Train derailment in Custer, Bellingham declares opioid and synthetic drug crisis, Lynden will end adding fluoride to drinking water, Port approves nearly $6K in compensation for digester tank grass removal, Work starting for Bellingham’s newest roundabout, WA parental rights law allowed to take effect, despite opposition, WA schools must serve students with disabilities until 22, court rules, Habitat for Humanity To Host Annual Trashion Show, Bellingham City Council approves taller buildings in Fairhaven’s ‘pit’
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, June 5th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Train derailment in Custer
A Burlington Northern Santa Fe train has derailed along Portal Way north of Custer.
The road between Valley View and Arnie Road will remain closed all day, and drivers are advised to avoid the area. No materials were released in the derailment, and the cause is under investigation.
STORY: Bellingham declares opioid and synthetic drug crisis
After a unanimous vote on Monday, the Bellingham City Council officially declared an opioid and synthetic drug crisis.
The declaration of crisis comes on the heels of similar announcements from the Lummi Nation and Whatcom County over the past year. In February, an executive order from Mayor Kim Lund established a first-responder office in downtown Bellingham, as well as increasing the number of police foot patrols in the area.
In 2023, Bellingham Fire/EMS reports responding to nearly 900 overdose-related calls, and confirmed or probable drug overdoses claimed the lives of 137 people in Whatcom County. That’s a 50% increase in opioid-related deaths from 2022.
In the meeting, City Council Member Dan Hammill stated that the declaration of crisis is only a first step, and that community partners will soon be issuing news about treatment care for those struggling with addiction. Council Member Michael Lilliquist said the declaration would justify further action, and that it is not a statement made so members could, quote “walk away and feel good.”
STORY: Lynden will end adding fluoride to drinking water
After a 4-3 city council vote on Monday night, the City of Lynden will stop adding fluoride to its water.
Lynden is the only community in Whatcom County that adds fluoride to its municipal water supply to prevent tooth decay, and has been doing so since 1959. Whatcom County dentists have been the most vocal proponents of keeping fluoride, reporting a noticeable difference in oral health between patients who grew up drinking Lynden water and patients who were raised elsewhere in the county. However, a group of residents first brought the matter to the public works committee and city council last year, calling fluoridation, quote, “forced medication” by the government, for which they have not given informed consent.
In May the Lynden council held a public hearing on the matter. The discussion spanned two meetings and resulted in more than four hours of testimony, with speakers evenly split between those asking to keep fluoride and those asking to end the practice. The city will use up its remaining supply of fluoride (about three to four months’ worth); keep the fluoridation equipment in place at the water treatment plant for a minimum of five years, and budget an additional $25,000 per year for community oral health and education measures.
STORY: Port approves nearly $6K in compensation for digester tank grass removal
In a unanimous decision, the Port of Bellingham agreed to pay nearly $6,000 in compensation for costs associated with the grass replacement around the Trackside Beer Garden.
The grass was torn up and replaced in early May after lead paint chips from the digester tanks were found in the area following a restoration. Flakes of paint fell outside the screens that were set up to prevent them from escaping the work area and contaminated surrounding grass. To allow the grass to re-establish properly, the area was closed to the public for three weeks. It finally reopened last Saturday.
The agreement will see the Port receive 50% less in concession fees from Kulshan Brewing, as well as Kulshan reducing its payments to the Port by nearly $6,000 for the month.
STORY: Work starting for Bellingham’s newest roundabout
A new roundabout is going in at the corner of Meridian and West Illinois Streets.
According to the Public Works Department, drivers are encouraged to take alternative routes if they can. Overnight work is planned for this week, and will be followed by daytime construction to replace the traffic signal. In addition to the new roundabout, West Illinois Street will also be getting new bike lanes and sidewalks.
The roundabout and other related projects were supposed to start construction last year but were delayed until other road safety projects were completed. The roundabout will cost $3.5 million dollars and was funded by the city’s transportation tax as well as a state grant.
In general, drivers should expect heavier traffic across the city this summer due to road construction projects and are advised to be more patient on the roads.
STORY: WA parental rights law allowed to take effect, despite opposition
A controversial Washington state parental rights law will take effect this week after a King County Superior Court Commissioner declined to issue an emergency order to block it.
The law mandates schools notify parents about medical services provided to their children, except in emergencies, and allows parents to review their child’s medical and counseling records. It also expands parental rights to opt their children out of sex education. Despite strong opposition, the Democratic-led Legislature approved the measure in March, anticipating court challenges.
Critics, including civil liberties groups and youth services organizations, argue the law, Initiative 2081, could harm students seeking confidential medical services, such as birth control, counseling related to gender identity or sexual orientation, and treatment for sexual assault or domestic violence. Conservative supporters say the initiative aims to ensure parents are informed, not to grant them veto power over students’ medical decisions.
In the ruling, Commissioner Mark Hillman noted that the alleged harms were speculative and not imminent enough to justify blocking the law temporarily. A hearing before a trial court judge is scheduled for June 21st.
STORY: WA schools must serve students with disabilities until 22, court rules
Last week, a federal appeals court ruled that Washington state students with disabilities are eligible to receive services from public schools until they turn 22.
The ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals marks a significant shift, and acknowledges the necessity of extended support for severely disabled students who are unable to graduate despite the services they receive. This extension of services will impact a few hundred students who require additional support beyond high school such as job training and life skills education.
The Washington State education department, which was the defendant in this case, has indicated that it does not plan to appeal the decision. Instead, it will work with the Legislature to adjust state laws to comply with the federal ruling.
Washington joins other states like Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Hawaii, which have previously been mandated by federal courts to extend similar services.
WX: Sun
Your Whatcom County weather today – Expect sun all day, with a high of 63 degrees. Tonight will be partly cloudy, as temperatures drop to a low of 45. The sun will continue shining tomorrow and through to all of next week.
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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STORY: Habitat for Humanity To Host Annual Trashion Show
STORY: Bellingham City Council approves taller buildings in Fairhaven’s ‘pit’
Bellingham City Council voted unanimously to allow the development of a four-story building on the Fairhaven site known as ‘the pit’.
Currently, the gravel lot on the corner of Mill Avenue and 11th Street is zoned for three-story buildings and has 75 free parking spaces. On Monday, the city offered an amendment for approval that would allow a building that exceeds height limits be built in exchange for public benefits that include a dedicated South Bay Trail easement, the inclusion of affordable housing units, and guaranteed parking.
The move prompted some dissent from Fairhaven business owners, who asked the council to deny the proposed zoning changes and keep both the open space and free unofficial parking lot. In addition, some business owners voiced concerns that four-story buildings would be “out of character” for the neighborhood.
