Two men sentenced for sex crimes involving children, 3rd annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Summit, WCC gets big ol’ cybersecurity program grant, WCC announces launch of new science allied health program, Parks to launch new reservation system, FREE & CHEEEEEEP (wassa matta, you CHICKEN?), Amazon plans its first large-scale data centers in WA, Washington wins $900 million verdict against Albertsons, Community Conversations scheduled for 11/12, WA challenges federal Medicaid barriers, F&C 11/13, WDFW seeking public comment on plan to establish permanent requirement for fishing endorsements
Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Friday, November 6th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Two men sentenced for sex crimes involving children
Two men were sentenced Monday in Whatcom County Superior Court for sex‑crimes.
The Bellingham Herald reports the first case involves 47‑year‑old Patrick Wayne Watts of Maple Valley. Watts was arrested five years ago after he reportedly assaulted a girl while staying at her family’s home. He pled guilty to third‑degree rape, and was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of community custody.
The second case involves 30‑year‑old Damian Lee Nunez of Ferndale. At the time of his 2022 arrest, Nunez was charged with second‑degree rape of a child and third‑degree child molestation. The judge sentenced him to eight months in jail and one year of community custody.
STORY: 3rd annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Summit
Tribal leaders, families, and advocates gathered in Bellingham this week for the annual summit on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People.
Cascadia Daily News reports families described long delays, limited updates, and confusion over which agency was responsible when a loved one went missing. Speakers said overlapping jurisdictions often slow down investigations and leave families in the lurch.
Presenters said long‑standing federal rules can shift investigative authority away from tribal police, adding complexity.
State officials said work is underway, including a cold‑case unit in the Attorney General’s Office, new tribal liaisons within the Washington State Patrol, and a toolkit to help families track their cases.
Lummi Nation Chairman Anthony Hillaire said the gathering reflects a commitment to protecting indigenous women and families.
STORY: WCC gets big ol’ cybersecurity program grant
Whatcom Community College will expand its cybersecurity programs.
College leaders say Whatcom has received a five‑year, nearly $7M grant from the National Science Foundation. The funds will boost training for students and teachers, update coursework to match real‑world security threats, and build stronger ties with employers in need of skilled cybersecurity workers. These funds will also support projects that help students get hands-on experience, and prepare them for jobs protecting critical systems in Washington and elsewhere.
Officials say the grant will help the college to continue growing one of its most in‑demand associate degrees.
STORY: WCC announces launch of new science allied health program
Whatcom Community College has also announced a new option for students exploring careers in healthcare: the Associate of Science in Allied Health program. It’s designed to give students a clear, 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 multiple programs — including dental and medical assisting.
The program also includes introductory courses, offering certifications like CPR and first aid.
The degree was developed with Bellingham Technical College and UW Bothell. Students who complete the degree can transfer into UW Bothell’s Bachelor of Health Studies program with junior standing.
STORY: Parks to launch new reservation system
Whatcom County is making it easier to reserve park facilities.
The Parks Department will launch a new online reservation system on December 1st, the same day that bookings open for the 2027 season. The upgraded site will allow visitors to search by date, view maps, and manage reservations for campgrounds, cabins, picnic shelters, and indoor facilities.
The county is also changing how reservations open. Instead of one annual release date, bookings will have a rolling window. The window will be six months ahead for campsites and cabins, and nine months ahead for shelters and indoor facilities. Reservation dates will be incremented every day at 9am
Cabins and the Lakeside Lodge will have new minimum‑stay rules, and hours for reserving shelters and indoor facilities are being updated.
The reservation website will open on November 17th for account setup, and bookings begin on December 1st.
STORY: WA wins case protecting law enforcement grants
The Attorney General’s Office notched another court win this week — this one involving public‑safety funding.
Washington won its case to protect law‑enforcement grants that the federal government had attempted to withold.
Attorney General Nick Brown and 23 other state Attorneys General secured a ruling blocking federal efforts to tie public‑safety funding to the state’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled the conditions unlawful.
The grants support crisis‑intervention programs, services for domestic‑violence survivors, and youth‑recidivism prevention. In total, the decision restores $7.5 million in funding for Washington that had been at risk.
STORY: FREE & CHEEEEEEP (wassa matta, you CHICKEN?)
If you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a bit of what’s going on around us.
The Best Quilt Show opens at It’s About Time Cultural Arts Center in Ferndale today from 4 to 7pm The exhibit features work by local artist Megan Best, known for her longarm quilting, teaching, and quilt‑shop. The show continues through the weekend and runs into December.
Now, all of the following on Saturday:
The 26th annual Nordic Fest runs from 10 to 4pm at the Ferndale Events Center. The celebration will feature entertainment, vendors, a Norsk café, baked goods, crafts, and the traditional Bunad [boo-NOD] parade. Admission is five dollars, and kids under 12 get in free.
The Action League of Bellingham hosts its Yule Boutique from 9 to 2pm at the Grace Center at Trinity Lutheran Church on Cornwall Avenue.
The Upfront Theatre is hosting a free School of Improv drop‑in class from noon to 1pm. Open to all ages and experience levels.
The Trinkets & Treasures Craft Fair runs from 9 to 4pm at the Ferndale High School gym. Expect more than 80 vendors, food trucks, and live music with the Ferndale High School Band.
Finally, the 30th annual Skagit County Veterans Day Parade steps off in downtown Burlington tomorrow at 11am. The route begins at Walnut Street, travels along Fairhaven Avenue, then ends at Skagit Street. The American Legion will serve breakfast from 8 to 10am and lunch from noon to 2pm; veterans eat free.
WX: Water and water and water water
And now weather,
Continuing rainfall and highs in the mid-to-high 50s are projected for the remainder of the day, along with heavy gusts. Both the wind and rain are expected to recede later this evening, with nighttime forecasts calling for a tenth of an inch with winds peaking at around 16 mph. Evening lows in the high-40s.
A wet weekend follows, with up to a half-inch of rain on Saturday.
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 5pm 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: Amazon plans its first large-scale data centers in WA
STORY: WA challenges federal Medicaid barriers
Washington is challenging new federal Medicaid rules that could strip health coverage from thousands of residents.
Attorney General Nick Brown has joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over upcoming changes that will require more than 600,000 Apple Health enrollees to regularly prove they’re working, in school, or volunteering to keep their insurance. Washington officials say similar rules in other states have caused people to lose coverage simply because they couldn’t keep up with the paperwork.
Apple Health is Washington’s Medicaid program and covers more than 1.9 million residents. The new requirements, part of the federal budget bill passed in 2025, are set to take effect in 2027. The Health Care Authority estimates at least 120,000 Washingtonians could lose coverage, with rural counties expected to be hit hardest.
The lawsuit argues the federal government exceeded its authority by requiring states to adopt the new rules.
STORY: Washington wins $900 million verdict against Albertsons
STORY: Community Conversations scheduled for 11/12
(basic info: Whatcom County Council Community Conversation
4:30–6:30pm Thursday, Nov. 12, Stemma Brewing, 2039 Moore St., Bellingham
County council members Kaylee Galloway and Jon Scanlon will hold a Q&A event.) NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN UP 😀
F&C 11/13
Valley Made Holiday Market
10am to 4pm Nov. 14 and 15
Hillcrest Lodge, 1717 S. 13th St., Mount Vernon
Info: valleymademarket.com.
Cardstock NW Card Show
10am to 5pm Saturday, Nov. 14 @cardstocknw_cardshow on Instagram.
Salvation Army Gym, 2912 Northwest Ave., Bellingham $5 admission, kids 9 & under free, first 60 kids get free Pokemon card pack.
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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