Your trusted source for local Bellingham, WA news, updated daily with the most important stories from your community.
A 47-year-old man was arrested for a drive-by shooting incident that occurred north of Bellingham, WA, on Tuesday night. According to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect fired a handgun during a road rage altercation and was apprehended shortly after the incident.
Paper Whale, a Bellingham-based nonprofit founded by Nick Hartrich and Gretchen Leggitt, aims to revitalize the local art community through diverse cultural events and installations. By integrating traditional and non-traditional art forms, they foster connections between artists and the community, including the Coast Salish tribes. Their recent initiatives also emphasize economic opportunities and community engagement, highlighting Bellingham's unique creative landscape.
A Bellingham law firm has been ordered to pay $1.3 million in damages after a ruling by Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Lee Grochmal, following sexual harassment claims from two former employees. The court found the testimonies of the employees credible, revealing inappropriate workplace behavior by the firm's owner, Craig Allen.
Bellingham International Airport's control tower is reducing its operational hours due to a decrease in air traffic controllers, highlighting a nationwide staffing crisis. The tower's closure on Tuesdays and some Wednesdays raises concerns about air safety, particularly as the airport experiences increased traffic from inexperienced pilots. Despite these challenges, commercial operators claim that their operations remain unaffected.
The Port of Bellingham has approved the design documents for the second phase of the Millworks project, which will introduce a local food campus, office spaces, and 109 units of workforce housing to the Bellingham waterfront. This phase aims to address the housing needs of the "missing middle" demographic, further enhancing the community's livability and amenities. The project is expected to cost over $140 million, with construction anticipated to begin in late 2025.
The Washington State House of Representatives honored Dr. Kathi Hiyane-Brown, the longtime president of Whatcom Community College, with a resolution recognizing her 35 years in higher education, including 18 years at WCC. Under her leadership, the college expanded its curriculum significantly and was designated as Washington's Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. As Dr. Hiyane-Brown prepares for her retirement on March 1, the college has announced three finalists for her successor.
Local agencies successfully rescued an elderly woman who fell down a steep embankment in Sumas, Washington, on February 18. Utilizing a drone for location assistance, firefighters collaborated with multiple law enforcement agencies to safely extract her and transport her to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Whatcom County's Health and Community Services is seeking community input to shape its upcoming homeless housing plan, focusing on priorities such as affordable housing and emergency shelter space. Residents can provide feedback through a survey, which will inform the five-year plan set for approval by the Whatcom County Council in 2026.
Suzanne Simard, a renowned forest ecologist, emphasizes the ecological importance of the Douglas fir in her latest research, which highlights the need for assisted migration to combat climate change. Her findings indicate that continued clear-cutting could significantly hinder the survival of this vital species, underscoring the urgency of sustainable forestry practices.
Whatcom County is seeking community feedback on its homelessness strategies as it develops a plan for addressing homelessness from 2026 to 2030. The Housing Advisory Committee aims to gather public input through surveys and presentations, focusing on balancing short-term and long-term solutions. This initiative follows a record of homelessness affecting over 846 individuals in January 2024.