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Banning Fireworks in Bellingham: Blast or Dud?
A few weeks ago, I sat down with Clay Butler, Rich Maneval, and Taimi Gorman who together form the backbone of Bellingham Initiative 1, concerning the regulation of consumer fireworks within the city....
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Interviewing “Power Past Coal”
With initiatives, campaigns and millions in advertising dollars, I figured I would take a break from the insanity of electoral politics and write about something non-controversial, like exporting coal...
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Interview with Rick Larsen
Rep. Rick Larsen, six-term congressman from the 2nd district, was in Bellingham this past Tuesday meeting with downtown business leaders and doorbelling with a group of supporters. In between all that,...
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An Interview with Kevin Ranker
Before I can even ask my first question, Sen. Kevin Ranker is throwing me to the wolves. Well, at least the subject matter anyway. “The fact that we got to a place where we had to kill an entire wolf...
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An Interview with Brad Stone, Public Utility District candidate
Looking for Riley’s 2012 Voting Recommendations? Click the tab at the top of the page or right here! For a self-proclaimed amatuer, Brad Stone projected a steady sense of confidence as he sat down with...
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Reproductive Struggles in Olympia
If 2012 was the political year of women (binders of women, Sandra Fluke and the all the “rape guys” losing at the ballot box), then 2013 might very well become the year of women’s reproductive choice...
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PeaceHealth Merger Threatens Women’s Health in Whatcom County
There are big changes coming at St. Joseph Medical Center, and that has many people worried about the future of health care in Whatcom County. This issue has been covered in the Stranger and the New...
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Jeff Morris Talks Policy
As I alluded to in my Friday Odds and Ends (Whatcom’s number one weekly column not named “The Gristle“!), I spoke with Rep. Jeff Morris recently about his efforts this legislative session. Although he...
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Interviewing Pinky Vargas
It is official, the Bellingham City Council races have begun! As I reported last Friday, long-time city councilman and dog lover, Stan Snapp, is retiring from city council at the end of the year and...
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An Interview with Kaylee Galloway
Recently, I sat down with Kaylee Galloway, a WWU student running to become the Vice-President of Governmental Affairs for their student organization because I wanted to offer some coverage of that...
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An Interview with Bill Knutzen
Recently, I sat down with Bill Knutzen, the affable yet stalwart conservative on the Whatcom County Council. He spoke at the Freedom Academy training I attended and after a few moments of reminiscing...
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An Interview with Michael Lilliquist
Despite holding elected office for four years, City Councilman Michael Lilliquist is still filled with the idealism of a young candidate, “I still believe enough in people’s goodheartedness that if you...
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Interview with Andrew Taylor
A few weeks ago, I sat down with Kaylee Galloway, who was running to become WWU’s top student lobbyist (Associated Students Vice-President of Government Affairs). Why the interview? Because student...
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Interviewing Ken Bell
Ken Bell looked straight at the time keeper at the Whatcom Republicans meeting who had just given him the thirty seconds sign. “Oh, I hate you,” he growls menacingly, before lightening the comment with...
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Michael Lilliquist Lashes Out Over Marijuana Ban
“Are you too stupid to understand or too dishonest to tell the truth?!” City Councilman Michael Lilliquist is jabbing his finger toward me after the Tea Party forum yesterday (read about it here)....
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An Interview with Renata Kowalczyk
As I sat down to interview Port of Bellingham candidate Renata Kowalczyk, it immediately became clear: Renata is by far one of the most enthusiastic and articulate candidates I have interviewed. Over...
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An Interview with Rud Browne
I’m sitting across from Rud Browne. A few years ago, he was one of the top employers in Whatcom County through his computer recycling business Ryzex. Now he is retired from business . . . or rather,...
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Constitutional Crisis Builds Over Education
With only a few days left in the session, the pressure is on over education. The battlelines are pretty clear, the state legislature has been ordered by the supreme court to fund education. In their...
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Interviewing Iris Maute-Gibson for City Council
Iris Maute-Gibson, applicant to the City Council seat vacated by Cathy Lehman, started out our interview on the right foot – she brought annotated maps. “The 3rd ward includes nine neighborhoods, more...
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Interviewing Andrew Reding for City Council
The first thing Andrew Reding clarified when I sat down with the applicant for the city council was that this was an appointment, not an election. “I wouldn’t say I’m running for office, that is...
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