News doesn't wait, and neither can we

Most people start their workday around 9 a.m. On election night, that's about when journalists are finally thinking about going to bed.

With Washington ballots closing at 8 p.m. and the first returns expected at 8:15, our newsrooms gathered at 5 p.m. to plan the evening. Pizza from O'Neils Confectionery and Soda Fountain arrived at 6:45, and then the team scattered across two counties.

The Northern Light reporters Milo Whitman and Madelyn Jones fanned out across Whatcom County, covering election night gatherings in Lynden and Bellingham. Meanwhile, our colleagues at La Conner Community News covered election parties in Sedro-Woolley and tracked local ballot measures and legislative races. All Point Bulletin editor Aly McGee monitored statewide initiatives and judicial races from our La Conner office, staying past midnight as results trickled in and some races remained too close to call.

By 8:30 p.m., returns were rolling in and races were being called. Reporters wrote against the clock, editors fact-checked stories and verified election numbers in real time, and page designer Emma Storey assembled both newspapers' front pages as soon as they received approval.

We had a 9 a.m. deadline to get The Northern Light to the printer.

We made it at 8:59.

News doesn't wait. And neither can we.

From election night to breaking news at the border, decisions at Blaine City Hall and the issues affecting Birch Bay and Point Roberts, our newsroom needs to be ready when the story breaks. That means reporters who know the communities they cover, editors who insist on getting the facts right, and the resources to publish trusted information when our neighbors need it most.

That's why we're asking you to support The Northern Light during NewsMatch, our biggest fundraising campaign of the year.

Through December 31, every new monthly donation is matched 12 times, and every one-time gift is doubled, up to $1,000 per donor. Your gift today can go twice as far toward keeping independent local journalism strong in northwest Whatcom County.

If The Northern Light has helped you understand what's happening in your community, hold local leaders accountable or simply feel more connected to your neighbors, please consider making a donation today.

Because when news breaks in our corner of Washington, someone needs to be there to tell the story. And that's what we do.

Donate today. Our parent company, La Conner Community News, is a registered 501(c)3 and your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.