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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 22m

Meet the man behind the name Bellingham parents have been saying for days. Carl Cozier was a renowned large-animal veterinarian and served as Bellingham’s milk inspector.

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What's the Deal With: Carl Cozier of Carl Cozier Elementary School? | Cascadia Daily News

The seemingly defunct elementary school's eponym was a public servant in Bellingham for decades

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 14h

The Washington State Department of Transportation will close SR 542 from milepost 47 to 54 on Monday, Oct. 5 and Tuesday, Oct. 6 for maintenance.

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Road to Artist Point closed Monday, Tuesday | Cascadia Daily News

Crews preparing highway for winter closure from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 16h

While their subject may not "fit nicely into the challenging puzzle that is public education," Bellingham's high school theater teachers work to keep drama programs alive.

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Despite limited funding, high school drama programs fight to keep theater magic alive | Cascadia Daily News

Bellingham teachers seek out community partnerships, creative solutions

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 22h

Cascadia Daily News earned 20 awards, including seven first-place honors, from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association 2026 Better Newspaper Contest on Saturday. Contest judges especially praised CDN’s breaking news coverage of the December 2025 flooding in Whatcom and Skagit counties.

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CDN wins slate of awards at Washington newspaper conference | Cascadia Daily News

News staff racked up 20 awards, including 7 first-place finishes

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 03/10/2026

What's it like to go birding with a serious avian enthusiast? Brand-new CDN lifestyle editor Sophia Gates set out to find out ahead of Bellingham Bird Week, and discovered the hobby helps birders nurture their "reverence for life."

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'Fledgling' editor sees birding's big picture | Cascadia Daily News

Bellingham Bird Week begins Monday. CDN lifestyle editor Sophia Gates found the hobby is about connection as much as it is about birds

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 03/10/2026

A three-car collision, with one car upside down, is blocking all northbound Interstate 5 lanes and one southbound lane north of Iowa Street.

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All northbound I-5 lanes shut down north of Iowa Street | Cascadia Daily News

Three cars are involved, including one upside down

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 02/10/2026

With Tim Curry's recent death, local theater arts communities are staging a heartwarming abundance of “shadow cast” productions of 'Rocky Horror Picture Show', running all month long in Whatcom and Skagit counties. Find more shows in October's performing arts calendar.

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Performing arts calendar: October 2026 | Cascadia Daily News

Local companies, high school theater, dance and other events around Bellingham

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 02/10/2026

George Jay suffers from a deep sense of guilt for his role in recruiting young men into the military in the 1960s — it's an act he says makes him an "unindicted war criminal." Since then, he's been part of the peace movement and can now be found outside the Mount Vernon courthouse on Fridays.

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George Jay: A Skagit County peacenik | Cascadia Daily News

CDN's weekly community profile

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 02/10/2026

In the weeks before the election, CDN is offering space for guest commentaries — pro and con — on the three state initiatives and a Bellingham ballot measure. This week the focus is on Initiative 001, which regards parents’ access to their student’s personal records and review of curricula.

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 02/10/2026

Blaine-based cookie baker Chewzy Cookies is opening a brick-and-mortar location this weekend in Bellingham, and outdoor gear repair, alteration and consignment store Madrona Wear is moving to a new downtown location.

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Briefs: Chewzy Cookies to open drive-thru in Bellingham; Madrona Wear moving to new downtown spot | Cascadia Daily News

Business news for Whatcom and Skagit counties

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 02/10/2026

Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 edition of Cascadia Daily News. Read online at replica.cascadiadaily.com/cascadia-daily-news or pick up a print copy.

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 01/10/2026

While other government-funded childcare programs face tough headwinds, one state-funded program is growing. At least 180 new Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program slots were added in Whatcom and Skagit this school year.

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More early learning seats in Whatcom, Skagit, thanks to philanthropy | Cascadia Daily News

A Ballmer grant adds at least 180 new ECEAP slots added in Whatcom, Skagit this school year

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 01/10/2026

At just under 30 square miles, Lopez Island is a manageable day trip from Bellingham, especially for those comfortable traveling by bike.

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Day trip diaries: Lopez Island | Cascadia Daily News

Easy hikes, fall colors and food on 'The Friendly Isle'

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 01/10/2026

Cascadia Daily Life: For a few weeks in early fall, join the larch march and hop on a trail to see the brilliance of yellow-gold contrasting trees.

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October is prime larch viewing season | Cascadia Daily News

Here are five ways to see changing colors in the North Cascades

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 01/10/2026

If you really believe in a candidate or cause, sure, you can vote. But real civic heroes convince others to vote by doorbelling, writes CDN's Civic Minded columnist Vesla Tonnessen. Don't be intimidated, she writes. It's a great way to meet your neighbors and build a movement.

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Ding-dong; election campaigning and civic discourse calling | Cascadia Daily News

Vote, yes, but if you really want to earn your civic cred, doorbell for a campaign

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 01/10/2026

Bellingham Bay closed Sept. 30 for recreational harvesting of all species of molluscan shellfish after unsafe levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning biotoxin were recently detected.

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Bellingham Bay closed for recreational shellfish harvest | Cascadia Daily News

Unsafe levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning biotoxin were recently detected

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 01/10/2026

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the winter recreational crab season will reopen Thursday in several marine areas, including north Puget Sound.

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Crabbers, winter crabbing season reopens Oct. 1 | Cascadia Daily News

Multiple marine zones open through end of year

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 30/09/2026

The new owner of the lot that was once home to the Terminal Building has proposed a three-story building with a mix of commercial and office spaces and three apartments upstairs.

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3-story building proposed for Terminal Building lot | Cascadia Daily News

Development will include commercial, office spaces and upstairs apartments

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 30/09/2026

Put away the leaf blowers, says a CDN reader. Let the leaves fall where they may; they feed and shelter beneficial insects. Readers also comment on the mission of PeaceHealth's Bellingham hospital, the claimed capacity of Bellingham schools and the recent detention by ICE of longtime residents.

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Letters, week of Sept. 30, 2026: PeaceHealth's mission, local ICE actions and schools' capacity | Cascadia Daily News

CDN's picks: Meetings, hearings and opportunities for public input

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 30/09/2026

Passengers and onlookers at Fairhaven Station on Wednesday morning eagerly awaited the arrival of the new Airo train, which went into service today for the first time. Eventually, the entire Amtrak Cascades fleet will be replaced.

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Passengers, train buffs witness the dawn of the 'Airo era' in Fairhaven | Cascadia Daily News

New Amtrak Cascades trainsets take maiden service voyage up and down coast

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 30/09/2026

With the closure of Carl Cozier and Columbia, several other elementary schools in the district will shift operations as they adjust to an influx of new students. Here’s a rundown of how attendance boundaries, class sizes, staffing and student populations could shift with the closures.

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How school closures will reshape Bellingham's elementary schools | Cascadia Daily News

Columbia, Carl Cozier closing; families in Alderwood, Sunnyland, Wade King, Birchwood will see changes, too

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 30/09/2026

In its latest drawback from northwest Washington, Optum is shuttering its clinic in Anacortes. Just last month, the health clinic chain announced plans to sell its Bellingham clinic.

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Optum closing Anacortes clinic in December | Cascadia Daily News

The UnitedHealth Group chain is also in the process of selling it's Bellingham clinic

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 30/09/2026

Neighborhood elementary schools Columbia and Carl Cozier will likely close at the end of this school year, diverting students to three other schools spread around Bellingham. What factors led the district to this decision?

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Bellingham is closing 2 elementary schools: How did we get here? | Cascadia Daily News

Declining enrollment, 'broken' state funding model, increasing operating costs all led up to unwanted outcome

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 30/09/2026

Delaney Speer joined Western's volleyball program five years ago to follow in her mother's footsteps and join a welcoming atmosphere. In her final season, she has become one of the top players in Division II.

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WWU Spotlight: Delaney Speer | Cascadia Daily News

Senior pin hitter was an All-American honorable mention last season

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 30/09/2026

Sixteen-year-old McKenna Morgan began racing go-karts in a dirt-track barn in preschool. Now she’s on the cusp of becoming a brand rep for the world's largest race tire manufacturer.

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Bellingham teen micro sprint racer lives to hear, 'Dang, a girl just beat me!' | Cascadia Daily News

McKenna Morgan has been competing in a male-dominated sport since she was 4

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 30/09/2026

Property owners can now rent out their mother-in-law-style detached dwellings for short-term stays, after a Whatcom County judge found the City of Bellingham ban on such rental units unconstitutional. However, the decision may be appealed.

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Court rules against Bellingham's short-term rental ban on detached units | Cascadia Daily News

Ban does not target attached units like apartments over garages

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 30/09/2026

After months of uncertainty, Bellingham Superintendent Greg Baker announced today that Carl Cozier and Columbia elementary schools will close at the end of this school year due to enrollment decline and budget challenges.

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Columbia, Carl Cozier elementaries will close, pending school board vote | Cascadia Daily News

Decision comes after months of angst over future of schools, declining enrollment

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 29/09/2026

After struggling with confidence and frustration in tennis during his first two years, Bellingham's Leo Kuhn learned the importance of remaining calm and positive on the court. He later became the first boys' tennis player to win a singles state title in school history.

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Bellingham tennis player looks to build on his historic state title | Cascadia Daily News

Leo Kuhn is the only Bellingham boys tennis player to win a singles state title

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 29/09/2026

Ferndale's Svetlana Baydak and Teia Dube led the Golden Eagles to a 3-0 sweep against Oak Harbor in the first volleyball conference game of the season on Sept. 28.

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Ferndale begins conference play with a sweep over Oak Harbor | Cascadia Daily News

Svetlana Baydak and Teia Dube combined for 25 kills in the match

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 29/09/2026

U.S. border officials reportedly are questioning Canadian citizens with U.S. permanent resident status about whether they've voted in U.S. elections, using state public records to identify the alleged violations. A 61-year-old Point Roberts woman now faces an immigration hearing.

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Feds using Whatcom County voting rolls to ramp up deportation efforts | Cascadia Daily News

Permanent resident detained at US border for 6 hours, questioned about voting history

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 29/09/2026

Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund has proposed a 2027 budget that relies on the assumption that voters will approve the formation of a regional fire authority early next year to remove a significant expense from the city's budget.

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Mayor: Bellingham’s financial stability hinges on voters approving regional fire authority | Cascadia Daily News

2027 budget proposal includes significant deficit spending to maintain status quo

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 28/09/2026

State lawmakers will again have to bridge a budget gap of several hundred million dollars for the 2028 fiscal year, but if a high-earners tax survives, it should bring in $3.1 billion for the following budget and $9.4 billion for the 2029-31 budget.

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State's budget hurdles remain but 'millionaire's tax' could improve outlook | Cascadia Daily News

The latest forecast of state tax collections released Friday did nothing to brighten Washington’s budget outlook. But it does predict the state’s new income ...

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 28/09/2026

The Marine Life Center's live camera broadcasts 24 hours a day, showing the comings and goings of fish and crabs inside the Rocky Shore tank at the local aquarium.

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What's the Deal With: The Marine Life Center tank camera? | Cascadia Daily News

Spare a moment of your day for a sea star crawling by or fish zipping around.

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 28/09/2026

A prayer gathering in Everson on Sunday ended with about 20 people being baptized in the Nooksack River. After wreaking destruction on the community last December, residents said baptism in the river turns it into a "symbol of hope."

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Residents turn to prayer, baptisms in Nooksack River as flood season looms | Cascadia Daily News

As government flood mitigation efforts limp forward, grieving community ask God for safety

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 28/09/2026

The constitutional sheriff movement that Hart has embraced is founded on the widely debunked claims that sheriffs are the highest authority in their county, with powers that supersede state and federal lawmakers, as well as the courts.

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Constitutional candidates challenge the status quo in Skagit | Cascadia Daily News

Cody Hart, three other write-ins advance in Skagit County. They share an anti-establishment ethos

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 28/09/2026

Cascadia Daily Life: Andrea Wilbur-Sigo is a boundary-pusher, a door-opener, a lifelong student of old-growth cedar and the mentors who taught her how to sculpt it. Her carvings tell Coast Salish stories in communal spaces across western Washington.

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How one Native artist changed Washington's public art landscape | Cascadia Daily News

Carver Andrea Wilbur-Sigo helped return Coast Salish stories to outdoor spaces

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 28/09/2026

What explains a more than 200 percent increase in late ballots in Skagit County for the 2026 primary? A letter carrier in Mount Vernon suspects some ballots weren't processed by the post office as they have in the past, he writes in a CDN guest commentary. Here's how voters can respond.

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Increase in rejected ballots in Skagit County raises questions for post office | Cascadia Daily News

Did new policy result in increase in ballots deemed 'too late' to be counted?

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 27/09/2026

A "gnome dome." A pickup festooned with toys. Freeform sculptures that are a tribute to recycling. All on display on 9 acres of an Alger man's forested homestead. Behold the wonders of Rangerville.

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The Wonderful World of Rangerville: Alger man transforms backyard into 9-acre artwork | Cascadia Daily News

For Ranger Kidwell-Ross' friends, 'nothing he does is surprising anymore'

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Cascadia Daily News @cascadiadaily.com · 27/09/2026

A 45-year-old man was rescued by the United States Coast Guard after his kayak capsized near Parker Reef in the San Juan Islands Friday morning.

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Capsized kayaker rescued near San Juan Islands | Cascadia Daily News

The 45-year-old man used a VHF radio to call for help

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