BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – From everyone in the newsroom at My Bellingham Now, we want to thank you for continuing to support us as we conclude our first year as a free news publication here in Whatcom County.

As we have said for the past twelve months, the staff here believes that local news should be free. I am happy to report that there are no plans for any paywalls or subscriptions on this website anytime soon.

Looking ahead at the rest of 2025, I am excited to expand our coverage at the cornerstone events here in Whatcom County like Ski to Sea, April Brews Day and Downtown Sounds (just to name a few).

In the last year, we have covered a lot of different topics ranging from homelessness, local government, food insecurity, local sports, lifestyle pieces and live event coverage. Here is a comprehensive list of some of the newsroom’s top stories from the past year.

 

#1: FEATURE: An inside look at one of Bellingham’s largest homeless encampments

Jason Upton and Sam Kristofferson had exclusive access to the Walmart Encampment in Bellingham and interviewed residents and community members who were bringing food to those who lived in the camp. Our coverage on this property and other homeless encampments around Bellingham continued through the year.

Photo by Sam Kristofferson

#2: BREAKING: Port of Bellingham votes to end contract with ABC Recycling

ABC Recycling housed multiple piles of scrap metal at the Bellingham waterfront for months, ultimately ending with the Port of Bellingham Commissioners to vote to end their contract with the company.
Photo by Sam Kristofferson

#3: FEATURE: ‘It feels like people are ready to exhale:’ Change evident in downtown Bellingham after opening period of executive order

When Mayor Kim Lund took office in Bellingham, she made it clear what her goals were during her time in this position. Following an executive order issued by the Mayor’s office, downtown Bellingham businesses found relief through cleaned up sidewalks and reinforced police presence.

Photo by Sam Kristofferson

#4: Northern Lights shine bright above Whatcom County

Whatcom County was visited by the famed Northern Lights, which showed their true colors during the evening of May 10. MBN readers submitted photos of the lights in the sky.
Photo by Wendy Stockton

#5: Ski to Sea 2024: Birch Equipment makes it three in a row

The annual Ski to Sea race showcases multi-sport athletes from around the globe. In 2024, the Birch Equipment team came out on top for the third year in a row. Will they make it a four-peat? We will have to see this year, as My Bellingham Now plans for expanded coverage at this year’s event.

Photo by Dave Walker

#6: Downtown Bellingham restaurants asked to scale back outdoor dining spaces on Holly Street

Downtown Bellingham has changed dramatically since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many eateries building outdoor dining spaces to offer an accessible space for those to eat during those restrictive days. But as the pandemic has become more and more of the past, certain restaurants were impacted by their extended dining policies and asked to scale back these street-side dining areas.
Photo by Sam Kristofferson

#7: Judge to property owner: Clean up encampment now!

During our extended coverage of the homeless crisis in Bellingham, the MBN newsroom kept tabs on court documents related to the property owner of the land that housed the Walmart Encampment and the City of Bellingham.

#8: LIVE: Election coverage and updates on My Bellingham Now and KGMI

In coordination with KGMI, My Bellingham Now sent reporters around Whatcom County to cover the presidential and state-wide election on Nov. 5.

Photo by Dave Walker

#9: City of Bellingham to begin clearing out city’s largest homeless encampment

The City of Bellingham began what it called a years-long process to clear out the city’s largest homeless encampment, the Walmart Encampment.
A sign, created by someone in the encampment near Walmart, posts their feelings on what it is like to live in that area. This is the only sign, other than “private property” signs that dwell in these woods. Photo by Sam Kristofferson

#10: The future of Bellingham’s Graffiti Rock is now uncertain

A new fish passage project has made the future of Bellingham’s iconic rock to be unknown as community supporters rally online.

Courtesy of the Bellingham Rock Facebook

 

Thank you for reading MyBellinghamNow.com, and we look forward to another year of free local news in Whatcom County.