From the newsroom

A lot of people in Bellingham faced media reporters knocking on their doors on Thanksgiving Day to glean information about Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members on Wednesday.

I was the sole CDN reporter working that day and only knocked on one door. 

Inside was a local family who faced criticism for having helped gather resources for Lakanwal, his wife and five children after the fall of Kabul in 2021. I wasn't hunting an interview. I simply wanted to ensure they knew their name was out there; I considered it a wellness check.

I tackled the story from a different angle, pulling together local voices and insights. On Friday, I went to the building where Lakanwal lived and met two of his neighbors. Their sons had been friends. We stood outside, talking in the cold for a long time before agreeing to sit for an interview.

The story they wanted to share was important, and I was grateful to have their trust in telling it. We used pseudonyms to protect them from online harassment, something we grant sparingly.

As we learn more about Lakanwal, his ties to the U.S. military in Afghanistan, his life in Whatcom County and his family, I hope we will have better insights into a potential motive for the horrific attack on the guard members.

Today's news

The Granary Building, which was renovated by Harcourt a decade ago, is listed for sale. (Santiago Ochoa/Cascadia Daily News)

Harcourt lists Granary Building on Bellingham waterfront for sale

Sen. Shewmake to bow out after three terms as legislator 

WA lawmakers will gather in Olympia to gear up for 2026 session

Anacortes teacher killed in car crash on SR20

2025–26 winter sports: Teams are ready to prove themselves as state contenders

Anticipation builds for U.S., Canadian soccer fans with World Cup draw

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Weekend catch-up 

Two marks are left from when the FBI knocked in a door Thanksgiving morning at Walton Place in downtown Bellingham. The raid was part of the investigation into Rahmanullah Lakanwal, following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. (Isaac Stone Simonelli/Cascadia Daily News)

Close neighbors of D.C. shooting suspect describe raid, his life in Bellingham

Review: Two years into new ownership, D'Anna's Cafe Italiano remains a staple

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