@salish-current.org salish-current.org/2025/12/08/e...

Welcome to the lost art of ventriloquism! Brady McAtee, or if you know him for his music, Buddy Mac has worked long and hard to become an important part of the ventriloquist community. Check out this artist profile to learn a little about the joys and brilliance of Cosmo and Cecil.

Sedro-Woolley High School English teacher Linsey Kitchens instructs students during a recent lesson on artificial intelligence. The lesson is one of several being implemented in the school’s English classes this semester to foster AI-based literacy. salish-current.org/2025/11/20/s...

Inspiring profile about my talented colleague Eric Trent overcoming addiction and finding his way to journalism. Many paths lead to this field, and it's all the richer and more compassionate because of it. salish-current.org/2025/11/10/l... Great work by @matt-benoit.bsky.social on the piece!

salish-current.org/2025/07/31/l... An update on unionization efforts for employees of Bellingham's Community Food Co-op, Whatcom Museum Foundation

30 Years Later: Remembering Krystal DeVries On June 15, 1995, Krystal DeVries was shot and killed by her estranged husband in the parking lot of Whatcom Community College — a tragedy that shocked the campus and community. Read the full story by Matt Benoit at the link below.

A new fund supporting investigative journalism at Western Washington University has its roots in a landmark public records lawsuit. salish-current.org/2025/07/03/t...

salish-current.org/2025/06/20/f... My latest story for @salish-current.org takes a look at how local opioid overdoses appear to be declining:

In this letter from Salish Current’s Editor, Sam Fletcher looks back on a year with AmeriCorps — traveling state to state, renovating homes, and learning firsthand about poverty in the U.S. salish-current.org/2025/06/04/a...

If you live in Whatcom County and haven't yet walked a nearly a quarter-mile out into Bellingham Bay via Little Squalicum Pier, it's great! I recently wrote about the history of what is Washington's longest public pier.

After community pushback led to cancellation of a proposed metal shredding facility, ABC Recycling put the land, including 10 acres zoned for heavy industrial usage, up for sale. It remains unclear who will buy it — and what will happen next. Read the full story by Matt Benoit at the link below.

Tomorrow, 33 men will attempt to become the winner of the 109th #Indianapolis500. Of all the men and women who've ever competed in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, only one came from Whatcom County. #Indy500 #IndyCar

She’s received national honors, interviewed astronauts, met sci-fi legends, and even watched Apollo 11 launch. Her story spans pulp fiction to print journalism, all powered by words. Read the full story by Matt Benoit at the link below. salish-current.org/.../wordsmit...

salish-current.org/2025/03/25/f... My latest story in @salish-current.org focuses on tumult in Skagit County's Sedro-Woolley School District. The abrupt, non-transparent departure of the district's superintendent have left many questioning school board leadership.

We are currently looking for more local journalists to join our team of contributing writers. Are you a journalist or do you know someone who is? Reach out to us! We are eager to work with ambitious new writers and continue to do the good work of local reporting.

A small town nearby lost a newspaper three months ago, but a new one has emerged. Its first print issue is out. I have a story in it that looks at the first print issue that ever came out of this little town in 1879. A fun bit of local journalism history. laconnercommunitynews.org/2025/03/20/a...

The Port of Bellingham is navigating a tricky balance between growth and community concerns. As it plans to expand cargo traffic and modernize its shipping terminal, locals voice frustrations over environmental and industrial impacts. Read the full story below by Matt Benoit & Sam Fletcher.

Ahmad Hamrah and Tahmia Zalmai, Afghani refugees seeking asylum in Lynden, face uncertainty as they wait to reunite with their 6-month-old daughter, Liyah. Despite hardships, the couple hopes for a peaceful future in their new community. By Sam Flecther 📍 salish-current.org/2025/02/19/a...

I earned an NEH grant as an undergrad. It helped me become a historian. The NEH deserves better than this. Curiosity leads where it leads. Banning curiosity and requiring ideological tests are anti-American.

Ratner predicts the appointment of Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic, will impact vaccine availability and hesitancy: "It is much easier to scare people than to un-scare them," he says.

Here is my Federal Employment Termination story:

Sometimes I'd like just one news day - just one 24-hour period - where mainstream news ignores all the horrible things in the world and just reports on cats. Like, "Here's what cats are up to." "Is catnip corrupting our cats?" Basically I just wanna be comforted by the consistency of cat behavior.

My latest story for @salish-current.org explains where local lodging taxes go. There's a good chance that an event you want to attend this year is funded, at least in part, by those dollars.

I did it. I joined the not-X platform. Glad to be here!