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The first humpback whale calf of the season was spotted in the Salish Sea, traveling alongside its mother, known as "Big Mama." The calf, estimated to be four to five months old, marks an important event for local marine life recovery efforts. Big Mama is recognized for her role in the resurgence of humpback whales in the region.
Whatcom County will experience significant road closures this weekend due to Memorial Day events and the annual Ski to Sea race. Key closures include SR 542 on Sunday morning and various streets in Bellingham for the Whatcom Memorial Day Parade and Fairhaven Festival. Residents should plan their travel routes accordingly.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed SBB 5444 into law, introducing a Smokey Bear license plate to support wildfire prevention. The plate, available starting November 1, costs $40 initially and $30 for renewals, with all proceeds funding wildfire prevention initiatives. Human activity causes approximately 90% of wildfires each year in the state.
A California man faces arrest for a fraud scheme that defrauded a Whatcom County resident of over $100,000. The victim received a call from a fake officer claiming to investigate money laundering and was coerced into depositing money with a phony federal agent. Law enforcement arrested the suspect during a fourth attempted pickup.
Leody Taveras hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 6-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox on May 21. The win marked Seattle's fifth victory in six games, with Cal Raleigh also contributing a home run to tie for the AL lead. Chicago's struggles continued as they lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Whatcom County honored its Educator of the Year award recipients on May 16, awarding $5,000 to Riley Liddle and Dave Tjoelker. Liddle, a career and technical education teacher at Squalicum High School, excelled in robotics, while Tjoelker taught Bible classes and language arts at Lynden Christian Middle School and High School. Both educators were recognized alongside seven other nominees during a ceremony in Lynden.
Bellingham city council voted to send a letter to nine Canadian cities to reinforce their commitment to maintaining a positive relationship. This decision follows a significant decline in Canadian travel to Washington, impacting local businesses and sales tax revenue.
Whatcom County's unemployment rate dropped to 3.7% in April, down from 4.2% in March and 4% a year ago. The Washington State Employment Security Department attributes this decline to seasonal changes, though no seasonally adjusted data for 2025 is available yet. Skagit County also reported a decrease in its unemployment rate.
A Bellingham-based food truck, Burnt Side Down, seeks to sell its business after two years of serving gourmet grilled cheese. The owners announced on social media that they are moving in a different direction but will continue operations six days a week until the truck is sold.
The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife banned feeding deer, moose, and elk to prevent disease spread and poaching. The rule, effective immediately, prohibits placing feed that attracts these animals. This decision follows concerns about chronic wasting disease detected in Eastern Washington.