Bellingham employees terminated over vaccine mandate appeal judge’s dismissal of lawsuit, Whatcom County District Court announces warrant quash day on Wednesday, Center for Biological Diversity sues for local species of moth to be federally recognized as endangered, Relatives of those who have died in state custody speak in support of oversight bill, WA considering reformation of high school graduation requirements
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, March 4th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham employees terminated over vaccine mandate appeal judge’s dismissal of lawsuit
Eighteen former employees who sued the City of Bellingham and former mayor Seth Fleetwood say they will appeal their case in federal court.
The plaintiffs, including former police officers, firefighters, mechanics and Public Works employees, filed the original lawsuit in U.S. Western District Court in Seattle last June. They argue that a vaccine mandate issued by Fleetwood in late 2021 deprived them of equal protection rights, right to privacy and the option to refuse. The plaintiffs sought a jury trial, as well as damages to cover alleged harms such as emotional distress and loss of income.
Attorneys for Fleetwood and the city submitted a motion to dismiss the lawsuit last August, arguing that the plaintiffs’ claims quote “suffer from inherent legal and factual deficiencies” unquote. District Court Judge Barbara Rothstein (ROTH-steen) granted the motion to dismiss the case on January 21st; she disagreed with the plaintiffs’ claim that constitutional and state law were violated, as well as their claim that the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 was a quote-unquote “investigational drug.”
The plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal on February 18th; the case will now be heard at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit starting on April 2nd.
STORY: Whatcom County District Court announces warrant quash day on Wednesday
The Whatcom County District Court is holding a Warrant Quash Day from 10 a.m. to noon tomorrow.
The occasion will present an opportunity for defendants with a warrant to avoid jail time. A judge will quash their warrant and set a new court date without taking the defendants into custody or increasing their bail.
The event aims to get cases back on track and prevent unnecessary incarcerations. According to recent reporting by MyBellinghamNow, District Court Judge Jonathan Rands says the services of prosecutors and the public defender’s office will also be available, which will present defendants an opportunity to potentially solve cases completely.
Quash Day will be held at the District Court Clerk’s Office, located on the fourth floor of the county courthouse. Anyone who can’t make it may also schedule a hearing to address their warrant any Tuesday through Friday.
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 a rare moth.
The lawsuit, which was announced last Wednesday, argues the sand-verbena (vur-BEE-nah) moth, a rare species found only on select beaches on Whidbey and Vancouver islands, 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 (vur-BEE-nah) 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.
STORY: Relatives of those who have died in state custody speak in support of oversight bill
Relatives of individuals who have died in local jails say that more oversight is needed to prevent future tragedies, and are urging lawmakers to do just that.
Proponents of Senate Bill 5005 — which would establish an oversight board to monitor jails, investigate complaints, and promote best practices — spoke in favor of the bill in Olympia this past week. The bill, sponsored by Senator Rebecca Saldaña (sol-DUN-nyah) of Seattle, has garnered support from the ACLU, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the League of Women Voters, and major labor unions. However, it faces opposition from groups such as the Washington Association of Counties and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
Currently, Washington lacks a statewide jail oversight body, despite having one for state prisons. Advocates highlight the need for accountability, and cite the state’s historically high jail mortality rate and costly wrongful death lawsuits. The oversight board would include various stakeholders, including formerly incarcerated individuals and jail staff, aiming to ensure humane treatment and transparency.
While opponents question the feasibility of a statewide board overseeing diverse local jail standards, supporters argue that the bill is a necessary step toward meaningful reform. A companion bill is being introduced in the House, and lawmakers continue to debate the proposal amid budget concerns.
STORY: WA considering reformation of high school graduation requirements
The state Board of Education says it will reassess high school graduation requirements through the FutureReady initiative.
The effort aims to create a reformed set of standards that better prepare students for college and careers, with a final proposal expected in 2027.
Concerns about current requirements, such as the 24-credit mandate, have been raised by students, educators, and employers. Critics argue that the standards are either too rigid or not relevant enough to postsecondary success, while logistical challenges make implementation difficult in some districts.
According to the Board, the initiative is estimated to cost $440,000, with funding from the state Legislature and The Gates Foundation. A task force, launched in January, is gathering research and community input. A key part of the plan is aligning education with workforce needs, as 70% of jobs in Washington are expected to require postsecondary credentials.
The High School and Beyond Plan, a graduation requirement since 2009, is also under review. An online version of the program was launched last month; it aims to standardize the plan across districts and address concerns that students often complete the requirement without meaningful engagement due to limited counselor availability.
The board will also consider performance-based graduation options that allow students to demonstrate skills through real-world projects.
The state Board of Education says community input will play a crucial role in shaping the final proposal. Public listening sessions are scheduled for next Tuesday, and an interest form is available for feedback. An interim report will be released by December, and any changes would take effect for the graduating class of 2031.
WX: I lost something I couldn’t live without. My identity.
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Expect the weather to get rainier as the day goes on, with winds gusting up to 31 miles per hour. Daytime highs will be in the low-50s once again, dropping down to around 40 in the evening.
The rain should clear up tomorrow morning, and give us sunnier skies later in the afternoon.
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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