From the newsroom

A few weeks ago, I met with Sheriff Donnell "Tank" Tanksley in his office, located at the bottom of the Whatcom County Jail. After saying hello to his axolotl, "Axel," Tanksley took me on a tour of where his deputies, detectives, and administrative staff work.

He pointed out ceiling tiles with brown water stains, the storage room that flooded on Christmas Eve last year, and the two interview rooms where, even with soundproofing, crime victims and suspects alike can hear detectives on the other side of the wall or inmates in the jail above their heads.

When we stopped by the detectives' division, I watched as a detective pulled out a clear tarp from his desk. The tarps are standard issue in the office to protect not only employees but also computers and records from dripping wastewater and raw sewage.

My jaw dropped.

I've been to quite a few sheriff's offices and police departments in my time, but never one where employees are issued tarps to protect against unidentified dripping liquids.

Now the county must weigh its construction priorities: a new sheriff's office/morgue and an update to the Northwest Annex. Both projects will likely get done, but they can't be built at the same time from real estate excise tax funds alone.

I dove into the issue in my story published last night following the Whatcom County Council meeting where over a dozen former and current sheriff office employees spoke.

Today's news

Detective Samantha Robinson covers a computer with a plastic drop cloth. The computer stores all the digital evidence for internet crimes against children, which would all be at risk of being destroyed if the tower were damaged by water. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)

Dripping sewage, no privacy and makeshift workspaces: Sheriff's office asks county for new office

Whatcom diversion program faces funding cuts in proposed state budget

PeaceHealth nurses announce picket

Letters, week of April 16, 2025: Health care monopoly, diversion programs and the trade war

Community, creativity and craft beer: Bellingham Beer Week returns

Lynden girls tennis tops Bellingham in clash of unbeatens

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A letter from unionizing hospitalists at Bellingham's St. Joseph Medical Center — employed by both PeaceHealth and Sound Physicians — details a "pattern of retaliatory behavior." (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)

PeaceHealth union calls for termination of Sound Hospitalist Services director

Terminal Building site listed for sale for $1M

Bellingham programmer uses AI to sort, analyze thousands of public documents 

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