Monday, March 2, 2026

Bellingham, WA News, Breaking News & Local Coverage for Whatcom County

Tag: Bellingham

Bellingham Mother and Daughter Hospitalized at UW Medical Center in Rare Genetic Heart Condition Case

A Bellingham mother and daughter were hospitalized simultaneously at UW Medical Center after doctors discovered they both suffer from a rare genetic heart condition. The mother is now on the national heart-transplant waitlist while her 19-year-old daughter recently underwent a triple bypass. The family says early screening could save lives and is urging the community to learn the warning signs of Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Redevelopment Plans Advance for Former Burlington Building on Meridian Street

Developers are exploring a full redevelopment of the former Burlington Coat Factory building at 4131 Meridian Street, according to newly completed pre-application documents with the City of Bellingham. The proposal, led by Bellis Meridian LLC and Cole Valley Partners, would divide the large retail anchor space into multiple new suites suitable for soft-goods retail, a grocery tenant, or a fitness operator. The project remains in early planning stages, with no formal permit application yet filed.

Whatcom County’s Housing Crisis: A Council Perspective on Density, Costs, and Finding Middle Ground

Whatcom County’s housing debate continues to highlight rising costs, infrastructure challenges, and differing views on growth. In this installment, Council Chair Kaylee Galloway discusses the need for denser development in urban areas, the high price of expanding infrastructure, and ongoing efforts to improve permitting and expand shelter options. She emphasizes finding middle ground between increasing land supply and encouraging smart density so families of all income levels can continue living in Whatcom County.

Nearly 2,000 Bellingham Customers Lose Power on Thanksgiving Day

Nearly 2,000 Puget Sound Energy customers in Bellingham lost power this afternoon after an outage that began around 3:33 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. PSE’s outage map shows roughly 1,952 customers affected as crews continue assessing the issue. No cause has been identified, and restoration is currently estimated for 7:00 p.m. as the utility works to determine the extent of the damage.

Bellingham Resident Tied to D.C. Attack; National Guard Member Not Expected to Survive

Federal officials have confirmed that 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect in Wednesday’s shooting near the White House, had been living in Bellingham prior to the attack. One of the two National Guard members critically wounded, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, is not expected to survive, according to her family. FBI agents executed an overnight search warrant at a North State Street residence as the multi-state investigation continues.