Matt Benoit

Washington law allows lawmakers to hold local offices but conflicts could trigger the Doctrine of Incompatible Offices and require officials to choose one role. Shepard said holding both positions would be “practically insane” and that he would resign his port seat if elected.

For local government officials, how many jobs are too many? Port of Bellingham Commissioner Michael Shepard and Blaine School Board director Erika Creydt recently announced runs for the 42nd Legislative District Senate seat.

How many public offices can one official hold at once? 📍 Port of Bellingham Commissioner Michael Shepard and Blaine School Board Director Erika Creydt are running for the 42nd Legislative District Senate seat.

salish-current.org/2026/01/23/f...

Election results set port plans in motion The Port of Bellingham is set to see new commissioners — and more districts — in 2026, along with the search for a new executive director.

@salish-current.org salish-current.org/2025/12/08/e...

Welcome to the lost art of ventriloquism! Brady McAtee, or if you know him for his music, Buddy Mac has worked long and hard to become an important part of the ventriloquist community. Check out this artist profile to learn a little about the joys and brilliance of Cosmo and Cecil.

Sedro-Woolley English teachers bring AI literacy into the classroom Several English classes at Sedro-Woolley High School are implementing lesson plans designed by Linsey Kitchens to help students understand the limitations of artificial intelligence programs such as C...

Sedro-Woolley High School English teacher Linsey Kitchens instructs students during a recent lesson on artificial intelligence. The lesson is one of several being implemented in the school’s English classes this semester to foster AI-based literacy.

salish-current.org/2025/11/20/s...

Life in sobriety 'works out well' for news producer Eric Trent spent 12 years as a drug addict. He’s turned his sobriety into a successful career in journalism.

Inspiring profile about my talented colleague Eric Trent overcoming addiction and finding his way to journalism. Many paths lead to this field, and it's all the richer and more compassionate because of it.

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Great work by @matt-benoit.bsky.social on the piece!

Local organizations unionize, await new contract The finalization of a unionization effort among Community Food Co-op employees has been joined by another new effort for employees of the Whatcom Museum Foundation.

salish-current.org/2025/07/31/l...

An update on unionization efforts for employees of Bellingham's Community Food Co-op, Whatcom Museum Foundation

Kirkwood is nearly three full races' worth of points back. Given that ovals are Palou's weakest spot in a season in which his weak spots barely exist, I'd say a lot. 30 to 40 points total (15 to 20 per race).

Memories, legacy remain 30 years after campus shooting The 1995 murder of Krystal DeVries at Whatcom Community College shocked the community and changed the lives of those who knew her.

30 Years Later: Remembering Krystal DeVries
On June 15, 1995, Krystal DeVries was shot and killed by her estranged husband in the parking lot of Whatcom Community College — a tragedy that shocked the campus and community.

Read the full story by Matt Benoit at the link below.

Western alums create investigative reporting fund, as transparency barriers grow For journalists, getting the records they need to keep the community informed can turn into a battle between free press and an organization’s desire for privacy.

A new fund supporting investigative journalism at Western Washington University has its roots in a landmark public records lawsuit.
salish-current.org/2025/07/03/t...

What a vile excuse for a human being.

Fentanyl responders keep foot on the gas despite positive trends Recent statistics indicate overdosed-related dispatch calls, emergency room visits and deaths have decreased from 2023 and 2024 levels in Whatcom County, in line with statewide and national trends.

salish-current.org/2025/06/20/f...

My latest story for @salish-current.org takes a look at how local opioid overdoses appear to be declining:

America will miss AmeriCorps Editor's year in AmeriCorps was a powerful look at people's needs around the country.

In this letter from Salish Current’s Editor, Sam Fletcher looks back on a year with AmeriCorps — traveling state to state, renovating homes, and learning firsthand about poverty in the U.S.

salish-current.org/2025/06/04/a...

If you live in Whatcom County and haven't yet walked a nearly a quarter-mile out into Bellingham Bay via Little Squalicum Pier, it's great! I recently wrote about the history of what is Washington's longest public pier.

Uncertainty around sale of once-proposed shredder site After community pushback led to cancellation of a proposed metal shredding facility, ABC Recycling put the land, including 10 acres zoned for heavy industrial usage, up for sale. It remains unclear wh...

After community pushback led to cancellation of a proposed metal shredding facility, ABC Recycling put the land, including 10 acres zoned for heavy industrial usage, up for sale. It remains unclear who will buy it — and what will happen next.

Read the full story by Matt Benoit at the link below.

Tomorrow, 33 men will attempt to become the winner of the 109th #Indianapolis500. Of all the men and women who've ever competed in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, only one came from Whatcom County. #Indy500 #IndyCar

Wordsmith and comic superfan: an origin story Michelle Nolan is a lifelong fan and collector of comic books, with an enormous collection of vintage periodicals — and a professional career as an author and newspaper writer.

She’s received national honors, interviewed astronauts, met sci-fi legends, and even watched Apollo 11 launch.
Her story spans pulp fiction to print journalism, all powered by words.
Read the full story by Matt Benoit at the link below.
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Frustrations and flux in Sedro-Woolley schools leadership Frustration, disappointment in wake of February resignation of superintendent, decision-making with multiple empty board positions

salish-current.org/2025/03/25/f... My latest story in @salish-current.org focuses on tumult in Skagit County's Sedro-Woolley School District. The abrupt, non-transparent departure of the district's superintendent have left many questioning school board leadership.

We are currently looking for more local journalists to join our team of contributing writers. Are you a journalist or do you know someone who is? Reach out to us!

We are eager to work with ambitious new writers and continue to do the good work of local reporting.

A new day for La Conner news, a glimpse of 1879 Historical roots of La Conner News “We take off our hat to the people of this town, and thank them most heartily for the very cordial and liberal encouragement extended. The publisher shall use eve…

A small town nearby lost a newspaper three months ago, but a new one has emerged. Its first print issue is out. I have a story in it that looks at the first print issue that ever came out of this little town in 1879. A fun bit of local journalism history.
laconnercommunitynews.org/2025/03/20/a...

Views conflict around best use for Port real estate Community, commissioners disagree about best use for sprawling real estate holdings

The Port of Bellingham is navigating a tricky balance between growth and community concerns. As it plans to expand cargo traffic and modernize its shipping terminal, locals voice frustrations over environmental and industrial impacts.

Read the full story below by Matt Benoit & Sam Fletcher.

Asylum seekers find refuge in Lynden Lynden’s newest residents sacrificed everything for a peaceful life.

Ahmad Hamrah and Tahmia Zalmai, Afghani refugees seeking asylum in Lynden, face uncertainty as they wait to reunite with their 6-month-old daughter, Liyah. Despite hardships, the couple hopes for a peaceful future in their new community.

By Sam Flecther

📍 salish-current.org/2025/02/19/a...

I earned an NEH grant as an undergrad. It helped me become a historian. The NEH deserves better than this.

Curiosity leads where it leads. Banning curiosity and requiring ideological tests are anti-American.

A pediatrician warns of 'long lasting' consequences of RFK Jr. leading HHS Ratner predicts the appointment of Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic, will impact vaccine availability and hesitancy: "It is much easier to scare people than to un-scare them," he says.

Ratner predicts the appointment of Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic, will impact vaccine availability and hesitancy: "It is much easier to scare people than to un-scare them," he says.

Here is my Federal Employment Termination story:

Sometimes I'd like just one news day - just one 24-hour period - where mainstream news ignores all the horrible things in the world and just reports on cats. Like, "Here's what cats are up to." "Is catnip corrupting our cats?" Basically I just wanna be comforted by the consistency of cat behavior.

Arts, recreation, stories in the dark: where lodging tax revenues go That much-anticipated event you’ll attend in 2025 may get vital support from tourism grants funded by hotel and motel tax revenues collected by your county or city. How are those funds allocated?

My latest story for @salish-current.org explains where local lodging taxes go. There's a good chance that an event you want to attend this year is funded, at least in part, by those dollars.

I did it. I joined the not-X platform. Glad to be here!