Top Stories: Janicki expansion; vaccine mandate ruling; summer concert lineup

From a major manufacturing expansion to a federal court ruling and the return of free summer concerts, Wednesday brought a busy news day in Whatcom County. Here’s a quick look at the top stories from The Bellingham Herald on June 3, 2026.

Here are key takeaways:

• Janicki Industries announced plans to build an $800 million manufacturing facility in Great Falls, Montana, adding 2 million square feet of production space over 10 years. Company leaders expect the campus to create 1,000 new jobs in its first five years, with total employment topping 2,000 once completed.
• A federal appeals court affirmed that Bellingham’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate was constitutional, upholding the firing of 18 city employees who refused to comply. The Ninth Circuit’s May 26 ruling upheld a district court dismissal from January 2025 of the lawsuit filed by EMTs, police officers and firefighters.
• Free summer concerts are returning to Bellingham at Boulevard Park, Elizabeth Park and the Maritime Heritage Park Amphitheatre. Downtown Sounds also returns for its 22nd year with weekly Wednesday evening concerts from July 8 to Aug. 5.
• Median home sale prices in Bellingham and Whatcom County dropped sharply in April, with Bellingham’s median falling 8.9% from March to $638,000 and Whatcom County’s median sliding 5.5% to $589,000. Washington remains the fifth most expensive state to buy a home in 2025.

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.