Bellingham PD searching for suspect in armed robbery, Bellingham man arrested in connection with multiple garbage bin fires, Two suspected drug dealers arrested in Ferndale, Bargaining nurses vote on temporary agreement, Ferguson decries “cruel,” Medicaid cuts that would affect over 200K Washingtonians by the end of next year, WA AG wins court order, Fri to Chea – Ski to Sea
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, May 23rd. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham PD searching for suspect in armed robbery
A suspect is still on the loose after a Tuesday evening robbery at knifepoint in Bellingham.
Police say it happened just before 6:30 p.m. on North Samish Way, when a man was approached behind a nearby business by a white male in his 30s who began speaking with him — before threatening him with a knife and demanding his belongings.
The victim handed over the items, and the suspect took off. As of now, no suspect has been identified.
Police are continuing their investigation.
STORY: Bellingham man arrested in connection with multiple garbage bin fires
A Bellingham man faces multiple felony charges after being linked to a pair of recent fires in the city.
Police arrested 35-year-old Malcom Lamar Matulevich (mah-too-LEH-vitch) on April 27th. He’s now charged in connection with two separate incidents involving fires set in recycling and garbage bins –– one on Racine Street, and another on Woodstock Way.
Matulevich now faces two counts of second-degree arson, along with charges of malicious mischief and reckless burning.
He remains in custody at the Whatcom County Jail.
STORY: Two suspected drug dealers arrested in Ferndale
Two suspected drug dealers from Blaine are behind bars after a bust near Ferndale earlier this week.
According to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s office, deputies arrested the pair on Tuesday after spotting them in a parked car. The man in the passenger seat was wanted in connection to a previous cocaine investigation, and the woman behind the wheel was caught holding a drug pipe.
After obtaining a search warrant, investigators found about 160 grams of fentanyl and meth, along with drug paraphernalia and cash.
Both suspects remain in the Whatcom County Jail with no bail set.
STORY: Bargaining nurses vote on temporary agreement
WSNA nurses at St. Joseph Medical Center are voting today on a contract that would finally resolve months of bargaining with PeaceHealth.
The deal comes six weeks after the previous contract expired, and follows four months of negotiations, 14 sessions, two pickets, and even a protest song. 1,100 nurses are represented by the Washington State Nurses Association, which is recommending a yes vote. Jessica Moran (more-IN), a bargaining committee member and operating room nurse, had this to say about the temporary agreement.
MORAN audio 1
In addition to more money, the contract also includes an elimination of gaps in step raises, as well as the addition of tier one local pharmacies to their health plan. Voting on the proposed contract is happening now, and will end tonight.
MORAN audio 2
Moran says she’s cautiously optimistic.
MORAN audio 3
STORY: Ferguson decries “cruel,” Medicaid cuts that would affect over 200K Washingtonians by the end of next year
In more health-related news, Governor Bob Ferguson is sounding the alarm over a proposed $700 billion cut to Medicaid by Congress, warning it could strip health coverage from hundreds of thousands of state residents.
Speaking from the Harborview Medical Center in Seattle yesterday, Ferguson said the House-approved tax-and-spending bill would result in Washington losing around $2 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next four years. The state’s Medicaid program — Apple Health — currently covers 2 million people, including 800,000 children and over 60% of nursing home residents.
Ferguson called the proposed cuts “a four-alarm fire,” saying they could lead to hospital closures and leave at least 200,000 residents without coverage by 2026.
Healthcare leaders, including Harborview’s CEO, warned the cuts would deeply damage Washington’s entire healthcare system — not just for Medicaid patients, but for everyone. The Senate is now set to review the bill.
STORY: WA AG wins court order
In a major legal victory Thursday, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and a coalition of 20 other state attorneys general won a court order halting the Trump administration’s plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
The ruling from the U.S. District Court Judge Myong Joun (me-YOUNG JOON) in Massachusetts comes just weeks after the coalition filed suit to stop proposed layoffs affecting half of the Department’s workforce. The lawsuit followed executive actions from March that aimed at closing the Department and outsourcing key functions, such as student loan management and special education services.
The court’s preliminary injunction reinstates employees already laid off, and blocks any further efforts to gut the agency. The attorneys general argue the administration lacks the authority to dismantle a department created by Congress without Congressional approval, and that the mass firings violated federal administrative law. The Trump administration, however, defends its reorganization efforts as a path to greater efficiency.
With an emergency appeal already promised by the administration, the controversy is far from over.
STORY: Fri to Chea – Ski to Sea
It’s Ski to Sea weekend in Whatcom County!
The iconic multisport relay race runs Sunday from Mt. Baker to Bellingham Bay, with racers skiing or snowboarding, running, biking, canoeing, and kayaking their way to the finish line at Marine Park in Fairhaven.
Spectators and racers can also check out the Historic Fairhaven Festival happening just up the hill at the foot of Harris Avenue.
Drivers, take note: The Mount Baker Highway will be closed from 7:15 to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday between Canyon Creek Road in Glacier and the Mt. Baker Lodge. Anyone heading to the top must pass Canyon Creek Road before 7:15, and no vehicles will be allowed down the mountain until around 10:45.
More details are available at SkiToSea.com
WX: You’re sunbelievable
And now for the weather:
Today will be mostly sunny and warm once again, with highs in the low 60s. Some clouds may stick around this morning, which is expected to increase as the evening wears on. Nighttime lows will be in the mid-to-high 40s.
Memorial Day weekend should be marvelously sunny up here in Whatcom, with consistent highs of around 70 degrees and barely a daytime cloud in the sky. And speaking of Memorial Day — the KMRE News crew will be off enjoying the long weekend as well, but we’ll be back on Tuesday!
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Cody Mills, Aidan Larson, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), and Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee). 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 your donations. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thank you for listening.
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