WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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LOCAL NEWS. CLEAR SOURCES.Latest source: Oct 19, 2026
Aerial view of Bellingham, the bay and Mount Baker
Bellingham and Mount Baker. File photo, December 2014; not a photograph of the reported work. Nick Kelly / Faithlife Corporation · CC BY-SA 4.0. Display cropped.
Environment / Bellingham

WWU artists and scientists collaborate to provoke dialogue on climate change

A 6-foot beautiful but broken sea star ravaged by wasting disease. A contour map overlaid with poetic riffs on geologic time. Photographs of neon rectangles illuminating a dense forest to highlight the effects of forest fire. A jewel box installation of a kelp forest. An everyday business suit crafted from a silver emergency wildfire shelter.

Oct 19, 2026 · Automated source digest · selected source excerpts
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Community / Bellingham

Serious music is music you take seriously

Milo Palmer just began his fourth year at Western composing and playing bass, guitar, and piano. You can catch him performing serious music and hear his line-fudging compositions in the Concert Hall with the Composers of Western – “COW” as it’s known at WWU.

Oct 16, 2026 · Automated source digest · selected source excerpts
Environment / Bellingham

Sustainability Pathways cohort contributes to climate, community and ecological resilience in north central Washington

Western Washington University’s Sustainability Pathways program, now in its seventh year, welcomed its largest cohort yet for summer 2026: 22 undergraduates working with 20 organizations, agencies and non-profits in the Methow and Okanogan valleys on projects focused on the environment, health and well-being, social equity and economic vitality.

Oct 16, 2026 · Automated source digest · selected source excerpts
Community / Bellingham

WWU and PeaceHealth reach agreement on sale of former St. Luke’s property

BELLINGHAM, WASH., Oct. 16, 2026 — Western Washington University and PeaceHealth have reached a purchase-and-sale agreement for the former St. Luke’s Hospital site and related parcels. The agreement reflects a shared commitment to advancing health education, supporting student well-being and planning for future regional healthcare needs.

Oct 16, 2026 · Automated source digest · selected source excerpts
Government / Ferndale

City Council Meeting

Admin Services Posted on October 16, 2026 | Last Updated on October 16, 2026

Oct 16, 2026 · Automated source digest · selected source excerpts
Government / Bellingham

Bellingham Mitigation Bank opening early next year

We’re excited to share that Bellingham’s first mitigation bank is on track to open in February or March 2027. The Bellingham Mitigation Bank will improve water quality, reduce flooding, and support fish and wildlife, all while providing a more efficient, consistent way for development projects to meet environmental requirements.

Oct 15, 2026 · Newsletter story · attributed source passage
Government / Bellingham

Learn more about the City Budget

We know “budget season” isn’t the most thrilling phrase—but it does lay the groundwork for the services, programs, and investments our community relies on. These sessions help ensure we’re allocating resources responsibly and transparently, with thoughtful discussion along the way.

Oct 15, 2026 · Newsletter story · attributed source passage
Government / Bellingham

Tax incentive supports investment in key Bellingham areas

Two areas in Whatcom County, including Bellingham’s downtown and waterfront, were recently selected for a competitive, national designation as Opportunity Zones for a second time. These zones benefit from a federal tax incentive that’s designed to attract private investment in low-income communities. The program allows eligible investors to defer and reduce their capital gains taxes when they invest capital gains in a business or property in an Opportunity Zone. Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Washington selections Oct. 8. Learn more, including how Bellingham has benefited from this designation in the past, on our Opportunity Zones page .

Oct 15, 2026 · Newsletter story · attributed source passage
Government / Bellingham

Celebrate York’s new playgrounds

Join us at Rock Hill Park next Thursday, Oct. 22, at 4:30 p.m. for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the park’s new upper and lower playgrounds. These long-awaited improvements have been in the works since 2024, and we’re excited to finally open them for play. You’ll have a chance to meet Parks & Recreation Director Nicole Oliver, learn about the park’s history and the project, and connect with neighbors. Visit our event calendar for more details. See you there!

Oct 15, 2026 · Newsletter story · attributed source passage
Government / Bellingham

Roeder Avenue Bridge work starting next week

Plan for possible delays and changing traffic conditions along the Roeder Avenue Bridge between Central Avenue and C Street from Oct. 19–30 as we repair the bridge approach. The sidewalk will remain open and bike lanes will merge with vehicle traffic. During a routine inspection, we discovered minor erosion at the base of the bridge caused by tidal changes in the Whatcom Waterway. This work will help protect the bridge’s foundation and keep it strong and reliable for years to come.

Oct 15, 2026 · Newsletter story · attributed source passage
Government / Bellingham

Join us for family-friendly Halloween fun

Whether your kids are in it for the tricks or the treats, our Parks & Recreation team has a Halloween event for you. Preschool – 2 nd -grade kids will love Boo at Bloedel, while anyone ages 6 and up can appreciate Spooktacular at Woodstock Farm with Gabriel’s Arts Kids. For a truly unique way to pick your carving pumpkin, head to Arne Hanna Aquatic Center Saturday afternoon for a floating pumpkin patch (kids 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult).

Oct 15, 2026 · Newsletter story · attributed source passage
Environment / Countywide

Washington's ambitious new mobile air monitoring study

The air you breathe when you step out your front door can sometimes be different than the air a few blocks away or across town. But how different? For the first time in Washington’s history, Ecology will be able to answer that in greater detail, thanks to a new study funded by the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). This winter, a fleet of specialized air monitoring vehicles will hit the streets in over 20 overburdened communities and participating Tribal Nations as part of a one-time, year-long High Resolution Mobile Monitoring study.

Oct 15, 2026 · Automated source digest · selected source excerpts
Community / Bellingham

Faculty and staff members can present diplomas to family members at commencement

If you have an immediate family member walking in December Commencement, we would like to offer you the opportunity to present their diploma at their scheduled commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026 (see the ceremony dates/times and corresponding colleges on the Ceremony Schedule page).

Oct 14, 2026 · Automated source digest · selected source excerpts

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Boardwalk beside Bellingham Bay
Bellingham Bay boardwalk. File photo, September 2018; used for community context. Fernando Gonzalez · CC BY-SA 4.0. Display cropped.
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