Woman arrested for attempting to run over three pedestrians in Bellingham altercation, Bellingham to establish “protection zone,” around new medical respite station, WWU president says layoffs likely due to untenable financial status, Cook Road to close for railroad repairs, Gnomecoming, Alaska – Hawaiian Airlines merger approved by federal regulator, State to hire 98 new employees for Paid Family and Medical Leave program to deal with ever-increasing demand, Free and Cheap
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, September 20th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Woman arrested for attempting to run over three pedestrians in Bellingham altercation
A Bellingham woman was arrested Tuesday night after she allegedly tried to run over three men.
According to police reports, the three men were engaged in a physical fight on State Street. 39-year-old Naomi Miller knew one of the men, and attempted to run over the other two men with her truck. She missed, but turned the truck around and tried a second time, missing again. A fourth man joined the fight, and Miller attempted to hit him as well but failed.
Miller was arrested on three counts of first-degree assault. She was released yesterday after posting a $40,000 bond. No one was injured during the incident, and no other arrests were made.
STORY: Bellingham to establish “protection zone,” around new medical respite station
Bellingham is creating a protection zone around the new Way Station at State Street.
The Way Station will provide homeless people with a range of health and social services and help their transition to more permanent housing. According to information shared by the City, the zone will restrict loitering and camping within a two-and-a-half block area around the facility, and includes restrictions on Champion, North State, York, and Ellis streets. City Council members approved the zone in a unanimous decision on Monday night.
During a committee discussion on Monday afternoon, Councilmember Michael Lilliquist said he sees the protection area as a way to help support Way Station clients. A similar zone already exists around the Base Camp shelter, and there will be one around the new Lighthouse Mission when it opens next month in Old Town.
STORY: WWU president says layoffs likely due to untenable financial status
At the annual State of the University speech yesterday, Western Washington University’s President Sabah Randhawa highlighted severe financial difficulties for the school, and said layoffs are expected.
Randhawa outlined a strategy to stabilize finances, citing a $20.5 million gap between recurring revenues and expenditures. He said the financial strain stems from low enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic and longstanding insufficient state funding. Layoffs are part of the plan, with two positions already cut. Randhawa said the university will evaluate administrative divisions, minimize redundancies, and streamline operations. Academic program offerings will also be reviewed for potential cost-cutting.
Randhawa said the university will also be requesting $21.4 million in additional funding from the Legislature.
STORY: Cook Road to close for railroad repairs
A section of Cook Road in Skagit County will close next week.
The section at milepost 1.89 will be closed at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening, as BNSF crews conduct repairs on the rail crossing. The closure will remain in place until Thursday at 10 a.m.
The road will be closed to all vehicles, including emergency vehicles. There will be a detour route via Highway 20.
STORY: Gnomecoming.
Gnomecoming is back for its second year.
The mushroom-themed circus and dance party is performing three shows in Fairhaven this weekend. Two 21-and-older shows will be held, one tonight and the other tomorrow night, in addition to a Saturday afternoon family-friendly show. All three shows will take place at the Bellingham Circus Guild.
According to the Bellingham Herald, the event features quote “an enchanted forest-themed circus show, complete with jugglers and aerial stunts” unquote. Three DJ sets will give attendees a chance to dance along. People are encouraged to dress up as a gnome, mushroom or in a related costume.
Tickets can be purchased on the event’s website.
STORY: Alaska – Hawaiian Airlines merger approved by federal regulator
Federal regulators have approved Alaska Airlines’ nearly two-billion dollar acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, overcoming the final hurdle in the merger process.
The Department of Transportation set terms requiring Alaska and Hawaiian to protect key routes, guarantee family-friendly policies, and maintain space for other airlines at Honolulu International Airport. The
merger strengthens Alaska’s position as the fifth-largest U.S. airline, with expanded access to Hawaii and Asia.
The deal, expected to close soon, marks the first major airline merger since Alaska’s acquisition of Virgin America in 2016. Alaska and Hawaiian will operate as one company but retain their separate brands.
STORY: State to hire 98 new employees for Paid Family and Medical Leave program to deal with ever-increasing demand
The Seattle Times reports that Washington’s Employment Security Department is looking to hire nearly a hundred new employees over the next two years for the state’s paid leave program.
This comes in response to the growth of the program, which has overwhelmed its staff and resulted in issues such as long waits for customer service. The new employees will help answer phone calls, process applications and assist employers with paperwork and questions.
Funding for new employees, which amounts to roughly $23 million, would come from the money raised by the program. However, Employment Security would still need approval from Governor Inslee and the Legislature to use its funds in this way.
STORY: Free and cheap
Welcome to the weekend– here are some free or cheap things to do around Whatcom County!
Tonight from 6-8pm, throw on your roller skates or roller blades and free skate at the Depot Market Square! Bring your own skates; helmets and pads (elbow, knee, and wrist) recommended. The program is free.
Also tonight at 8pm, enjoy free live music at El Capitan’s at Cornwall Avenue.
Saturday, join community members for the Out of the Darkness Walk and the Behavioral Health & Awareness Fair, sponsored by the Whatcom County Lions Clubs and benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The fair is taking place from 9am till noon at Bellingham High School on Cornwall Avenue, with the walk starting at 10:30.
Finally, on Sunday, why not find out more about the vegan lifestyle at VeganFest? This event is a free to attend, all-vegan, all-ages, family-friendly festival created to show how easy and fun it is to live a vegan lifestyle. It will take place at the Barkley Village Green from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m.
WX: Sun? Some.
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
The partly sunny weather continues today, with a forecast of clouds gradually giving way to sunshine as the day wears on. Highs are expected to be in the low 60s, with calm southwestern winds, and a nighttime low in the mid-40s.
This trend of partly sunny is expected to persist until Saturday night, where the weather will shift over to rain for the remainder of the weekend.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman (COOL-mun), Tristan Trudell, Kyler Cantrell, 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 go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thank you for listening.
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