Cover Story
Whatcom County’s Behind-the-Scenes Reform
A More Equitable Justice System Part 1 by Ella Gage The Task Force’s Mission At a federal level, Trump’s re-election threatens to advance brutal policing tactics and mass incarceration, pushing back nationwide movement toward justice reform. (1) However, state and … Continue reading
Beaks and Bills
Beaks and Bills by Joe Meche I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the shock, disbelief, and sadness that I and many others experienced after the election on November 5. It appears that America has turned down … Continue reading
Being Frank
Tribes Must Be at the Table When Natural Resources Policies Are Written
Being Frank by Ed Johnstone Tribes in western Washington have asked the state to restructure the Fish and Wildlife Commission, which is standing in the way of true co-management. The 1974 Boldt decision in U.S. v. Washington established tribes as … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at September 30, 2024 Meeting Shall the council: 182. Authorize the city to spend ,260,000 to purchase Northwest Avenue property from the Pacific Northwest Credit Union? The 31,056-square-foot property will be used for a shelter named North Haven, … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at September 3, 2024 Meeting Shall the commission: 76. Approve the tolling agreement and authorize the executive director to sign it? In 2005, the port acquired property from Georgia-Pacific. The purchase and sale agreement provided that, after the … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Barry MacHale Action Taken at September 24, 2024 Meeting Shall the council: 257. Fill the vacancy on the Justice Project Oversight and Planning Committee? The justice project committee monitors the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force, the county’s … Continue reading
Climate
Articles You Might Have Missed
Climate Good News Around the world people are taking the initiative to mitigate climate change. Here are some good news briefs compiled by the Climate Issue group of the LWV of Bellingham/ Whatcom. Stopping Biodiversity Loss A mega-analysis found that … Continue reading
Community Service Spotlight
Brigid Collins Helps Abused Kids
Community Service Spotlight 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. We have contacted the organization appearing … Continue reading
Global Warming
Nooksack Watershed Summer Water Temperature Trends
by Eric Hirst Over the past several years, I’ve written articles that document declines in summer streamflow throughout the Nooksack River basin. (1) This paper expands these prior analyses with an examination of water temperatures. I focus on summer (July, … Continue reading
Housing
Filling the Gaps With Tiny Homes
by Meghan Fenwick Whatcom County Health and Community Services’ 2024 Annual Update on Homelessness (1) showed a stabilizing number of homelessness compared to 2023. These statistics do not tell the whole story, said Teri Bryant, director of the Whatcom Homeless … Continue reading
Northwest Gardening
Upcoming Changes to Cloud Mountain Farm Center
Cloud Mountain Farm Center, an agricultural program within Sustainable Connections, will be channeling its focus and refining its programs in 2025. Cloud Mountain Farm Center is an educational farm center located in Everson, Washington, that has been a part of … Continue reading
