Adam Segaar has spent the last six years as the head coach of Western Washington University’s ice hockey team, despite having no prior hockey or coaching experience. He took over the team in 2020 on a whim, following a friend's recommendation, which posed challenges because the team had lost its identity due to the pandemic.
Last summer, 10 students from Western Washington University traveled to Denmark for two weeks to study sustainable design. After returning, they began working on three sustainable projects for Bellingham’s waterfront, which were unveiled March 20, 2026.
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.
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.
As the temperature and cost of living rise, places like the Community Boating Center and the Lakewood Boathouse are offering low-cost opportunities to get on the water. They offer rentals of kayaks, boats, paddleboards and so much more. Their goals are to just get people outside and have fun.
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.
While many senior athletes struggle to find their place after hanging up their cleats, Western Washington University graduates often find themselves back on campus after their playing time is done. Of the 61 staff members working for WWU Athletics, 21 are listed as alumni on the staff directory or on their individual rosters.
Every April, the roar of the Little White Salmon River is drowned out by cheers echoing from the canyon. Cars lined the shoulder of Cook-Underwood Road, near White Salmon, Wash., on April 18, as spectators and fans bushwhacked to the river. Within the lush, forested gorge, a roster of elite whitewater kayakers prepared to charge down miles of continuous rapids and waterfalls in the annual Little White Salmon Race.
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.
It’s no coincidence that the number of people who know basic sewing skills has declined with the rise of fast fashion. Recent trends show that cheap, readily available garments have directly limited the need for the skill.
Solutions by The State News
