Hope Rasa (she/her) is a city news reporter for The Front this quarter. She is a second-year Western student majoring in news/editorial journalism. She enjoys running, hiking, reading and spending time with her cat. You can reach her at hoperasa.thefront@gmail.com.
There’s a narrow idea of what “help” looks like for those experiencing behavioral health issues. Too many people have decided not to seek help because they believe hospitalization is the only option. Hospitalization is long-term care in a large, highly institutional environment like Western State Hospital or Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital.
Bellingham stores and restaurants once bustled with Canadian customers. Now, they look like ghost towns, comparatively. President Trump’s blitz of outrageous tariffs and scandalous comments toward Canada have Bellingham’s Canadian regulars staying home. Canadians are justified in giving the U.S. the cold shoulder. Americans, be warned; this isn’t temporary, and it’s going to leave a mark.
Whatcom County’s new jail and Behavioral Care Center (BCC) may include design elements intended to improve incarcerated people’s mental health. Design planning for the project is expected to begin in August 2025.
Amazon has delivered 21,680 packages to Western Washington University since September, Jeff Rogerson, mail processing manager with Western’s Mail Services, said over email. That’s 30% of all packages delivered to campus.
Whatcom, Snohomish and King County residents affected by November’s bomb cyclone can now qualify to receive financial aid. Former Gov. Jay Inslee unlocked $1 million in Washington State Disaster Individual Assistance (IA) Program funds with an emergency proclamation on Jan. 7.
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) issued an emergency closure of commercial and recreational shellfishing in Drayton Harbor on Jan. 7. The closure applied to all species of molluscan shellfish and lasted until Jan. 27.
The City of Bellingham purchased 116 acres of land from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources for a new park. The land, which comes in parcels, contains a portion of the Bellingham Bay to Baker Trail and a chunk of Squalicum Creek.
Two Bellingham playgrounds are to be replaced with safer, more accessible, enjoyable and age-inclusive models. Construction is set to begin in June 2026. The City of Bellingham is currently seeking public input to help select new equipment for Rock Hill Park playground and Bloedel Donovan Park playground. The surveys for these playgrounds close after Nov. 25.
The Port of Bellingham received a $1.5 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency in October 2024, which it will use to fulfill the goals of its 2023 Climate Action Strategy.
The Whatcom Working Waterfront Foundation’s Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship is helping to fill a hole in the maritime industry. The four-year apprenticeship has three levels, each costing $1500 tuition. The program contains 12 subjects, including math, design and business practices.
Solutions by The State News
