Bellingham City Council issues verdict on Viewcrest Road development (Aug 21, set to be released at 0830), Bellingham to hold public hearing on proposition to expand construction of low-income housing, Early learning center for farmworker families opens in Lynden, High levels of toxic algae detected in Toad Lake, Gas prices on the rise…again, Humane Society of Skagit County seeking donations after thieves steal critical parts of van, Comments open for federal government’s proposed rescinding of Roadless Rule (USE MONDAY), Fall weather predicted, AGs secure agreement to restore competition between Zillow and Redfin, Whatcom County Open House (run no later than 9/28)
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, August, 24. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham City Council issues verdict on Viewcrest Road development (Aug 21, set to be released at 0830)
Another challenge to a south Bellingham subdivision has been turned back.
The Bellingham City Council has upheld the hearing examiner’s approval of the Woods at Viewcrest project above Mud Bay, rejecting an appeal from the group, Protect Mud Bay Cliffs. The volunteer group has opposed the development for years over environmental and neighborhood concerns.
The hearing examiner approved the preliminary plat and critical‑areas permits in June and denied an earlier appeal seeking an environmental impact statement. The group appealed again, arguing the application had unresolved issues and missing technical studies.
The council ruled the appellants hadn’t shown the examiner erred and issued its decision last week. The ruling can still be appealed to Whatcom County Superior Court.
STORY: Bellingham to hold public hearing on proposition to expand construction of low-income housing
The Bellingham City Council is moving forward with an ordinance designed to make it easier to build low-income housing.
The proposal would allow qualifying projects to bypass several zoning limits, including maximum building height, density, floor-area ratio and parking requirements.
To qualify, projects would have to provide 100 percent low-income housing and be operated by an approved housing provider.
Developers would also have to sign a covenant keeping the property dedicated to low-income housing for at least 50 years.
The Planning Commission recommended the ordinance unanimously, by a vote of 5-to-0.
STORY: Early learning center for farmworker families opens in Lynden
Lynden’s migrant Head Start program now has a permanent home.
Cascadia Daily News reports the modular building next to Isom Elementary is the first long‑term site for Inspire Development Centers, which runs Migrant & Seasonal Head Start for farmworker families. The location lets the program operate from April through November instead of just a few summer weeks in borrowed spaces. It can serve up to 70 children with long days, transportation, meals and developmental screenings.
Staff say the stable site fills a major gap after construction delays left families without care.
They say the program is ready to serve farmworker families for the long term.
STORY: High levels of toxic algae detected in Toad Lake
Recent testing at Toad Lake has detected microcystins—a toxin produced by blue-green algae—at levels that may be harmful to people and pets.
Health officials say the toxin levels exceed recreational guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington State Department of Health.
The toxins were found in floating algae mats that can look like dark green, brown, or slimy, carpet-like material. These mats can form on the lake bottom and later break free, floating to the surface or washing up along the shoreline. The surrounding water may remain clear, making the mats difficult to spot.
People and pet owners are urged to avoid touching, eating, or swallowing algae, and to stay away from areas where algae blooms or mats are visible. Pet owners should keep animals away from water with visible algae or algae clumps along the shore. If a pet comes into contact with algae, rinse its fur immediately with clean water and prevent the animal from licking the algae off.
Microcystin primarily affects the liver and can cause symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, sore throat, and blistering around the mouth.
For your safety, keep yourself and your pets away from visible algae at Toad Lake.
STORY: Gas prices on the rise…again
Gas prices are still climbing in Washington — and Bellingham drivers are feeling it.
Washington’s average for regular sits at $5.26 today, up 7 cents from last week and 86 cents from a year ago. Bellingham’s average is $5.09, rising 5 cents over the week and up 79 cents compared to last year.
GasBuddy says global refinery outages and shipping disruptions are tightening fuel supplies, pushing U.S. prices higher and making a $4 national average on Labor Day likely for the first time ever. With inventories running low and crude costs staying high, Washington — already one of the most expensive states for gas — is expected to keep seeing elevated prices heading into the holiday weekend.
STORY: Humane Society of Skagit County seeking donations after thieves steal critical parts of van
An unknown thief stole the catalytic converter from the Humane Society of Skagit Valley’s van.
It was going to be used for a delivery to the Yakima shelter. They are asking for help from the community to get the van back on the road. Even after a generous donation from a community member, they’ll need about one thousand three hundred dollars to fix it.
Cash donations are accepted through their website, but the shelter will also accept cat and dog food donations.
STORY: Comments open for federal government’s proposed rescinding of Roadless Rule (USE MONDAY)
Comments are open for a proposed rescinding of a federal rule about National Forest lands.
The U.S. The Department of Agriculture is proposing to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule, which limits road construction and timber harvesting on National Forest lands. The USDA says this will reduce regulatory burden, and allow state officials to make their own decisions about land based on different priorities. They point to increased timber access, decreased wildfire risk and recreation profit loss as motivations for the change.
The Natural Resources Defense Council denounced the rule change, saying it would endanger wildlife, threaten clean water, and worsen climate change.
The Sierra Club says it could impact 60-million acres of protected forest lands. A 2025 comment period on the rule showed 99 percent of comments were in support of keeping it.
Comments can be sent online through the Federal Rulemaking Portal until September 21st.
STORY: Fall weather predicted
Western Washington is likely to see a warmer and drier-than-normal fall.
The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center’s September-through-November forecast gives the region a 60% to 70% chance of above-normal temperatures and a 40% to 50% chance of below-normal precipitation.
The forecast comes as an El Niño pattern develops for fall and winter. Warmer, drier conditions could extend the hiking season in the mountains by delaying snowfall and keep biking trails drier early in the rainy season.
According to the National Weather Service, November is typically one of Western Washington’s wettest months.
STORY: AGs secure agreement to restore competition between Zillow and Redfin
Zillow and Redfin must unwind an illegal deal under a new settlement.
In 2025, Zillow paid Redfin $100 million to shut down its multifamily rental advertising business and display only Zillow’s apartment listings — a move regulators say drove up prices and reduced service quality. A coalition of five attorneys general, co‑led by Washington AG Nick Brown, and the Federal Trade Commission sued, calling the agreement anticompetitive.
Under the settlement, which still needs court approval, Redfin will rebuild its rental advertising platform, and both companies are barred from similar agreements going forward. They’ll also pay $2 million in costs and fees.
WX: The air ain’t smokey-dokie
Sunshine is back after the weekend’s brief dalliance with storms. Expect highs in the mid 70s for Bellingham and Lynden, Blaine is giving the cold shoulder at high 60s. Some hazy smoke will blow into western Whatcom later this evening, so exercise caution if you plan to be outside later on. Otherwise, the evening should be fairly cool, with nighttime lows projected in the mid 50s. There will also be some cloud cover coming in tonight, bringing with it some rain in the early morning tomorrow.
Expect tomorrow to be colder than today
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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, 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: Whatcom County Open House (run no later than 9/28)
Whatcom County residents will have a chance to learn more about county government during the second annual Whatcom County Open House on September 30.
The event runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the County Courthouse. Staff from county departments and elected offices will be on hand to answer questions, discuss upcoming projects and explain how county government operates.
Topics will include the new jail and behavioral health care facility, the upcoming county budget process and the county court system. Attendees can also test their knowledge with Whatcom County trivia.
County Executive Satpal Sidhu said the event is intended to make local government more accessible and give residents an opportunity to connect directly with county staff and elected officials.
County Council Chair Kaylee Galloway said the open house is also an opportunity for residents to raise concerns and have direct conversations with the people who serve them.
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