Early election results, Harcourt Waterfront developer also violated state, federal environmental laws, Bellingham woman dies after car plunges off Mount Baker Highway, Anacortes animal sanctuary may have to close, euthanize animals, 1,300 Providence Everett nurses announce strike, Washington makes its biggest forestland purchase in more than a decade
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STORY: Early election results
The preliminary results for the election are in:
For Bellingham Mayor, incumbent Seth Fleetwood is narrowly leading at one point ahead of Kim Lund.
The Whatcom County sheriff’s race is close, with Whatcom County Undersheriff Doug Chadwick leading Blaine Chief of Police Donnell (don-NELL) Tanksley by 2 percent.
For Whatcom County executive, incumbent Satpal (sat-paul) Sidhu (see-do) has a comfortable 10 percent lead over challenger Dan Purdy.
The Whatcom County Council at large has Jon Scanlon leading with over 55% of the vote.
For the Jail tax measure, ‘Yes’ leads at 66 percent of the vote.
Initiatives 1 and 2, for an increased minimum wage and for rental relocation assistance, both look likely to pass with around a 10% margin each.
Bellingham City Council at large has Jace Cotton at just 34 votes ahead of Russ Whidbee.
The results will be updated later this week and certified on Nov. 28.
STORY: Harcourt waterfront developer also violated state, federal environmental laws
The Port of Bellingham has found Harcourt Developments to be in violation of required environmental standards.
Harcourt, which recently defaulted on its contract to build multi-million-dollar residential condo buildings along Bellingham’s waterfront, was found to have improperly moved and stored contaminated soil from its construction site to the Port’s Boardmill Building property. This violated state and federal environmental laws.
The Port estimates that the removal and disposal costs of the contaminated soil would cost about $4.8 million. In a letter sent to the Port, Harcourt denied the Port’s findings, stating that the company had been in contact with both the Port and the Department of Ecology regarding a proposal for the treatment and disposal of the soil.
STORY: Bellingham woman dies after car plunges off Mount Baker Highway
A Bellingham woman died after her car plunged off the Mount Baker Highway on Tuesday morning.
According to the Washington State Patrol, 67-year-old Mary Coghlan was driving westbound at milepost 50 when her Toyota Prius left the roadway to the right and rolled to a location approximately 150 feet below the roadway. The vehicle rolled several times before coming to a stop against a tree. Coghlan was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
STORY: Anacortes animal sanctuary may have to close, euthanize animals
An exotic animal sanctuary in Anacortes is facing closure next month, and may have to euthanize more than a hundred animals.
The Because We Matter Exotic Animal Sanctuary, which opened in 2001, had their education tours shut down by Skagit County due to a permitting issue. The sanctuary’s main source of income came from providing these tours. Without that money coming in, they’ve had to rely on donations.
On top of the permit issue, a neighbor is suing, demanding the wolf dogs be removed. The neighbor claims that they can hear the wolves, and that the sanctuary is bringing the property value down.
The rescue says it is costing them $50,000 a month to care for its animals, something they cannot continue to afford. If they close next month, they will have to put down 60 to 85% of their animals.
The sanctuary is currently running a fundraising campaign to help them stay open. More information is available on the Because We Matter Animal Sanctuary website and Facebook page.
STORY: 1,300 Providence Everett nurses announce strike
Another healthcare worker strike is planned, this time at Providence Regional in Everett.
About 13 hundred nurses will go on strike from the 14th to the 19th of November, citing increasing concerns with staffing problems and pay. Nurses said this week that chronic staffing shortages have persisted at Providence Everett despite months of contract negotiations. The Everett Herald reported that the hospital lost more than 600 nurses in 2019, and has since hired some back, but are still about 400 short.
Concerns around staffing at Providence Everett were also mentioned in a wrongful-death lawsuit filed against the hospital last month. The complaint alleges a 41-year-old mother and wife died, at least in part, due to a lack of immediate medical attention.
In response to the strike announcement, Providence said in a statement the hospital “fervently believes that strikes do not settle contracts.” During the strike, the hospital has plans to bring in contract nurses from a staffing agency.
If a deal is not reached, this will be the ninth strike to affect the healthcare industry this year alone.
STORY: WA hires leader for new investigative unit focused on missing and murdered Indigenous people
A member of the Port Gamble S’Klallam (sKLA-lum) Tribe will lead a new state investigative unit devoted to unsolved cases involving missing and Indigenous people.
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Monday that he has hired Brian George as the chief investigator for the state’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Cold Case Unit. George, who early in his career was an officer with the Suquamish Tribal Police Department, has worked for more than 25 years for the Washington State Patrol. The new cold case unit was established this year by a law that took effect in April.
In Washington, Indigenous people make up 5% of unresolved cases throughout the state, despite making up less than 2% of the population. Data from 2018 showed that Indigenous women went missing at a rate four times that of white women in Washington, and a report from the National Institute of Justice found that four in five Indigenous men and women have experienced violence in their lifetime.
The attorney general’s office is currently reviewing applications for investigators to work with the cold case unit.
WX: Rainy
There’s a 40% chance of showers today, with a high near 52° and light winds. Tonight will have a low of around 40. Rain will come again tomorrow morning, with wind gusts as high as 20 mph.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, and Connor O’Boyle. 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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STORY: Washington makes its biggest forestland purchase in more than a decade
The Washington Department of Natural Resources will purchase about 9,000 acres of forestland in southwest Washington to generate revenue from logging.
The transaction, which is the largest state land purchase in more than a decade, was approved by the State Board of Natural Resources Tuesday. The land, located in Wahkiakum (wuh-Ki-uh-kuhm) County, will cost the state $55 million. Money for the purchase will come from proceeds from previous land transactions and from revenue generated by the state’s new auctions of air pollution allowances to businesses. Revenue from the land would benefit the Common School trust, which goes toward K-12 construction across the state.
The property is currently owned by a private landowner, which department officials said they cannot disclose until after the sale is finalized. It’s expected to close in mid-December.
Run after ruling–
The Washington State Supreme Court is set to hear a significant case involving the rights of people sheltering in their vehicles.
A growing number of homeless individuals in Washington are living in their vehicles, but they face challenges due to local laws, including bans on vehicle habitation, restrictive parking rules, and towing. These laws often force people to leave their communities, even if they have lived there for a long time.
Jack Potter, a longtime resident of Lacey, was forced to live in his travel trailer due to housing market pressures. Lacey passed a law prohibiting vehicles used as shelter from parking in town for more than four hours, essentially forcing Potter and others out of their community.
Tomorrow, Potter’s case will be heard by the Washington Supreme Court.
