Cascadia Daily News spent much of its first year kicking tires, snuffing fires, and doing all the things that come with building a news organization from the ground up. The local news organization’s work over that timespan clearly had impact; readers and local sources told us so.
But that process accelerated exponentially throughout 2023, our second year of publication.
Thanks to hard work from our newsroom, tips and help from community members and the continued commitment to local news by our private local owner, CDN built staff and expanded its scope while others shrank, establishing itself as a capable news outlet fit for the long haul.
[ Read more from Ron Judd in his final column of 2023: CDN’s 2024 watchword remains the same: ‘Impact’ ]
Presented below is a review of what our newsroom reporters, editors and photographers consider to be the most memorable and important examples of our work — a glimpse at year two in the life of people in a place we are proud to call home.
—Ron Judd, executive editor
TOP STORIES
Read more about these stories at cascadiadaily.com/year-in-review/2023.
Breaking news
● Train derails in Anacortes; Ecology clearing scene
● Famed Southern Resident orca Tokitae dies in captivity
● Hotshot crew arrives to fight growing fire on South Lake Whatcom slope
● A late-night wildfire, a worried community
● Timeline of how a fire ravaged a historic Bellingham building
Elections
● Thursday count seals races; Fleetwood, Chadwick concede
● Tanksley takes lead over insider Chadwick
● Ferndale mayoral candidates confront problems of a growing city
● Minimum wage hike, renter relocation assistance up to voters
● Bellingham mayor: Lund says she brings an outsider’s expertise
Homelessness
● Whatcom County reports highest homeless number since census began
● Downtown workers don’t feel prepared to handle crisis on their doorsteps
● Bellingham’s invisible housing crisis: homeless children
● Officials break ground on center for unhoused people
● Memorial honors homeless people who died this year in Whatcom County
Jail
● Beyond Bars: The future of justice in Whatcom County
● Election analysis: Support for Whatcom jail proposal broad, deep
● After years of waiting, approval of jail measure means … more waiting
● Whatcom jail proposal leaves voters with questions
● At 11th hour, Whatcom jail proposal faces competing demands
Housing
● Bellingham declares housing crisis
● Seniors face rising rents in ‘affordable’ housing
● Demand for rental assistance dwarfs available funding
● Minimum wage increase, rental relocation initiatives hold leads Wednesday night
● Bellingham landlords may see stiffer penalties for substandard housing
Environment
● Off Target: A legacy of neglect at county rifle range
● Innovative sewage solutions pitched to replace Bellingham’s aging system
● Major ‘green’ planning underway for BP Cherry Point
● More than 600 acres of mature forest in Whatcom County slated for conservation
● Environmental ‘rabble-rouser’ spent lifetime fighting for clean water
Labor & Unions
● Radicals and red cards: Wobblies’ support for workers is decades deep
● WWU operational student employees file to unionize
● Macy’s employees strike on Black Friday weekend over safety, wages
● PeaceHealth clinicians vote to unionize
● Workers at Bellingham REI unionize
PeaceHealth
● ‘Devastated’: PeaceHealth makes cuts to palliative care
● PeaceHealth restoring palliative care, more patients to be served
● Bellingham physician has new lawyers in PeaceHealth lawsuit
● PeaceHealth to refund millions to low-income patients after AG investigation
● PeaceHealth St. Joseph fined for dangerous-waste violations
Fentanyl & Addiction
● ‘Instantly addicted:’ Fentanyl takes a deadly toll on Whatcom families
● Lummis move aggressively to combat overdose deaths
● Drug-use ban to take effect in Bellingham
● Bellingham drug bust hits large-scale drug network
● Whatcom County invests $100K to confront fentanyl crisis
Waterfront future
● With Harcourt sidelined, what’s next for Bellingham’s waterfront?
● ABC Recycling becomes a flashpoint in growth debate
● Survey: Public wants more access to waterfront and beaches
● Officials break ground on waterfront affordable housing
● Bellingham waterfront gets $17.7M for cleanup
Law & Justice
● Sedro-Woolley officer returns to force after killing motorist; lawsuit looms
● Whatcom Superior Court finds judge acted in error, can’t hear 123 DUI cases
● Blaine Municipal Court makes resources more accessible for defendants
● Fired Bellingham detective gets hero’s send-off with unauthorized flag raising, vehicle escort
● Former Lynden ceramics director charged with felony sex crimes in Montana
People
● Women Empowered: Honoring Women’s History Month
● Rearview reflections: Longtime WTA bus driver finds purpose in the front seat
● Remembering ‘Peace Wizard’ John C. Bromet
● Dance instructor, 94, keeps students feeling active, young
● Whatcom Museum preparator retires
Education
● Criminal charges against Bellingham school administrators resolved
● School board election results: Wednesday ballot drop shows one change in Lynden school board race
● Improving retention key concern as WWU fall quarter begins
● 2023 senior spotlight: Whatcom County schools
● Regionalization is another headache in school funding
Opinion
● Unapologetically grasping for the ‘wit’ in ‘dimwitted’
● Suggested Bellingham schools course: Intro to Public Accountability
● Guest commentary: Greenways is great, but what about indoor rec?
● It’s time to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
● Memo to WWU: It’s past time to correct the record on Charles Fisher
Business
● Business in 2023: Employment catchup, stubborn home prices and no recession
● Open & Closed 2023: Of Beer and Bellis Fair
Prep
● Ahead of his time: Bellingham swimmer has Olympic dreams
● Mark Scholten’s death leaves void in local sports radio scene
● Anacortes football’s rise to power was 5 years in the making
● How a UW commit became one of Whatcom County’s hottest hoops prospects
● No. 4 pick in WNBA draft brought Mount Baker first state championship
College
● Pee Wee Halsell’s decorated WWU coaching career ‘a blessing’
● WWU has the pitcher the conference fears
● WWU honors nearly 200 female athletes with varsity letters at Title IX ceremony
● Western star makes Bellingham home, racks up awards
● Standing atop a legendary ladder of hoops success
Recreation/Outdoors
● Ski to Sea 50th anniversary live updates, photos and video
● Series: Our Boys in the Boat
● Roslyn: Recreational getaway and ‘historical treasure hunt’
● One year in Juneau: Finding the best in the worst
● Hiking group hits the mountains with grateful hearts
Arts & Entertainment
● Musical mixtures at the Bellingham Folk Festival
● Inaugural Bellingham Exit festival was a smashing success
● Beats and bikes at Waypoint Park for NW Tune-Up
● At Mount Vernon’s Lincoln Theatre, a changing of the guard
● Author Tom Robbins’ artistic legacy to be celebrated
Food & Restaurants
● The hunger games: Desperately seeking Bellingham’s late-night eating spots
● Tips for tip’s sake are (literally) in your face
● A Tulip Festival dining guide
● Rating Bellingham’s homegrown ice cream
● The evolution of Diamond Jim’s Grill
Profiles
● The leveling chair: Barbershop and salon owner brings values, culture to craft
● Welcome to Chickenlandia
● Loretta Lynn’s ‘singing sister’ in Whatcom County has her own backstory
● Thousands of Knitted Knockers are stitched with love
● More than 100K pieces later, Bellingham couple competes on ‘Lego Masters’
Photos of the year
