Ferry District funding approved, Mt. Baker Highway reopened, LGW issues legal challenge to AG’s recently released public investment impact disclosure, Election Day is less than a week away, Lake-drawn water quality warning issued for residents of South Lake Samish, Hunger vs Hunger over halfway to funding goal, Whatcom Museum hosts soiree to introduce new executive director, Road around Anacortes down to one lane for 19 days, What do WA students do after graduation? A new report tells us., AG’s office joins coalition blocking federal termination of school mental health grants, Canadian travel down 25%, FREE & CHEAP, July/Aug, Books and Brews Book Sale
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, July, 29. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Ferry District funding approved
The Whatcom County Council has approved an annual budget of nearly $6 million for the new Lummi Island Ferry District.
The move creates a new countywide property tax beginning in 2027. The levy is set at 8.7 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, adding about $46 a year for the median Whatcom County home. The new tax will help fund operations and support the county’s plan to replace the aging Whatcom Chief with a larger hybrid electric ferry. Very few meeting attendees spoke against the new tax.
Supporters say the district will ease pressure on the county road fund and help preserve road maintenance, while opponents argued voters should have approved the new tax directly.
The council approved the measure on a 5-2 vote; Mark Stremler and Ben Elenbaas voted no.
UPDATE: Mt. Baker Highway reopened
Mount Baker Highway has reopened after an overnight crash that involved three teenagers just east of Deming.
Washington State Patrol says a 17-year-old Maple Falls driver lost control of a Volkswagen Rabbit, left the roadway, struck a power pole, and rolled into a field. Puget Sound Energy crews replaced the damaged power pole and reopened the road late yesterday morning.
The driver and two passengers, ages 15 and 16, were taken to St. Joseph Medical Center with injuries. The crash remains under investigation.
STORY: LGW issues legal challenge to AG’s recently released public investment impact disclosure
Let’s Go Washington is challenging the impact disclosure for the initiative to repeal the Millionaire’s Tax, because they say it’s inaccurate.
The impact disclosure appears on the ballot to inform voters of what the initiative would do for the state. The proposed statement says the initiative would decrease funding for K-12 education, higher education and human services.
Let’s Go Washington says repealing the Millionaire’s Tax cannot decrease current funding because taxes won’t be collected until 2029, so there’s nothing to decrease yet. The statement is speculating on potential impact rather than stating the current impact. They say the initiative would actually increase funding by returning taxpayer dollars. Let’s Go Washington also says the largest three categories of tax-funded state services were misstated.
They want the statement to be revised to say the initiative would increase funding for the current state general fund to invest in medical-assistance programs, public instruction and higher education.
STORY: Election Day is less than a week away
Election Day is less than a week away, and Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn wants voters to return their ballots.
Nearly 16,000 ballots had been received as of Monday. Officials say anyone who has not received theirs should contact the Elections Division right away.
Ballots must be dropped off in a ballot box or at the Auditor’s office by 8 p.m. on August 4th, or mailed with an Election Day postmark. It should also be noted that not all mail is postmarked on the day it’s dropped off at the post office.
Voters can track their ballot status online at VoteWA.gov or sign up for text alerts when their ballot is received and accepted.
STORY: Lake-drawn water quality warning issued for residents of South Lake Samish
Residents who get their water from a private drinking water system on Lake Samish may be ingesting cyanotoxins from blue-green algae.
Testing occurred on the east side of the lake. However, the Whatcom County Health Department does not know how far the toxins have spread or how long they will last.
The levels should be safe for healthy adults and kids over six years old, but vulnerable groups should not use the water to drink, cook, boil or brush their teeth. Bathing, handwashing and recreational activity in the lake is safe for all groups.
Seek immediate medical attention if you drink the water and develop nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain.
UPDATE: Hunger vs Hunger over halfway to funding goal
More than $263,000 has been raised for the Bellingham Food Bank.
Hunger vs. Hunger is a fundraising campaign aimed at fighting food insecurity in Whatcom County. The group received a major boost last weekend when its organizer, Ethan Hunger, set a new world record by completing 22 triathlons in 24 hours, surpassing the previous record of 18.
AUDIO CLIP Hunger_Sound2
The campaign raised more than $400,000 in 2025, and Hunger has helped raise more than $1 million for the Bellingham Food Bank since launching Hunger vs. Hunger in 2021. They hope to raise $500,000 this year.
STORY: Whatcom Museum hosts soiree to introduce new executive director
Whatcom County Museum will host a community event tomorrow to introduce its new executive director.
Jessica Borusky joined the museum on July First after serving as executive director of Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle.
Borusky’s career includes leadership roles with art organizations across the country, and their focus is on increasing access to art and community programming.
The meet-and-greet is open to the public and runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Lightcatcher building.
STORY: Road around Anacortes down to one lane for 19 days
Drivers should expect delays on State Route 20 near Anacortes in the coming days.
WSDOT (WASH-dot) says crews will remove the Campbell Lake Road left‑turn lane overnight tonight, to prepare for a new roundabout. The work is part of a larger project that will bring major traffic impacts later this summer.
Starting in mid‑August, SR 20 will be reduced to one lane for 19 straight days while crews build up and grade the intersection.
The Samish Indian Nation is funding the 3-million-dollar project to improve access to Campbell Lake Road and its nearby fuel station.
Construction will pause over the winter to let the area settle, then resume in spring or summer 2027.
WSDOT will announce exact lane‑reduction dates once they’re set.
STORY: What do WA students do after graduation? A new report tells us.
Washington students are taking more varied paths after high school than ever before.
According to a new study from the Washington Student Achievement Council, researchers identified 12 different school-to-work pathways among nearly 64,000 Washington students who graduated high school in 2017. Fewer than one in five followed the traditional route of earning a bachelor’s degree before entering the workforce. Instead, many students attended community and technical colleges, or combined multiple types of education.
The study found the most common path — nearly 29% of students — was to enroll in college, but leave without earning a credential.
Among students who completed bachelor’s degrees, median annual earnings reached about $60,000, while registered apprenticeship grads earned average annual wages of roughly $81,000 a year.
STORY: AG’s office joins coalition blocking federal termination of school mental health grants
Washington has helped block federal cuts to school‑based mental‑health grants.
A U.S. District Court judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday preventing the U.S. Department of Education from ending up to nine grants that provide mental‑health services in Washington schools.
Attorney General Nick Brown led a coalition of 14 states in the challenge. The grants were set to be terminated at the end of July, which Brown’s office says would have cost Washington schools about $20 million in mental‑health support over the remaining life of the grants.
The restraining order lasts until August 24. The court is expected to hold a hearing on a longer‑term injunction in the coming weeks.
WX: The most pleasant mother pheasant plucker
And now for the weather…
Today, expect predominantly sunny skies, calm winds, and highs in the low-70s to form a pleasant late afternoon and early evening. Later tonight, we can expect continuing clear skies, with evening lows in the mid-50s.
More of the same should be in store tomorrow.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRAH-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell (can-TRELL), Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Jenny Lam, Nate Landi, Natalie Jones, Noelle Reger (NO-ell REE-ger), and Sean Lynch. 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. To help support our work, check out our Patreon, or Substack, or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________… thanks for listening!
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STORY: Canadian travel down 25%
Canadian visits dropped by 25% in 2025 according to new data from Statistics Canada.
Those numbers have continued to lag in 2026. Canadians took over 7 million fewer trips south of the border last year, and spent over $2 billion less on U.S. travel.
The decline follows trade tensions and political friction between the two countries, with many Canadians choosing to vacation within Canada or overseas instead. According to surveys by the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Border Policy Research Institute, more than half of local businesses reported direct negative impacts. Large-box retailers reported revenue losses between 25% and 40%, while specific border-town businesses — like gas stations and boutiques in Blaine — experienced sales drops ranging from 30% to over 50%.
Canadians historically account for nearly 12% of Whatcom County’s annual taxable retail sales.
While road trips to the U.S. have started to rebound, air travel from Canada remains well below previous levels.
FREE & CHEAP,
July/Aug
Shoppers, mark your calendars, and tell your friends! It’s time for the Library’s annual Children’s Craft Fairs. Enjoy two festive opportunities to take home unique treasures made by entrepreneurial local kids. The first is Friday, July 31, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lee Memorial Park outside the Central Library. The second is Friday, Aug. 21, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. inside Bellis Fair Mall. All items are priced $5 or less. Bring cash to help kids learn to count money, and bring a joyful spirit to take home goodies! More than 100 youths are spending their summer days crafting special items just for you.
August 1st:
Fire up the grills—it’s time for the Max’d Out BBQ Competition! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17aXH4QGhV/
Join us Saturday, August 1st, from 11:00 AM–3:00 PM at Hardware Sales for an afternoon of incredible BBQ, friendly competition, and community—all in support of the Max Higbee Center.
Seven local contractors are stepping up to battle for BBQ glory (and, of course, bragging rights), but the real winner is our community. Come cheer them on, sample some amazing barbecue, and help support an organization that provides recreation, employment, and community opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities throughout Whatcom County.
What to Expect
BBQ Sampling – Taste brisket, ribs, and pork butt from all seven competing teams.
$2 per tasting ticket
Buy 10 tickets for just $1.50 each
Dunk Tank – Think you’ve got the arm for it? Take your best shot at dunking volunteers from each competing company.
$5 for 3 throws
Kids Game Center – Games and activities to keep the little ones entertained all day.
Silent Auction – Browse and bid on a fantastic selection of donated items.
Even better, 100% of ticket and silent auction proceeds benefit the Max Higbee Center, and Hardware Sales will donate 5% of all retail store sales that day to support their incredible programs.
Books and Brews Book Sale
Saturday, August 1, 12:00 – 5:00 pm
Wander Brewing, 1807 Dean Ave.
The Friends of the Bellingham Public Library are collaborating once again with Wander Brewing for a “Books and Brews” pop-up sale on Saturday, August 1 from noon to 5 pm. Wander Brewing is located at 1807 Dean Ave. across from Bellingham High School. There will be fiction and non-fiction books for adults, teens and kids, as well as graphic novels, sci-fi, cookbooks, beer books, puzzles, games and more. Come say hello to the Friends and get some great books to read this summer. All proceeds will go to support the Bellingham Central Library Renovation.
Children’s Craft Fair at the Bellis Fair Mall
Friday, August 21, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Inside Bellis Fair Mall
Enjoy a wide array of handmade crafts and baked goods created by children ages 13 and younger. All items are priced $5 or less; cash only sales. Fun for all ages to shop for unique treasures and support local youth.
August 9th:
Ferndale hosts a free Play, Learn & Connect Festival this weekend. The event runs Sunday from 11 to 2 at Pioneer Park, with giant building blocks, arts and crafts, hands‑on learning activities, community booths, and food trucks. It’s designed to celebrate play while connecting families with local programs and services.
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