Catch up with Tuesday’s top stories. Here’s what to know

A road closure, a violent assault, a fatal crash and a wildlife milestone topped the news in and around Bellingham on Tuesday. Here’s a quick look at the stories that matter to Whatcom County residents.

Here are key takeaways:

• Road closure: Old Samish Road will close at 5 a.m. Monday, April 27, through December as WSDOT’s $160 million salmon habitat project under I-5 enters a new phase, prompting fire agencies to reroute emergency response plans for the affected area.

• Assault arrest: A 21-year-old Ferndale man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of second-degree assault after Bellingham police say he punched and stomped on another man’s head in the 1300 block of Railroad Ave., leaving the victim unconscious.

• Fatal crash: A 43-year-old Ferndale man died Tuesday after his car struck a wall and caught fire on the 236th Street Southwest exit ramp in Mountlake Terrace, according to Washington State Patrol.

• Wolf comeback: Washington’s gray wolf population climbed 17.4% to a minimum of 270 wolves in 2025 — the highest level yet — though the Southern Cascades and Northwest Coast recovery zone has still not met its population targets.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.