4.5-magnitude earthquake off Orcas Island shakes Bellingham, Caulking gun mistaken for firearm triggers school lockdown in Blaine, WWU cuts 74 staff positions, Measles confirmed in King County, Whatcom well below recommended federal target vaccination rate, FCN inpatient care network to end at St. Joseph’s at the close of April, Whatcom County Council discusses timeline for new jail, Weeks-long road work set to begin in Ferndale, Relatives of those who have died in state custody speak in support of oversight bill, Center for Biological Diversity sues for local species of moth to be federally recognized as endangered
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, March 3rd. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: 4.5-magnitude earthquake off Orcas Island shakes Bellingham
A 4.5 magnitude earthquake shook Bellingham early this morning.
According to NOAA (NOAH), the quake’s epicenter was on Orcas Island, about 29 miles west of downtown Bellingham and at a depth of nearly 17 kilometers.
Shaking was felt as far north as Vancouver and as far south as Seattle. No tsunami warnings were issued.
STORY: Caulking gun mistaken for firearm triggers school lockdown in Blaine
A false alarm triggered a lockdown at the Blaine Schools campus on Friday.
School district officials placed the elementary school campus in Secure Mode in the afternoon, after a student reported a potential security threat. Blaine Police were dispatched around 1 p.m. following a report of an armed individual on campus. Law enforcement from the County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Customs searched the area while officers interviewed witnesses.
However, security footage revealed the reported “gunman” was actually a maintenance worker using a caulking gun, which had likely been mistaken for a firearm.
The lockdown was lifted by 1:55 p.m., and officials confirmed all students were safe.
STORY: WWU cuts 74 staff positions
WWU announced it will eliminate 74 staff positions in an effort to address an $18 million structural budget deficit.
In a letter to staff from WWU President Sabah Randhawa (suh-BAH ran-DOW-uh), the university has identified over $13 million in recurring cost reductions to-date. The reductions came from administrative restructuring, IT service consolidation, and non-academic expenses. The letter further stated that the measures are part of a broader strategy to enhance enrollment and retention, while creating new pathways for Washington students.
As part of the cost-saving initiatives, WWU will eliminate staff positions, primarily in administrative and support units. However, 36 of the positions are currently vacant. The remaining 38 people will start to receive pink slips today.
In the letter, Randhawa acknowledged the impact on employees and morale. He emphasized the decisions were made strategically to minimize disruptions while ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability.
Despite the reductions, WWU says it still needs to identify an additional $5 million in savings to fully eliminate the structural deficit. The university is also monitoring the Washington state budget outlook, which could influence future funding.
STORY: Measles confirmed in King County, Whatcom well below recommended federal target vaccination rate
Health officials in Whatcom County are urging residents to stay up to date on their measles vaccinations as cases rise across the country.
Right now, only 81% of kindergartners in Whatcom County are vaccinated against measles, far below the 95% needed for herd immunity. Health officials warn that low immunization rates put the community at risk for outbreaks. Measles can cause severe complications including pneumonia, brain swelling, and lifelong neurological issues.
Last Thursday, doctors in King County diagnosed an infant with measles. In Texas, the outbreak has grown to 124 cases, with 18 people hospitalized and one unvaccinated child dying from the disease. Measles was eradicated in the United States 25 years ago but remains highly contagious, spreading through the air and infecting up to 18 people per case.
There is no treatment for measles, but the vaccine is 98% effective. In Washington, vaccines are available for children under 18. Free clinics and mobile Care-A-Van services are available in Whatcom County for those needing vaccinations.
STORY: FCN inpatient care network to end at St. Joseph’s at the close of April
Family Care Network announced it will end inpatient care services at the St. Joseph Medical Center on April 30th.
The move marks the end of a 15-year program that provided hospital care to FCN patients, and raises concerns for both hospital staff and patients about sudden increases in workload.
In an interview with Cascadia Daily News, Dr. Chao-Ying Wu (CHOW YANG WOO), a founding member of FCN, called the loss enormous for the community and patients. FCN has not disclosed the number of affected positions or the reason behind ending the program.
PeaceHealth says it is working on a smooth transition. Pending contract negotiations, ten additional hospitalists may be hired.
The closure impacts over 100,000 Family Care Network patients, many of whom are on Medicaid, eliminating the option for their primary care group to oversee hospital care. FCN declined to comment on the number of Family Care employees affected, and PeaceHealth declined to comment on the impact to the overall hospital workforce.
STORY: Whatcom County Council discusses timeline for new jail
Whatcom County Council says it is refining plans for the capacity, budget, and design of the new jail and behavioral health center.
A preliminary budget estimate is expected in May, along with a capacity study for both facilities. In the meeting, Council member Jon Scanlon emphasized the need to consider policies that could reduce incarceration rates, which would potentially impact the size of the jail.
It remains undecided whether the jail and behavioral health center will be housed in one or two buildings. Design planning begins in August, and the final cost estimate is expected by the end of 2026.
The county says it plans to inform and engage the community throughout the process, and will launch an informational data dashboard on its website soon.
STORY: Weeks-long road work set to begin in Ferndale
A road closure and detour for utility work in Ferndale starts today, and is expected to last up to 6 weeks.
City officials say Ferndale Terrace will be closed to through traffic between Hendrickson and Legoe (LEGO) avenues from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Residents in the area will still have access to their homes, and normal traffic flow will resume after work hours and on weekends.
Additionally, Portal Way will be reduced to a single lane between McKinley Street and Kass Road today and tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for a curb and sidewalk project. Flaggers will direct traffic.
WX: This video is sponsored by Rise of Sun
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Some early morning rain and clouds has made way to mostly sunny skies later in the day, with highs in the low-50s. Temperatures will drop into the low-40s overnight, with some chance of rain.
Showers are likely to continue throughout tomorrow, with temperatures expected to remain mild.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Paloma Ortiz, and Stevie Sjogren (SHOW-gren). 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: Relatives of those who have died in state custody speak in support of oversight bill
STORY: Center for Biological Diversity sues for local species of moth to be federally recognized as endangered
The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to seek Endangered Species Act protections for the sand-verbena moth, a rare species found only on select beaches of Whidbey Island and Vancouver Island.
The lawsuit, announced on Feb. 26th, argues the moth is at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and rising sea levels caused by climate change. The moth depends entirely on the sand-verbena plant, which itself is threatened by invasive species. The lawsuit aims to push federal agencies to base decisions on scientific research rather than political considerations.
The Trump administration previously denied the moth protection under the Endangered Species Act in 2019.
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