WA minimum wage to rise to nearly $18 an hour next year, Bellingham Bay closes for recreational shellfish harvesting after spike in biotoxin detected, New mixed-use building proposed on site of former Terminal Building in Fairhaven, Election Logic and Accuracy Test, WHCS publishes recommended list of fall vaccinations, Whatcom outdoor burn ban lifted, Local man launches nonprofit supporting local children, Library use spikes in WA, locally, Whatcom County announces flood preparedness week (run sometime week of Oct. 5th)
Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, October, 1. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: WA minimum wage to rise to nearly $18 an hour next year
A statewide minimum‑wage increase next year will push Bellingham’s rate to nearly twenty dollars an hour.
Washington’s minimum wage will rise to $17.73 on January 1st. The State Department of Labor and Industries says the change happens automatically each year through an inflation adjustment.
A voter‑approved rule keeping Bellingham’s wage two dollars above the state rate will push it to $19.73 at the start of 2027.
The rule applies to all hours worked inside Bellingham city limits, regardless of employer size.
City officials say the annual adjustment is meant to keep wages in step with rising costs and provide predictability for workers and businesses.
STORY: Bellingham Bay closes for recreational shellfish harvesting after spike in biotoxin detected
Part of Bellingham Bay is closed for shellfish harvesting.
Whatcom County Health and Community Services says the closure covers all recreational harvest of clams, mussels, oysters and scallops. The Washington State Department of Health ordered the shutdown after detecting unsafe levels of a naturally occurring marine toxin that can cause numbness, tingling and, in severe cases, death.
The closure also applies to Chuckanut Bay and all of Larrabee State Park.
Health officials say people should check state and county advisories before collecting any shellfish.
STORY: New mixed-use building proposed on site of former Terminal Building in Fairhaven
A new development is being proposed for the former Terminal Building site in Fairhaven.
Cascadia Daily News reports the Kenoyer family and their investors bought the lot at Harris and 11th last July for $850,000. Project lead Jess Kenoyer says they’re planning a three‑story mixed‑use building with commercial space on the ground floor, offices on the second level and apartments on top.
The proposal would bring new activity to a corner that’s been empty since the old Terminal Building was demolished.
The development team is holding an online neighborhood meeting today to share details and take questions. People who live or work nearby were notified directly about how to join.
STORY: Election Logic and Accuracy Test
Whatcom County will test its voting equipment before the November election.
The Logic and Accuracy test is scheduled for October 5th at 10 a.m. The Auditor’s Office uses the test to confirm the voting system counts ballots correctly and that every contest and ballot style is programmed as expected.
Election staff will scan a stack of test ballots with a known outcome and make sure the system reports the same results. They also check that ballots are read properly, that tabulation settings match the ballot design, and that no contests are missing.
The test will take place in the Election Center inside the Whatcom County Courthouse. Observers are welcome.
STORY: WHCS publishes recommended list of fall vaccinations
It’s time to get vaccinated for flu, COVID and RSV.
Whatcom County Health and Community Services says Washington is already seeing positive flu tests, a sign the season may start early. Officials warn that flu, COVID and RSV often circulate at the same time, and getting vaccinated now gives your body time to build protection before cases rise.
The updated COVID‑19 vaccine is designed to better match the strains expected this fall. RSV vaccines and antibody treatments are available for older adults, pregnant people and young children — the groups most at risk for severe illness.
Vaccines are free for everyone under 19, and most insurance plans cover them for adults. The county notes that uninsured adults can still get recommended vaccines at no cost through state programs.
Health officials say the best time to get vaccinated is now, before viruses start spreading widely.
STORY: Whatcom outdoor burn ban lifted
The burn ban has been lifted in unincorporated Whatcom County.
The Fire Marshal’s Office said the start of seasonal rains have increased the overall moisture level.
That means small recreational fires less than 3 feet wide and 2 feet high are allowed. Larger fires still require a permit.
A permanent ban on open burning remains in effect inside all cities and Urban Growth Areas across Whatcom County, where local rules prohibit burning year‑round.
Officials say residents should double‑check local regulations before burning.
STORY: Local man launches nonprofit supporting local children
Bellingham’s 2024 Volunteer of the Year has turned years of service into a new nonprofit supporting local children and teens.
Longtime school volunteer Naaman Hinton has launched Naaman’s Necessities, a new nonprofit focused on providing backpacks filled with essential items to kids experiencing homelessness, living in foster care or facing limited resources.
Hinton is known for volunteering weekly at more than 15 Bellingham schools — work that connected him with students, educators and families across the district. Those relationships inspired the nonprofit’s mission and highlighted how many young people need basic support.
A small launch celebration is planned for October 3rd from 2 to 5 p.m. at Stemma West. Admission is free, with music, raffles and family‑friendly activities.
More information and RSVPs are available at naamansnecessities.org.
STORY: WA insurance commissioner fines two major insurance companies a combined $230,000
Washington is taking action against two major insurers.
The Insurance Commissioner’s Office has fined USAA $140,000 for unfair or deceptive auto‑claim practices. The violations include slow responses, missed deadlines, and failing to include required taxes and fees in settlements.
It has also fined Allstate $90,000 for claim‑handling violations. The office says Allstate failed to clearly explain to customers why their premiums were increasing.
Updated minimum claim‑handling standards, meant to tighten timelines and improve transparency, take effect Oct. 18.
STORY: Library use spikes in WA, locally
According to a recent federal survey, Washington ranks third in the nation for public library use.
Washington residents averaged more than 11 library checkouts per person in 2024, compared with a national average of 6.5. The figures include both physical materials and digital borrowing, such as e-books.
Here in Whatcom County, both the Bellingham Public Library and Whatcom County Library System see much higher use than the national average. The County Library ranks first nationally in total circulation among library systems serving populations our size. Bellingham Public Library also ranks among Washington’s busiest systems on a per-capita basis. The trend seems to be part of a broader shift in library use. Nationwide, digital checkouts reached a decade-high 2.1 per person in 2024.
So, although people may be borrowing fewer physical books than they did before the pandemic, digital borrowing has helped push overall circulation back above pre-pandemic levels.
WX: I ain’t see no light but some light rain, pardner
And now for the weather…
Cloudy skies and on-and-off drizzles are in the forecast today, with temperatures remaining at highs around the low 60s. The same weather looks to continue through this evening and well into tonight, with the small exception of temps falling to lows around 50 degrees.
Tomorrow looks to be mildly sunnier and warmer than today. High bar to clear, I know.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRAH-guh), Kyler Cantrell (can-TRELL), Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Jenny Lam, Doug Langworthy, and Cheri Cloninger (SHARE-ee CLAWN-in-jer). 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 announces flood preparedness week (run sometime week of Oct. 5th)
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