Cold and winter weather advisories extended, school delays continue, Three arrested following pair of drug busts in Kendall, Crowds gather in downtown Bellingham to protest Trump administration’s immigration action, Port Commission approves lease of space to gravel stockpiling company, Gas prices trending up in Whatcom County, Parental “bill of rights,” proposed in Olympia draws controversy, WA sees first whooping cough death in over a decade, Free, as well as Cheap
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, February 6th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Cold and winter weather advisories extended, school delays continue
Parts of Whatcom County saw up to four inches of snow overnight, with even more accumulation at higher elevations.
For the fourth consecutive day, the Blaine and Ferndale school districts were closed again this Thursday. The Meridian, Lynden and Mount Baker school districts, as well as the Lummi Nation School and Early Learning, were on a two-hour delay. Nooksack Valley and Bellingham Public Schools operated on a normal schedule.
Western Washington University and Northwest Indian College were also on a two hour delay, while Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Technical College were on normal schedules.
A cold weather advisory is extended until 10 a.m. tomorrow, with more snow likely over the weekend.
STORY: Three arrested following pair of drug busts in Kendall
Three people were arrested in Kendall following two separate drug busts conducted by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
According to police reports, deputies recovered over 300 grams of fentanyl, along with smaller amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine. Authorities also seized nearly $6,000 in cash, two illegal firearms, and other prohibited weapons, including metal knuckles and a butterfly knife. The suspects face charges of possession with intent to deliver and other related offenses.
STORY: Crowds gather in downtown Bellingham to protest Trump administration’s immigration action
Around 150 demonstrators gathered in downtown Bellingham yesterday as part of a national protest against the Trump administration.
Braving freezing temperatures, demonstrators marched to the Whatcom County Courthouse to protest President Trump’s executive orders, which have led to immigrant deportations, federal payment stoppages, and the dismantling of government watchdogs. The protest was organized locally but without a permit, and remained peaceful and orderly.
Participants expressed opposition to the president’s actions; others voiced concerns about their grandchildren’s future and economic inequality. The rally coincided with nationwide protests, including one in Olympia, which targeted Trump’s executive orders and the conservative Project 2025 movement.
STORY: Port Commission approves lease of space to gravel stockpiling company
Port of Bellingham commissioners unanimously approved a lease with Granite Construction on Tuesday to use part of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal to import, export and stockpile gravel.
The lease starts March 1st, and includes five acres at the log pond area as well as 4,600 square feet of warehouse space. Granite will supply washed crushed granite, limestone and other rock fragments for civil construction projects.
Granite plans to build a conveyor system, hopper, truck scale, and scale house at the terminal, but will not crush or wash gravel on-site. The operation is expected to generate up to $500,000 annually and create 192 union job shifts per year, plus 13 full-time employees for Granite.
The company says it will offload at least six barges in the first year, increasing to 12 barges by year three. Granite emphasizes its commitment to environmental safeguards, saying it holds multiple state permits and has agreed to follow stormwater management regulations.
No public opposition was voiced during the meeting, and commissioners highlighted the benefits of reduced highway truck traffic and the increased support to local construction needs.
STORY: Gas prices trending up in Whatcom County
Gas prices in Bellingham and Whatcom County have increased this month.
According to AAA (TRIPLE A), the average cost of gas in both Bellingham and Whatcom County is $3.93 a gallon, a 13-cent increase when compared to January.
On average, Washington charges $3.96 per gallon, a 6-cent increase from January’s average. AAA states that Washington has the third-highest gas prices in the country, losing only to Hawaii and California.
On average, the price of a gallon of gas across the United States was $3.10 as of Tuesday.
STORY: Parental “bill of rights,” proposed in Olympia draws controversy
Democrats are proposing amendments to the Washington Parental Rights Initiative that would alter timelines for parental notification about criminal incidents.
Washington’s Parental Rights Initiative passed with bipartisan support in 2023 and outlines 15 rights for parents of public school students. They include parental notifications on safety issues, academics, medical issues, and law enforcement matters. A lawsuit challenging the initiative’s constitutionality was dismissed in January 2024, which allowed the law to take full effect. Proponents now say the changes would align notification requirements with Washington state’s 48-hour rule to avoid interfering with police investigations and to comply with federal privacy laws.
Republicans argue these changes undermine parental rights, and accuse Democrats of trying to reverse the law. Democrats, supported by the Association of Washington School Principals, insist the modifications are to ensure legal clarity and protect students’ privacy.
The debate gained national attention after President Trump and Senator Ted Cruz amplified false claims that suggested Democrats voted to withhold information from parents about school-related sexual abuse. Supporters argue that Republicans are spreading misinformation for political gain.
Despite initial concerns over potential conflicts with federal laws and vague language, the Democratic-controlled Legislature adopted the initiative to avoid a statewide vote. The bills have passed along party lines, with Republicans pushing for amendments that were ultimately rejected.
STORY: WA sees first whooping cough death in over a decade
A child under five in Spokane County died of whooping cough in November, marking Washington’s first fatality from the disease in over a decade.`
The CDC confirmed the cause of death, and noted the child had received some DTaP (dee-TAP) vaccine doses but hadn’t completed the full series. The CDC recommends five DTaP doses for children, with boosters for adolescents and adults.
Washington saw a surge in whooping cough cases last year, with over 2,000 cases reported. Whitman, Pend Oreille (POND o-RAY), and Clark counties had the highest rates, while King County reported lower numbers.
Immunization rates among kindergartners have declined in recent years, with only 87% reported up to date in the 2023-thru-24 school year compared to 91% in 2020-thru-21.
Health officials say vaccinations are essential, as infants and young children are most vulnerable to whooping cough.
WX: I do believe you’re all bluster, Mr. Caldlow.
And now for your Whatcom County weather,
The winter weather advisory has been extended until 10 PM tonight. Today’s forecast calls for occasional sunshine as the day wears on, with highs in the mid-30s. The wind chill is expected to ramp up today, and expect more clouds as we move into the evening— which should bring nighttime lows down to the teens.
The sun and cold winds are expected to persist throughout tomorrow, with chances of snowfall at night.
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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