Whatcom Word, the word of Whatcom
- by City of BellinghamFrom the Vault video series, more space for Bellis Fair Library, Essence of Bellingham, and more: a news roundup from the City of Bellingham
- by City of BellinghamThe new agreement establishes a shared plan for removing City-owned barriers that prevent salmon from moving through local streams.
- by City of BellinghamTrick-or-Treat at City Hall, tree work at Sehome Arboretum, budget hearings, and more: a news roundup from the City of Bellingham
- by City of BellinghamMake a Difference Day, upcoming construction, and Regional Fire Authority updates: a news roundup from the City of Bellingham
- by City of BellinghamBellingham’s first Mitigation Bank, budget hearings, new playgrounds, Halloween events, and more: a news roundup from the City of Bellingham
- by City of BellinghamIndigenous Peoples' Day, construction updates, Whatcom Housing Week, and more: a news roundup from the City of Bellingham
- by City of BellinghamTransparency and privacy remain central to the program.
- by City of BellinghamJoin us for a Middle Housing Walking Tour, Home Share Happy Hour, a conversation about changes in housing regulations, and more!
- by City of BellinghamPublic hearings, Free First Friday, Kratom ban, Bird Week, and more: a news roundup from the City of Bellingham
- by City of BellinghamPedestrian and bike improvements, City budget overview, dog photo contest, and more: a news roundup from the City of Bellingham
- There is a wind advisory for western parts of the county and a gale warning for marine waters until early evening. We currently have a gale watch tomorrow afternoon through Sunday afternoon. Otherwise rain with brief dry periods this weekend.
- Whatcom County’s online permitting system will be down for maintenance and software upgrades from 5 pm on Nov. 10 through 8 am on Nov. 16. During this time, Health and Community Services online services like food inspection results will be unavailable.
- Whatcom County Parks & Recreation will launch a new online reservation system at 9 a.m. on December 1, 2026, coinciding with the opening of reservations for the 2027 season.
- Today is: Tsunami Awareness Day. Partly sunny today with rain and wind moving in early tomorrow morning. Tomorrow we have a wind advisory for western parts of the county and a gale warning for marine waters. See earthquakes preparedness tips below.
- Historically, October is the start of flu and respiratory illness season. We’re starting this season with an unusually high rate of flu in our hospital emergency department.
- November 3, 2026 General and Special Election unofficial results are available through certification on November 24, 2026.
- Lummi Island ferry planned outage today. Increasing clouds today with rain tonight, but clearing off and mostly sunny for tomorrow. See earthquakes preparedness tips below.
- Navigating life’s challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming, and it can be hard to know if an online source is accurate or local. That’s why we’re proud to highlight Whatcom Resources.
- The Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Yakima Health District recently announced an avian influenza (H5N1) outbreak in dairy cattle across Yakima and Benton counties. These mark the first known cases of bird flu in Washington dairy herds.
- Public Utility District No. 1 of Whatcom County (PUD) is replacing a deteriorating water transmission pipeline in western Whatcom County. The project will require intermittent closures and traffic restrictions.
- Olympic Pipeline and Clean Harbors will conduct an oil spill response exercise along Mountain View Road near the former Intalco site on Friday, Nov. 6, beginning at 9 a.m.
- Whatcom County Health & Community Services (HCS) invites community members to review and comment on the DRAFT On-Site Sewage System (OSS) Operations and Maintenance Local Management Plan (LMP).
- The Election Division mailed General Election ballot packets to registered voters on Wednesday, October 14. Registered voters who have not yet received a ballot packet should contact the Election Division for a replacement.
- Voter Registration and Ballot Replacement Services for November 3, 2026 General and Special ElectionThe General Election is Tuesday, November 3. Do you need to register to vote or update your address?
- Ballot packets for the general election will be mailed to registered voters on October 14. Voters should receive their ballot by October 20.
- Starting mid-November, Superior Court will implement a new calendar of Discovery Hearings specifically designed to encourage faster resolutions of criminal cases
- Upcoming Health and community Services office closure.
- Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning biotoxin levels have dropped in shellfish in southern Whatcom County. As a result, the Washington State Department of Health has lifted the biotoxin closure for Bellingham Bay, Chuckanut Bay and all of Larrabee State Park.
- Event date: November 20, 2026 Event Time: 11:00 AM – 01:00 PMLocation: 5280 Northwest DrivePortable BuildingBellingham, WA 98226
- Event date: November 11, 2026 Event Time: 02:00 PM – 04:00 PMLocation: 5280 Northwest DrivePortable BuildingBellingham, WA 98226
- Event date: November 12, 2026 Event Time: 07:00 AM – 08:30 AMLocation: 509 Girard StreetBellingham, WA 98225Description:Open Public Meeting of the Public Health Advisory Board
- Event date: November 12, 2026 Event Time: 06:00 PM – 09:00 PMLocation: 5280 Northwest DrivePortable BuildingBellingham, WA 98226
- Event date: November 12, 2026 Event Time: 04:30 PM – 06:30 PMLocation: 2039 Moore StBellingham, WA 98229
- Event date: November 17, 2026 Event Time: 11:30 AM – 01:00 PMLocation: Whatcom County, WA 98225
- Event date: November 19, 2026 Event Time: 02:00 PM – 04:00 PMLocation: Whatcom County, WA 98225
- Event date: November 19, 2026 Event Time: 09:00 AM – 10:00 AMLocation: 311 Grand Avenue Suite B3Bellingham, WA 98225
- Event date: November 17, 2026 Event Time: 04:30 PM – 06:00 PMLocation: 110 Unity StWhatcom County, WA 98225
- Event date: November 16, 2026 Event Time: 09:30 AM – 10:00 AMLocation: Whatcom County, WA 98225
- Event dates: November 16, 2026 – November 20, 2026Event Time: 08:00 AM – 05:00 PMLocation: Whatcom County, WA 98225
- Event dates: November 9, 2026 – November 13, 2026Event Time: 08:00 AM – 05:00 PMLocation: Whatcom County, WA 98225
- Event date: November 9, 2026 Event Time: 09:00 AM – 11:59 PMLocation: Whatcom County, WA 98225
- Event date: November 12, 2026 Event Time: 03:30 PM – 05:00 PMLocation: 322 N Commercial StreetBottom FloorBellingham, WA 98225
- Event date: November 19, 2026 Event Time: 05:30 PM – 07:30 PMLocation: Whatcom County, WA 98225
- Event date: November 19, 2026 Event Time: 03:00 PM – 04:30 PMLocation: 5280 Northwest DriveBellingham, WA 98226
- Event date: November 7, 2026 Event Time: 12:00 AM – 11:59 PMLocation: Whatcom County, WA 98225
- Event date: November 18, 2026 Event Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PMLocation: Whatcom County, WA 98225
- Event date: November 10, 2026 Event Time: 12:00 AM – 11:59 PMLocation: 311 Grand Ave1st FloorBellingham, WA 98225