Criminal justice reform took a hit this week as Bellingham and County councils ignored reports from the Vera Institute of Justice and the Incarceration and Prevention Task Force
Whereby the judge decides video the Washington State Patrol destroyed probably was not evidence anyway - so on with the process of conviction. Whatcom County justice system on display.
Belingham School District is installing Crumb Rubber artificial turf fields for high school football and soccer. Made with old car tires. They appear to cause cancer in kids.
Short story genius, the Russian writer Anton Chekhov who wrote in the late 1800s, wrote indirectly about what he could not write directly. We have the same challenge today.
Based on available evidence, it looks like Ericksen was using his surplus campaign account to help cover travel expenses incurred in connection with his involvement in the Trump regime.
Chelan County renovated its downtown Wenatchee jail rather than build a big new jail outside of town. We in Whatcom County can also restart our jail planning for a better solution.
Taking a look at jail planning in other communities. Can Whatcom County and Bellingham hit the reset button on the jail debate and learn from the mistakes of others?
The President’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement flies directly in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence for human-caused climate change. It calls into question his ability to lead this great nation.
The Alaska Ferry “Columbia” is stuck in Bellingham waiting for repairs. The Columbia did not sail last Friday at 6 pm when scheduled for its weekly departure to Ketchikan, Alaska. The bowthruster mechanism was broken. Parts have been ordered and it is hoped it can sail this Friday - but it may not be until February that it is able to depart for Alaska. It is docked at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven for all of this week.
Pinky Vargas
Pinky Vargas announces for state senate
Bellingham City Council representative Pinky Vargas, announced on Saturday that she will run for the state Senate seat in the 42nd District which is most of Whatcom County. This seat is currently held by Doug Ericksen. It is unknown what his plans are. Doug recently changed his mind about a job offer by the Federal EPA in Seattle. While some have said the Herald jumped the gun, the facts we have gotten from very reliable sources is Ericksen learned he would have to quit his state Senate seat and reversed his decision. His state Senate seat provides him and his family with very fine health coverage.
The state senate race is an example of a Cornelian Dilemna. Ericksen? Vargas? Vargas? Ericksen? Ericksen? Vargas? Both lead you where you do not want to go. It makes one’s head spin. Running full speed into a wall will stop the spinning, at least temporarily, but it won’t stop the election. SAD.
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