Details released regarding arrest of Bellingham man accused of possession of child pornography, Former NWYS CEO under state investigation for alleged “inappropriate relationships” with youth, Projects to impact traffic on Guide Meridian, Atmospheric river event set to hit Western Washington midday today, Healthy Children’s Fund decision appealed to state Supreme Court, Free or cheap, Average Bellingham coffee prices slightly below those of state, Pertussis outbreak leads to highest number of cases in WA since 2015
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Friday, October 18th. Good afternoon, I’m David Korb______.
STORY: Details released regarding arrest of Bellingham man accused of possession of child pornography
More details have been released about the man arrested on October 10th for possession of child pornography.
Bellingham Police were alerted on September 28th by a woman who found the pornography on 38-year-old Christopher McCullough’s phone. When officers attempted to serve a warrant at McCullough’s lakeside residence, he initially attempted to evade them by hiding in a crawlspace but was eventually apprehended. During the search, police found a partially buried phone, a computer hard drive, and containers of a substance that tested positive for cocaine.
During McCullough’s initial court appearance last Friday, bail was set at a million dollars, which he posted the next day. He was released with conditions, including no contact with minors.
McCullough’s arraignment is scheduled for today in Whatcom County Superior Court.
STORY: Former NWYS CEO under state investigation for alleged “inappropriate relationships” with youth
Former Northwest Youth Services CEO Jason McGill is under a state investigation for alleged inappropriate relationships with current and past clients of the Bellingham nonprofit.
The probe, confirmed by Bellingham Police, is being conducted by the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The Department’s investigation is running in tandem with an independent investigation by the board of directors.
According to recent reporting by the Cascadia Daily News, McGill created “a situation ripe for exploitation, coercion and harm by housing at-risk youth in his own home, and discussing sexual experiences and desires”.
The Youth Services board was alerted in August of a 20-year-old former client living with McGill, a situation widely considered to be not only in violation of ethical codes for social services, but also a probable breach of organizational policies. In a letter to the board, a concerned community member said McGill allegedly shared his sexual interest with the youth – something that tracks with concerns voiced by current and former Youth Service employees.
According to Cascadia Daily, McGill declined to answer questions about accusations that he housed multiple current or former clients and made sexual advances on people within the organization’s service age range.
STORY: Projects to impact traffic on Guide Meridian
Two more construction projects are scheduled to begin on Meridian Street on Tuesday.
According to the city, left turns will be permanently prohibited onto the I-5 northbound onramp from Meridian Street due to safety concerns related to frequent collisions. Drivers that need access northbound will now need to use the Bakerview or Northwest onramps.
Additionally, the city will launch a two-year project to replace over two miles of aging sewer lines along Meridian Street, from Orchard Drive to Van Wyck Road. Construction will primarily occur at night, but some daytime work may cause delays.
Access to businesses and emergency vehicles will be maintained throughout the project.
STORY: Atmospheric river event set to hit Western Washington midday today
Another atmospheric river is here.
According to the Department of Energy, atmospheric rivers are large weather fronts that carry moisture from the tropics to the poles and significantly increase rainfall in areas that they hit.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service caution that this weekend’s rain system will also carry winds gusting up to 45 miles per hour. The advisory lasts from 2 p.m. today through Saturday. This atmospheric river is expected to bring 2-to-4 inches of rain to the lowlands of Whatcom County, and up to 6 inches of rain in the mountains. Rivers and streams will rise sharply, and the Nooksack River is expected to rise dramatically through Monday, but none are expected to flood.
The atmospheric river is predicted to affect Western Whatcom County, San Juan County, Everett, and other nearby areas.
STORY: Healthy Children’s Fund decision appealed to state Supreme Court
The group seeking to repeal the Healthy Children’s Fund in Whatcom County has appealed a September ruling that kept their initiative off the November ballot.
Proposition 5 passed narrowly in 2022 and increased property taxes to fund childcare, early learning programs, and support for vulnerable children. The fund is projected to raise $100 million by 2032. Washingtonians for a Sound Economy (WFASE)– a political action committee formed in 2019 and made up of primarily individuals and businesses from Lynden and greater Whatcom County– sought to repeal the tax in order to lower their property taxes.
In August, Protect Whatcom Kids, a group supporting the fund, filed an injunction to block the repeal initiative, claiming it was invalid. Judge Lee Grochmal (GROCK-mal) ruled the initiative substantively invalid, citing that it would disrupt county plans and contracts, which are administrative, not legislative.
Yesterday, Washingtonians for a Sound Economy appealed to the Washington Supreme Court, arguing that the original suit wasn’t filed within the proper timeframe.
If the appeal succeeds, the initiative may appear on a future ballot.
STORY: Free or cheap
It’s Friday – if you’re looking for something free or cheap this weekend, here’s a little of what’s going on around the county.
Tonight at 7:30, the Mount Baker Theatre will host a showing of The Land Has Spoken, a radio-style drama with an all-Indigenous cast. Tickets for the event, which features haunting stories about menacing monsters, treacherous shapeshifters and cunning tricksters, start at $20.75 and can be purchased at MBT’s website.
Tomorrow, local author Rustan Robertson will be at Village Books in Fairhaven to present his new book, The Wages of Sin, which tells the story of a bank robbery in Sedro-Woolley in 1914 and the manhunt that followed. Presentation begins at 3pm, and spots can be reserved at Village Books’ website starting at $5.
Lastly, the Cordata Gallery at Stuart Road is presenting Color and Line, an exhibition featuring the work of local artists Renee Cheesman, Johannes Kunst and David Syre, three artists with a shared appreciation of color and linework. The exhibition will run through January 25th, and the gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
WX: That one Winnie-the-Pooh episode
And now weather…
A wind advisory is in effect for today, with consistent winds expected between 8 to 18 mph, with gusts reaching upwards of 30. Rain from late morning onward. Highs today are expected to reach the mid-50s, with lows in the upper 40s.
Rain is expected throughout the weekend, with highs in the low 60s. The wind advisory is not currently in effect for Saturday, though we’re still expecting strong breezes.
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, Brodey O’Brien, 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 your donations. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _David Korb_______________… thanks for listening.
##
STORY: Average Bellingham coffee prices slightly below those of state
According to a new study, Washington state has the third highest price for a cup of coffee in the country – but thankfully, Bellingham roasters brew more for less.
According to Toast – a restaurant point of sale company – The average cup of coffee in the state costs $3.69, which comes behind California at $3.88 and Hawaii with the most expensive cup at $4.89. Bellingham charges 18 cents less than the state average, at $3.51 – with the cheapest cups coming in at less than 3 dollars before tax.
STORY: Pertussis outbreak leads to highest number of cases in WA since 2015
Whooping cough is spiking throughout the United States and Washington.
Washington state has reported 873 cases through the first 40 weeks of the year, a dramatic increase from 2023 and the highest since 2015. Other Washington counties are also experiencing a sharp rise in reported cases of the disease, also known as pertussis, with Chelan County reporting the highest case rate relative to population. Children aged 1-to-9 are the most affected, with 45% of cases in this age group.
The spike is largely attributed to the return of normal post-pandemic activities, increased exposure, and improved testing methods. Pertussis symptoms are similar to a cold, but with severe coughing fits.
Health officials say the best prevention is vaccination, often included in the tetanus shot. Treatment is available with antibiotics, and severe cases may require hospitalization.
Leave a Reply