not stationing officers inside schools – is key to keeping students safe from mass shootings. Police Chief Trevor Womack and other law enforcement and district leaders…
Hundreds of North students protest inaction on school shootings
Nevaeh Bullard was in her U.S. government class at North Salem High School Friday afternoon when police received a call about a man with a gun outside the school. Bullard, 17, and her classmates went into a lockdown, barricading doors…
Educators raise concerns about fights, assaults in Salem middle schools
Salem schools are continuing to see high numbers of fights and aggressive behavior from students, prompting concerns from educators. The problem is especially pronounced in the district’s middle schools, which have recorded 755 fights and 244 assaults this school year…
Hundreds more Salem kids to get a chance for bilingual Spanish-English classes in fall
About 250 more elementary school students will be able to attend class in both Spanish and English starting next fall as Salem-Keizer School District leaders begin a significant expansion of the district’s dual language program. Four elementary schools – Chavez,…
Salem can cover costs for now, but gaps are coming
Salem is nearing a “budget cliff” where the cost of providing residents with basic services like firefighting and building inspections is outpacing the city’s ability to collect taxes and other revenue. That’s according to Josh Eggleston, the city’s chief financial…
Meet the woman working to bring concerts to Salem’s new amphitheater
Kathleen Swarm, amphitheater manager for the city of Salem, outside the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Shortly after Kathleen Swarm moved back to Salem in early 2021, she was driving over…
Committee floats Salem street repairs, land for libraries and fire stations in infrastructure bond
Sidewalk damage on Pearl Street Northeast. A city infrastructure bond proposal would dedicate millions toward street and sidewalk repairs over the next decade (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Salem could see millions invested in street and sidewalk repairs over the next decade…
Children’s book on racism to remain in Salem-Keizer libraries following parent challenge
A children’s book about the history of racism and antiracist activism in the U.S. will remain in Salem-Keizer School District elementary school libraries following a challenge by a parent. A district review committee voted 8-1 last week to retain “Stamped…
Fines to disappear for Salem library users under new director
As a kid, Kim Carroll spent afternoons at the library in Oregon City with her friends. Carroll wasn’t an avid reader – that would come later. She enjoyed the library as a place to spend time until her parents got…
Years in the making, new trans student policies for Salem schools draw backlash
Three years ago, a transgender high school student approached leaders at the Salem-Keizer School District and told them they needed to do better. Julian, a nonbinary student who is now a senior, said the lack of consistent school or district…