Maple Falls man who shot two Whatcom deputies sentenced to 40 years in prison, Everson man sentenced to prison on drug and sexual assault charges, Bellingham man assaulted after asking for directions, One of two WWU students found dead on campus identified, Whatcom County unemployment rate declined in September, still up from 2023, NWS forecasts colder, wetter winter weather for Western WA, DOT warns drivers of toll scam in Washington, WWU enrollment rises
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, October 24rd. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Maple Falls man who shot two Whatcom deputies sentenced to 40 years in prison
On Tuesday, a Maple Falls man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the shooting of two Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies in 2022.
According to court documents, the two deputies were called to the home of 63-year-old Joel Young, who was firing his shotgun into the air after an argument with his neighbor. The deputies asked Young to drop the gun – instead, he fired at them, striking both officers in the head. The court documents state that, despite surviving the shooting, both deputies lost their jobs, had significant vision loss and developed PTSD.
At 63, Young is likely to spend the rest of his life in jail. His lawyer, public defender Kurt Parrish, has filed an appeal. As of today, Young remains imprisoned at the Whatcom County Jail, waiting for his transfer to the state Department of Corrections’ custody.
Both deputies have filed a separate civil lawsuit against Young based on the harm and losses they suffered after they were shot.
STORY: Everson man sentenced to prison on drug and sexual assault charges
An Everson man has been sentenced to prison after he sexually assaulted a minor.
48-year-old Arturo Navarro approached the minor at a bus stop in March 2023, and asked her if she wanted to do drugs with him. Within the course of several hours, Navarro plied the girl with multiple drugs including fentanyl, and sexually assaulted her. In the following days, Navarro gave the minor more drugs in exchange for explicit images and electronics.
Navarro will spend over 11 years in prison, followed by another 4 years of community custody. He will also be required to register as a sex offender following his sentence.
STORY: Bellingham man assaulted after asking for directions A Bellingham man was assaulted while in his car in a parking lot earlier this month.
One of the assailants, 43-year-old Coleman Knezek, knew the victim and instructed him to exit his vehicle while threatening to take his belongings and car. The driver locked his door, but Knezek tased and punched him through an open window, while another man stabbed the victim. The driver managed to escape and sought emergency surgery for his injuries.
Knezek, arrested on October 16th, now faces charges of first-degree assault and robbery, with arraignment set for tomorrow. The second attacker remains at large.
STORY: One of two WWU students found dead on campus identified One of two WWU students found dead on campus within less than 24 hours has been identified.
Newsweek reports that the family of 18-year-old Micah Mazzuca identified him as the student who died from an apparent fall from Nash Hall on the night of October 9th. The body of the second student was found a day later in Alma Clark Glass Hall. According to Western, the deaths do not appear to be connected, and there was no evidence of foul play or ongoing danger to the community.
A GoFundMe was set up by Mazzuca’s aunt, Vanessa Grimm, to raise money for the family, and has raised over $20,000 so far.
Mazzuca lived in Olympia for most of his life, and after graduating from high school earlier this year, attended WWU on a music scholarship. According to his obituary, he double majored in music and education, and planned to become a high school choir, drama and English teacher.
He leaves behind his mother, father, stepmother, two brothers and sister.
STORY: Whatcom County unemployment rate declined in September, still up from 2023
Unemployment rates for Whatcom County and Bellingham decreased in September.
According to the Washington State Employment Security Department, Whatcom County’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.1%, a significant decrease from 5% in August. However, the rate was higher compared to September of last year, when it was 3.7%. The City of Bellingham also saw the same amount of decline, also dropping to 4.1%.
Statewide, Washington’s unemployment rate stayed steady at 4.8% from August to September, even though the number of unemployed decreased by almost 4,000 people.
Washington’s unemployment rate of 4.8% is higher than last year’s 3.6%, and, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is the fifth-highest unemployment rate in the country, following Kentucky, California, Illinois and Nevada.
STORY: NWS forecasts colder, wetter winter weather for Western WA The National Weather Service has a new three-month forecast that predicts a weak La Niña weather pattern for Western Washington.
That means we can expect colder, wetter conditions from December through February. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center forecasts a 60% chance of La Niña developing by November and lasting through March.
That means above-average precipitation for the Pacific Northwest and other northern U.S. regions.
Meteorologists say that while La Niña increases the likelihood of cooler, wetter weather, snow in the Seattle lowlands remains a 50-50 chance. Historically, about half of weak La Niña patterns since 1950 have resulted in above-average snow. Mountain snowpack is expected to be strong, which should be good news for skiers.
STORY: DOT warns drivers of toll scam in Washington Washington residents are being warned about a phishing scam that targets Good To Go! toll users.
According to the state Department of Transportation, scammers are sending fake text messages or emails that claim users owe money for tolls and direct them to non-legitimate websites to pay. WSDOT (WASH-dot) wants the public to know that any message asking for payment through sites other than MyGoodToGo.com is a scam.
The grift targeting the toll app first appeared earlier this year, and the Department of Transportation urges users to verify their account information only through the official website or customer service.
According to WSDOT, scam messages often contain urgent language and may have spelling or grammar errors, which are typical signs of phishing attempts designed to steal personal or financial information.
WX: Cloud ‘n clear
And now for the weather:
Expect a mix of clouds and sunshine again today. Daytime highs are projected to be in the mid-50s. Expect mild west-southwestern winds, and evening lows in the low 40s.
Enjoy the sun while you can– the forecast predicts mostly cloudy skies tomorrow.
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 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: State awards over $2 million in funding for outdoor recreation facilities in Whatcom County
STORY: Whatcom County affirms food security as public health priority, outlines plan of action
STORY: WWU enrollment rises
Western Washington University announced that its total enrollment is rising for the first time since the pandemic.
According to a recent release from WWU, there are 14,700 students registered for fall 2024. WWU Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Shelli Soto says spring 2024 was the first time since the pandemic that total enrollment took an upward turn from the previous year. She says the fall 2024 numbers are a confirmation that Western enrollment is back on an upward trajectory.
FAFSA completion rates among new students are up by 3%, which the University says has also played a role in rising student numbers. The university says it has distributed $2 million dollars more in Pell Grant funding for 2024 as opposed to last year.
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