The Bellingham Herald week in review

BIKE Bellingham launches free guided cycling routes

A Bellingham woman has launched a new program offering themed, self-guided bike routes throughout the city just in time for National Bike Month. Sarah Burch created BIKE Bellingham on April 28, debuting three routes — Quirky Quirks, Treemendus Trees, and Gretchen’s Murals — featuring 47 points of interest and highlighting 23 local businesses, organizations, and individuals. Burch already has ideas for 30 additional themed routes and is open to community input. Routes range from 5 to 25 miles and are designed for casual riders, with the app Ride with GPS providing free navigation. Burch, a former nomadic cyclist who led bike tours across North America, settled in Bellingham about two years ago and self-funds the program so riders can explore the city for free.

Reported by Jack Belcher, published May 15

Bellingham council votes to lower default speed limits

Bellingham’s City Council unanimously passed an ordinance May 18 that will set the default speed limit to 20 mph on all streets unless otherwise posted, the result of a three-year traffic safety study. The Transpo Group assisted with the study, which drew on federal guidance and data showing that while total crashes have declined over the past decade, their severity has increased. Walk and Roll Bellingham board member Jamin Agosti noted that survival chances double when speeds drop from 30 to 20 mph. Downtown will be the first area to see new 20 mph signs this summer, with changes phased across the city’s 500-plus lane miles over three years. Officials also recommended applying for a grant to revive Bellingham’s traffic enforcement unit, which was suspended in 2022 due to a police officer shortage.

Reported by Robert Mittendorf, published May 18, updated May 19

Bellingham woman charged with attempted murder of kids

A Bellingham woman has been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder after allegedly attacking two young children. Brenda Doreen Wilder-Brown, 43, was arrested Saturday after a 9-year-old called police from a neighbor’s house to report their 4-year-old sibling had been stabbed. The 4-year-old was found with 15 knife wounds and evidence of strangulation, according to court records. Court documents indicate that five days before the incident, Wilder-Brown used psilocybin mushrooms on Orcas Island, and officers believe she used them again prior to the alleged attack. She reportedly experienced a “black-out” period and later attempted to jump from a second-story window. Police found suspected psilocybin mushrooms and a bloody knife at the scene. Wilder-Brown was in custody without bail.

Reported by Hannah Edelman, published May 19

El Niño odds rise, signaling warmer winter for Bellingham

The likelihood of an El Niño weather pattern forming this year has risen sharply, with scientists at the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center now placing the odds at 82% by July, up from 61% last month. For Bellingham and Western Washington, El Niño typically means a warmer, drier fall and winter as powerful storms are redirected south toward California. This raises concerns given ongoing drought conditions and forecasts of an active wildfire season. April rainfall in Bellingham was just over half of normal, and May has been unusually dry. Despite media buzz around a potential “super” El Niño, Washington State Climate Office Assistant State Climatologist Karin Bumbaco cautioned that El Niño reflects seasonal averages, not individual weather events, and that peak strength remains uncertain.

Reported by Robert Mittendorf, published May 14

Two charged in Point Roberts immigrant smuggling case

Two Canadian residents have appeared in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, accused of attempting to smuggle Vietnamese citizens into the United States through Point Roberts, Washington. Authorities say Van Phuong Vu, 28, of Vancouver, and Johnny Huynh, 36, of Burnaby, Canada, allegedly flew eight people from Point Roberts to Bellingham International Airport after illegally crossing from British Columbia. U.S. Border Patrol intercepted both groups near the airport on May 5. Some Vietnamese nationals told law enforcement they had agreed to pay between $13,000 and $15,000 to be smuggled into the country, with final destinations including New York and Tennessee. Both are charged with conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants for private financial gain, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Reported by Scot Heisel, published May 15

Celebrities with surprising ties to the Bellingham area

Several well-known actors, writers, and media personalities have connections to the Bellingham area and Whatcom County. Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank moved to Bellingham at age 6 and discovered acting there, later winning the Best Junior Actress Award from the Bellingham Theatre Guild. Actor Billy Burke, known for “Twilight” and “Fire Country,” was born and raised in Bellingham. Comedian Ryan Stiles, of “The Drew Carey Show,” lives near Lake Samish and founded Bellingham’s Upfront Theatre in 2004. Actor Misha Collins, famous for “Supernatural,” relocated to Bellingham in 2014. Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard helped form the band in Bellingham in 1997, while Glenn Beck and Brett Cooper also have local roots. Dan Erickson, creator of Emmy-winning “Severance,” developed the concept during his time at Western Washington University.

Reported by Julia Hawkins, published May 16

This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 3:28 PM with the headline "The Bellingham Herald week in review."