WAWU on strike, Ferndale teen dies following motocross accident, NEXUS pass interview event coming to Blaine, Bellingham startup raises nearly $50 mil to reuse crabs shells, NEXUS pass interview event coming to Blaine, Whatcom County funds study on benefits of converting fleet to electric, WSDOT looks at construction safety measures, talks to contractors about ‘awareness’ after road rage attack, Bellingham passes new bike, pedestrian master plans, Western WA predicted to see above normal fire risk this summer
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Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, May 21st. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: WAWU on strike
The Western Academic Workers United (WAWU) have gone on strike, blocking most entrances to Western Washington University.
WAWU, a union of about 1100 educational student employees such as research assistants, lab assistants, and teaching assistants, was formed last year. KMRE was able to speak with a member of the WAWU bargaining team, Lexy Aydelotte (ATE-uh-lot) saying the reasons behind the strike are primarily financial.
LEXY AUDIO Why
Last-minute negotiations went late into the night, but stalled, according to Aydelotte, when the University became unmoveable on key demands.
LEXY AUDIO University Says
Union leaders say they expect the strike to continue for ‘as long as it takes’. Aydelotte says that although the strike is a direct result of a larger problem.
LEXY Reckoning
Despite the strike, WWU’s campus remains open, and student services are operating as usual. In a letter to campus, WWU Provost Brad Johnson, said efforts are being made to reach an agreement with the union promptly and to minimize any impact on the academic mission. He also said that supporting student employees and all students is a core part of WWU’s mission.
STORY: Ferndale teen dies following motocross accident
A Ferndale teen has passed away from injuries they received in a motocross accident.
14-year-old Owen Morton was participating in his first motocross race on Thursday at Hannegan Speedway when he was involved in a serious accident. Owen was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center, underwent hours of surgery, and died from his injuries the following morning. A family friend has set up a GoFundMe to help his family with the medical and memorial expenses. So far, nearly 40 thousand of the 75 thousand dollar goal has been raised.
The Mount Baker Motorcycle Club says they are working on a memorial project for Owen with more details to come.
STORY: Bellingham startup raises nearly $50 mil to reuse crabs shells
A Bellingham company founded in 2015 by an Alaska fishing boat captain has raised over $45 million dollars to grow the business.
Tidal Vision, a green chemistry company founded by Craig Kasberg, transforms discarded crab shells into chitosan (KITE-o-sin), a versatile industrial chemical used in water purification, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals– offering an eco-friendly alternative to toxic chemicals.
Kasberg, troubled by the waste in the fishing industry, co-founded Tidal Vision in 2015 to recycle crab shells into valuable products. The company has expanded its operations, including acquiring Clear Water Services in Everett, and are planning a new zero-waste facility in Texas. Tidal Vision is now a leading U.S. producer of chitosan, a market projected to grow significantly.
STORY: NEXUS pass interview event coming to Blaine
For those waiting for their NEXUS pass, there will be a three-day NEXUS enrollment event in Blaine starting June 4th.
The NEXUS pass allows travelers from both Canada and the U.S. to expedite their border crossing wait times, no matter the mode of travel. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Canada Border Services Agency are hosting the interviews for conditionally approved NEXUS applicants to help address the enrollment backlog.
Authorities urge any interested parties that haven’t applied yet to begin the online application process immediately. Applicants then must schedule an interview for the event held at Blaine’s Trusted Traveler Enrollment Center.
A $50 application fee will cover five years of membership to the program.
STORY: Whatcom County funds study on benefits of converting fleet to electric
Whatcom County has funded a study to understand the cost and benefits of switching to electric vehicles.
According to Public Works Director, Elizabeth Kosa, Markers Architecture and Urban Design will be assessing what electric vehicles are available to replace current fleet vehicles, the cost to buy and install equipment, and other infrastructure. The study will also help to understand utility infrastructure constraints as well as evaluating the sustainability of the new vehicles before purchasing them. This study information will also give a better sense of what grants to pursue.
The City of Bellingham has already started to switch over, with about 24% of the city’s fleet using alternative fuels. According to the Public Works Department, the city has been working on reducing carbon emissions and has been purchasing hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully electric vehicles, including utility cars, passenger vans, e-bikes, and e-scooters.
The study will cost 80 thousand dollars.
STORY: WSDOT looks at construction safety measures, talks to contractors about ‘awareness’ after road rage attack
The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is considering additional safety protocols for contractors after an incident on I-5 last week.
A man drove into a construction zone near Union Slough (SLEW) in Seattle, rammed a work truck, and physically fought with the workers using a hammer before confronting a trooper, which led to his fatal shooting by a Washington State Patrol officer.
WSDOT spokesperson Tom Pearce emphasized the rarity of such incidents and the importance of worker safety. The contractor, Atkinson, has provided support and held a safety review meeting for their employees following the event. Pearce highlighted the need for drivers to remain patient and aware in construction zones, noting a history of collisions in the area.
WX: Sunny
Your Whatcom County weather today – Expect rain all day, with a high of 55 degrees. Temperatures will drop to a low of 47 tonight. The rain will continue into tomorrow.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman, and Kye Salinas (KEY suh-LEE-nus). 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.
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FREE OR CHEAP 24th
After the Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, why not head over to Elizabeth Station for a free Spring Community Market on May 25th from 3-to-8 PM at 1400 W Holly St. The event will feature games, music, and local vendors with unique items.
STORY: Bellingham passes new bike, pedestrian master plans
STORY: Western WA predicted to see above normal fire risk this summer
According to the most recent predictions, Western Washington is entering this fire season dry, with chances of wildfire expected to build heading into the hottest months of the year.
Western Washington’s wildfire risk will begin to rise above normal in July and August, according to the National Interagency Fire Center’s wildfire outlook. The rest of the state is predicted to face normal conditions.
Washington Department of Natural Resources Fire meteorologist Matt Dehr (DARE) says he doesn’t see any indicators that this year will be as bad as years past. However, dry conditions, including low snowpack, below average precipitation and a statewide drought emergency, are driving the higher risk in the North and Central Cascades and on the Olympic Peninsula, Dehr said. A low snowpack exposes fuels quicker, he said, allows soil to start drying out earlier and means lower stream flows and water availability lower in elevation.
The fire center hasn’t predicted conditions beyond August, but an expected climatic switch to La Niña weather patterns, which feature cooler and wetter conditions, could bring some relief to dry conditions.
