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.
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.
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.
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.
Whatcom County is having its first District Court judge race in almost 20 years. Candidates for these positions typically run unopposed – incumbent Angela Anderson will be taking the first open District Court position on the 2022 Midterm ballot. Yet for the second position, two legal buffs are vying for the seat.
Hazard pay will be ending on Oct. 31 for grocery workers in Bellingham. The $4 pay increase was tied to Bellingham’s COVID-19 Proclamation of Local Emergency that was originally put into place on March 10, 2020. Gov. Inslee announced on Sept. 8 that all remaining emergency orders for the state will come to an end by Oct. 31.
As the long-awaited state primaries approach, campaigning continues in the three-way race for the 42nd representative district position 1 seat.
Following the widespread demonstrations and growing number of Black Americans killed by the police, the Washington Legislature is moving forward on reforming the police statewide. A majority of police reform bills have been delivered to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk to be signed into law while others are making their way through the Legislature.
After the tragic murder of George Floyd last summer, and the following rallies, Bellingham and Whatcom County officials held a four-part listening series on race and justice. These sessions gave the community an opportunity to share their experiences with the purpose of resulting in effective change.
On the same day Western Washington University alerted students, faculty and staff to 67 positive cases among Western students, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen hosted a virtual town hall to discuss vaccine rollout.
The Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe have partnered to advocate for water rights resolution in the Nooksack River basin.
By Nolan Baker
This is a story about an ongoing event. We will be updating it as new information is made available, and will release more in-depth stories covering the issues.
On Wednesday, Jan. 6, the nation and state capitals were attacked by rioters, resulting in the second impeachment of President Donald Trump on a charge of inciting insurrection. Bellingham city and Whatcom County flags flew at half-staff to mourn those who died during the insurrection.
By Nolan Baker
By Courtney Gullett
By Courtney Gullett
Solutions by The State News
