Security increases at Peace Arch border crossing following Rainbow Bridge explosion, Bellis Fair Macy’s employees return to work after Black Friday strike, WWU Shooting Alert, Another Shooting at Meridian, Suspect arrested in 2021 hit and run, WDFW warns of deer mating season migration near roadways, WNS – WA’s long-term care saving program, AGO wins largest largest-ever federal Emmett Till grant for Indigenous cold case project, Student designs wanted for invasive species art contest
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Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Monday, November 27th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Security increases at Peace Arch border crossing following Rainbow Bridge explosion
The Peace Arch border crossing in Blaine saw increased security last Wednesday.
Officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection – some armed with rifles – surveilled cars entering the United States, spoke with passengers and conducted vehicle checks.
The increased security came on the heels of a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge crossing in Niagara Falls last Wednesday. The vehicle’s two occupants were killed in the explosion. President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (true-DOUGH) were informed of the incident. As of now, no evidence has been found that shows the Rainbow Bridge explosion was a terrorist attack.
STORY: Bellis Fair Macy’s employees return to work after Black Friday strike
About two dozen Macy’s employees at the Bellis Fair store returned to work today after going on strike during the Black Friday weekend. The workers voted last month to launch a strike after months of increased security concerns and failed contract negotiations with the company.
Customers on Friday saw a sign listing revised business hours. Seasonal, non-union workers and members of Macy’s management team opened the store at 11 a.m. that day instead of 6.
The employees at Bellis Fair joined those in Lynnwood and Tukwila in asking the public to not shop there on Black Friday, with organizers saying that over 17,000 people signed an online pledge to respect striking workers.
STORY: WWU Shooting Alert
An arrest has been made in a drive-by shooting reported yesterday evening that occurred about a half-mile south of the Western Washington University campus.
The shooting happened at about 6:30 p.m. on the 2700 block of McKenzie Avenue.The suspects fled in a white Honda sedan and a dark-colored station wagon.
UPD has also been able to work with the Bellingham Police Department to determine that there were no injuries at the scene, and the individuals targeted by the shooter were not WWU students.
STORY: Another shooting on Meridian
The Bellingham Police Department reports that an arrest has been made in another suspected shooting on Meridian Street.
Despite reported damage, no injuries were documented. A suspect, identified as 29-year-old Roberto Briones, was arrested at the scene and booked into the Whatcom County Jail. Jail records indicate charges including driving under the influence, unlawful possession of a firearm, drive-by shooting, and domestic violence.
There is no indication that the two shooting incidents are related.
STORY: Suspect arrested in 2021 hit and run
A suspect has been arrested in a hit and run incident that happened over two years ago.
According to a filed affidavit of probable cause, the Washington State Patrol says Darren Wade Hicks, 58, hit a 21-year old Ferndale man who was assisting someone with a disabled vehicle. The impact caused significant damage to the car and the victim was thrown approximately 98 feet from the point of impact. Hicks was booked into jail on November 23rd.
STORY: WDFW warns of deer mating season migration near roadways
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is warning drivers to be wary when driving as deer mating season continues.
During mating season, deer are much more active and move between areas to find better foraging spots. In Western Washington, some groups of black-tailed deer migrate from summer ranges high in the Cascade and Olympic mountains to spend the winter in lower elevation forests and valleys, crossing roads in the process.
WSDOT (WASH-dot) determined there are about 5,000 collisions with deer and nearly 300 collisions with elk each year. Two of the most common roadways that have the highest number of interactions between wildlife and vehicles are Highways 20 and 525 on Whidbey Island, and Highway 20 east of Concrete into the Cascades.
WDFW recommends drivers be extra alert, pause after seeing any amount of deer, and not swerve during an imminent collision. If a collision does occur with a deer, move the body off the road if it can be done safely and report the accident to the Washington State Patrol.
STORY: WNS – WA’s long-term care savings program
Washingtonians with kids and older parents in need of care are praising the peace of mind the state’s new retirement savings program is providing them. Reporter Eric Tegethoff (TEG-it-off) has more.
CARES AUDIO
STORY: AGO wins largest-ever federal Emmett Till grant for Indigenous cold case project
Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced last Wednesday that his office will be partnering with tribes across Washington to research, identify and create an inventory of cold cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous people that date back more than 40 years.
The Attorney General’s Office received $1.5 million from the federal Emmett Till Cold Case Investigations and Prosecution Program, which supports state, local and tribal law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute pre-1980 cold cases involving racially motivated crimes or civil rights violations. The $1.5 million grant is the largest-ever provided by the program.
The grant project will support the work of the new Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Cold Case Unit in the Attorney General’s Office. The federal grant will allow the office to hire two full-time staff, whose job will be to travel across the state over the next three years and work closely with up to 10 tribes. Each tribe will also receive compensation to assist in the research.
WX: Mostly Sunny
Today will be mostly sunny, with a high of 48 degrees and calm winds. Temperatures will drop later in the day to a low of 33 degrees. Expect tomorrow’s weather to be much of the same.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Alex Michael, and Tristan Trudell. Tune in to local news on KMRE weekdays at 3, 4 and 5 p-m. For news tips and feedback, send us an email at news@kmre.org or call 360-398-6150. KMRE is a nonprofit community radio station, powered by listener donations. I’m ________________ and thanks for listening.
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And finally, if you’re in the mood for something more active, volunteer work parties are happening every Saturday until December 16th throughout Bellingham’s parks. Volunteers are needed from 9AM-12pm– you can find out which parks are being worked on by visiting volunteerbellingham.org.
STORY: Student designs wanted for invasive species art contest
From now through May 2024, the Washington Invasive Species Council and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are asking students to help spread awareness about invasive species– through art.
Submissions must represent a type of invasive species, which are plants and animals that do not belong in the Washington ecosystem.
The competition will be separated into elementary, middle, and highschool. Three winners will be chosen from each division and will receive Amazon gift cards.
First place winners will also get a print of their art and have it displayed at various aquatic invasive species check stations.
For more information on how to participate, visit wdfw.wa.gov
STORY: WDFW seeks comment on status review for killer whale
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public input on a recommendation to keep the killer whale on the state’s endangered species list.
WDFW says that while efforts have been made since the last status review, the Southern Resident killer whale population is still in danger. The department recommends no change to the status, keeping killer whales as an endangered species.
Southern Resident orcas live in coastal ocean waters off Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. There are 75 southern resident orcas today, about as few as when the capture era ended in 1976. Among them is L25, the world’s oldest living orca at around 95 years old. She is believed to be the mother of Tokitae, the orca who passed away at the Miami Seaquarium three months ago.
The draft Periodic Status Review for killer whales is available to view on the WDFW’s website. Written comments on the document can be submitted via email or by physical mail. The public comment period is open until Feb. 19, 2024.
NOV 24th FREE
Mark your calendars for the 2024 Discover Pass free days!
It’s never too early to start planning free visits to Washington’s state parks and recreation lands! The Discover Pass free days for 2024 have been announced!
And there’s one free day left this year – Friday, Nov. 24.(Discover Pass free days do not apply to Sno-Parks, which require separate permits.)
