Cover Story
Giant Hornets Could Decimate Raspberry Pollinators
by Nate Sanford Author’s Note: On December 27, 2020, funding was finally secured through the “Murder Hornet Eradication Pilot Program,” which was signed into law by as part of the government’s massive 2021 omnibus spending package. The program, introduced by … Continue reading
Cover Story
Drinking Water Harmed by Invasive Species and Pollution
by Karlee Deatherage We all have a lot on our minds these days, and the quality of our water might not be at the top of the list. But Lake Whatcom, the drinking water source for 100,000 Whatcom County residents, … Continue reading
Beaks and Bills
by Joe Meche After a tumultuous 2020, things can only get better in 2021 … at least that’s the hope of everyone on planet Earth. The Covid-19 pandemic dictated that we change our habits and canceled traditional gatherings for most … Continue reading
Being Frank
Time for Fish-Killing Dam to Go
by Lorraine Loomis It’s time to get rid of the Electron Hydroelectric Dam on the Puyallup River that has been killing salmon, steelhead, bull trout and other fish for more than a century. The dam is so old that it … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at November 9, 2020 Meeting Mayor’s Report: The mayor announced two appointments to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The board provides recommendations on plans and programs designed to enable the Department of Parks and Recreation to maintain … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Bill McCallum Action Taken at November 3, 2020 Meeting Shall the commission: 95. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement with Sanitary Service Company for a remedial design investigation at the Central Waterfront site? The contract to … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Barry MacHale Action Taken at November 10, 2020 Meeting Shall the council: 210. Authorize the executive to sign a 1,000 contract (amendment #1) to reimburse the Whatcom Family YMCA? The Whatcom Family YMCA operates 22 childcare sites within … Continue reading
Climate
How Cascadian Corporations Stack Up on Climate
by Laura Feinstein and Eric de Place Rating the Climate Claims and Actions of Albertsons Amazon, Boeing, Costco, Intel, Microsoft, Nike, Nordstrom, PACCAR and Starbucks This article was first published at sightline.org. https://www.sightline.org/2020/09/21/how-cascadian-corporations-stack-up-on-climate/ Last month in Part I, the article … Continue reading
Community Service Providers
Providing a Safe Haven for the Homeless
by Doug Gustafso Editor’s Note: There are over 100 organizations in Whatcom County working to provide supportive services to those experiencing chronic poverty and its associated effects: addiction, homelessness, incarceration, mental illness, and unemployment. Whatcom Watch believes these organizations often … Continue reading
Election Results
General Election page 11 General Election – page 12 General Election page 13 General Election page 14 General Election page 15
Journalism
Washington Reporters Get Free Legal Help
by Jennifer Karchmer Microsoft and Davis Wright Tremaine Protect Journalists Freelance journalists and small newsrooms that lack funds to hire lawyers can get pro bono legal representation from Microsoft and Seattle law firm Davis Wright Tremaine. The two companies joined … Continue reading
poetrywatch
Boris Schleinkofer, poetrywatch editor “When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.” — … Continue reading
Salmon Streams and Tributaries
Lummi Fishes Whatcom Creek for First Time in a Century
by Kari Neumeyer Lummi tribal fishermen harvested salmon from Whatcom Creek in August, for the first time in at least 100 years. The Chinook salmon were released as juveniles in 2017 from the Bellingham Technical College’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Science … Continue reading
Salmon Streams and Tributaries
Salmon Now Free to Swim Upstream
by Kari Neumeyer Two fish-blocking dams were torn down in the North Sound region over the summer, opening up pristine habitat for threatened salmon populations. The Tulalip Tribes worked with the city of Snohomish to remove a dam on the … Continue reading
Salmon Streams and Tributaries
Salmon Habitat Restoration Completed in Nooksack River
by Kari Neumeyer The last of 127 engineered logjams were placed in the Farmhouse Reach of the North Fork Nooksack River this summer, completing an extensive multiyear salmon habitat restoration project. The reach is between Maple Falls and Deming (closer … Continue reading
Twenty Years Ago
WWU Emerges as a National Leader in Innovative Car Design
by Lori Spicher Since January 2014, Whatcom Watch has been rerunning articles from issues printed 20 years ago. The below article appeared in the January 2001 issue of Whatcom Watch. Editor’s Note: For a history on Viking series cars ,go … Continue reading
