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.
Smoke from the nearby Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires have the potential to cause health problems for Long Beach residents, officials warn.
Three Long Beach Fire Department crews have been sent to help extinguish the ravaging blaze in Pacific Palisades.
The yearly festival takes place over three days from May 2 to 4 and features music, art and culinary experiences inspired by SoCal culture.
Officials advised the public to stay away from the ocean amid warnings of the strongest windstorm to hit SoCal in more than a decade.
Officials advised the public to stay away from the ocean amid warnings of the strongest windstorm to hit SoCal in more than a decade.
Officials advised the public to stay away from the ocean amid warnings of the strongest windstorm to hit SoCal in more than a decade.
Utility work on the 710 freeway will bring overnight closures through Saturday, according to Caltrans.
Long Beach police are searching for a suspect involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed a 78-year-old woman.
A body was discovered along the waterline in Manhattan Beach Sunday night, investigators said.
Life-threatening, destructive, widespread winds are expected to batter LA County this week, weather forecasters warned.
The effects of bird flu on egg prices and predictions for the Golden State's housing market in 2025: California Business News this week.
Locals can sign up online for 3-4 hour shifts in the annual Los Angeles County Homeless Count, which will run from Jan. 21 to Jan. 23.
Locals can sign up online for 3-4 hour shifts in the annual Los Angeles County Homeless Count, which will run from Jan. 21 to Jan. 23.
Locals can sign up online for 3-4 hour shifts in the annual Los Angeles County Homeless Count, which will run from Jan. 21 to Jan. 23.
Explore Long Beach’s top trails to stay active, connect with nature and start the new year on the right foot.
Explore the South Bay’s top trails to stay active, connect with nature and start the new year on the right foot.
Explore the South Bay’s top trails to stay active, connect with nature and start the new year on the right foot.
All Kids Bike is donating bikes, helmets and instruction tools to an elementary school in Long Beach for a learn-to-ride program.
The weekly crime summary covers incidents in Manhattan Beach from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
Long Beach police sought the public's help in identifying the driver of a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run collision.
