Rachel Showalter

Bellingham

Reporter at The Bellingham Herald

Reporter @bhamherald covering everything under the… clouds? Bad jokes not guaranteed. Formerly @kcbxnews

Articles

Oculis Lodge property headed to auction; foreclosure documents filed

5 days ago | bellinghamherald.com | Rachel Showalter

A rendering shows the exterior of a private dome planned for Oculis Lodge vacation rentals. The project was originally expected to break ground in January 2023 in Glacier, Wash. Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald Oculis Lodge, once crowdfunded for $1.2M, faces auction after project collapse. Only one dome built; property now listed with $75K starting bid and foreclosure filed. Backers threaten legal action with no clarity over the guarantee of refunds.
Port celebrates sustainable energy system

5 days ago | bellinghamherald.com | Rachel Showalter

Local leaders and community members gathered Thursday to celebrate a new sustainable District Energy system on Bellingham's downtown waterfront. Located on the corner of Cornwall Avenue and West Laurel Street, the Bellingham District Energy Utility (BDEU) Energy Center taps into Bellingham's existing Puget Sound Energy Encogen Plant, harnessing its waste heat and recycling it to provide low-carbon heating and cooling to the Waterfront District.
250 million bees escape transport vehicle in Washington after rollover

1 week ago | thenewstribune.com | Rachel Showalter

Approximately 250 million pollinating bees are loose in Whatcom County after a commercial truck carrying them rolled over Friday morning. Hundreds of millions of pollinating bees escaped a commercial transport vehicle after it rolled over on May 30 in Lynden. Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald People are being asked to avoid Weidkamp Road near Lynden, where the commercial vehicle overturned May 30.
250 million bees escape transport vehicle in Washington after rollover

1 week ago | tri-cityherald.com | Rachel Showalter

250 million pollinating bees escaped a commercial transport vehicle after it rolled over on May 30, 2025, in Lynden, Wash. Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald Approximately 250 million pollinating bees were loose in Whatcom County after a commercial truck carrying them rolled over Friday morning. Hundreds of millions of pollinating bees escaped a commercial transport vehicle after it rolled over on May 30 in Lynden.
250 million bees escape transport vehicle after Whatcom County rollover

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Rachel Showalter

Approximately 250 million pollinating bees were loose in Whatcom County after a commercial truck carrying them rolled over early Friday morning. Hundreds of millions of pollinating bees escaped a commercial transport vehicle after it rolled over on May 30 in Lynden. The truck was hauling an estimated 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives, which contained live bees. It overturned at about 4 a.m. May 30 on Weidkamp Road near Lynden.
250 million bees escape transport vehicle in Washington after rollover - The Daily Chronicle

1 week ago | chronline.com | Rachel Showalter

Approximately 250 million pollinating bees are loose in Whatcom County after a commercial truck carrying them rolled over Friday morning. People are being asked to avoid Weidkamp Road near Lynden, where the commercial vehicle overturned May 30. Weidkamp Road is closed from West Badger to Loomis Trail Road until further notice. “AVOID THE AREA due to the potential of bee escape and swarming,” a social media post from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office states.
Campus services disrupted as 1,200 WWU student employees walk off the job

1 week ago | bellinghamherald.com | Rachel Showalter

1,200 student employees at WWU went on strike seeking union recognition and a contract. University declined recognition, citing lack of legal requirement from state legislature. The strike disrupted select campus services. City officials pledged bargaining support. Approximately 1,200 Operational Student Employees (OSEs) at Western Washington University walked off the job Wednesday morning to strike for union recognition and a contract agreement.
Whatcom County teachers receive educational excellence award, $5k prize

1 week ago | bellinghamherald.com | Rachel Showalter

Squalicum High School teacher Riley Liddle (left) and Lynden Christian High School teacher David Tjoelker were honored with Educator of the Year awards and $5,000 prizes from the Brown & Brown Excellence in Education Award Program. Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald Two Whatcom County teachers were recognized this month for their commitment to education and their students.
Whatcom County teachers receive educational excellence award, $5k prize

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Rachel Showalter

Two Whatcom County teachers were recognized this month for their commitment to education and their students. The Brown & Brown Excellence in Education Award Program honored Squalicum High School teacher Riley Liddle and Lynden Christian High School teacher Dave Tjoelker with Educator of the Year awards and $5,000 prizes. The goal of the award program is to “recognize the critical role educators play in our state’s public & private schools,” according to Brown & Brown’s website.
PeaceHealth nurses vote to ratify contract after four months of bargaining

2 weeks ago | bellinghamherald.com | Rachel Showalter

PeaceHealth nurses ratified a new contract after four months of negotiations. The agreement includes wage hikes, benefit expansions and job protections. Union pledged ongoing organizing as contract enforcement begins in June 2025. PeaceHealth nurses voted to approve their contract with the Bellingham hospital Friday after about four months of bargaining, stalled negotiations and collective concern over wages and health care benefits.