Janessa Bates
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Sadye Osterloh of Dorky Dance Fitness leads protesters in a dance party to end the “No Kings” protest at Maritime Heritage Park in Bellingham, Wash., on Oct. 18, 2025. The second nationwide protest ended with laughter, music and movement despite the rain. // 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
