In the Media

"Whatcom County basketball fans should recognize many of the new faces on the Bellingham Slam's roster as the team prepares to open its fifth season, but most of these guys have definitely been a lot more than homebodies.

The Slam roster represents players with experience in at least 10 overseas professional leagues, not to mention potential pro Morris Anderson, who recently completed his career as a much-honored point guard at Western Washington University."

"Looking for a 13th straight men's title and a fifth consecutive women's crown, Western Washington University entertains eight schools at the 29th annual Ralph Vernacchia Invitational Track and Field Team Meet on on Friday, April 9, at Civic Stadium.

Besides Western, the field includes British Columbia, Douglas College, Everett CC, Northwest, Pacific Lutheran, Saint Martin's, Seattle University and Simon Fraser."

"Western Washington University's dance program presents its annual Faculty Dance Concert, featuring students performing to works in a variety of genres, including dance theater, classical modern dance and contemporary styles, choreographed by their professors. Performances are at 7:30 p.m."

"If Whatcom County drivers see more cops Friday, April 9, it's not an aberration: it's the first day of the first statewide campaign to stop speeders.

Law enforcement agencies across Washington are involved in the crackdown, which runs until May 1. Locally, the Washington State Patrol, Whatcom County Sheriff's Office and the Ferndale, Bellingham and Western Washington University police departments are participating."

"After nearly three months of arguing, lawmakers may be close to a deal on an $800 million tax package that does not include a general sales-tax increase.

The state Senate's decision Wednesday to drop its proposed sales-tax hike is key to the apparent breakthrough."

"Amy Puckett is always on her way up.

The bar raises a small notch with every success, yet she keeps elevating just a little more.

Now the Laramie High girls’ indoor record holder in the pole vault, Puckett is preparing to take a leap toward another mark."

"No less than three standout high school musicians will perform solos with the Southwest Washington Symphony on Friday. A Longview high school choir of 90 voices will join the symphony, too. And the orchestra will tackle a monumental, 45-minute long Shostakovich symphony and a boisterous work by Wagner."

"On a recent visit to the University of Washington's Burke Museum, I examined a painting of saber-toothed animals. Dominating the top of the composition was what appeared to be a salmon. A leaping, blood-red, sockeye-lookalike with white fangs, about to leap out of the frame and clamp down on something, maybe you. Handy 3D glasses supplied nearby, helped imagine such a scenario. Ha, how cute, a saber-toothed salmon. Yeah, right."

"Graduate students in Western Washington University’s psychology department will provide free group counseling, under faculty supervision, beginning April 26. The focus of the group counseling will be anxiety and stress management in a psycho-educational format. The group will meet weekly from 4 to 5 p.m. on Mondays on WWU’s campus."

"We're not out of the woods yet when it comes to the economy, but it appears that small-business owners and entrepreneurs are feeling a little more confident.

In recent weeks there have been a variety of businesses, particularly retailers, either opening or expanding into a bigger space. That is in sharp contrast to last year at this time, when local store closures dominated headlines."