Weekly top articles: Whatcom County developments

The top articles from the week highlight significant developments in Whatcom County, focusing on public health, local business changes, community safety, and governmental decisions. A common theme in these articles is how various events impact the community.

An E. coli outbreak linked to a Whatcom County dairy has prompted a recall of Twin Sisters Creamery products. Three people in Washington and Oregon have fallen ill, and health officials are actively investigating to prevent further cases. Dirty Dan Harris Steakhouse plans to reopen following a closure caused by a fire, and local business, Oasis Bead Lounge, is up for sale. Ragfinery also prepares for a new location following a fire. Bellingham police seek the public's help in solving a fatal shooting that left one person dead and another injured. Efforts to identify suspects are ongoing, with detectives looking into motives. Budget cuts lead to reduced hours and staff at Bellingham Public Library. The library aims to save costs without significantly affecting its core programming for children and families.

The Bellingham Public Library on Monday, June 7, 2021, in Bellingham, Wash. By Warren Sterling

NO. 1: BELLINGHAM LIBRARY REDUCING ITS HOURS, CUTTING STAFF AMID CITYWIDE BUDGET CUTS

Bellingham Public Library will close on Sundays starting next year and will purchase fewer new books and other materials, part of cost-saving efforts as the city tries to close a $10 million deficit going into 2026. | Published October 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Robert Mittendorf

Bellingham Police car with flashing lights By Robert Mittendorf

NO. 2: BELLINGHAM POLICE INVESTIGATING FATAL LATE-NIGHT SHOOTING, SEEKING PUBLIC’S HELP

Bellingham police are asking for help from the community in locating a suspect involved in a fatal shooting Saturday night. | Published October 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jack Belcher

Downtown Bellingham, Wash. on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. By Alyse Smith

NO. 3: WHATCOM ROUNDUP: DIRTY DAN REOPENING ON THE HORIZON; BELLINGHAM SHOP FOR SALE

Here’s our weekly roundup of the latest retail and restaurant activity around Whatcom County: | Published October 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alyse Smith

Tyler Patton Higdon, wearing a red jumpsuit, read a statement at his sentencing Oct. 22, 2025 in Whatcom County Superior Court for a drunk driving crash that left an 11-year-old girl dead. By Hannah Edelman

NO. 4: SEDRO-WOOLLEY MAN SENTENCED IN FATAL 2024 HALLOWEEN CRASH NEAR EVERSON

A Sedro-Woolley man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for charges related to a 2024 Halloween night crash that killed a Sumas girl and injured three members of her family in rural Whatcom County. | Published October 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Edelman

Health Officials warned of an E. coli outbreak linked to products from Twin Sisters Creamery in Ferndale, Wash., on Oct. 24, 2025. By Whatcom County Department of Health and Community Services

NO. 5: THREE PEOPLE SICKENED IN E. COLI OUTBREAK LINKED TO WHATCOM COUNTY DAIRY

Diary products from a Whatcom County creamery are being recalled because of an E. | Published October 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Robert Mittendorf

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.