Pair of fires reported in Skagit County, one continuing to burn, Complete outdoor burn ban issued for Bellingham, Bellingham man arrested after reportedly hurling racial slurs at and urinating on local business owner, Updated Whatcom County jail proposal to be voted on tomorrow, Alumni couple pledge largest planned donation in WWU history, Judge denies bid to remove disclosure statement from initiative repealing WA income tax, A ghost ship with a crew of cats (Tacoma), Ferndale Back-to-School night (kill 8/17-watch dating), A ghost ship with a crew of cats (Tacoma), Ferndale Back-to-School night (kill 8/17-watch dating), A ghost ship with a crew of cats (Tacoma), Ferndale Back-to-School night (kill 8/17-watch dating), : Central WA data center scuppered (bump for time if needed), F&C Aug 21, Children’s Craft Fair at the Bellis Fair Mall, Friday, August 21, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Inside Bellis Fair Mall
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, August, 10. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Pair of fires reported in Skagit County, one continuing to burn
Firefighters from multiple agencies worked together yesterday to quickly contain a roughly two-acre brush fire off Gilligan Road east of Mt. Vernon.
Crews from Day Creek Fire Department, Clear Lake, Big Lake, the Regional Fire Authority and the Washington Department of Natural Resources responded. Five D-N-R Type 6 engines joined local brush engines and water tenders. Type 6 engines are lightweight, highly maneuverable 4×4 off-road brush trucks used for initial wildfire attacks
A helicopter also made a critical water drop on the head of the fire, which helped firefighters stop the flames from spreading.
Fire officials say the response is a good example of neighboring agencies working together during wildfire season. They’re also reminding residents to do their part to help prevent wildfires.
A second wildire—The Prairie Mountain Fire— is burning about eight miles northeast of Darrington near Suiattle (swee-AT-tul) River Road and the Suiattle (swee-AT-tul) River Conservation Area, has grown to 156 acres.
The fire is burning across Snohomish and Skagit counties and is currently 20 percent contained. Officials are listing the fire as active.
The Prairie Mountain Fire was first reported August 7 and was last updated yesterday.
STORY: Complete outdoor burn ban issued for Bellingham
An outdoor burn ban has been issued for Bellingham due to dry weather conditions.
Fire Marshal Shawn Linville has ordered a ban on all open burning within city limits. Unincorporated Whatcom County also has a HIGH fire danger rating and burn ban until further notice. The rules come after the Department of Natural Resources enacted a statewide burn ban.
During the ban, all outdoor burning is prohibited, including recreational fires. Barbecues are allowed but hot charcoal has to be put out with water in a metal container at least 10 feet away from structures and vegetation. Fire pits are not considered equivalent to barbecues and are not allowed.
Violating the rules could result in a minimum 250 dollar fine. If the fire department responds to an illegal fire that needs to be extinguished, the owner may be held criminally and financially responsible.
STORY: Bellingham man arrested after reportedly hurling racial slurs at and urinating on local business owner
A neighborhood dispute in Bellingham escalated into a hate‑crime assault.
Police say the incident happened Tuesday night on Bill McDonald Way, where a man shouted racial slurs at a group of barbeque guests — all of East Indian or Hispanic descent — then urinated through a fence and onto one of the victims.
Officers say he also bragged about smashing windows. The victim reported two recent window breakages at his business after a previous dispute with the man.
Police found fresh urine near the fence and detained the suspect at his car. He was booked into the Whatcom County Jail for investigation of a hate crime and assault. He was also trespassed from the property for five years.
STORY: Updated Whatcom County jail proposal to be voted on tomorrow
Whatcom County officials are reconsidering parts of the proposed new jail that were cut earlier because of budget constraints.
The County Council met Tuesday to review an updated plan that would restore a Rapid Resource Center for people leaving jail, along with a second courtroom intended to reduce case backlogs.
Project manager STV estimates adding the space would cost about four-point-three million dollars. Another option would be to take space from the jail kitchen or housing units — but that could mean cutting about 40 beds.
Lynden Mayor Scott Korthuis (CORE-tice) told the council reducing jail capacity is not an option for the county’s cities, which are helping fund the project.
Officials are also considering taking money or space from the planned Behavioral Care Center. That could mean eliminating 16 treatment beds or a proposed 23-hour crisis center.
The county is working under a preliminary budget cap of 205 million dollars for the jail and 34 million for the Behavioral Care Center.
The council is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to authorize the updated jail plan.
STORY: Alumni couple pledge largest planned donation in WWU history
Two Western Washington University alums are making a record‑setting contribution to the school.
Peter and Judith Hallson are giving $10.5 million — the largest planned gift in Western’s history.
According to Cascadia Daily News, most of the money will establish the first endowed deanship in the College of Science and Engineering, supporting student research, faculty projects and new programs.
The rest will fund biology research, environmental initiatives, a scholarship for Blaine High School graduates and a professorship at the Salish Sea Institute.
The donors have supported Western for decades and say the gift reflects their commitment to the university’s future.
STORY: Judge denies bid to remove disclosure statement from initiative repealing WA income tax
A Thurston County judge has upheld the wording of a ballot statement and ruled against the group Let’s Go Washington.
Superior Court Judge Chris Lanese rejected a challenge from open-government activist Arthur West, who argued the statement is politically charged and unconstitutional. Lanese said the disclosure gives voters important information about the trade-offs of the initiative.
The statement will say repealing the tax would decrease funding for K-through-12 and higher education, as well as human services, primarily healthcare.
The initiative, backed by Let’s Go Washington, would repeal the 9-point-9 percent tax on individual and household wage income above one million dollars a year. The tax is scheduled to take effect in 2028, and the state Department of Revenue estimates it could generate about two-point-seven billion dollars in its first year.
West says he plans to appeal the ruling to the Washington Supreme Court.
In a separate ruling Friday, another Thurston County judge approved several changes to the explanatory statement for the initiative that will appear online and in voter pamphlets.
WX: Seventieth heaven
And now for the weather…
Sunshine and lollipops look to follow for the duration of the afternoon, with highs expected to hover around the mid-70s. A touch of cloud cover looks to accumulate over the course of the evening, leaving us with a partially overcast evening and lows in the mid-50s.
Look forward to more of the same 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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KICKER: A ghost ship with a crew of cats (Tacoma)
STORY: Ferndale Back-to-School night (kill 8/17-watch dating)
Families getting ready for the new school year have a one‑stop event coming up in Ferndale.
Ferndale High School will host a back‑to‑school resource night on Tuesday, August 18th, from 4 to 7 p.m. The event offers free school supplies, an immunization clinic, twenty‑dollar sports physicals, community resource booths and more. Families can also connect with support services to prepare for the year ahead.
No registration is required, and all district families are welcome.
STORY: Central WA data center scuppered (bump for time if needed)
A proposed natural gas power plant planned to supply electricity to a Central Washington data center has been canceled.
Texas-based VoltaGrid had proposed installing 14 gas generators in Quincy to serve the nearby Vantage data center campus, but withdrew its air quality permit application after environmental groups submitted more than 500 public comments opposing the project. Grant County Public Utility District officials confirmed the project will not move forward, saying the on-site power generation is no longer needed.
The proposal had drawn criticism over its emissions and its connection to the growing energy demands of artificial intelligence data centers.
F&C Aug 21
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.
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