On May 30, the second annual Arboretum Day at Western Washington University aims to educate volunteers about Sehome Hill Arboretum’s existence and function through a variety of activities.
In March, project engineers with the city of Bellingham completed a 60% design mockup of a new roundabout connecting Squalicum Way, Birchwood Avenue and Meridian Street near Cornwall Park. Multiple traffic projects have been completed in Whatcom County over the past few years, including a roundabout at James Street and Bakerview Road, a roundabout on West Illinois and Meridian Street, and a bike and pedestrian lane reroute project on Holly Street downtown.
Amazon Hub lockers have arrived on north and south campus near residence halls at Western Washington University, bypassing residence hall mail rooms for Amazon package delivery. Western’s Residence Life Programming Board and university mail services hope these lockers provide convenient package pickup for students living on campus.
Western’s annual Alumni Awards happened on Friday, May 15, to present the five award winners, allowing students and attendees to hear them speak in person and over video about their experiences as Western students, and the work they've been doing after graduating.
Western Washington University students and staff can now use their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits at Miller Market to purchase groceries and grab-and-go snacks. This change, which became effective on April 20, 2026, is a step toward improving food security on campus.
On May 6, 2026, students from across Western Washington University’s College of Fine and Performing Arts came together to work toward stepping outside of their comfort zones to learn music and dance in different ways.
Whatcom County Councilmember Jon Scanlon spent almost 12 hours listening and engaging with constituents in Whatcom County on May 13, 2026. The county council is the main legislative body for Whatcom and is made up of seven members, including two at-large positions. Jon Scanlon has been an at-large representative for Whatcom County since January 2024. The Front followed Scanlon for a day on May 13.
April is Fair Housing Month in the United States, commemorating the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, signed on April 11 of that year. The law prohibits housing discrimination based on race, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disability. To commemorate the month, the City of Bellingham hosted an information session on April 28 to educate residents about city and state rental laws.
Slated upgrades for the incinerators at the Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant have left local environmentalists frustrated, with a $40 million price tag pushing community members to look at alternatives.
Contaminated oysters and clams sold at three Bellingham locations (the downtown Community Food Co-op, Keenan’s at the Pier and Rock & Rye Oyster House) between March 22 and April 9 were recalled by the FDA and the Washington State Department of Health on April 10. Five confirmed cases of norovirus-like illness linked directly to the shellfish were reported in Whatcom County.
The spring season has officially come to an end for the Western Washington University women’s soccer team. Their last game against the Peninsula College Pirates on Sunday, May 17, 2026, resulted in a tied 0-0 score.
Tucked in a corner on the first floor of Western Washington University’s Ross Engineering Technology Building sits WWU Racing’s V67, a car the team has spent the last two years building to get ready for this June’s Formula Society of Automotive Engineers competition.
For some multilingual and immigrant households, getting outside can be filled with barriers that are not made accessible for Spanish-speaking families.
Music bumps, kicks fly and hands whirl as Western Washington University students dance their way through a Zumba class at the Wade King Recreation Center. Fitness classes at Western’s rec center provide a space for participants to move their bodies while surrounding themselves with peers who share a goal of staying active. A variety of classes are offered to fit many styles of movement and exercise goals including Zumba, Pilates, yoga, kickboxing, spin and weightlifting.
Thrifting has been around for over 150 years, at least the modern idea of it. The Salvation Army launched its ‘Salvation Brigade’ in 1897 to gather used items and sell them to those in need. Since then, secondhand buying has grown immensely, becoming extremely popular and almost trendy in the age of social media. However, thrifting, which was originally advertised as a sustainable and affordable way to get necessities, has now become a new form of consumerism.
Women have always been underrepresented in film. Since 1929, only five women directors have been nominated for the Academy Award for best director, according to a study done in 2020. While representation has increased since then, the number of women directors is shockingly inferior to that of male directors, continuing the cycle of women being under-recognized.
When wandering the tightly woven one-way streets of Bellingham, you’re never more than a stone's throw from a music venue, with venue being a loose term for anywhere people have figured out a way to plug in an extension cord long enough to run an amp through. The gatherings of music often start in the funky houses of the York Neighborhood and Garden Street, with rattling windows and crowded porches overflowing with thick smoke and baggy jeans. The house show is the perfect stomping ground for fresh bands hoping to entertain burnt-out college kids, but the short-term reality of rental leases and college degrees creates inconsistency for concertgoers and musicians alike.
It has been three years since the last biennial faculty and staff exhibition, so this year's display was much anticipated by students and staff. With 20 artists from the art department, the Western Gallery is showcasing their pieces ranging from interactive sensory pieces to weaving to rings of photographs. This event works to showcase the reality of working within the art world, often seen as intimidating by students.
Solutions by The State News
