Section of Fraser Street bridge closed following car crash on Thursday, Cleanup to begin at Harris Avenue Shipyard, SPARK Museum to launch rotating exhibit, citing desire to honor Mindport legacy, Neighbors of Whatcom severe weather shelter say facility causes “disruptions”, Construction on new Whatcom County jail complex expected to begin this year, Lynden School Board to challenge five statewide bills, claiming violation of parental rights, Study indicates car thefts significantly decreasing across WA
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, February 10th. Good afternoon, I’m Theron Danielson.
STORY: Section of Fraser Street bridge closed following car crash on Thursday
A car crash significantly damaged the footbridge on Fraser Street in Bellingham last Thursday.
A black sedan lost control on the snow-covered roads and struck the bridge, damaging a section of the walkway near Puget Street. No injuries were reported. The damaged section is currently closed. The city says it’s working on temporary detour options while it plans for permanent repairs, which will take time to be engineered and permitted.
STORY: Cleanup to begin at Harris Avenue Shipyard
Washington’s Department of Ecology seeks public comment on a legal agreement with the Port of Bellingham for the cleanup of the Harris Avenue Shipyard.
The Shipyard is one of 12 cleanup sites around Bellingham Bay that have been contaminated by decades of municipal and industrial practices. The waterfront site in Fairhaven includes five acres of polluted soil, groundwater and contaminated marine sediment (SEH-duh-muhnt). The agreement – a consent decree – only covers the upland cleanup, estimated at six-and-a-half million dollars and scheduled for later this year. In-water cleanup is expected to cost 21-and-a-half million dollars, but likely won’t begin until 2027.
Public comments are open until March 12th, and a meeting will be held if requested by at least 10 people. Local non-profit group RE Sources will host a public walking tour of the site on February 26th.
STORY: SPARK Museum to launch rotating exhibit, citing desire to honor Mindport legacy
The SPARK Museum in Bellingham will open a new rotating gallery in late spring.
The gallery will debut with an exhibit which honors Mindport Exhibits, a renowned local museum that recently closed. The gallery is funded by state tourism grants, the Eleanor and Henry Jansen Foundation, and Mindport.
SPARK’s Executive Director Abby Whatley says they hope the new exhibit will boost attendance and allow for regular updates to displays. After the Mindport exhibit, the interactive devices designed by local artist Kevin Jones will move to the museum’s upcoming Wonderlab space.
STORY: Neighbors of Whatcom severe weather shelter say facility causes “disruptions”
More than 30 people attended a public meeting to discuss concerns about the Whatcom County severe weather shelter and its impact on nearby businesses and residences. The shelter is located at the former Central Lutheran Church at N. Forrest Street and Laurel Street in downtown Bellingham.
At the meeting, neighbors reported issues such as open drug use, violence, camping, and trash. Organizer Adam Bellingar (BELL-in-gur) emphasized the need to balance support for unhoused individuals while minimizing neighborhood disruptions. Officials acknowledged the challenges, and cited the absence of a daytime warming center as a key gap. Temporary measures like added trash cans and transportation options are in place, but attendees called for better security and expanded services.
The shelter may remain open long-term if partnerships continue.
STORY: Construction on new Whatcom County jail complex expected to begin this year
Whatcom County officials are weighing options for the new jail and behavioral health facility to be built in Ferndale. The complex is projected to be the county’s largest construction project to date.
Approved by voters in 2023, the $174 million facility could house up to 440 inmates, and aims to incorporate trauma-informed design and rehabilitation-focused features. Officials say they are trying to balance design ideas, budget constraints, and operational costs as well as seek local community and labor involvement. Revenue from a 0.2% sales tax increase began in July of last year.
Officials say financial planning discussions are set to begin in mid-February, and the earliest the facility could open is 2028.
STORY: Lynden School Board to challenge five statewide bills, claiming violation of parental rights
The Lynden School Board passed a resolution last week that opposes five state bills.
In a public meeting held last Thursday, the board objected to changes in Senate Bill 5181, which removes parental notification for medical services and prevents referendums. The bill also restricts disclosure of students’ gender or sexual orientation without consent. Board members argued it undermines parental involvement.
Other opposed bills include those that would establish new complaint processes for noncompliance with education laws and expand nondiscrimination protections, which the board says limit local flexibility.
However, at the meeting the board also voiced support for Senate Bills 5192 and 5263, which would increase school and special education funding.
STORY: Study indicates car thefts significantly decreasing across WA
The Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority reports that car thefts in the state declined in 2024 for the first time since 2020.
According to the report, thefts dropped by nearly a third compared to 2023. The decline began last February and has remained steady. Changes in pursuit laws and technology upgrades are attributed to the decline.
Thefts dropped by nearly a third compared to 2023. However, Washington still ranks 7th in the nation for auto thefts per capita.
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 Theron Danielson, and thank you for listening.
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