Sophia Gates

@sophia-gates.bsky.social

Reporter for Cascadia Daily News. WSU Murrow News Fellow.

Some recent stories: A local farmer's advocacy led to a state bill aiming to allow people to use certain food benefits at mobile markets. In Whatcom County, shoppers at Twin Sisters Mobile Market would feel the impact. www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/mar/09/...

Bellingham farmer leads push for more food access through mobile markets | Cascadia Daily News

Cat Sieh's advocacy might result in a new state law for using certain food benefits

cascadiadaily.com

Backlash has swelled in the month and a half since a Mount Vernon City Council member jokingly referenced an anti-immigrant rumor. Now, some locals are asking the council to adopt a resolution affirming the city’s support for its immigrant population. www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/mar/06/...

Anti-immigrant joke made by a Mount Vernon council member angers community | Cascadia Daily News

Council pressed to adopt a resolution affirming city's support for immigrant population

cascadiadaily.com

Two popular local restaurants owe employees more than $160k due to illegal tip sharing, a Dept. of Labor report found. But as Labor is not pursuing litigation, employees may only be able to get those funds through lawsuits. Fiamma's owners contest the findings. www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/feb/26/...

Labor department: Fiamma restaurants owe back wages, damages due to illegal tip-sharing | Cascadia Daily News

Owners contest the findings that employees are due more than $160K in back wages and damages

cascadiadaily.com

In the wake of sweeping cuts to the National Forest system, I spoke to current and former employees about what those mass firings may mean closer to home. Possible impacts: closed bathrooms, deteriorating trails. www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/feb/25/...

Employees: Forest Service cuts will hurt trails, threaten public safety | Cascadia Daily News

The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest lost 36 employees, almost a third of its workforce

cascadiadaily.com

One of my first stories at The Everett Herald was about a senior center that had outgrown its space. Last week, I wrote about a similar issue in Mount Vernon. County and senior center staff agree the center's building isn't suitable. The question is, what now? www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/feb/23/...

Busy Mount Vernon Senior Center has outlived its usefulness, users and county agree | Cascadia Daily News

Amid funding challenges, one plan suggests a new facility could include housing

cascadiadaily.com

4.7 magnitude earthquake north of Vancouver, B.C., per USGS, just felt in Bellingham, per me. If I were building a house of cards a few minutes ago I'd be mildly upset.

In 2022, a developer stirred excitement when he crowdfunded a 35-dome vacation complex in Glacier. Today, the site has one dome - and is still permitted only for a single-family home. The story, along with @audralanderson.bsky.social's brilliant headline: www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/feb/19/...

Two years and one dome later, Oculis Lodge founder is asking for another $1.2M | Cascadia Daily News

The 2022 concept pitched 35 domes and a shorter timeline. Some backers are demanding refunds.

cascadiadaily.com

When @audralanderson.bsky.social and I visited Glacier last month, we found a topic that got locals talking: Airbnbs. In recent years, they told us, vacation rentals have increased in Glacier. Some believe they've made finding housing "borderline impossible." www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/feb/12/...

Newcomers to Glacier say Airbnbs make finding housing 'borderline impossible' | Cascadia Daily News

Short-term rentals help stimulate the economy of the mountain town but complicate living there, locals say

cascadiadaily.com