Owners of Bellingham apartment complex unsatisfied with city’s judgment to relocate nearby homeless camp, Whatcom County seeking location for severe weather shelter, Whatcom County council releases report detailing investigation into sexual misconduct allegations, Meridian School District seeks $75M bond to rebuild middle school, State budget miscue could cost WA community colleges nearly $30 million, Four Whatcom County ferry workers to be honored at state ceremony, New orca calf born to L-pod
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, September 25th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Multiple black bear sightings across various Bellingham neighborhood
Recent bear sightings in Bellingham’s Barkley and Tweed Twenty neighborhoods have prompted concern on social media.
The bears also caused two Bellingham schools to take extra precautions last week. On Wednesday, principals at both Northern Heights Elementary and Squalicum High sent a joint letter to students and staff addressing the bear sightings. In part, the letter said that classes, lunch and recess will proceed as normal, with additional supervision provided for elementary students when outside for recess. The letter also asked elementary school parents to escort their children when dropping them off late or picking them up early.
According to Chase Gunnell, an official from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, bears are common in Whatcom County and were showing normal behavior for them this time of year as they fatten up for winter hibernation.
STORY: Owners of Bellingham apartment complex unsatisfied with city’s judgment to relocate nearby homeless camp
The owners of the Tullwood Apartments near the Bellingham Walmart encampment are raising concerns ahead of a crucial court hearing.
Attorneys for the complex argue that the City of Bellingham’s proposed summary judgment lacks a clear plan to relocate the encampment’s residents in a reasonable timeframe. Under the proposal, the city would take legal responsibility for the property if owner Li-Ching Fang (LEE JING FONG), who resides in Taiwan, fails to clear it by the end of the year. The attorneys believe Fang is unlikely to meet the deadline, especially with winter approaching, making relocation more challenging.
Fang hasn’t submitted any court documents since March. The hearing is set for today.
STORY: Whatcom County seeking location for severe weather shelter
Whatcom County is seeking a location for this winter’s severe weather shelter.
Human Services Manager Ann Beck informed the County Council that finding a location has been challenging, as last year’s site is unavailable. The county is considering a faith-based facility in Bellingham but has no confirmed site. They are seeking a space for 45-to-70 individuals that is safe, warm, and equipped with restrooms and locking doors.
The county says it will also hire about 15 people to help operate the shelter and is requesting community proposals for other shelter operators. Last year’s shelter operational cost was $400,000, with nearly 70% spent on staffing.
Other shelters will also be available, including the Ferndale Community Services shelter, as well as motel accommodations for vulnerable households. The Lighthouse Mission’s new shelter, opening this winter, will provide 300 beds, with an additional 20 beds during severe weather events due to staffing limitations.
The new shelter is expected to operate from November through February or March.
STORY: Whatcom County council releases report detailing investigation into sexual misconduct allegations
The Whatcom County Council has released a draft report following the investigation into the handling of sexual harassment allegations against former Public Works Director John Hutchings.
Council member Todd Donovan presented the report at a meeting last night, noting it is not a factual account but rather an overview. The investigation began after an April PBS story revealed allegations against Hutchings and a $225,000 settlement paid to one of the women involved, which the council was unaware of.
County Executive Satpal Sidhu faced criticism for signing a recommendation letter for Hutchings, which was drafted by former council member Kathy Kershner, later found to have been romantically involved with Hutchings.
The report highlights conflicting views: HR staff described the harassment as an isolated event, while non-HR employees disagreed. Some employees criticized HR for its inaccessibility and lack of empathy. Sexual harassment training was described as ineffective, and leadership was not held to the same standards as other employees.
Council member Ben Elenbaas emphasized the committee’s neutrality in the investigation, while Donovan recommended dissolving the committee and involving the full council going forward.
The report suggests hiring an outside consultant to improve the county’s workplace harassment policies.
STORY: Meridian School District seeks $75M bond to rebuild middle school
Meridian School District says it will seek a $75 million, 20-year bond in this year’s election to fund a series of capital projects, including building a new middle school.
The current Meridian Middle School, which is split into three buildings, has problems. All three buildings pose a risk of collapsing in case of an earthquake. A tour of the facility in September revealed a lack of accessibility, a cafeteria with only two tiny windows, and water fountains that no longer work. In addition, some of the non-reinforced concrete has crumbled and fallen off the side of the building. The District says construction of a new middle school would cost nearly $87 million – however, $16 million in state funding is already expected.
The bond would also pay for projects in the High School, including a generator, as well as repairs and upgrades to the Varsity Stadium and Performing Arts Center.
STORY: State budget miscue could cost WA community colleges nearly $30 million
An error by state budgeters could cost Washington’s community colleges millions of dollars in funding.
According to recent reporting by the Washington State Standard, the Office of Financial Management informed officials at the state Board for Community and Technical Colleges that a nearly $30 million appropriation had been duplicated in the current budget and that Governor Inslee will seek to get the money back in next year’s supplemental budget.
During a special meeting on Monday, board members warned of layoffs and program cuts if the $30 million appropriation is cut. They also voted to submit a budget request that would help keep community colleges afloat through either an increase in the system’s base funding, or with a boost in its College Affordability Program appropriation. That program requires community colleges to be compensated for revenue lost from a 5% tuition cut passed in 2015.
STORY: Four Whatcom County ferry workers to be honored at state ceremony
Four Whatcom County ferry workers are being honored today at the Governor’s Lifesaving Awards in Tacoma.
The four Whatcom Chief crew members are being praised for their quick action after a pickup truck caught fire, as cars and passengers boarded the ferry bound for Lummi Island earlier this year. Gabel Bredy, of the county’s Public Works Department, nominated the crew members for protecting passengers and stopping the fire before it spread.
The crew members include Chief Captain Serena Dabney, purser Theo White, deckhand Eli Miller, and off-duty crew member and volunteer firefighter Kelsey McLane.
WX: The exact opposite of sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Quite a bit of rain in the forecast, expected to last throughout the day with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Expect a high in the mid-low 60s, variable winds gusting up to 20 mph, and nighttime lows around 50.
There’s a chance we’ll see the rain continue tomorrow, especially in the afternoon, with overcast skies expected one way or the other.
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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STORY: New orca calf born to L-pod
Scientists are working to keep a newly-born orca calf, her mom and other killer whales well fed.
The orca calf was spotted off the coast of San Juan Island on September 15th. Reports then indicated that the calf looked healthy, but still had just a 50-50 chance of survival.
Salmon are the whales’ favorite food. The Sammamish River is one part of the ecosystem responsible for delivering salmon to the Salish Sea, which makes what happens in the river important to the survival of the calf.
The work done by groups like Whale Scout, a whale-watching organization that restores salmon habitats along the Sammamish River, is essential to improving survival rates. Whitney Neugebauer (NOY-geh-bauer), a scientist and the founder of Whale Scout, says her organization’s work seeks to help increase those odds.
