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The Bellingham Queer Collective (BQC) aims to create social spaces for queer individuals in Whatcom County, addressing the need for community outside traditional venues like bars. Founded by Michelle Harmeier during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization complements existing support systems like PFLAG and Whatcom Youth Pride. BQC focuses on providing safe gathering spaces and fostering connections among diverse queer identities.
A section of I-5 and the Lakeway Drive offramp in Bellingham will close for overnight maintenance from 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 13 to 5 a.m. on Monday, July 14. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will conduct vegetation maintenance during this period, urging drivers to seek alternate routes.
The City of Bellingham will improve bike lanes on Holly Street starting July 21, replacing parking-protected lanes with standard buffered lanes. Traffic delays are expected due to lane closures as the city aims to enhance safety for cyclists and pedestrians.
Oregon Congresswoman Maxine Dexter visited an ICE Detention Center in Ferndale, WA, to advocate for a detained Honduran mother and her four U.S. citizen children. The family has been held for nearly two weeks without access to legal counsel, raising concerns about their treatment and the allegations against them. Dexter’s office struggled to locate the family until her involvement prompted action.
A man is in custody after attempting to set a home on fire in Skagit County. The suspect, who tried to stab a resident, was apprehended after he refused to drop a knife and was shot with a non-lethal round by police. The incident unfolded Tuesday morning, prompting a swift response from local authorities.
Washington state will not see the return of gun-to-machine-gun converters, as announced by Attorney General Nick Brown. This decision follows a lawsuit by multiple state attorneys general aimed at halting sales of these devices, which have been linked to mass shootings. The federal ATF and manufacturer Rare Breed Triggers agreed not to distribute these converters in states involved in the lawsuit.
Bellingham will experience a warm spell with temperatures rising into the 80s and low 90s next week, according to the National Weather Service. A moderate HeatRisk is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday, along with elevated fire weather conditions due to low humidity and easterly winds.
Construction delays will begin next week on I-5 in Whatcom County as the Washington State Department of Transportation starts paving work. Crews will repave a 10-mile stretch between Blaine and the Nooksack River, with the project expected to conclude by October.
Nico Sanchez founded Black Noise Records in 2016 in Bellingham, WA, creating a hub for local underground musicians. The label, which emphasizes vinyl and physical music ownership, also operates a record store that caters to the community's tastes. Sanchez highlights the support from Bellingham residents as crucial for the label's success amidst economic challenges.
Whatcom County now has more residents aged 65 and over than those 18 and under for the first time, according to new data. This trend, mirrored in four other counties, reflects a broader state and national shift as the population of older adults grows while the number of children declines. Washington state lost over 42,000 children from 2020 to 2024, while the number of seniors increased by nearly 160,000.