Top Stories: New Rose City flight; subdivision resistance; name this new park

The Bellingham Herald covered major developments across Whatcom County from May 11-17, 2026, including a fatal crash, a looming budget crunch and new growth plans. Here’s a quick digest of the week’s top stories.

Here are key takeaways:

• Bellingham International Airport will add a second daily nonstop flight to Portland starting Nov. 1, with a midday departure from BLI at 12:35 p.m. Alaska Airlines launched the route in March, marking the first direct BLI-PDX connection in nearly eight years.
• Whatcom County is preparing immediate austerity measures as officials face General Fund deficits of $8.3 million in 2027 and $14.3 million in 2028. Deputy Executive Kayla Schott-Bressler told the County Council that cuts of 7% to 10% will be needed to balance the budget.
• A 28-year-old Bellingham man was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide, DUI and car theft after a fatal morning crash at Northwest Drive and West Axton Road. A 61-year-old Lynden man was killed when the suspect, allegedly driving a stolen vehicle at high speed, ran a four-way stop around 5:45 a.m. Thursday.
• Neighbors near Lake Padden are pushing back against a proposed 29-unit subdivision on a 4.5-acre property at 40th and Wilkin streets. Residents say they support infill housing in principle but worry about density, environmental impact and effects on the surrounding semi-rural character of the Samish neighborhood.
• Bellingham is asking the public to help name a new 29-acre park planned on East Bakerview Road in the King Mountain neighborhood. The site will include trails, stream restoration and a 3.5-acre parcel reserved for future affordable housing, with name suggestions accepted through May 28.

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.