Primary Day is here, Labor unions launch coalition on climate jobs, Guemes Island Ferry Workers still without contract, Single stream recycling starts, Anacortes reduces parking limits for RVs, AG Ferguson argues Idaho Abortion travel ban is illegal, New state housing dollars not enough, 8-year-old attacked by cougar
______________________________
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for [DAY], [MONTH DAY]. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Primary Day is here
Today is Primary Day, which means it’s your last chance to cast your vote in this year’s primary election.
Ballot boxes close tonight at 8 p.m. – or you can still vote by mail if your envelope is postmarked no later than August 1st.
As of yesterday, election officials have received more than 35,000 ballots from about 22 percent of registered voters. Voter turnout for last year’s primary was around 48 percent.
STORY: Labor unions launch coalition for climate jobs
On Monday, labor unions in Washington launched a new coalition to address climate change in the workforce.
The coalition, Climate Jobs Washington, calls for pro-worker climate action to support job growth and the needs of workers impacted by climate change, especially in communities of color and rural areas.
Along with their announcement was a report that listed 20 effective ways to create high-quality climate jobs in Washington. These recommendations include committing to 100% in-state net-zero energy by 2025, reopening the Ferndale Alcoa Intalco aluminum smelter with a clean energy plant, and making public buildings carbon free by 2030.
Researchers believe that full implementation of the report could create over eight hundred thousand jobs across the state.
STORY: Guemes Island Ferry workers still without contract
Guemes (GWAY-muss) Island Ferry workers are still without contract 20 months after their previous contract with Skagit County expired.
The previous ferry worker contract had expired at the end of December in 2019, but was extended through a memorandum of agreement until the end of 2021. The workers union began negotiations on a new two year contract at the beginning of 2022. In February, the union rejected a contract that included a two percent wage increase, an offer that was less than the three percent increases other county unions had received.
A one day strike was held on May first, and two weeks ago the union sent flyers out informing the public of possible future service disruptions due to crew shortages. Skagit County officials have responded by referencing a state law that forbids public employees from striking.
Both parties have attended mediation sessions and negotiations are ongoing.
STORY: Single stream recycling starts
Residents in Bellingham’s Edgemoor and Birchwood neighborhoods can kick their recycling sorting crates to the curb this month.
After last February’s new agreement with the city of Bellingham, Sanitary Services will be providing 90-gallon single source recycling containers for residential customers. All paper, cardboard and bottles will go into one large container to be picked up every two weeks, rather than every week as it is now.
A Sanitary Services spokesperson says other Bellingham neighborhoods will be added as the new recycling containers are received.
The city had also asked Sanitary Services to make organic recycling a part of basic residential services. Right now, about 40% of customers pay extra for a “Food Plus” collection.
Sanitary Services says that service will be added for all customers after rollout of the new recycling collection program is complete.
STORY: Anacortes reduces parking limits for RVs
Last week, the Anacortes City Council voted unanimously to reduce the parking limit for RVs from 72 to 24 hours.
They also voted to raise parking fines to $20 for drivers of oversized vehicles parked beyond the limit, and an additional $10 for any further violations that take place within the year. The new regulations apply to residential zones, but not to RVs parked in front of the RVs’ owners’ properties.
The Mayor of Bellingham, Seth Fleetwood, has proposed similar legislation at the Bellingham City Council meeting on July 24th. Fleetwood suggested banning RV parking near school properties and children’s organizations, while simultaneously requesting proposals to find a place where RVs can park with organized supervision.
STORY: AG Ferguson argues Idaho abortion travel ban is illegal
Washington weighs in again on Idaho’s abortion law after a recent ban makes it a crime for adults to help minors receive abortion care out-of-state.
The so-called travel ban comes after a significant increase in Idahoans traveling to Washington for abortions. A challenge to the travel ban was filed in the US District court in July, and Attorney General Bob Ferguson says the ban violates the Constitutional right to free travel between states.
In a recent release, Governor Jay Inslee expressed concerned that the ban will lead to a higher mortality rate in women and girls within Idaho. There are also concerns about timely medical care and strains on Washington’s resources with the restrictive laws in place.
STORY: New state housing dollars not enough
Washington home builders cannot keep up with housing demands.
This year, the state Legislature set aside more than one and a half billion dollars to try and increase the supply of housing which includes 400 million over two years for affordable housing projects.
To help curb homelessness, the Department of Commerce estimates Washington will need to build one million new homes in the next 20 years. That’s 55,000 homes per year, and half of those need to be affordable housing. However, despite record investments in housing this year, according to Tedd Kelleher, Department of Commerce Housing Division policy director, home building in Washington is not on pace to meet that growth.
Additionally, due to pandemic-era assistance and rental protection programs being lifted, homelessness is projected to increase. In recent reporting by the Washington State Standard, Director Kelleher couldn’t offer a figure for exactly how much money would need to be invested in the coming years to meet need-estimates, but did say that in order to do so, lawmakers will have to increase spending on housing as well as change land use regulations.
The average rent in Washington this year is $1,826 a month, according to a report by the University of Washington.
STORY: 8-year-old attacked by cougar
On Saturday, an 8-year-old was attacked by a cougar in Olympic National Park and left with minor injuries.
The family was camping at the park when the child was attacked. The cougar left after being yelled at by the child’s mother. Park personnel responded and the child was taken to a local hospital. All other campers in the Lake Angeles area were evacuated and the park and several nearby trails were closed.
While Olympic National Park is considered cougar territory, the National Park Service stated the big cats are rarely seen, and attacks on humans are “extraordinarily rare”. If the cougar is located, it will be euthanized and examined to determine possible reasons for the attack.
The National Park Service has tips for those recreating in cougar territory: Never hike or jog alone, be alert on hikes, leave pets at home, and keep children close and in sight. If you meet a cougar don’t run– instead group together, appear as large as possible, make noise and throw rocks. For more information on cougars, visit the National Park Service website at N P S dot Gov.
WX: Partly cloudy
Enjoy that plentiful sunshine today in Bellingham– winds are light and variable with a high of 76 degree. Temperatures will cool to an overnight low of 55. Tomorrow, expect more sun with a high of 77.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Myles Weber, Emma Toscani and Carlos Braga. 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 listener donations. I’m ________________ and thanks for listening.
###
