Whatcom County authorities searching for missing woman, Lynden man arrested on suspicion of rape, Batch of milk sold in Bellingham recalled due to possible E. coli contamination, Comments period open for Department of Transportation study on Skagit I-5 corridor, Mount Vernon school district reaches agreement with paraeducators’ union, announces school start date, WA receives more money for affordable housing, Free and cheap
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Friday, August 30th. Good afternoon,
I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Whatcom County authorities searching for missing woman
Whatcom County authorities are asking the public to help find a missing woman.
31-year-old Shannon Freeman was last seen on August 24th in Bellingham. She is described as 5 foot 5 with auburn hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Bellingham Police Department or Freeman’s family.
STORY: Lynden man arrested on suspicion of rape
A Lynden man was arrested last week on suspicion of rape.
43-year-old Kylen Kleindel (kline- DELL) was booked into the Whatcom County Jail on August 22nd on suspicion of first-degree rape and burglary. According to an affidavit filed in County Superior Court, Kleindel entered a neighbor’s house through an unlocked door in the early hours of July 22nd. He then went to a family member’s bedroom, where he allegedly assaulted her.
Kleindel posted $10,000 cash bail last Friday and was released from custody. His arraignment was scheduled for today.
STORY: Batch of milk sold in Bellingham recalled due to possible E. coli contamination
The Washington department of health has recalled a batch of Jim’s Jerseys raw milk due to infected E. Coli found during routine testing.
The milk was sold at Bellingham’s Community Food Co-op as well as Cost Cutter in Blaine. Although there are no reports of illness from this batch of milk, Health officials advise that anyone who purchased Jim’s Jerseys with a best by date of August 23rd should return it for a refund.
E. Coli is a bacterium normally found in the intestinal tract, but some strains are harmful. If you, or anyone you know purchased this milk and became sick, be sure to contact a health provider.
STORY: Comments period open for Department of Transportation study on Skagit I-5 corridor
The Washington State Department of Transportation is seeking public input on its study of a 9-mile section of Interstate 5 between Burlington and Mount Vernon in Skagit County.
With Skagit County’s population expected to grow by 46,000 over the next 20 years, WSDOT (WASH-dot) says the study helps plan for the future of regional transportation. The study highlights concern about congestion, crashes, and barriers to pedestrian and cycling connectivity. In the next phase, WSDOT will collaborate with local governments and agencies to develop solutions.
Public comments are due by September 27.
STORY: Mount Vernon school district reaches agreement with paraeducators’ union, announces school start date
The Mount Vernon School District has reached an agreement with its paraeducators union.
The deal was announced yesterday afternoon, with classes set to resume next Tuesday. The district says classes are not starting today in order to honor the ratification timeline with the union.
Paraeducators had been in talks with the district over a new contract since April, with a salary increase being the main point of contention.
STORY: WA receives more money for affordable housing
Washington state will receive $8 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support rent subsidies for adults with disabilities.
The funding will add 158 new subsidized rental units to the 132 already funded under Section 811 of HUD’s Project Rental Assistance program. The goal is to help adults with disabilities live independently by increasing housing options in existing or new properties. To qualify, residents must be 18-61 years old, have a disability, receive Medicaid, and have low income. The program also links tenants to support services.
Washington, along with California and Oregon, received the highest grant amounts in this funding round.
STORY: Covenant Homeownership Program launches
The Covenant Homeownership Program has launched.
The program aims to address racial disparities in homeownership by offering financial assistance to first-time homebuyers from specific minority groups. The program, which provides 0% interest loans for down payments and closing costs, is available to individuals with “deep roots” in the state, defined as those related to someone who lived in Washington before the 1968 Fair Housing Act.
Eligibility is limited to applicants from minority groups with lower homeownership rates compared to white individuals and excluding some other groups due to insufficient data. The program is intended to counteract historical and ongoing discrimination, but it is not considered a formal reparation.
Those interested in applying should call the Washington State Homeownership Hotline for free support.
STORY: Free and cheap
Here are some free and cheap activities to add to your weekend plans:
Whatcom County Health and Community Services and Whatcom County Emergency Medical Services are hosting a free nasal naloxone distribution and education event today. The event will take place on the City Hall lawn from noon-6pm to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day. Whatcom County staff members will provide training on how to identify and respond to an overdose as well as how to administer nasal naloxone. Carrying naloxone can and does save lives. For more information visit the Whatcom Overdose Prevention website.
The Port of Bellingham is hosting an Endless Summer Event tomorrow from 3-11pm in The Portal Container Village. Activities and attractions include the Circus Zone, a Portal Putt mini golf Tournament, Glitter Lyfe temporary tattoos, Plinko games, and live music from Miles Ebony and the Deep Cuts. Pre-registration is required to join the Portal Putt Tournament and information can be found on their Facebook page. Entrance is free.
WX: Partly sunny
And now weather:
Expect a warm, sunny start to the weekend today with little cloud cover and temperatures in the mid to high 70s. Winds will be calm and westward for most of the day, with lows in the mid-50s tonight.
Weekend weather is expected to be beautiful and warm.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman (COOL-mun), Carlee Schram (CAR-lee SHRAM), Tristan Trudell, Kyler Cantrell, Anna Vickers, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Paloma Ortiz, Anna Hedrick, and Miguel Garduño (MEE-gel gar-DOO-ño). 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 visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _David Korb______________… thanks for listening.
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