Rachel began reporting in 2017 at her community college publication in San Luis Obispo, California, where she covered stories about the city, including a hit-and-run that killed a college student and devastated the community.
She then transferred to California State University, Long Beach, working as news editor and later managing editor of the university's publication, the Long Beach Current. In Long Beach, Rachel covered several local interest stories, including breaking a story before city publications about illegal dumping on sacred Native American land, known as Puvungna, located on campus.
In college, Rachel was awarded first place for Best News Series at the California College Media Awards for her coverage of a shooting threat that impacted CSULB in 2019. She was also awarded second place at the California Journalism Awards for her enterprise news series "Behind the Scenes" that showcased lesser-known aspects of CSULB.
Just before her graduation in 2020, Rachel joined EdSource's first-ever student journalism corps and was part of a three-person team that published the first student-reported news story on the publication's website. The story detailed how the COVID-19 pandemic hit homeless and housing-insecure students in Los Angeles County hard and what unique struggles they faced during the tumultuous time.
Rachel started working at Patch in 2022, covering Los Angeles County's South Bay region and Long Beach. During her time as a Los Angeles reporter, Rachel covered a variety of topics, including a form of plastic pollution impacting the California coast called Nurdles. Rachel also featured on PBS show "Sustaining US" to inform the larger community about nurdles.
In Spring 2025, Rachel transferred to Patch's team of reporters in Illinois and now covers communities in Chicago's North Shore, including: Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest and Highland Park.
Outside of reporting, Rachel enjoys attending concerts, reading and playing Dungeons & Dragons. She has two cats named Bug and Beans, who are a general terror to society but are also incredibly lovable.
Pitches are welcome over email at rachel.barnes@patch.com. Please be respectful.
Depending on which of Niles Township's 10 districts you attend, the first day of school may be as early as Aug. 12 or as late as Aug. 27.
Parents in Evanston's public and private schools are preparing for the first day of school later this month.
Local families are getting ready for the start of a new school year in New Trier Township.
Parents in New Trier Township's seven public school districts are preparing for the first day of school later this month.
Parents in Highland Park's two public school districts are preparing for the first day of school later this month.
The Henry at Harms Woods is a new mixed-use community at 5424 Old Orchard Rd in Skokie.
A recent ranking listed Highland Park as one of the top 20 safest suburbs in the country.
The state, 1 IL city use their authority "to violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of Federal immigration laws," the DOJ alleges.
An elected official from Florida faces 24 felony counts related to a child exploitation investigation that targeted an Evanston girl.
The two people apprehended last week due to a security scare at Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie were released.
Wilmette residents now have access to five 24/7 compost drop-off locations as part of a new pilot program.
Student mental health screenings will start in the 2027-28 school year, state lawmakers announced.
Central Street Evanston is launching its first-ever Busker Fest and is calling for applications from all types of performers.
The Village of Skokie will soon replace 10 aging gas-powered vehicles with electric vehicles over the next year.
Health officials issued an Air Pollution Action Day due to hazardous air quality in Lake Forest.
Health officials issued an Air Pollution Action Day due to hazardous air quality in Highland Park.
Health officials issued an Air Pollution Action Day due to hazardous air quality in Winnetka and Glencoe.
Health officials issued an Air Pollution Action Day due to hazardous air quality in Wilmette and Kenilworth.
Health officials issued an Air Pollution Action Day due to hazardous air quality in Skokie
Health officials issued an Air Pollution Action Day due to hazardous air quality in Evanston.
