From the editor's desk

Please join me in bidding a non-fond adieu to 2025, a year that surely shall live in NW Washington infamy. 

At Cascadia Daily News, it began with a clean-slate reexamination of our work, befitting the major tectonic cultural and political shifts in America. And it ended with the sort of humbling acceptance that even the things you can still count on — nature leading that parade — can be cruel taskmasters.  

Like you, we've endured. For us, the work not only continues, but becomes more pressing. I'm proud of the way our newsroom has forged through this period of immense national and local strife, keeping level heads and remaining as much as possible above the worst fray, providing context and doses of reality. 

I'm also honored with the many ways in which the growing community of CDN readers has lent a hand to back us up in that endeavor; you've supported the local newsroom not only with thoughtful notes of appreciation and personal encouragement, but tips and personal assistance, helping us bring big stories home to the local level.  

We're emboldened by all that and excited about the near future. The coming year likely will bring similar challenges, but for us, also significant advancements in what we do and how we bring it to you. We'll be getting into specifics soon, but please celebrate the new year knowing your local news source strives to remain one thing you truly can count on.  

Here's a bright 2026. 

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Sunday read

Sammy Solano Rivera, a new board member of the Mount Vernon School District, speaks to the audience Dec. 3 during his first meeting. At 19 years old, Solano Rivera is the youngest school board member in Mount Vernon history. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)

A 19-year-old unseated a Mount Vernon School Board incumbent. Inside his campaign

A question thrown out in a conversation between then-Mount Vernon High School seniors, "What if someone in our class filed to run for school board?" led to the groundbreaking election of Sammy Solano Rivera to the board. Inside the campaign that elected Solano Rivera, the brainchild of him and his 17-year-old campaign manager.

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Stories of the week

News

Bellingham mayor touts housing progress in 2025

Developers told the Bellingham City Council this month that the city's recent housing legislation and streamlined permitting have sped up the development process and helped keep costs down.

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Opinion

Guest Writer: Even with climate change, a flood-resilient future is possible

"Flooding is natural. Damage from flooding is not," Bob Freitag, a University of Washington expert of flood mitigation, writes in a Cascadia Daily News guest commentary. Even in an age of accelerated flooding, five "proven lines of defense" can and should be embraced by the public, Freitag writes. 

Letters to the Editor: Flooding, AI, holiday scams and megalomania

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Sports & Rec

Whatcom Events purchases Bellingham Traverse relay race

After struggling to run the event in recent years, Pacific Multisports sold the Bellingham Traverse relay race to Whatcom Events with the goal of bringing the event back in full form.

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Living

Cookbook celebrates cuisine by U.S. immigrants. Here are some of our favorites

Lee Svitak Dean's new cookbook highlights more than 50 recipes by U.S. immigrants. In the spirit of the holidays, Cascadia Daily News staff selected and tested recipes that felt reminiscent of something positive: a memory, childhood or simply the concept of home.

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