Your trusted source for local Bellingham, WA news, updated daily with the most important stories from your community.
Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund appointed Deborah Danner as Human Resources director and Ameleah Sullivan as deputy director on July 2, 2025. Danner, previously the associate VP for human resources at Eastern Washington University, will lead a department overseeing over 1,000 employees. This decision follows a leadership shakeup in the city’s HR and public works departments.
The Blaine Harbor Music Festival returns to downtown Blaine from July 6 to July 12, offering free concerts and music education opportunities. Young musicians ages 12 to 20 can learn skills in music theory, jazz, and improvisation from award-winning artists. The festival culminates with a Student Showcase Spectacular on July 11 and a street fair on July 12.
The Mariners aim for their third consecutive victory against the Royals tonight after a 6-2 win, highlighted by Cal Raleigh's 33rd home run. Meanwhile, the Kraken signed defenseman Ryan Lindgren and goaltender Matt Murray as NHL free agency begins. Seattle University rejoins the West Coast Conference after 45 years, enhancing local collegiate sports dynamics.
Washington leads a coalition of 16 states suing the U.S. Department of Education over cuts to mental health program funding. The lawsuit claims the Department illegally revoked grants that provided mental health professionals to K-12 schools, threatening vital services for students.
Local law enforcement seeks witnesses to an altercation involving a Washington State Patrol trooper in Ferndale. The incident occurred on Sunday, June 29, at approximately 8:20 a.m. Investigators request that anyone with information contact Detective Shelby Brown.
A Sedro-Woolley man faces first-degree murder charges following a fatal incident on Dunbar Road. Murray James Monroe, 30, allegedly confessed to a family member and police about killing a friend, prompting his arrest. He remains in custody with a bail set at $1 million.
Washington joined a multistate lawsuit against the Trump administration over the unauthorized sharing of personal health data of 1.7 million Medicaid enrollees with ICE. The lawsuit claims this action violates federal law and threatens the privacy of immigrant communities.
Texas State will join the restructured Pac-12 conference for the 2026 season, fulfilling the requirement for eight football-playing members. The Mariners won a thrilling series against the Rangers, with key performances from Mitch Garver and Miles Mastrobuoni. Meanwhile, the Bells secured a series sweep, and the Sounders returned to MLS action with a victory over Austin FC.
Green Jobs PAC received a $20,000 fine for failing to report over $1 million in campaign spending related to the 2024 election. The Washington state Public Disclosure Commission cited late filings that deprived the public of key information before ballots were counted. The PAC admitted to multiple violations but no intentional wrongdoing was found.
Bryan Kohberger agreed to plead guilty to the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students, avoiding the death penalty. He will serve four consecutive life sentences without parole and waive his right to appeal. The formal plea is scheduled for July 2nd.