WA Sen. Cantwell wants congress to act on fentanyl crisis in NW tribes, Senior Blaine man charged with suspicion of murder, man arrested after 10 mile pursuit, Fieldwork continues on Bellingham’s waterfront, Fieldwork continues on Bellingham’s waterfront, Deadly bird flu jumps to harbor seals in Salish Sea, first for West Coast, WNS – Report Card ranks WA No. 2 in long-term care, New WA air-quality monitors draw critique
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STORY: WA Sen. Cantwell wants Congress to act on fentanyl crisis in NW tribes
After the recent overdose deaths in Lummi Nation, Washington Senator Maria Cantwell is calling for a congressional hearing to examine how the fentanyl crisis has affected Native communities.
In a letter to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Cantwell cited the five deaths in Lummi and other tribes as the reason to begin a new discussion on the fentanyl crisis. Washington has seen the biggest increase in overdose deaths in the nation, and Native communities across the country continue to experience disproportionate increases in overdose deaths despite efforts to prevent and treat drug addiction and overdoses.
Tribes across the state have built wraparound wellness programs, which include medication-assisted treatment programs, counseling, cultural programming and transitional living. However, fentanyl has strained their providers and treatment options and, in some cases, led to long waitlists for services.
Committee Chairman Brian Schatz and Vice Chair Lisa Murkowski have yet to respond to the request.
STORY: Senior Blaine man charged with suspicion of murder
A 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in Blaine Wednesday afternoon.
The man named Wayne Harold Mahar, Sr was arrested after officers responded to a shots fired call on the 4600 block of East Street in Blaine. He is being held without bail at Whatcom County Jail.
No more information is available at this time.
STORY: Man arrested after 10 mile pursuit
A man was arrested after a 10 mile pursuit Wednesday afternoon that traversed Whatcom County.
According to unconfirmed radio transmissions, the 34-year-old identified as Sergio Vasquez Garcia was first spotted driving on the sidewalk on Main Street in Lynden. After a failed traffic stop, Vasquez Garcia drove the car with police in pursuit on Main Street, Berthusen Road, Loomis Trail Road, Sunrise Road and Birch Bay-Lynden Road.
Before the car could get to I-5, a spike strip was deployed in the area of Birch Bay-Lynden Road and Valley View Road. After hitting the spike strip, Vasquez Garcia drove onto I-5 with increasingly shredded tires.
The pursuit ended when Vasquez Garcia pulled over on the southbound side of I-5 near the Custer School Road overpass. He was immediately detained. Aid crews were dispatched to the site of the arrest when someone reportedly had minor injuries.
Vasquez Garcia is being charged with suspicion of attempting to elude a police vehicle, reckless driving and resisting arrest. He has one prior felony conviction for first-degree malicious mischief.
STORY: Fieldwork continues on Bellingham’s waterfront
Cleanup construction in the Central Waterfront site of the Bellingham Bay cleanup is due to begin in 2026.
The cleanup will consist of removing and capping contaminated soil, treating contaminated groundwater, safeguarding indoor air quality, monitoring effectiveness, and restricting certain land use activities.
For the past few years, Ecology, the Port of Bellingham and the City of Bellingham have been collecting environmental data to prepare an Engineering Design Report for final cleanup of the site. Both the port and city are eligible for reimbursement of up to half of their cost from Ecology through the state’s Remedial Action Grant Program, which helps pay for cleanup of publicly owned sites. The Legislature funds the program through revenues from a tax on hazardous substances.
STORY: Deadly bird flu jumps to harbor seals in Salish Sea, first for West Coast
Bird flu, already killing birds in the Salish Sea, has jumped to harbor seals in the first documented instance of marine mammals dying from the disease on the West Coast.
The deaths were confirmed in testing of five stranded seals on Marrowstone Island this summer and suspected in a seal that stranded in August. The flu has already killed tens of thousands of birds around the world, with an outbreak on Rat Island off the coast of Port Townsend killing an estimated 1,700 birds since it began in July. The harbor seal population is still healthy, and the disease is not expected to change that, according to NOAA. But the cross-species contamination has the agency’s attention, and they are continuing to monitor progress of the virus.
The disease does have the potential to spread between animals and people and their pets. The risk of infection to the general public is low according to NOAA, but when they do occur, the mortality rate can be 50%. The agency advises staying at least 100 yards from seals, dead or alive.
STORY: WNS – Report card ranks WA No. 2 in long-term care
Washington ranks second in AARP’s Long-Term Services and Supports State Scorecard. Still, there are areas where the state can improve. Reporter Eric Tegethoff has more.
CARE AUDIO
STORY: New WA air-quality monitors draw critique
The Washington State Department of Ecology announced Tuesday it will install 50 new air-quality monitors in 16 communities with poor air quality and a vulnerable population.
According to a spokesperson for Ecology, Susan Woodward, sensors designed to measure levels of particulate matter in the air will be installed in areas near cities such as Ellensburg, Everett, Puyallup, the Tri-Cities and Wenatchee. Woodward also stated that tribal communities are in talks with state officials for a potential future inclusion.
The new monitors have attracted criticism from environmental justice advocates, who argue the monitors aren’t enough. They say that a higher proportion of money collected from the state’s carbon-pricing auctions, which are funding the new monitors, should be spent on communities most vulnerable to climate change.
A recent analysis from the nonprofit Front and Centered Washington found that money from the 2021 Climate Commitment Act, which puts a price on greenhouse gas emissions across the state, isn’t going toward overburdened communities to the degree promised by politicians. Governor Jay Inslee acknowledged the spending commitments to overburdened and tribal communities and said his administration will abide by them.
WX: Mostly Sunny
Today is expected to be mostly sunny, and the high will be 70, a few degrees higher than yesterday. With a high humidity, there is a level of haze to the horizon, and tomorrow is expected to have some fog in the morning. Tonight is likely to be partly cloudy with an overnight low of 51.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN) , 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.
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