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Primary ballots dispersed to Whatcom residents, Off-duty Ferndale firefighter dies in backcountry snowboarding accident near Mount Baker, Whatcom libraries to stock naloxone kits, Beavers snarl traffic on Aldrich Road, near Guide Meridian, Residents near deal to buy mobile home park in Bellingham, Puget Sound Energy tests new battery with Samish Island Community, Help for WA asylum-seekers is focus of bill passed by Legislature, Low wages, high costs: WA prisoners say they’re being exploited, according to report
KMRE brings you local news for Monday, March 4th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Primary ballots dispersed to Whatcom residents
It’s time for the Presidential Primary in Washington.
Residents who have not received a ballot yet should contact the Auditor’s Office for a replacement. Today is the last day voters can update their address or register to vote online at VoteWA.gov. Starting tomorrow, you must change information or register in-person at the Whatcom County Auditor’s office.
Ballots must be returned at one of 21 drop boxes around the County, or be postmarked by 8 p.m. on March 12th.
STORY: Off-duty Ferndale firefighter dies in backcountry snowboarding accident near Mount Baker
An off-duty Ferndale fire captain died in a backcountry snowboarding accident near Mount Baker over the weekend.
Capitan John DeVenere (duh-vuh-NEER), aged 63, was separated from his snowboarding partner when he fell into a tree well around 1:30 p.m. last Friday. Other skiers were the first to respond according to Mount Baker Ski Area CEO, Gwyn (GWIN) Howat . Emergency technicians and Ski Patrol also arrived, but all efforts failed to revive him.
DeVenere was a Captain with Whatcom County Fire District 7. He was also an experienced skier and passholder at Mount Baker Ski Resort. His wife also served as a volunteer in the ski patrol.
According to the Mt. Baker Snow report, the mountain has received around seven feet of snow in the past five days. A deep snow advisory still remains in effect at the Ski Area, and conditions are expected to remain dangerous into this week.
STORY: Whatcom libraries to stock naloxone kits
Another chapter in the fight against the opioid crisis in Whatcom County has begun.
The County Library System announced last Friday that it’s partnering with the State Department of Health to provide free naloxone kits through the library’s ten branch locations. Erika Lautenbach, director of Whatcom County Health and Community Services, stated that this partnership would allow for increased access to overdose-reversing drugs.
While naloxone supplies will be limited, the library intends to refill them periodically.
STORY: Beavers snarl traffic on Aldrich Road, near Guide Meridian
In a peculiar traffic-related incident, Bellingham Police responded to reports of beavers obstructing traffic on Aldrich Road.
Upon arrival, one beaver had fled, while another appeared injured. Efforts to assist by contacting the Whatcom Humane Society and Fish and Wildlife were hindered as the beaver disappeared into nearby brush. The same beaver caused another traffic hazard later near Meridian and Telegraph Road before being apprehended by officers and safely transported to Fish and Wildlife.
STORY: Residents near deal to buy mobile home park in Bellingham
There’s good news and bad news for residents of two Bellingham mobile home parks.
Residents at the Samish Mobile Home Park on Samish Way are close to finalizing a deal to buy the land under their homes. People who live in the park secured a loan and worked out the contact, scheduled to close by March 15. The 3 acre site will cost the new owners around $5 million dollars.
However, those who live at the much larger Lakeway Mobile Estates have so far failed to buy their land. Property owners and residents were not able to reach an agreement that covers loan repayment, maintenance, and operations.
ROC (ROCK) Northwest, a program of the Northwest Cooperative Development Center, supports creation of resident owned communities and assisted with the negotiation of both deals.
STORY: Puget Sound Energy tests new battery with Samish Island Community
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is set to test new environmentally friendly technology on Samish Island.
A microgrid with a battery and solar array will be installed at the local fire station in a practice known as ‘islanding’. The approach aims to provide backup power during outages, while also evaluating other grid-stabilizing benefits. The project is expected to enhance local reliability, offering temporary power to nearby homes and critical functions for the fire station.
PSE says this initiative is a step towards their goal of becoming a Beyond Net Zero energy company by 2045. A ribbon-cutting event for the project is scheduled for tomorrow at 1 p.m.
STORY: Help for WA asylum-seekers is focus of bill passed by Legislature
A bill to increase help for asylum seekers has passed the state legislature.
Passed largely on party lines, the bill seeks to improve the integration of immigrants and refugees arriving in Washington and assist them with basic needs. In Federal Fiscal Year 2023, nearly 15,000 refugees applied to live in Washington, with 80 applying for Whatcom. For comparison, around 1,200 applied for King County. Only a small percentage of these refugees are asylum seekers.
While refugees come to the US legally able to work, asylum seekers must wait months before they are able to receive work permits due to federal regulations. Without work, it means they often can’t afford housing, food or other necessities in the meantime. The bill will increase services, funds, and support for the asylum seekers while they await work.
Governor Inslee has proposed $8.4 million in his supplemental budget to help the influx of asylum-seekers. Advocates, service providers, and legislators say it’s not enough, and are pushing for the state to allocate $25 million in its budget. The state’s budget is currently being negotiated and has to be finalized before the session ends March 7.
WX: Rain
Your Whatcom County weather – today will be cloudy, with a chance of rain and a high of 43 degrees. The rain will mix with snow tonight, as temperatures drop to a low of 28. Tomorrow is projected to be clear and sunny.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman and Tristan Trudell. 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. If you would like to help keep local news accessible, check out our new Patreon page at patreon.com/kmrenews or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thanks for listening.
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STORY: Low wages, high costs: WA prisoners say they’re being exploited, according to report
A new report characterizes Washington’s incarceration system as akin to modern-day slavery.
The report by advocacy group Columbia Legal Services (CLS), based on surveys and interviews with prisoners, details a system that compels individuals in prison to work for as little as $1 per hour, and at the same time face exorbitant costs to maintain their health and connections to the outside world. Advocates say the inability to save money while in prison also contributes to higher rates of recidivism.
The Department of Corrections disputes some aspects of the report, pointing out that the 13th Amendment’s exception for criminal punishments allows for such labor practices, and highlighting the fact that some prison jobs pay up to $2.85 an hour.
The report calls for legislative action to address these systemic issues and support measures to improve the successful re-entry into society of former-prisoners upon release. Despite recommendations for policy changes, such as higher wages and reduced costs, the state has not addressed these concerns in the current legislative session, which ends tomorrow.
