Latest news with #Bellingham
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
What to do with Bellingham's iconic graffiti rock? Two new options emerge
Two landowners have come forward with proposals for relocating the iconic graffiti rock, a community billboard along northbound Interstate 5 south of Bellingham that has displayed hand-painted personal messages for more than 50 years. The owners of two private but publicly accessible sites are looking at the steps they need to take to move the Bellingham Rock, which is in the way of a Washington State Department of Transportation road project. WSDOT sets deadline to move Bellingham's graffiti rock; demolition an option One possible site is near I-5 and Slater Road south of Ferndale. The other is on Bill McDonald Parkway, between Western Washington University and Sehome High in Bellingham. Those two proposals emerged in recent weeks, as a WSDOT deadline looms. Frank Youngblood, who owns the Timberline Apartments at 3000 Bill MacDonald Parkway, is working with city of Bellingham and WSDOT officials to satisfy the conditions set for moving the rock, including an easement for public access, logistics of the move, and environmental considerations because the rock is covered in paint. 'It's a big open area that becomes obvious for a location. Everyone I've talked to hopes we can make this happen,' Youngblood told The Herald in a phone call. Keith Cook, who manages the Bellingham Rock page on Facebook with 5,500 followers, told The Herald he hopes that one of the proposals is accepted. 'There's a whole process that you have to go through, and it's not easy,' he said in a phone call. WSDOT's R.B. McKeon told The Herald in a phone call that the process to save the rock us nearing a deadline. 'We need to know by early June if there is someone pursuing the process,' McKeon said. If no one is able take the rock, it could be preserved in smaller pieces, perhaps by a museum, she said. Because of its age and importance to the community, the Bellingham Rock is being registered as historic property through the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Cook said. The rock is also eligible for listing on the the National Register of Historic Places, according to the WSDOT website. 'We've signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Federal Highway Administration and the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, laying out the process we must follow,' WSDOT said.
Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Inside Jobe Bellingham transfer battle as Ibiza talks held with Sunderland star
Jobe Bellingham is attracting strong interest from Germany but the exciting young midfielder could yet stay in the Premier League after helping Sunderland win promotion via the Championship play-offs Earlier this week, Eintracht Frankfurt rolled out the red carpet for Jobe Bellingham. Upon touchdown in Germany on Monday afternoon, the 19-year-old Sunderland midfielder and his parents, Mark and Denise, were collected from the airport by an Eintracht delegate and shown around the club's facilities. Following a commendable third-place finish in the Bundesliga, the 2022 Europa League winners have secured Champions League qualification and they've been angling to make Bellingham one of the faces of their ambitious project. Insiders have made no secret of the fact Eintracht were "going all out" to land the Championship play-off winner but problematically, they've also been faced with strong competition from domestic rivals Borussia Dortmund. BVB boast a unique advantage, of course, because Jobe's older brother and role model Jude became a global phenomenon during a highly-successful three-year spell at Signal Iduna Park before moving to Real Madrid in an £88.5million deal in the summer of 2023. But crucially, the gist of Dortmund's pitch to the Bellingham family has not been entirely centred around the England international maestro - because they believe Jobe is a mercurial talent capable of forging his own legacy at the club. So much so, the German giants are willing to blow the crux of their limited summer transfer budget, which could yet be bolstered by Club World Cup prize money, on the highly-coveted teenager. In early May, Dortmund chiefs Lars Ricken and Sebastian Kehl and head coach Niko Kovac were pictured arriving in the North East for private discussions with the player. Departing CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has since flown to England for fresh talks with the England U21 international. There has also been interest from RB Leipzig but their failure to qualify for European competition has hampered transfer plans as they must sell before they can buy. Following the conclusion of his flying visit to Frankfurt, Bellingham jetted off to Ibiza to reflect on the proposals and enjoy some downtime with close friends and Jude. He might have been on holiday but that didn't stop Dortmund director Kehl from swooping to the Balearic Islands to hold yet another meeting with Bellingham. After finally sealing their long-awaited return to the Premier League following an eight-year absence, Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is determined to keep hold of Regis Le Bris' most-prized assets. But the reality is, The Black Cats remain a selling club and if Bellingham opts to further his career overseas, Sunderland will have no option but to consider offers. Birmingham City also have a 15 per cent sell-on clause which will undoubtedly be factored into any impending negotiations. Bellingham was loosely courted by Crystal Palace last summer but there were no formal bids and while he has been scouted by a number of top Premier League clubs including Tottenham, Champions League football is on offer in the Bundesliga. In Germany, English football has long been viewed as a hotbed for young talent where untapped potential is rife. Jadon Sancho and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens are also among the growing list of stars to have propelled their game to new heights in the Bundesliga in recent seasons and Bellingham is now viewed as the next English world-beater capable of conquering Deutschland.
Washington Post
a day ago
- General
- Washington Post
Millions of honeybees abuzz after truck overturns in Washington state
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — There was a buzz in the air Friday in northwestern Washington state as about 250 million honeybees escaped a commercial truck that overturned. The truck hauling an estimated 70,000 pounds (31,751 kilograms) of honeybee hives rolled over around 4 a.m. close to the Canadian border near Lynden, the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office said in social media posts. Deputies, county public works employees and several bee experts responded to the scene. The box hives later came off the truck, and local beekeepers swarmed to help recover, restore and reset the hives, according to the sheriff's office. The plan is to allow the bees to return to their hives and find their queen bee in the next day or two, according to the sheriff's office. The goal is to save as many of the bees as possible. 'Thank you to the wonderful community of beekeepers: over two dozen showed up to help ensure the rescue of millions of pollinating honey bees would be as successful as possible,' the sheriff's office post said. The public was advised to avoid the area on Friday, and sheriff's deputies dove into in their squad cars at times to avoid being stung. Officials didn't say whether the truck driver was hurt or why the truck rolled. Honeybees are crucial to the food supply, pollinating over 100 crops including nuts, vegetables, berries, citrus and melons. Bees and other pollinators have been declining for years , and experts blame insecticides, parasites, disease, climate change and lack of a diverse food supply. In 2018, the U.N. General Assembly sponsored the first 'World Bee Day' on May 20 to bring attention to the bees' plight . Beekeepers often transport millions of bees from one location to another because leaving them in one location for too long can deplete resources for other pollinators, The Seattle Times reported . Alan Woods, president of the Washington State Beekeepers Association, told the newspaper the state should have a standardized 'emergency bee response' for bee vehicle crashes. In 2015, 14 million bees escaped a truck north of Seattle on Interstate 5 and started stinging people, the newspaper reported at the time.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Alexander-Arnold x Bellingham: The bromance set for Real Madrid
A version of this article was originally published in November 2024. We've all seen the smiles and mutual affection when Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold are together. The running joke within the England camp is that the pair are inseparable. They often sit next to each other at meal time or on the coach to games and if one is seen without the other, playful questions are asked about the absence of the missing half. Advertisement When Liverpool faced Real Madrid in the Champions League at Anfield in November, the individual battle between Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham was one of the most fascinating pre-match sub-plots, although Alexander-Arnold eventually did not come off the bench as he returned from injury. There was the expected on-field tussle between two of England's brightest talents, of course, but also their shared ambition to become the best in the world and, perhaps most pointedly, the backdrop of Alexander-Arnold's uncertain future at the time. The 26-year-old was out of contract this summer and is now set to complete his move to Madrid, who have agreed to pay Liverpool €10million (£8.4m; $11.4m) to sign him early, linking him up with his best friend in football. Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham may be close, but that does not mean they are the same characters. At Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold tended not to fit into one particular clique. As a part of the club's leadership group, he tended to straddle social groups, being close to Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk, in particular. Before his departure in 2023, Jordan Henderson was another good friend. Bellingham, who has just completed his second season at Madrid, having moved there from Borussia Dortmund in June 2023, is close to Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, Ferland Mendy, Rodygo, Brahim Diaz and Aurelien Tchouameni among others. In Madrid, little is known about Bellingham's social life. Early in his time there, he visited De Maria restaurant, one of the city's most famous, with fellow new signings Arda Guler and Diaz, but he largely keeps a low profile. He is supported closely by his mother, Denise, and has spent time back in Birmingham and the surrounding area on international breaks. His friendship with Alexander-Arnold, however, continues to blossom, and last summer it became a key theme during England's run to the final of Euro 2024. When Bellingham scored England's opening goal of Euro 2024, he dropped to one knee along with Alexander-Arnold before both covered their faces with their hands. It was later explained that the celebration was an in-joke around the card game, Werewolf, that members of the team play for fun during down time. ⚪ @TrentAA 🤝 @BellinghamJude ⚪ — Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 30, 2025 England's official social media channels played on their friendship. The pair took part in the Football Association's Lions' Den YouTube show during the Euros, playing a 'how well do you know each other?' competition, which they giggled their way through. During a round of questions submitted by supporters, both players said they would like Denzel Washington to play them in a movie of all their lives. In October, Bellingham also surprised Alexander-Arnold by jumping out from behind a sign reading 'Happy Birthday Trent' at England's training base at St. George's Park, a moment an FA photographer duly recorded for posterity. The friendship between two of the country's bright young things is an unquestionably useful marketing tool for the FA, but there is also no doubt that it is founded on genuine affection. Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham like to socialise together after international games too, and have been on holiday as part of a larger group in the past. After the European Championship last summer they both went to Los Angeles for a break. Advertisement Yet underpinning their friendship is a steely competitiveness. When the pair meet up at England camps, there's a fierce desire to outdo one another and win, whether during training drills or practice games. In the Lions' Den show, they were asked which was the most competitive. True to form, they each chose themselves and argued afterwards about their reasons. They have plenty to be competitive about. Bellingham has taken a very different path to Alexander-Arnold, who has only ever played for Liverpool, having graduated through the club's academy. His friend, however, has had a carefully calibrated career progression — from Birmingham City to Borussia Dortmund and Madrid. Between them they have won three league titles, three domestic cups and two Champions Leagues. In 2023, Bellingham won the Ballon d'Or Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best footballer aged 21 or under, becoming the first Englishman to do so. Last year, he finished third in the overall voting. Alexander-Arnold, for his part, also has his eyes on that prize. 'I believe I can [win the Ballon d'Or],' he told Sky Sports last year. 'I want to be the first full-back to ever do it.' It is clear the pair have much in common. Now they will have the chance to fulfil their grand ambitions at the same club.
France 24
2 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Alexander-Arnold and Real Madrid can both win after 'difficult' move
The record 15-time Champions League winners are the world's most successful club and joining them as a player is widely viewed as reaching the pinnacle of the game. In 2003, Madrid signed David Beckham from Manchester United -- a player Alexander-Arnold has sometimes been likened to for his passing range and crossing ability. "It's not the case that other teams are bad, it's just that Real Madrid are the greatest," England international Jude Bellingham said after he joined from Dortmund in 2023. The presence of Bellingham, a compatriot and close friend, certainly increased Madrid's appeal for Alexander-Arnold whose highly-anticipated arrival was formally announced on Friday. The Liverpool academy graduate won it all at Anfield but his chances of winning silverware more regularly are boosted with Los Blancos, so he took the risk of leaving his boyhood club. From Madrid's perspective, securing Alexander-Arnold's services on a six-year deal also seemed an obvious step to take. With Dani Carvajal, 33, injured for much of the season, right-back has been a problem position. Fede Valverde and the departing Lucas Vazquez have played there even though it is not their natural role. Carvajal will be back next season but after his serious knee injury and given his age, whether he will return at the same level is uncertain. Alexander-Arnold, 26, is expected to form part of Madrid's squad for years to come. The defender's arrival fits Madrid's recent approach of using their super-club status to hire 'Galactico' level stars at the end of their contracts. French striker Kylian Mbappe's arrival from Paris Saint-Germain last summer is the prime example, while Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba also joined without a transfer fee. Alexander-Arnold has the attacking range to delight Madrid's demanding fans, who love full-backs with a penchant for the spectacular, including Marcelo and Roberto Carlos. The Liverpudlian, a set-piece expert, has also been used in midfield by England which is an area where Madrid have struggled since Toni Kroos' departure last summer. Sweetening the pot is Alexander-Arnold's association with Liverpool's 4-0 thrashing of Madrid's arch-rivals Barcelona in the 2019 Champions League semi-finals. The defender created his team's vital fourth goal after a 3-0 away defeat, with a corner taken quickly to catch out Barca's defence and tee up Divock Origi to score. "When I got to those big occasions, I felt like that's where I belonged," Alexander-Arnold told FourFourTwo. "Those sorts of games naturally demand you to play the best that you can and think on the spot, and have those moments of brilliance –- I was able to come up with one." Defensive doubts British players have not always found it easy to adapt to life in the Spanish capital. Welshman Gareth Bale was hugely successful at Madrid and yet still ended up as a scapegoat, while England internationals Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate never completely found their footing. Bellingham hit the ground running however, leading Madrid to a La Liga and Champions League double in his first campaign, and can help Alexander-Arnold fit in. The biggest concerns around Alexander-Arnold's arrival relate to his defensive aptitude. At times for Liverpool and England he has been criticised for switching off, allowing wingers to drift behind him unchecked. Madrid's defensive line has suffered this season as they ended up without a major trophy. If new coach Xabi Alonso sticks to the 3-4-3 system he used at Bayer Leverkusen, Alexander-Arnold could thrive in the right wing-back role. "Because he is so special with the ball, the main emphasis goes on him doing special things with the ball," explained Liverpool coach Arne Slot in September. "I think with him it is not about if he is capable of doing things, it's more -- can his concentration rate constantly be at 100 percent focus?" It would not be the first time Madrid have signed a player fuelled by optimism over their potential, rather than a more measured approach to squad-building. In Alexander-Arnold's case, though, there is plenty to suggest this union will suit both club and player.
