Downtown Bellingham fire leaves one resident dead, Whatcom County to enter into partnership with AidKit benefits platform to provide childcare subsidies, Member of Lummi Nation sentenced to five years in prison for assault of former partner, Whatcom County Council approves new jail framework, approves new director of planning and management, I-5 lane closures bound for Bellingham this weekend, Estimates from state Dept. of Revenue project income tax to bring in even more money than expected, 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 Thursday, August, 13. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Downtown Bellingham fire leaves one resident dead
A deadly house fire in downtown Bellingham left one man dead.
The Bellingham Fire Department says the blaze broke out Wednesday at a home on North Forest Street with four residential units. Three people escaped, but firefighters learned an 80‑year‑old man was still in the basement.
Crews went in through heavy smoke, found him unconscious and not breathing, and pulled him outside. Paramedics tried to revive him, but he did not survive.
Firefighters contained the flames to the basement unit, and the cause remains under investigation.
Fire officials say the incident is a tragic reminder of the importance of working smoke alarms. Early warning can give residents critical time to escape and allows firefighters to respond quickly.
STORY: Whatcom County to enter into partnership with AidKit benefits platform to provide childcare subsidies
Whatcom County is partnering with AidKit to provide a platform for childcare subsidy access as well as help administer the subsidies.
AidKit is a software company that provides digital public service platforms to government and nonprofit agencies. Whatcom County’s 7-million dollar contract with AidKit will run through 2028, covered by the Healthy Children’s Fund.
The county says the Whatcom Kids First program will help nearly 15-hundred children in its first year. Families who earn up to 75 percent of the state median income can qualify. For a family of 4,that means an annual income of 105-thousand dollars or less would qualify.
The program will provide $300 per month per child, paid directly to licensed childcare facilities. AidKit will also help families apply for another state childcare program called Working Connections Child Care.
Application details will be released later this year, and payments will be distributed in February 2027.
STORY: Member of Lummi Nation sentenced to five years in prison for assault of former partner
A 49-year-old Lummi Nation man will spend five years in federal prison for strangling and assaulting his former domestic partner on the Lummi Nation Indian Reservation.
Marc Cagey Oreiro (mark kay-ge or-ray-o) pleaded guilty to the 2025 attack. Prosecutors say he pushed the victim onto a bed, strangled her with his hands and forearm, punched and kneed her, and repeatedly threatened to kill her. She later told investigators he had attempted to sexually assault her after the attack.
Police found the victim hiding in a closet after a housemate called 911. She was taken to a hospital with bruising to her face, ears and neck. Oreiro physically fought with officers when they arrested him.
At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Lauren King called non-fatal strangulation one of the most dangerous forms of domestic assault. She also told the victim she was brave and praised her for reporting the violence.
Prosecutors say Oreiro has a decades-long history of domestic violence, including a conviction involving the same victim. The five-year sentence is above federal sentencing guidelines and will be followed by three years of supervision.
STORY: Whatcom County Council approves new jail framework, approves new director of planning and management
Whatcom County is moving ahead with plans for a new jail after the County Council approved the project’s framework Tuesday night.
The council voted five-to-two to approve the programming and direct the county executive’s office to move forward with design and construction.
The proposed jail would be about 150,000 square feet, with between 450 and 460 beds. About a quarter of those beds would be designated for behavioral health care.
The current jail is roughly 90,000 square feet and has capacity for up to 427 beds.
Council members also asked the county to prioritize a Rapid Resource Center, a second courtroom and family visitation space without reducing jail housing capacity. The county may also seek state funding for the Rapid Resource Center.
Council members Mark Stremler and Jessica Rienstra voted against the plan. Stremler raised concerns about behavioral health services, while Rienstra questioned whether the project puts too much emphasis on jail capacity.
The approved programming is a framework, not a final design, and changes can still be made before construction begins.
Construction is currently scheduled to start in 2027, although no specific date has been announced.
Programming for a separate behavioral care center is expected to be released around October.
STORY: I-5 lane closures bound for Bellingham this weekend
Drivers may experience delays on I-5 this weekend.
The left lane of northbound I-5 between Samish Way and Iowa Street will be closed for maintenance to replace the concrete panels, from 6 to 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, August 15th and 16th.
The Iowa Street northbound on-ramp will also be closed this Saturday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wash-DOT advises drivers to slow down, stay focused and watch for crews in the work zone. The work requires dry weather, so maintenance could be rescheduled if it rains.
STORY: Estimates from state Dept. of Revenue project income tax to bring in even more money than expected
The Department of Revenue estimates the new high-earner income tax could bring in more money than expected.
When the income tax bill was signed, expected revenue was 2.7 billion dollars for the next budget. DOR predictions now say it could bring in 3.1 billion dollars.
The bill proposes a 9-point-9 percent tax on individual and household income over 1 million dollars per year. Only income over the 1-million threshold would be taxed extra. The DOR now predicts 25-thousand households will be taxed, compared to an earlier estimate of 21-thousand.
Previous estimated tax collections were based on a November 2025 economic model. New forecasts derived from June numbers reflect improved economic conditions, which increased estimates.
An initiative to repeal the tax will be on the ballot in November. If the tax is upheld, legislators may not need to make as many cuts to the state budget.
Story: Air quality Alert
Air quality in Whatcom and Skagit Counties is expected to worsen this week.
The Northwest Clean Air Agency has issued an alert through 6 a.m. Saturday, warning that conditions could reach unhealthy levels in the eastern parts of both counties. The particulate matter is believed to be drifting in from regional wildfires.
When air quality is unhealthy, everyone should reduce exposure — limit time outside, avoid strenuous outdoor activity, and follow tips for cleaner indoor air.
WX: Summer Wars
And now for the weather…
Our recent streak of warm sunshine looks to go unbroken today, with the afternoon’s high temperatures potentially around the 80s in bellingham and lynden. Blaine looks to be sticking to the low 70s. Expect cloudier skies this evening, alongside traditionally cool lows in the upper 50s to low 60s. Blain and lynden look to have a slight chane of rain in the early morning.
Tired of this weather pattern yet? Yes? Bummer, ‘cause tomorrow looks to play the same record yet again.
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: 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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