Assault in front of Whatcom severe weather shelter to lead to increased security, Suspect in recent Custer shooting formally charged with second-degree murder, Free assistance with tax preparation to be available in Bellingham beginning in February, WWU repatriates nearly 300 items of significance to indigenous communities, including human remains, Whatcom Racial Equity Commission releases first annual report, State AG sues Trump administration over order to end birthright citizenship, Whatcom lifts restrictions on most shellfish farming, still in effect in Drayton Harbor and Semiahmoo
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, January 22nd. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Assault in front of Whatcom severe weather shelter to lead to increased security
Whatcom County Health and Community Services say they will increase security at the severe weather shelter in Bellingham after an alleged assault yesterday morning.
An argument between two guests from the previous night broke out inside the shelter and escalated, leaving one person hospitalized with a stab wound and another in custody on suspicion of first-degree assault.
In response, Bellingham Police says it will provide extra patrols, and the shelter says it will add more security guards. Guests must sign a code of conduct that includes a no-weapons policy. Health officials emphasized that guest and staff safety is the top priority, with strict rules prohibiting violence.
The shelter has been open since Friday, and provides services to individuals affected by cold weather and the cleanup of the homeless encampment at Northwest Avenue and Bakerview Road. On Monday night, the shelter housed 90 people and assisted seven others in the lobby.
STORY: Suspect in recent Custer shooting formally charged with second-degree murder
Whatcom County authorities have charged 43-year-old Valentin (val-un-TEEN) Rivera with second-degree murder and domestic violence-related assault following a fatal shooting on January 12th.
Deputies responded to Valley View Road in Custer after a witness reported multiple gunshots. They found 52-year-old Angel Rodriguez lying inside an open closet with multiple gunshot wounds.
Court records reveal that Rivera and Rodriguez, who were friends, had been drinking with two others for about five hours when they started to argue. Deputies later found Rivera unresponsive in the hallway with a handgun under his head and shell casings nearby. He was taken to the hospital and later booked into Whatcom County Jail on a two-million-dollar bail.
Rivera’s arraignment is scheduled for Friday.
STORY: Free assistance with tax preparation to be available in Bellingham beginning in February
It’s tax time again, but free assistance with tax preparation will be available in Bellingham from February 1st till April 12th.
Tax-Aide, a free tax preparation service by the AARP Foundation, will be offered at First Congregation Church (on Cornwall Avenue) Mondays
through Wednesdays from 3–6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. Spanish translators will be available on Saturdays.
IRS-certified volunteers will assist taxpayers regardless of age or income; however, those with taxable farm income, rental property, or complex returns (i.e. over $35,000 in business expenses) are ineligible. Last year, over a thousand families in Whatcom County benefited from the program.
Participants should bring W-2 and 1099 forms, tax information, a copy of last year’s returns, Social Security cards for all individuals, and a photo ID for the primary taxpayer and spouse. Those with health insurance through WA Health Plan Finder must bring their 1095-A form. Doors open 15 minutes before the start time.
STORY: WWU repatriates nearly 300 items of significance to indigenous communities, including human remains
Western Washington University says it has repatriated 41 Indigenous remains and 238 cultural items to their ancestral communities.
Repatriation aligns with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act – or NAGPRA (nag-PRUH) – and requires institutions who receive federal funding to return cultural items and remains to Indigenous communities.
In a recent interview, Western’s NAGPRA program manager Alyson Rollins announced that the University has worked with 34 Native American tribes and Canadian First Nations to return items in its possession. Rollins says they are making headway – they have transferred five remains to
ancestral communities, including three to the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. She says the university continues to store others based on tribal requests.
According to Rollins, university staff have conducted detailed reviews of collections alongside tribal experts to ensure no ancestors or sacred items are overlooked.
STORY: Whatcom Racial Equity Commission releases first annual report
The Whatcom Racial Equity Commission has released its first annual report.
The commission was formed by the Whatcom County Council in late 2022, and says it spent its first year focused on organizational groundwork. The goal of the organization is to promote diversity and advise local policymakers on ways to address systemic racial disparities.
The commission held its first meeting last June, and identified 12 focus areas, some of which were economic mobility, justice, education, mental health, and systemic racism. The commission says it plans a retreat next month to refine priorities and finalize its website.
Once finalized, the annual report will be available online via the Chuckanut Health Foundation’s website.
STORY: State AG sues Trump administration over order to end birthright citizenship
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship.
The order, issued on Trump’s first day in office, attempts to reinterpret the Citizenship Clause of the Constitution, which guarantees citizenship to all individuals born in the U.S. Brown contends the president lacks the authority to amend the Constitution or overturn over a century of legal precedent that affirms birthright citizenship.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington and joined by three other states, is part of a wave of challenges from 18 states, the District of Columbia, and various advocacy groups. The Attorney General also requested an immediate court block on the order, comparing it to the Dred Scott decision – an overturned Supreme Court case which denied citizenship to enslaved people and their descendants.
Trump’s order states that individuals born to non-citizen parents without permanent legal status are not subject to U.S. jurisdiction and, therefore, ineligible for citizenship — a claim that contradicts Supreme Court precedent and longstanding interpretations of the 14th Amendment. Legal experts, including constitutional law professors, have dismissed the order as unconstitutional and politically motivated.
The lawsuit highlights the potential impact on 153,000 children born in the U.S. annually – including 4,000 in Washington – who could be stripped of
citizenship and rendered stateless. He emphasizes the far-reaching harm of the order, calling it quote “unconstitutional, un-American, and cruel” unquote.
The lawsuit is part of broader opposition to Trump’s immigration policies, which include mass deportations, refugee bans, and a declared national emergency at the southern border. Brown, who just took office a week ago, credited former Attorney General – and now-Governor – Bob Ferguson for preparing the state for rapid litigation in response to Trump’s policies.
WX: Sunny & Cher
And now for your Whatcom County weather,
We can expect partly-sunny skies today, with highs in the low-40s. The scattered cloud cover will continue into the evening, when temperatures are expected to drop to lows in the mid-20s.
A chance of some light rainfall is in the forecast for tomorrow evening. Beyond that, we can expect yet more clouds, sun, and chilly breezes.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Paloma Ortiz, Stevie Sjogren (SHOW-gren), and Miguel Garduño (MEE-gel gar-DOO-ño). Our news director is Staci Baird. 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: Whatcom lifts restrictions on most shellfish farming, still in effect in Drayton Harbor and Semiahmoo
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