Your trusted source for local Bellingham, WA news, updated daily with the most important stories from your community.
The USDA's Pacific Northwest Region plans to hire wildland firefighters for the 2025 fire season, responding to concerns raised during the previous administration's hiring freeze. Positions are available for U.S. citizens aged 18 and older, with applications due by April 24.
The Seattle Mariners aim for first place in the AL West as they face the Boston Red Sox after winning eight of their last ten games. Meanwhile, the Kraken promote Ron Francis to president of hockey operations following the firing of coach Dan Bylsma, and the Storm's Nika Muhl will miss the upcoming season due to an ACL injury. Western Washington University's softball team received GNAC Team of the Week honors after a dominant series sweep.
A boating accident near San Juan Island resulted in one death and one rescue over the weekend. A sailing vessel crashed into rocks, causing it to flood and break apart, leading to the occupants entering the water. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued one man, while the other was later pronounced dead.
Death Cab for Cutie will perform two shows in Seattle this summer to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their album "Plans." The band, formed in 1997 in Bellingham, will play at Climate Pledge Arena on July 31 and August 2 due to high ticket demand.
Local farmworker activist Alfredo “Lelo” Juarez Zeferino faces an immigration hearing in November after being detained by ICE. His lawyer is working on securing his release from the Tacoma detention center, where conditions are reportedly difficult.
A Blaine man died in a suspected DUI crash in Custer on Monday morning. Mark Bunch, 34, lost control of his vehicle on I-5, veering off the road and striking a tree. The accident blocked the highway for approximately 30 minutes.
Whatcom County school districts' proposals to limit transgender participation in high school sports failed to secure enough votes during the WIAA's recent voting session. The measures aimed to restrict girls' sports to biological females and create a separate division for transgender or nonbinary students but did not meet the required 60% supermajority.
The Seattle Kraken dismissed head coach Dan Bylsma after one season, finishing with a 35-41-6 record. Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners extended their winning streak, taking two of three games against the Toronto Blue Jays, with standout performances from Rowdy Tellez and Cal Raleigh. Additionally, Washington's high school sports landscape changes with the approval of girls flag football as an official sport.
Federal funding cuts have severely impacted food security services in Whatcom County, Washington, with the Bellingham Food Bank losing over $800,000 in annual USDA funding. Food bank spokesperson Stephanie Sisson warns that demand for services has nearly tripled since 2021, exacerbated by the end of federal SNAP benefits for many families.
The North Cascades Highway reopens on Tuesday after a six-month winter closure, as reported by the Washington State Department of Transportation. This seasonal closure occurs due to heavy snowfall, with the highway typically reopening between mid-April and mid-May. The timing aligns with ongoing National Park Week, which lasts until April 27.