INTRO: 07:00
Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, August 3rd.
Good afternoon I’m Glenn Northrop.
STORY: Election results
The latest update last night for Whatcom County’s primary election reveals the candidates moving forward to the run-off election.
Dan Purdy will face incumbent Satpal Sidhu for the county executive position. A close race for Bellingham City Council District 4 has incumbent Kathy Kershner and challenger Mark Stremler advancing to the general election in November. John Scanlon and Hannah Ordos lead the race for Whatcom County Council At-Large position. Sitting Mayor Seth Fleetwood is slated to face off against Kim Lund in the mayoral runoff. Hannah Stone leads the race for Bellingham City Council’s First Ward receiving over 50 percent of the vote, with A-mun Collins as the runner-up. And with fewer than 200 votes left to count, Jace Cotton and Russ Whidbee will be headed to the general election for Bellingham City Council’s At-Large position.
STORY: Cougar spotted in Blaine
A cougar was spotted yesterday morning in Blaine. City officials reported a sighting along Cain Creek, near Boblett Street and Mitchell Avenue.
The Fish and Wildlife Service advises those who see any cougars to make noise, keep eye contact, and refrain from running.
STORY: New Hit-and-Run alert system in place
The Washington State Patrol has implemented a new Hit-and-Run Alert System.
The new system is a collaboration between state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies, along with the Department of Transportation, to better identify and track down vehicles involved in hit-and-run collisions. Vehicle descriptions, as well as full or partial license plates, will be included in the alerts which will be posted to media and social media outlets.
In the event you see a suspect vehicle under an alert, the State Patrol says drivers should report their location to 911 and avoid engaging with it.
STORY: Whatcom announced as rural Health Equity Zone
On Wednesday, Whatcom County was selected as the ‘rural Health Equity Zone’ by the Washington State Department of Health.
Passed in 2021, the Health Equity Zone initiative aims to reduce health inequities in areas with systemic issues of well-being. Prioritizing communities of color, low-income communities, and people in areas with limited access to health care, Whatcom County was selected as the rural zone due to its unique mix of primarily rural farming areas and an urban center.
South King County, which includes Burien, SeaTac, and Tukwila was selected as the urban zone. Both regions will receive two hundred thousand dollars per year for at least two years to identify health priorities and develop community action plans. The Department of Health hopes to use Whatcom as a case study for advancing health equity and bridge-building between rural and urban communities.
A third zone for Native communities will be selected this winter.
STORY: Veterans can get backdated benefits
The PACT act that was passed last year expanded VA benefits and health care for veterans that experienced chemical warfare. Now, filing a PACT act claim before August 9 will include backdated benefits.
There is no deadline to file but in order to receive benefits going back to 2022, veterans must file by August 9th.
Veterans can file on their own and don’t need an agency to file for them. The federal office of consumer alerts warns veterans to be careful of scammers who try to insert themselves into the filing process.
They say the way to avoid a scam is don’t pay to file and don’t pay someone else to help you file.
STORY: TOXIC CHEMICALS IN TIRES
Two Washington tribes requested federal regulators ban chemicals found in car tires that have been identified as highly toxic to salmon and other fish.
The Port Gamble S’Klallam (SKLAL-um) and Puyallup tribes, along with the Yurok (YOUR-awk) tribe of California, petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday to establish regulations prohibiting the manufacture and use of the substance, known as 6PPD. Researchers have identified an offshoot of this chemical, 6PPD-q, as the culprit in early salmon deaths in streams and rivers around Puget Sound. The chemical has been shown to kill Coho salmon in a matter of hours. The state Legislature approved $2.7 million dollars for developing a 6PPD action plan, along with $5.2 million for addressing toxics from tires found in stormwater.
Tire manufacturers say they are working with state and federal regulators to find solutions.
STORY: Hazard alert for heat, New Washington smoke law
On the climate-front, while temperatures continue to rise, the risk of wildfires and wildfire smoke is increasing as well. The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries hopes to rework an emergency seasonal rule to address the issue. If L&I is able to make the temporary rule into a permanent one, Washington will become just the second state to pass a law regulating outdoor workers’ exposure to wildfire smoke.
The proposed regulation would require employers to monitor the Air Quality Index hourly and take actions at certain levels, such as having respirators on hand for workers, or providing a room with clean air for those suffering from exposure.
There would be no requirement to stop work at even extreme air quality levels, as long as respirators are properly worn. Ultimately, whether the employee works or not would be up to employers to decide.
The department is currently looking for public comment and hopes to have the proposed rule passed this fall.
WX: Sunshine
It’s sunshine all day, with overnight lows around 55 degrees and temperatures in the mid to high-70s. Expect things to get a bit warmer tomorrow and through the weekend as we get closer to 80 degrees. And of course, things are warmer in the county– likely in the mid-80s.
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 Glenn Northrop—thanks for listening.
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STORY: Last of the summer’s low tides
The last of the summer low tides will occur today.
In the tidepools you can find starfish and sea anemones. Enjoy the tidepools in the early afternoon.
Take care to walk with caution and leave no trace. Avoid eel grass as that is a habitat for juvenile salmon.
If you want to touch the wildlife, do so gently with wet fingers. Don’t pick up the wildlife and place it into buckets. The animals not accustomed to the warmer water in a bucket may struggle to survive after being released back to the cold water of the ocean.
The Seattle Aquarium has a guide for identifying all the visible wildlife, which is more than usual for the area. Be curious and look for something you have never seen before.
Finally, wear good shoes for good grip and getting wet.
