Good morning, Bellingham.

KAFE 104.1 has built strong community ties over decades through its morning shows led by Dave Walker, Patrice Valentine, and Allan Fee and afternoon host Scotty VanDryver, delivering upbeat music and local news to Whatcom County listeners.

The station is known for hosting community events (including Festive Fridays) and will boost its engagement with new programming later in 2025.

On May 25th, 18-year-old Alejandro Pallares died from a fatal head shot in a Bellingham shooting after a gun mishap— the suspect remains at Whatcom County Jail on $1 million bail with arraignment set for May 30.

Over 1,000 non-academic student workers from Western Washington University joined the picket line when their strike began at 5 a.m. on Wednesday—bus routes on campus were detoured during the protest.

The strikers are demanding fair contract terms and work protections similar to those received by academic employees.

Bellingham City Council approved two new housing ordinances on May 19 that will expand middle housing options and update the Multi-Family Tax Exemption Program.

The middle housing ordinance takes effect on June 3—while a final vote on the tax program changes is scheduled for June 9.

The Bellingham City Council approved a contract to remove two fish passage barriers near the Interurban Trail at Lake Padden Creek.

The project will begin in late June and finish in February—closing the trail between 12th and 14th Street and detouring users via 10th Street and Fairhaven Park.

Mayor Kim Lund announced on Tuesday that Joel Pfundt is the new Public Works Director and Mike Olinger is Deputy Director after serving as interim co-directors.

The appointments came following a nationwide search and add a new deputy role to help the department manage many duties — a strategic change to support teamwork.

A non-profit urged caution for swimmers near Taylor Dock and an Olive Street runoff on Bellingham Bay after stormwater tests over the past two weeks recorded E. coli levels 50 times above safe limits—water at the Olive Street outfall was discolored and smelled rancid.

The group advised against swimming with open wounds and recommended showering promptly if exposure occurs.

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.

Ann Aguirre Book Launch with Sarah Hawley

6-7 p.m. — Village Books and Paper Dreams — $6.44 - $20.44 — Celebrate the launch of Ann Aguirre's newest book with an engaging conversation and a book voucher.

Intro to the Laser Cutter

6-7 p.m. — Bellingham Makerspace — Free for members — Get insights on laser projects and learn about design tools with expert Jason Davies.

Tenderpile Smile Aisle Live Performance

8-11 p.m. — Aslan Brewing Company — Free entry — Enjoy a melodic evening of jazz music from the local group Tenderpile Smile Aisle.

Intro to Vector Graphics Workshop

6:00 – 7:30 PM — Bellingham Makerspace — $ — Learn to create stunning vector graphics using Inkscape for your creative projects.

Boulevard Park Concert Series: SpaceBand

6-8 p.m. — Boulevard Park Stage — Free — Enjoy an evening of old-school dance covers and new classics with the local favorite, SpaceBand.