Fifty-two years ago, from a tiny storage room in Ridgeway Commons, the KUGS radio station made its first broadcast. The station has evolved in many ways, but has stayed true to its roots, still being a completely student-run and physical media radio station.
The Outback Farm at Western Washington University, a campus resource known for sustainable agriculture and community engagement, faces funding uncertainty as the university navigates a challenging budget.
Stepping into the room felt like entering a portal to a different time. It was filled with chatter and laughter from nearly 20 students sitting in a circle facing each other. Some read books, ate food and even played instruments.
Federal funding cuts, a statewide budget crisis and lowered enrollment have all played a role in Western Washington University’s current financial position. Students breathe an air of uncertainty, having seen layoffs and shrinking budgets across campus throughout the past year.
Triumphant war cries rattled the halls of Western’s journalism department when The Planet adviser Jeff Shaw entered his office Thursday, Feb. 12, to find a plaque sitting on his desk, congratulating the magazine for being a finalist for a Pacemaker Award.
For the opportunity to be crowned “Best in Bellingham,” six bands are competing at AMP’s Battle of the Bands. Each group will go head-to-head against another at the Viking Union Underground Coffeehouse.
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.
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.
On Sunday, in between spurts of heavy rainfall and patchy blue skies, dozens of people squeezed into the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center in Bellingham with two things on their minds: whistles and resistance.
As the sun began to set on Western Washington University on Monday, Jan. 26, countless voices chanted “presente” in response to the reading of 38 names, one for each person whose death was caused by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other federal immigration officers since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Small sneakers squeak across the gym floor at the Bloedel Donovan Community Center as their owners take turns swinging plastic bats and chasing after each ball. Some run straight to their parents while others share their bat with the person next to them, but all of them cheer for each other.
Every Monday evening, basketballs bounce, wheels skid and players holler across Court A inside Wade King Student Recreation Center. Many things change from week to week; players fluctuate, different drills are run. But one thing about the WWU Adaptive Sports Club stays the same: an undeniable sense of community.
When the clock expired on the Seattle Seahawks’ 27-31 NFC Championship victory over the Los Angeles Rams on the evening of Jan. 25, 2026, it wasn’t just to the delight of the uproarious home crowd affectionately known as the “12s.”
This past weekend on Friday, Jan. 23 and Saturday, Jan. 24, the Western Washington University men's hockey team took on the Montana Tech Diggers, winning both games and sweeping Montana Tech at the Sportsplex Arena in Bellingham, Wash.
Between Flora St and W Champion, nestled behind the backs of O-Pole dance studio and the Mount Baker Theatre, lies the Great Bellingham Boulder. Standing almost two stories tall, it looks disarmingly natural and serene amongst paved asphalt and urban alley.
Shibari, a style of Japanese rope bondage, is an art form that uses rope to create intricate patterns on the human body. As a subculture of the BDSM community, it is often viewed as taboo or scandalous.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day by admiring other people's feelings instead of dealing with your own! Check out WinkWink Boutique’s newest gallery during the month of February.
Fostering community, building connections and refusing to hide queer joy is what will help us prevail through the current administration. Programs like Generations of Pride and Camp Ten Trees provide invaluable opportunities to celebrate queer friendships.
Solutions by The State News
