Good morning, Bellingham.

23-year-old Jesus Penuelas-Agramon is accused of shooting a Lummi police officer and was under investigation for drug activity as undercover officers made three controlled fentanyl purchases from him between May and July—investigators arrested him after a July 28 incident at his residence and his arraignment is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 8.

The Washington State Patrol has issued a missing Indigenous person alert for 71-year-old Nathan Roy who was last seen walking away from PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham on Sunday—anyone with information is urged to call 911.

Maureen Sullivan returns to Bellingham to work as co-Maestro for the Subdued Stringband Jamboree, a music festival starting today at the Deming Log Show Fairgrounds—she coordinates stage designs and leads a team using recycled aluminum cans for decorations.

She works closely with Ani Banani as the weekend event offers live music, camping, and community fun.

Western Washington University’s student magazine The Planet was named Best Ongoing Student Magazine nationally by the Society of Professional Journalists — the student-run quarterly, which has been focused on environmental advocacy since 1979, also won regional awards for news, photography and podcasting.

Two local refineries in Anacortes were fined by the Department of Ecology after hazardous waste was stored improperly—HF Sinclair received a $1.3 million fine for an oil wastewater spill in 2023 and Tesoro was nearly fined $1.4 million for mishandling acidic wastewater at its Marathon refinery, with both companies having 30 days to pay or appeal. The department is still investigating the environmental impacts of the incidents.

Washington State Ferries released a study that shows a passenger-only ferry might connect Bellingham to Friday Harbor with a 50-minute trip that could save riders nearly two hours compared to driving to Anacortes.

Lawmakers remain skeptical as the high cost of $72 to $83 million + the need for a 250-passenger vessel raises concerns about the proposal.

The Whatcom County Search and Rescue Council and county council have spent nearly two years debating the future of the building on Smith Road and will continue to store equipment in the current facility — the NW Annex expansion will proceed separately.

Initial results from the August primary show that about 25% of ballots were returned with nearly 1,000 ballots still to be counted and updated results were released at 5 p.m. on August 6.

Elizabeth Boyle leads the County Council District 2 race with over 55% of votes, Jessica Rienstra leads the District 3 contest by more than 2,000 votes, and Port Commissioner Ken Bell holds over 60%—while both the Rural Library District and South Whatcom Fire Authority levies are on track to pass.

Larrabee Lakes Trail Race

7 AM – 5 PM — Fairhaven Park Pavilion — Join the race series in stunning Larrabee State Park with smooth trails and handcrafted awards.

PRCA Rodeo Event

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Northwest Washington Fair and Event Center — VIP packages available — Experience the thrill of rodeo with VIP treatment and entertainment.

Introduction to Laser Cutting

4-6 p.m. — Bellingham Makerspace — Free for members — Explore the world of laser cutting and get expert advice from Jason Davies.

Bellingham Off-Road Triathlon

8:30 a.m. — Lake Padden Park — Registration required — Experience thrilling swimming, mountain biking, and trail running around Lake Padden.

Intro to Vector Graphics with Inkscape

6:00–7:30 p.m. — Bellingham Makerspace — Class fees apply — Learn to create vector graphics using free software to craft art and cutting files.

Elizabeth Park Concert Series: bandZandt

6-8 p.m. — Elizabeth Park — Free entry — Dance along to East County’s favorite band at the 31st season of summer concerts.

Children's Printmaking Workshop

10-11 a.m. — Bellingham Public Library - Central Branch — Free entry — Explore the art of printmaking with all supplies provided and welcome to all ages.

Rizo and Making Movies present Fun House, with Lilo Sanchez

The Making Movies band will donate the proceeds from merchandise sales at the concert to IRIS, an organization supporting local immigrant families affected by deportations. Get your tickets at the Shakedown.

Josh Turner Concert

7:30-9:00 p.m. — Mount Baker Theatre — Cost info not provided — Experience the classic country sounds of Josh Turner as he showcases his 10th studio album with dynamic vocals and vibrant instrumentation.

Intro to the Laser Cutter

4-6 p.m. — Bellingham Makerspace — Free for members — Get your laser project questions answered by expert Jason Davies in an informal Q&A session.