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

Jean Layton is the only candidate with a specific, well-thought-out and coherent program.

The no-brains and no-values folks have spray-painted Clayton Beach sandstone rocks and natural stone formations again. Here are some photos.

More evidence of possible shenanigans between a private inspector and a landlord.

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.

The Aug. 1 primary is more about who shouldn’t advance than who should.

Analysis of the County Executive’s Proposal against Repair of the Existing Jail

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.

Rental inspections in Bellingham performed by private inspection services should be audited immediately.

Walla Walla Shows the Way to the Future for local county jails. First, take it away from the sheriff and put it under a Department of Corrections.

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.

Social Media exchanges among politically polarized groups often deteriorate into personal attacks, smear campaigns and verbal abuse.

The Bellingham Bells should honor the fireworks ban in Bellingham.

Sulfurous gases released from crude-oil tankers anchored south of Bellingham appear to be a fairly common summer occurrence.

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.

Juliette Daniels continues her in-depth analysis of Law & Justice in Whatcom County

Our North Carolina literary correspondent provides us with perspectives on our contemporary world from the pages of literature.