Janessa Bates
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A protester plays an instrument during the “No Kings” protest in Bellingham, Wash., on Oct. 18, 2025. The demonstration was part of the second nationwide “No Kings” movement. // Photo by Janessa Bates
Janessa Bates
Janessa Bates (she/her) is a city news writer for The Front this fall quarter. She is currently studying visual journalism and political science at Western. Outside of the newsroom, she co-leads a club called WWU Photo Video Club, enjoys reading and loves to picnic with her dachshund. You can reach her at janessa.thefront@gmail.com.
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February 11Operations Supervisor Katherin Mitchell starts her day of work on Jan. 26, 2026. Many dispatchers receive around 120 calls a shift. What-Comm 911 processed 118,421 911 calls and 120,908 calls on their non-emergency phone line in 2025. Screen blurred to protect sensitive information. // Photo by Allison Lam
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February 11Idris Goodwin rapped a freestyle after the “King of the Neuroverse” performance on Jan. 23, 2026, night one of hip-hop theater weekend. Brian Quijada, co-creator of “Mexodous,” created the live-looped beats for Goodwin to perform to. // Photo by Cody Sauter
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February 11Playwright Idris Goodwin explaining the process of writing “King of the Neuroverse” and adapting it into a play during Western’s summer Test Kitchen with Professor and Theater Department Chair Rich Brown on Jan. 23, 2026. // Photo by Cody Sauter
