Arrest warrant issued for Lynden woman accused of animal cruelty, Blaine inches toward de-annexation, Whatcom sees uptick in DUI arrests across September, Governor nominates 99 low-income areas for state Opportunity Zones program, three in Whatcom and Skagit, Mt. Vernon debating new stadium, Supreme Court order could lead to mass redrawing of WA’s congressional districts, Freap, Crypto company ordered to shut down (run 10/12), Flood Preparedness Open House (run 10/9 or 10/12), Orca Recovery Day happens Saturday (Oct 17), BFA public meeting, Bellingham Swimmer, 60, Wins Three Medals and Sets Pacific Northwest Masters Record, Bellingham to hold public hearing over proposed regional fire authority (run 10/9 or 10/12), Public invited to Port of Bellingham open house (Oct 29), Health department cider pressing safety (weak story – break glass only in emergency)
Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Friday, October 9th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
UPDATE: Arrest warrant issued for Lynden woman accused of animal cruelty
An arrest warrant has been issued for the founder of a dog rescue in Lynden.
Ashley Georgia who founded Pittie Project PNW faces 30 counts of animal cruelty.
The sheriff’s office said they rescued 17 dogs from the center in early October and volunteers had previously removed 13 dogs.
Most of the dogs are now in foster care.
STORY: Blaine inches toward de-annexation
Blaine is one step closer to shrinking its city limits.
The County Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve an agreement regarding road repairs tied to the city’s de-annexation. Blaine residents voted in 2025 to remove about 570 acres of undeveloped rural land from the city’s eastern boundary.
The area includes roughly a mile and a half of H Street Road, which county officials say needs pavement, signage, and drainage work done.
Under the agreement, the county will oversee a $1.25M road improvement project, with Blaine covering 20 percent of the cost. The city will also remain responsible for maintaining the road until construction begins or July 2030, whichever comes first.
The project could take up to 10 years to complete. Blaine’s de-annexation still requires approval from the Whatcom County Boundary Review Board.
STORY: Whatcom sees uptick in DUI arrests across September
According to reporting from My Bellingham Now, the number of DUI arrests in Whatcom County is up this September compared with last year.
There were 34 arrests, most of them alcohol related, according to Washington State Patrol data.
However, Bellingham police said DUI arrests were trending lower, with 28 last month, compared with 45 in September of last year.
Bellingham police lieutenant Claudia Murphy attributed last year’s higher arrest numbers to having more patrols.
STORY: Governor nominates 99 low-income areas for state Opportunity Zones program, three in Whatcom and Skagit
Three local areas have been nominated for a federal program designed to encourage private investment in underserved communities.
In Whatcom County, Governor Bob Ferguson selected the Salish Village area in the Lummi Nation and the downtown waterfront redevelopment area in Whatcom County for nomination. In Skagit county, downtown Mount Vernon was selected from among 99 nominations statewide for the Federal Opportunity Zones 2.0 program.
This program offers tax incentives to encourage investors and developers to put money into real estate projects and businesses in economically distressed areas. The state selected the 99 proposed zones from 152 applications, including 36 in rural communities.
The updated program offers enhanced tax benefits for rural investments and adds reporting requirements intended to better measure the economic effects.
The nominations now go to the U.S. Treasury Department for review. If approved, the new Opportunity Zones are scheduled to take effect on January 1st, next year.
STORY: Mt. Vernon debating new stadium
The Mount Vernon School District is considering millions of dollars in upgrades to its outdoor athletic facilities, including a covered stadium.
A district advisory committee has unanimously recommended a six-year, $14.45 million capital levy to pay for covered stadium seating, accessible bleachers, a multipurpose turf field, and stadium lighting.
A second option would cost nearly $18M and include a six-lane track at a middle school.
The district says its 25-year-old stadium lacks covered seating and cannot currently host graduation ceremonies or regional tournaments.
The smaller levy would cost about $140 a year for the owner of a half-million dollar home. The larger option would cost about $184 annually.
The committee recommends the smaller levy but wants the district to gather more community input on the larger option.
The district held a community meeting Wednesday and says it will determine next steps based on feedback.
STORY: Supreme Court order could lead to mass redrawing of WA’s congressional districts
Washington state’s legislative district maps may have to be redrawn… again.
A recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court narrowed part of the federal Voting Rights Act, and now a new order from the High Court has returned two cases challenging the state’s political boundaries back to a federal appeals court for another review.
The legal fight centers on a Yakima Valley district where a federal judge ruled in 2023 that Latino voting power had been diluted. A court-ordered map was used in the 2024 elections and upheld by the Ninth Circuit last year.
The Supreme Court’s latest action revives a separate challenge arguing the district was created through unconstitutional racial gerrymandering.
The decision won’t affect this fall’s elections, but it could lead to Washington’s legislative boundaries being redrawn for a third time in a decade.
Republican state Representative Jim Walsh welcomed the order, while the Campaign Legal Center, which supports the current map, says it will continue fighting to preserve Latino voting power in Yakima Valley.
STORY: Freap
If you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a bit of what’s going on around the county.
The 2026 Ski Swap starts today in the Bloedel Donovan Gym at 2214 Electric Ave. The swap runs until 9:30pm tonight and continues tomorrow from 8 to 2pm.
Ferndale’s Zombie Fun Run goes from 9 to 11:30 tomorrow morning at Pioneer Pavilion. It’s a free, all‑ages run or walk with costumes encouraged.
OysterFest runs tomorrow from 10 to 5 in downtown Blaine. Admission is free, with live music, vendors, and lots of seafood.
Ferndale’s Harvest Festival runs tomorrow noon to 5 at Pioneer Pavilion. Also free, with cultural demos, performances, activities, pumpkin painting, plus free chowder and native food while supplies last.
The Deming Log Show Oktoberfest runs Saturday from 4pm to midnight at the Deming Logging Grounds, 3295 Cedarville Rd . Admission is $15 dollars.
Cascadia Daily News hosts an election town hall Saturday from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Sehome High School. It’s free and open to the public.
On Sunday, the Northwest Free Repair Event runs from 1 to 3pm at Bellingham Makerspace, where volunteers will try and fix any broken item you can carry in.
The Fall Harvest Festival continues through Sunday at the Skagit County Fairgrounds in Mount Vernon, with free admission and seasonal activities.
And, finally, the Bellingham Celtic Festival continues downtown through Sunday, with ticketed events starting at $20. See bellinghamcelticfestival.com for more information.
WX: Ventura Highrain
And now weather…
Sunshine will break up the clouds a bit this afternoon, but it won’t last long. Expect rain tonight along with temperatures in the mid-40’s.
For the weekend, rain is expected to taper off by noon tomorrow, with the sun breaking out as the day progresses. The evening will bring us clear skies and lows in the mid-40s. Sunday should be clear and sunny in the low 60’s, cruising into the evening with lows in the mid-40’s.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg, Kathi O’Shea, KAI Blais-Schmolke, Jenny Lam, Doug Langworthy, and Cheri Cloninger. 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 _David Korb________… thanks for listening!
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STORY: Crypto company ordered to shut down (run 10/12)
A Seattle cryptocurrency company has been ordered to shut down its kiosks across Washington by the end of this year and pay a two-and-a-half-million-dollar fine.
The Washington Department of Financial Institutions says the order against Coinme resolves a multi-state lawsuit launched last year. The lawsuit alleged the company failed to meet state financial requirements, including accounting standards and safeguards against money laundering.
The impact will be felt locally. According to Coinme’s website, the company operates 17 cryptocurrency kiosks in Whatcom County and 10 in Skagit (SKA-jit) County.
Coinme must also remove its kiosks from six other states: Ohio, Georgia, Alaska, Arkansas, North Carolina and Illinois.
STORY: Flood Preparedness Open House (run 10/9 or 10/12)
STORY: Orca Recovery Day happens Saturday (Oct 17)
The ninth annual Orca Recovery Day is coming up Saturday.
The event brings volunteers together to restore salmon habitat across the region.
Locally, the Whatcom Land Trust, Whatcom Conservation District and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association will host a restoration work party at Lower Kenney Creek near Deming, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Volunteers will plant native trees and shrubs, spread mulch and remove invasive plants. The work helps keep streams cool and clean for salmon, which are the primary food source for the endangered Southern Resident orcas.
The event is free, but registration is required through the Whatcom Land Trust. Tools, water and snacks will be provided.
STORY: BFA public meeting
The Bellingham Regional Fire Authority Planning Committee will hold a public hearing next Wednesday, October 14th, at 6 p.m.
The committee is developing a plan to create a Regional Fire Authority serving the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County Fire District 8. The proposed authority would provide fire protection and emergency medical services, with the plan outlining how it would be structured and funded.
The hearing will also cover a possible Fire Benefit Charge, a fee based on the size, use and fire risk of buildings.
Ultimately, voters would have to approve formation of the Regional Fire Authority and its tax rate.
The public hearing will be held October 14th at 6 p.m. More information is available at Bellingham R-F-A dot org.
STORY: Bellingham Swimmer, 60, Wins Three Medals and Sets Pacific Northwest Masters Record
A Bellingham swimmer is showing that turning 60 doesn’t necessarily mean slowing down.
Brad Jones returned from the 2026 Long Course Masters National Championships in Sacramento with three podium finishes and a new Pacific Northwest Masters record.
Competing against more than 1,500 swimmers, Jones placed second in the 100-meter butterfly and 200-meter individual medley, and third in the 400-meter freestyle.
His 100-meter butterfly time of one minute, five-point-six-nine seconds broke a Pacific Northwest Masters record in the 60-to-64 age group that had stood for 10 years.
Jones trains with the Bellingham Masters group at the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center and coaches swimmers with the Bellingham Bay Swim Team.
He says Masters swimming is a big part of his life — and that getting older gives him another opportunity to see what he can accomplish.
STORY: Bellingham to hold public hearing over proposed regional fire authority (run 10/9 or 10/12)
Bellingham residents will have a chance to weigh in on a proposed new tax to help fund the city’s fire department.
The city will hold a special meeting and public hearing Wednesday, October 14, on plans for a Regional Fire Authority, or RFA.
The proposal could include a fire benefit charge based on the size, use and fire risk of each building. The RFA could also levy a property tax of up to one dollar per thousand dollars of assessed value — meaning a homeowner with a 700-thousand-dollar home could pay up to 700 dollars a year.
Voters would ultimately have to approve both the formation of the RFA and its tax rate, potentially as early as February 2027.
The hearing begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Bellingham City Council Chambers. Written comments can also be emailed to fire at cob dot org.
STORY: Public invited to Port of Bellingham open house (Oct 29)
The Port of Bellingham will hold an open house for the public on Thursday, October 29th.
Community members can talk with Port staff and project leaders about the future of the waterfront, airport, harbors, events and community programs, while sharing their questions and ideas.
The free event will include refreshments and information stations. And, while supplies last, anyone who gets a passport stamped at all the stations can take home a rubber Disco Duck.
The event runs from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Squalicum Boathouse.
STORY: Health department cider pressing safety (weak story – break glass only in emergency)
Cider‑pressing season is here, and health officials are reminding Whatcom County residents to handle unpasteurized cider safely.
Raw cider can carry bacteria like E. coli, which pose higher risks for young children, pregnant people, older adults, and anyone with weakened immunity.
Officials are asking people pressing cider at home – or attending a community pressing event – to clean and sanitize grinders and presses between batches; make sure volunteers wash their hands; and keep anyone who’s been recently sick away from food handling. Only apples picked from the tree should be used, and they should be rinsed well before pressing. Any apples that are bruised or dirty should be tossed.
Finally, officials are urging people to store cider in sanitized jugs; for the safest product, people should also pasteurize it by heating it to 158 degrees. This ensures any harmful bacteria is killed.
Officials say these steps help keep fall cider traditions safe for everyone.
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