From the newsroom

Last week, I watched a judge, a lawyer and a person with a misdemeanor walk into a church. It's not the start of a bad joke, but rather it's the twice monthly community court held at Bellingham Municipal Court.

The community court is designed to be a problem-solving court, addressing the systemic issues that lead people to break the law in the first place.

Sometimes it's because the person is deep into a substance abuse disorder, other times they've fallen behind on bills and are struggling.

The participants each get a tailored case plan with the promise that if they complete all the steps, their case will be dismissed. They receive help in many forms, from service providers to the court's service manager, and even from unlikely places.

For example, last month one participant was getting ready to graduate from the program. However, the last thing on their case plan was to pay $75 to get their driver's license reinstated. As part of the community court's grant, it cannot cover certain expenses that a participant may need. The same day, Mayor Kim Lund, along with a few city council members and city staff members, took up a collection hat and had the money ready to go a few hours later. The amount may seem trivial, but it allowed one person to graduate from the program.

"They are precisely the kinds of justice solutions we need — solutions that focus on community members coming together to invest in the success and well-being of people who've committed crimes," Lund said in a statement to CDN.

Today's news

Blaine High School math teacher Shawna Rouse in January urged legislators to think about the cost of budget cuts "not in dollars, but in futures." (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)

'Surviving, not thriving': Most school districts facing trimmed budgets

Fish passage work resumes on Padden Creek as diesel cleanup winds down

Ferndale council candidate's voter registration ruled invalid after challenge of residency

Sheriff's office arrests Lynden man in connection to rape at Little Squalicum Park

Historian: Trump's views on immigrant workers reflect timeworn idealization of U.S. farming

Former NBA and MLB pro from Mount Vernon brings life lessons to local athletes

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Things to do

Daphne Rosinski and Stella Shepard pose in a cutout of traditional Greek costumes at the Bellingham Greek Festival. This year's Greekfest runs from Sept. 4–7. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)

Cocoa's picks: Greek food, tree festivals and dahlia shows

Live music calendar: Aug. 29–Sept. 7, 2025

Sports calendar: Aug. 29–Sept. 7, 2025

Weekly Watchdog: Aug. 29–Sept. 4, 2025

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