Election coverage, Bellingham native seriously injured in fatal train crash in Spain, Mount Vernon robbery results in Skagit Valley College campus lockdown, Ferndale PD responds to reported home burglary on Monument Drive, EMS training in Ferndale, Army Corps of Engineers wraps work on levee repairs across Whatcom and Skagit, WCC announces launch of new science allied health program, Community Conversations event scheduled Dec 3 (run bet. 11/27 & 12/1), WDFW seeking public comment on plan to establish permanent requirement for fishing endorsements
Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, November, 5. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
UPDATE: Election coverage
Ballots continue to be counted in Whatcom County, with the latest results showing steady outcomes.
Statewide results show Initiative 638 — which restricts participation in certain girls’ sports to students defined as biologically female — passing, with about 57% voting yes. Initiative 645, which would repeal the state’s tax on income over $1 million and ban future income‑based taxes, was failing, with roughly 58% voting no. Initiative 001, restoring earlier parental‑rights language for public‑school students, was also trailing, with about 53% voting no.
In local races, Democrat Jesse Corkern has increased his lead over Ryan Swinburnson in the county prosecutor’s race to 58 percent. Michael Alvarez Shepard leads Erika Creydt in the 42nd District Senate race with nearly 57 percent.
Chris Elder, Port Commissioner candidate Tor Benson, and PUD Commissioner Eddy Ury also maintain comfortable leads.
Meanwhile, Lynden’s public safety levy remains in trouble, with nearly 64 percent voting against it. The Fire Protection District One’s levy is closer, but still narrowly trailing.
Skagit County’s latest election returns show similar consistent results.
In the race for Skagit County Commissioner District 3, Democrat Joe Burns leads Republican incumbent Keith Wagoner with nearly 60 percent of the vote. Chris Baldwin is leading the sheriff’s race with almost 74 percent, and Democrat Jeremy Harrison-Smith leads Mark Hulst in the auditor’s race with nearly 56 percent.
In the 39th Legislative District, Republicans Sam Low and Steve Ewing are leading their respective state House races. In the 10th District, Democrats Clyde Shavers and Dave Paul have substantial leads.
Local Skagit funding measures continue to fare well. Mount Vernon’s transportation sales tax renewal has nearly 75 percent support, while Sedro-Woolley voters continue to favor joining the Central Skagit Library District. Finally, La Conner’s school modernization levy has an approval of more than 72 percent.
These are still unofficial results, with additional ballots to be counted before certification on November 24th.
STORY: Bellingham native seriously injured in fatal train crash in Spain
A Bellingham native studying abroad in Spain was seriously injured in last week’s train collision near Madrid.
20‑year‑old Austin Hartman, a 2024 Bellingham High School graduate and junior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, was traveling with a classmate to Seville when the crash happened. 69 people died in the crash, one of the deadliest in Spanish history.
Hartman suffered extensive injuries and remains hospitalized, facing multiple surgeries and a long recovery. He’s not expected to return to the U.S. for at least two months.
A GoFundMe campaign supporting Hartman has been set up. As of this morning, it had raised nearly $84,000.
STORY: Mount Vernon robbery results in Skagit Valley College campus lockdown
Skagit Valley College’s Mount Vernon campus went into lockdown yesterday after a reported robbery near campus.
College officials told students, employees, and visitors to stay inside, secure doors, remain away from windows, and wait for further instructions while Mount Vernon Police searched the area. People off campus were asked to stay away until the situation was resolved.
Police later determined the suspect was no longer in the area, and SVC lifted the lockdown around 5:30 p.m. Normal operations have resumed.
STORY: Ferndale PD responds to reported home burglary on Monument Drive
Ferndale schools were also briefly on lockdown yesterday.
Police say the secure mode was triggered after officers responded to a reported residential burglary on Monument Drive around 11 a.m. Officers set a perimeter and, unsure whether the suspects were still inside or armed, requested assistance from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s SWAT team.
Schools near the scene stayed in secure mode until officers determined the area was safe. The investigation continues, and no additional details have been released.
STORY: EMS training in Ferndale
Local police and fire agencies are conducting joint emergency response training in Ferndale this month.
Ferndale Police say the first of three emergency‑response training sessions begins today at Johnstone Supply on West Smith Road. The training is designed to strengthen coordination between law enforcement and emergency medical crews during a mass‑casualty scenario. Whatcom County Fire District 7 will take part, and officers from Blaine, Sumas, and Everson have been invited.
Residents and nearby businesses may see increased police, fire, and EMS activity. They may also hear simulated gunfire from blank rounds used in the drills. Officials emphasize it’s all part of planned training, and not an active emergency.
STORY: Army Corps of Engineers wraps work on levee repairs across Whatcom and Skagit
Crews have finished flood‑protection repairs on several levees in Whatcom and Skagit counties ahead of the winter storm season.
According to My Bellingham Now, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed work on nine levees damaged during last year’s flooding. In Whatcom County, repairs were made on Hannegan, Bylsma, and Ritter roads to reduce erosion risk and strengthen the structures before heavy rains return.
Six levees in Skagit County were also reinforced, including the North Fork Skagit River levee in Mount Vernon, where crews added large armor rock to stabilize the riverbank.
The projects were carried out under federal levee‑repair authority and an Army initiative aimed at speeding up critical infrastructure work.
WX: Remember, remember, the drips of November
And now for the weather,
A mix of rain and sun are in the forecast for the rest of today, as well as some mild wind gusts here and there. Highs are projected in the upper-50s, and should drop down to the upper-40s by the evening. Tonight, expect more cloud cover, with some light showers arriving sometime in the early morning.
Those showers look to kick it into high gear by tomorrow, with forecasts calling for up to a quarter-inch of rain.
A quick heads‑up for tomorrow: a Wind Advisory runs from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Whatcom and Skagit lowlands, with south winds 20 to 30 miles an hour and gusts near 50. Secure anything outdoors and use extra caution if you’re driving a high‑profile vehicle.
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 (eye) Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Jenny Lam, Doug Langworthy, and Cheri Cloninger (SHARE-ee CLAWN-in-ger). 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: WCC announces launch of new science allied health program
Students exploring careers in healthcare have a new education option at Whatcom Community College.
WCC has launched an Associate of Science degree in Allied Health designed to give students a clearer, more flexible path into a wide range of health‑care fields. College officials say the degree streamlines prerequisites, supports financial aid, and helps students move more efficiently into programs ranging from dental and medical assisting to nursing, radiologic technology, public health, and veterinary fields.
The program also includes an introductory course covering CPR, blood‑borne pathogens, basic lifesaving skills, and mental‑health first‑aid certification. Working professionals can receive up to 15 credits for eligible health‑care credentials, while some licensed workers can claim up to 45 transfer credits.
The degree was developed with Bellingham Technical College and UW Bothell. Students who complete it can transfer at junior standing into UW Bothell’s Bachelor of Health Studies program.
STORY: Community Conversations event scheduled Dec 3 (run bet. 11/27 & 12/1)
Three Whatcom County Councilmembers will take part in a Community Conversations event in Lynden next month/next week/this week.
Barry Buchanan, Jon Scanlon and Mark Stremler plan to meet with residents on Thursday, December 3, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Lynden Library. The Community Conversations series is designed to give people a chance to connect with councilmembers outside of formal meetings, ask questions, share ideas and hear updates on county issues.
More information about upcoming Community Conversations events is available on the county’s website.
STORY: WDFW seeking public comment on plan to establish permanent requirement for fishing endorsements
Should a fee for recreational fishing in the Columbia River be made permanent?
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is inviting public comment on whether the annual fee of $8.75 for anglers should be extended beyond the expiration date in January 2028
The fee applies to anglers over 15 years old who fish for salmon or steelhead.
The comment period ends on November 20 this year.
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