Body found on State Route 20 identified, Man suspected in threatening workers arriving at Bellingham business arrested, New art installation at Cordata intersection, Irrigation Improvements coming at Hovander Park Demonstration Gardens, Researchers conducting focus group on pandemic cross-border travel, Highway 20 reopens tomorrow, WA extends emergency graduation waiver, WA fishing season opens April 27, with a redesigned app, Social Security expands rental subsidy
______________________________
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, April 18. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Body found on State Route 20 identified
A body found on Highway 20 during seasonal cleaning late last month has been identified.
The Skagit County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased as 52-year-old William Summer. His cause of death remains under investigation.
STORY: Man suspected in threatening workers arriving at Bellingham business arrested
A man was arrested last week on suspicion of threatening employees in a downtown Bellingham business.
34-year-old Kolya Daughs (COAL-ya DAWS) confronted store employees as they arrived for work on the morning of April 11th. According to an affidavit filed by prosecutors in the Whatcom County Superior Court, Daughs brandished a large pocketknife and threatened to attack the workers. Bellingham Police used force to subdue the suspect as he refused to comply with the officers’ instructions.
Daughs was arrested on a multitude of charges, including first-degree burglary. According to police records, Daughs’ has a history of arrests and convictions for felony assault and other charges, including resisting arrest.
Daughs is currently in custody at the Whatcom County jail.
STORY: New art installation at Cordata intersection
There’s a new art installation at the intersection of Horton Road and Cordata.
Local artists Lin McJunkin and Milo White completed a new, mushroom-inspired sculpture that uses solar panels to power LED lights. The neighborhood wanted artwork that would fit in with the natural beauty of the area, and the new installation is inspired by mushrooms found nearby under adjacent trees.
The City of Bellingham says the work is made possible by Bellingham’s “One Percent For Art” program–– a part of the Municipal Code that requires one percent of capital improvement projects over $2 million dollars be allocated for artwork.
STORY: Irrigation Improvements coming at Hovander Park Demonstration Gardens
Whatcom County Parks and Recreation has announced new improvements to the Hovander Demonstration Gardens.
The announcement includes a new landscaping plan for the gardens, connecting them with universally accessible pathways, developing climate resilience, and installing upgraded water lines. During construction, certain areas of the gardens may be off limits, but otherwise, the gardens will be open as normal.
The project will begin in the fourth week of April and is expected to take approximately four weeks to complete.
STORY: Researchers conducting focus group on pandemic cross-border travel
WWU has announced it will team up with Simon Fraser University to study pandemic cross-border travel.
Researchers are looking for participants who are willing to take part in focus groups and can share their experiences and perceptions of travel measures from 2020 to 2023. Both in person and virtual groups will be held at select locations in the US and Canada.
Volunteers who are eligible to participate will receive a $50 Canadian gift card. For those who wish to participate in the study, search for the WWU Border Policy Research Institute online.
STORY: Highway 20 reopens tomorrow
The Washington State Department of Transportation announced the reopening of the North Cascades Highway–State Route 20– starting tomorrow.
Crews have been busy the last several weeks clearing snow and avalanche debris, and making repairs. Travelers are warned to remain cautious of potential snow and ice, especially in the mornings and evenings.
STORY: WA extends emergency graduation waiver
Washington school districts can waive certain graduation requirements for high school students for 2024 due to the lingering impacts of COVID-19.
The waiver allows districts to bypass the state’s “graduation pathways” established in 2019, which offer alternative routes to graduation such as demonstrating technical skills. Initially set to expire in the 2022-23 school year, the waiver has been extended with new limitations aimed at balancing academic excellence and student well-being. However, students are still required to demonstrate competency in math and English.
School officials and the State Board of Education say the adjustment aims to ensure that students maintain proficiency in essential subjects while accommodating the challenges brought about by the pandemic.
STORY: WA fishing season opens April 27, with a redesigned app
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will open fishing season this year with its annual trout fishing derby on April 27th.
In a recent press release, the department announced that fish will be tagged for the event in over 100 lakes statewide. The derby runs until October 31st, and anglers need a valid license to participate–which can be obtained online, at various locations, or by phone.
The department regularly stocks lakes with trout and kokanee (KO-kuh-nee) salmon, with over 14.5 million planted in the past year, including jumbo trout. They’ve also released an updated Fish Washington app with improved features and access to real-time fishing regulations as well as tidal predictions from NOAA for coastal waters and parts of the Columbia River.
WX: Sun
Your Whatcom County weather – The forecast is sun! Today’s high will reach 65 degrees, with clear skies overnight and a low of 41. Expect more sun tomorrow, with an expected high of 67 degrees. Get out there and enjoy it while you can.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman, Kye (KEY suh-LEE-nus) Salinas 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. Check out our Patreon page or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thanks for listening.
##
STORY: Social Security expands rental subsidy
The Social Security Administration announced they will expand the rental subsidy policy for those on Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
SSI provides monthly payments to individuals with disabilities, blindness, or those aged 65 and older with limited income and resources to cover basic needs like rent, food, and medicine. The department says the rule aims to simplify and broaden rental subsidy policies nationwide, improve program equality and reduce administrative burden. The expanded policy will apply nationwide starting September 30th, and will potentially increase payment amounts and eligibility for many.
For more details on SSI eligibility and applications, visit the SSA website.
