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.
The Skokie community was shaken by reports of a group of Jewish children between the ages of 12 to 14 who were attacked at a local park.
The crime blotter covers incidents in Winnetka from Oct. 14 to Oct. 20.
Residents can alert trick-or-treaters if their household is participating with a sign to display on the front door.
Residents can alert trick-or-treaters if their household is participating with a sign to display on the front door.
According to Evanston police, the man pushed the woman to the ground and attempted to take her clothes off.
The crime blotter covers incidents in Highland Park from Oct. 13 to Oct. 19.
The students claim that a mandatory antisemitism training module was discriminatory and included harmful insinuations.
The total cost for the new Lake Forest Police Department building project is expected to be more than $25 million.
The Evanston Police Department received grant funds from the state Department of Transportation.
The Skokie Police Department received grant funds from the state Department of Transportation.
A White Sox Hall of Famer visit brings hundreds to a new business and a pizzeria and local favorite gets a new owner.
Residents can alert trick-or-treaters if their household is participating with a sign to display on the front door.
Residents can alert trick-or-treaters if their household is participating with a sign to display on the front door.
This Halloween, Skokie police encourage residents to celebrate safely and designate a sober driver.
Residents can alert trick-or-treaters if their household is participating with a sign to display on the front door.
On Oct. 25, hundreds of locations across the state are offering no-questions-asked service for safely disposing of medications.
"No Kings" brought millions of protestors out nationwide over the summer and has planned a second series this weekend.
"No Kings" brought millions of protestors out nationwide over the summer and has planned a second series this weekend.
In an effort to push Democrats to end the government shutdown, the Trump administration has frozen nearly $3 billion in funding in Illinois.
DHS claims cartels are offering thousands for murder of officers, days after a federal judge blocked the deployment of the National Guard.
