As the sun set early on the evening of Nov. 8, 2024, people streamed into the warmly lit Corner Taphouse on Finnegan Way in Bellingham, Wash.
In the heart of downtown Bellingham, local professionals gather each week at the “Morning Buzz” to share coffee, career insights and camaraderie. The event is hosted by Whatcom Young Professionals, a philanthropic and community-driven association that branched off the Chamber of Commerce in 2006.
The Bellingham Food Bank, the most high-traffic food bank in Washington state, is working with the Bellingham City Council to provide $1 million in funding, while the Whatcom County Food Bank Network asks for $2 million from Washington state.
Washington state is taking a significant step to address toxic chemicals in cosmetics with the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act. Beginning in January 2025, the legislation will restrict the use of nine hazardous chemicals and chemical classes in personal care products sold by many retailers. The law represents an initiative towards safer and more transparent products that benefit public health and the environment.
Do you have a sweet tooth? Do you believe dessert really should come first? Well, you're in luck Bellingham has plenty of spots to satisfy your sweet tooth any time of day.
Every thirty-odd days, the Bellingham Circus Guild unfailingly fills with a familiar warmth. The smell of cologne, perfume, popcorn and warmth fills the air and a band of four older men in tweed and plaid, who go by the Poor Man’s Jug Band, play old-timey folk and roots music under a yellow light before the show begins.
The Whatcom Working Waterfront Foundation’s Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship is helping to fill a hole in the maritime industry. The four-year apprenticeship has three levels, each costing $1500 tuition. The program contains 12 subjects, including math, design and business practices.
For students without access to a car, the local bus system accesses local trails, including the North Chuckanut Mountain Trailhead. The Outdoor Center is an on-campus community that engages students in outdoor activities and shines a light on the areas surrounding Western. The Outdoor Center offers equipment rentals, day excursions and overnight excursions for as little as $5.
Washington has seen steady increases in minimum wage in recent years, fueled by rising inflation and ballot initiatives. In January 2025, Bellingham will raise starting wages from $17.28 to $17.66.
On Tuesday, the multipurpose room in Western’s Viking Union transformed into a temporary election center. The “voting hub” gave students the opportunity to cast their ballots in-person — 'I Voted' stickers and all — without ever having to leave campus.
Owners and dogs alike joined Shake and Shine, a Bellingham dog groomer and pet shop, in their 3rd annual "Hal-O-Ween" Dog Parade on Railroad Avenue and Commercial Street on Oct. 27.
Voters can anticipate seeing four statewide measures on the November 2024 ballot. The initiatives, submitted by a group called Let’s Go Washington, concern the use of natural gas, capital gains tax, the Climate Commitment Act and the state's long-term health care program, WA Cares.
Initiative 2117 could repeal Washington State’s Climate Commitment Act , one of the most progressive climate policies in American history. Conservative-founded political group Let’s Go Washington has collected millions of dollars and 400,000 signatures to get the anti-CCA initiative onto the ballots of Washington voters this season.
Catching a bus isn’t as simple as showing up and hopping on. To improve the efficiency of bus travel for students and the broader community, transportation officials and students alike are highlighting key etiquette practices that can make commutes smoother and less crowded.
On Oct. 7, the Bellingham City Council held a third and final vote to approve an ordinance dissolving the Immigration Advisory Board. It passed 7-2, with council members Michael Liliquist and Jace Cotton as the only dissenters, following the pattern of the prior two votes.
There is new street paint and rules of the road on Holly Street in downtown Bellingham, a critical one-way arterial that hosts an average of 13,225 travelers daily.
Have you endured one too many casual movie nights or too many dull dinner dates? In need of something new to do with someone special?
With ballots and voter pamphlets released to the public on Oct. 16, constituents of Whatcom County are preparing for election day 2024, the presidential election just being one of the many on the ballot. While voters prepare to receive their ballots, political organizations have long been working behind the scenes and on the front lines to ensure voters have the information they need to feel confident in their vote in this high-profile election. Yet some voters feel that the resources available aren’t enough.
Your ballot is likely already in your mail pile – so, don’t wait until November to fill it out and bring it to a drop box near you.
As Washington enters its annual rainy season, outdoor enthusiasts will be out in droves getting all kinds of waterproof gear to keep them dry. Many of these shoppers may be unaware though that their typical cloudy-day purchases can contain harmful chemicals that pose significant risks to the environment and themselves.
Solutions by The State News
