Good morning, Bellingham.

A 38-year-old Renton man survived a climbing accident in the North Cascades on Sunday when his group's anchor failed during a rappel down a steep gully, causing a 400-foot fall that killed three friends and left him with head trauma and internal bleeding—he told investigators from his hospital bed on Wednesday that he had been unconscious for hours and drove himself to call for help.

A new labor report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that Bellingham’s mean hourly rate was just over $33—slightly above the national average; the report also indicated the area had a higher concentration of petroleum pump system and refinery operators than other parts of the country—highlighting a unique job mix.

Amy Cloud (Public Information Officer with the Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management) said the Prepare in a Year plan urges residents to capture key documents like IDs, insurance, medical, financial and legal papers by taking photos or keeping paper copies this month.

Residents are advised to also record images of their home interiors for insurance purposes to help speed recovery after a disaster.

Over 1,000 nurses joined a picket on Thursday at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center even though they are not striking after voting to reject a contract offer in March— they joined other healthcare and service worker unions on a week-long strike.

The unions will return to bargaining tomorrow morning and end the strike with a 5 pm rally, citing low wages, rising health insurance costs, and a lack of respect.

The Seahawks revealed their season schedule with a 90s style action figure commercial and warned season-ticket holders that excessive ticket resale may affect renewal while LAFC beat the Sounders 4 to 0 as WWU Vikings softball lost 9 to 1 in the opening of a best-of-three series.

Local high school sports feature Bellingham’s Bayhawks facing fourth-ranked Anacortes in the 2A district baseball championship at 6:00 and a boys soccer match starting at 7:00 at Civic Stadium—both contests carrying crucial playoff stakes.

Pawject Runway: Compassion is the Fashion

5-9 p.m. — Best Western Plus Lakeway Inn — Online auction from May 12-16 — Celebrate compassion for animals through fashion at this unique fundraiser.

Meet-A-Truck 2025

1-3 p.m. — Bellingham City Hall — Free entry — Explore big trucks and equipment while enjoying crafts and a scavenger hunt.

Intro to Vector Graphics Workshop

6:00 – 7:30 PM — Bellingham Makerspace — Class fees apply — Learn to create stunning vector graphics using Inkscape with expert guidance.

Corvettes Unlimited Car Show

10 AM – 3 PM — Bellewood Farms & Distillery — $20 entry for participants — Celebrate the 30th Annual showcase of corvettes and open classes.

Intro to Laser Cutter Workshop

6-7 p.m. — Bellingham Makerspace — Class fees applicable — Learn to safely operate the laser cutter and create your own acrylic keychain.

Bellingham Scottish Gathering

8 a.m. – 6 p.m. — Blaine Marine Park-kids play area — Free entry — Celebrate Scotland's vibrant culture in the heart of Blaine.

Comedy Night with Scott Losse

9:30-11:30 p.m. — Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro — Tickets required — Enjoy a night of laughs with national headliner Scott Losse in Bellingham.