What’s happening in Whatcom County for Oct. 5

Flags have been lowered at all state agencies in honor of those killed in the Roseburg, Ore., shootings last week. They will remain at half staff until sunset or close of business Tuesday, Oct. 6, according to an order from Gov. Jay Inslee.

Roadwork this week

Mosquito Lake Road at the bridge over the Nooksack River will be down to one lane with alternating traffic all week as the county performs bridge inspections. Traffic will alternate on Front Street near Sumas Road in Sumas from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. through Wednesday, Oct. 7, as Puget Sound Energy works in the area, accoding to the state Department of Transportation. Bellingham continues to work on a series of projects that might affect your commute. Whatcom County also has a current project list.

Good grief!

If you’re one of those (annoyingly organized) people who mails Christmas cards by Thanksgiving, the U.S. Postal Service already has you covered.

Hope for sea stars

Ben Miner, an associate professor of biology at Western Washington University, has been researching potential causes for a disease that has significantly decreased sea star populations in the Salish Sea. There is reason to believe sea star populations will have a resurgence, as he stated in this National Geographic story.

Animal diseases

The CDC has launched its redesigned Healthy Pets Healthy People website, which includes more information about diseases people can catch from pets, farm animals and wildlife. Why does that matter? Because 75 percent of recent infectious diseases that affect people began as diseases in animals, the CDC says, including bird flu and salmonella.

Tweet of the Day

Someone went to Bellewood Acres north of Bellingham this weekend:

What’s happening in Whatcom is a weekday feature of BellinghamHerald.com. Send tips to newsroom@bellinghamherald.com

This story was originally published October 5, 2015 at 11:02 AM with the headline "What’s happening in Whatcom County for Oct. 5."