City & County

While I-5 lanes reopen, future landslides remain a reality

By River Martinez and Jackson Prandy-O’Dell

All lanes of northbound Interstate 5 opened after nearly a month-long closure from March 19 to April 15 due to a large-scale landslide blocking a four-mile stretch of the highway. The shutdown, between mileposts 248 and 249, comes after two other road closures in Whatcom County — one in February for Mount Baker Highway due to atmospheric rivers, and one in April 2025 for Chuckanut Drive due to landslides.

Campus

Get your daily dose of vitamin D

City & County

Guemes Island beached carcasses identified as crab bait foxes

City & County

100 demonstrators oppose Israeli soldiers’ campus visit; event moved off-site

Campus

Spring brings a fresh start to students, but for how long?

By Manna Spiro | April 24

The sun is finally emerging from its seven-month hibernation, defrosting Washingtonians' winter slump. Spring quarter can feel like a fresh start, a reset. The idea of a “spring reset” could be an opportunity for a real change, or just a seasonal illusion that's hard to maintain.

News

A student’s guide to riding Amtrak for the first time

By Nathaniel Nagel | April 23

Campus

One dorm’s trash is another dorm’s treasure

By Gray Pendell Jones | April 22

Opinion

Continue eating local in Bellingham

By Rowan Braeckel | April 22

Western

Last chance: Western’s $5 million scholarship portal closes soon

By Atlanta Moss | April 21

The portal awards over $5 million to students after each annual cycle. The scholarship portal is a centralized application process that allows students to fill out a single annual form that matches them to any scholarship they are eligible for.

BRIEF: Western Washington Percussion Festival hits all the right notes

By Isobel Diprima | April 17

On Saturday, April 18, Western Washington University’s music department will host the 2026 Western Washington Percussion Festival. The percussion festival was founded in 2011 and hosts over 200 high school percussion students from across Washington.

Western's new building and how it will affect the campus

By Gabriel Townsend | April 16

Western Washington University is putting in a new building on the south side of campus that will serve as a welcome center and student resource facility. Construction started at the beginning of spring quarter and is slated to take 18 months, with completion not expected until fall quarter of 2027.

The Preservation Station kicks off operations, begins planting for upcoming summer harvest

By Rosalie Johnson | April 10

Created by two Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies students, the Preservation Station brings together the Outback Farm and Western's Native American Student Union. The project will move to the House of Healing longhouse once it opens.

Local News

City of Bellingham adopts official condemnation of ICE and CBP actions

By Allison Lam | March 9

Bellingham City Council unanimously passed a resolution that called for an end to “lawless” immigration enforcement in a “moment of fear, grief, anger, and uncertainty” on Feb. 23, 2026.

Unemployment rates rise in Whatcom County

By Kamra Greenwall-Cox | March 4

The Whatcom County unemployment rate increased from 4.6% to 5.2% in December 2025, following a broader decline in jobs countywide.According to the Washington State Employment Security Department, employers reported 300 fewer payroll jobs in the county. Sectors such as manual labor and service providing industries have lost jobs.

Q&A: Challenges and opportunities with affordable housing

By Allison Lam | February 20

Housing affordability has been a hotly debated topic among Bellingham residents for years. According to a 2025 study by Construction Coverage, Bellingham had the fourth highest home price-to-income ratio out of 375 observed areas, making it one of the least affordable cities in the nation. One way the city planned to solve the issue is through investing in affordable housing as detailed in 2025’s Bellingham Comprehensive Plan.

Jason LaClair shares the importance of Indigenous perspectives in education

By Kamra Greenwall-Cox | February 19

Third graders at Happy Valley Elementary School remain quiet, grasping onto every word coming from Jason LaClair. They are enthralled he is here. Allied Arts, a gallery and leader in the Whatcom County art scene, has partnered with LaClair to bring his knowledge to the classroom.

Sports Recreation

WWU women's basketball falls short of GNAC Championships title

By Erica Stavnem and Caitlin Grygorcewicz | March 10

The Western Washington University women’s basketball team took on Western Oregon University in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships semifinals Friday, March 6, at WECU Court at Carver Gym in front of a home crowd of 1,127 fans.

Five new inductees enter the WWU Athletic Hall of Fame

By Caitlin Grygorcewicz | March 6

On Jan. 29, 2026, Western Washington University held a celebration of not just athletic achievements, but the relationships and history that defines Viking athletics as a whole. Coaches, former athletes, families and supporters gathered at Carver Gym in Bellingham, Wash. to honor the newest batch of Hall of Fame inductees: Wade Gebers, Cim Hanson, Marc Hill, Herm Nelson and Mike Palm.

WWU women’s basketball defeats Seattle Pacific

By Erica Stavnem | March 3

Western Washington Women’s basketball defeated Seattle Pacific University 72-43 in their second-to-last regular season game on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.

Q&A: Behind the scenes of the Chuckanut 50k

By Erica Stavnem | March 3

Every third Saturday in March, up to 600 runners from across the world gather in Bellingham to race the Chuckanut 50k ultramarathon.

Opinion

OPINION: Holier-than-thou or know-it-all? You’ll hear what the Red Square Preacher has to say, whether you like it or not

By Raleigh Nolan | March 18

Who is the Red Square Preacher? His street preaching tactics cause a divide in opinion among Western students.

OPINION: There’s no such thing as being ‘too old’ for college

By Raleigh Nolan | March 9

The first time I enrolled at Western Washington University in 2019, I was freshly out of high school, homesick, unfocused and unmedicated. I flew home for spring break at 18 years old. I wouldn’t return to Western as a student until I was 23. COVID-19 wrecked what I thought my college experience was going to look like, leaving me dejected and without motivation for years.

OPINION: Solidarity against ICE must be multifaceted, thorough, and compassion-driven

By Rosalie Johnson | March 7

The words “otro mundo es posible” are painted onto a quilted tapestry banner that hangs on Community to Community’s front window. Adorned with strawberries and roses, it is a form of artful protest that reminds those who pass by that another world is possible. The organization — dedicated to the intersection of farmworker rights, immigrant rights, climate justice and democratic participation — has been working toward community solidarity and a response to ICE’s increased presence in Whatcom and Skagit counties. In doing so, a definition of solidarity has developed.

OPINION: Tell your friends when they deserve better

By Rosalie Johnson | March 2

Much like exam anxiety or Sunday morning hangovers, messy dating is a disconcerting reality for many college students. In navigating these relationships, we learn through trial and error: what is fun and what is not, and who we should or should not be with.

While I-5 lanes reopen, future landslides remain a reality

Spring brings a fresh start to students, but for how long?

A student’s guide to riding Amtrak for the first time

One dorm’s trash is another dorm’s treasure

Continue eating local in Bellingham

Western

Last chance: Western’s $5 million scholarship portal closes soon

BRIEF: Western Washington Percussion Festival hits all the right notes

Western's new building and how it will affect the campus

The Preservation Station kicks off operations, begins planting for upcoming summer harvest

Local News

City of Bellingham adopts official condemnation of ICE and CBP actions

Unemployment rates rise in Whatcom County

Q&A: Challenges and opportunities with affordable housing

Jason LaClair shares the importance of Indigenous perspectives in education

Sports Recreation

WWU women's basketball falls short of GNAC Championships title

Five new inductees enter the WWU Athletic Hall of Fame

WWU women’s basketball defeats Seattle Pacific

Q&A: Behind the scenes of the Chuckanut 50k

Opinion

OPINION: Holier-than-thou or know-it-all? You’ll hear what the Red Square Preacher has to say, whether you like it or not

OPINION: There’s no such thing as being ‘too old’ for college

OPINION: Solidarity against ICE must be multifaceted, thorough, and compassion-driven

OPINION: Tell your friends when they deserve better

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Western Watchdog