Culvert project to reduce Malloy Avenue in Ferndale to one lane of traffic, Bellingham Community Meal Program set to close in June, Bellingham farmer leads advocacy group for greater food access via mobile farmer’s markets, New Fairhaven “quiet zone” expected to heavily reduce noise from passing trains, UK tourist denied entry into Canada, detained by ICE in Blaine, WA House passes bill requiring permit and safety certification to purchase firearms
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, March 11th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Culvert project to reduce Malloy Avenue in Ferndale to one lane of traffic
Expect lane reductions on Malloy Avenue in Ferndale, as crews work on the Whiskey Creek culvert project.
According to Ferndale Public Works, traffic will be reduced to a single alternating lane north of Kona Court to allow for the installation of a pedestrian railing from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. through tomorrow. Traffic controllers will be present at the site to manage the flow of vehicles during construction.
Drivers in the area should expect delays. The city of Ferndale advises motorists to use caution when traveling through the work zone, and to follow directions from traffic control personnel.
STORY: Bellingham Community Meal Program set to close in June
The Bellingham Community Meal Program will serve its final meal in June, which marks the end of nearly four decades of free monthly dinners at Assumption Church.
The program, run by volunteers since the early 1980s, has faced challenges in attendance, volunteer support, and safety concerns in recent years. According to the Cascadia Daily News, the decision was made due to the difficulty of meeting the church’s expectations while maintaining the program. Attempts to transition the meal to another nonprofit or church were unsuccessful.
At its peak, the program served 20,000 meals annually, but recent attendance has declined. Other community meal options remain available, including those hosted by the Lynden United Methodist Church, the United Church of Ferndale, the Maple Alley Inn, and the Recovery Café.
According to Father Jeffrey Moore of Assumption Church, the program’s remaining $50,000 will likely be donated to a similar organization, pending donor consent.
STORY: Bellingham farmer leads advocacy group for greater food access via mobile farmer’s markets
A proposed state law could expand food benefits for mobile markets which serve rural communities in Whatcom County.
State regulations currently prevent the markets from accepting federal programs like WIC (WICK) and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program because they don’t meet the traditional definition of a farmers market. Twin Sisters Market is one of four mobile markets in Washington and the only one in Whatcom County; it provides fresh, locally grown produce to areas with limited food access. According to organizers, despite its impact, the program faces ongoing funding challenges. Because the organization collects produce from multiple farms and brings it directly to underserved areas, it does not qualify because farmers are not physically present.
However, a new bill proposed by Senator Sharon Shewmake would allow seniors and other community members to use their W-I-C dollars for fresh local produce. Senate Bill 5214 has already passed the state Senate, and is now in the House.
STORY: New Fairhaven “quiet zone” expected to heavily reduce noise from passing trains
Residents near the Fairhaven train crossings in Bellingham will now experience significantly less train horn noise, thanks to a newly established “quiet zone”.
After nearly two decades of planning and major safety upgrades at five rail crossings, train horns are no longer required to sound routinely, except in specific safety situations.
According to the City of Bellingham, the project involved the upgrade of 1 and a quarter miles of track with enhanced safety measures; these include automated crossing control gates, pedestrian exit gates, flashing signals, and improved signage. The improvements allowed Fairhaven to meet federal quiet zone standards, which reduces noise pollution while maintaining public safety. Train horns will still sound in emergencies, whenever trains accelerate from a stop, or during track maintenance.
This is the first of two planned quiet zones in Bellingham. Work is in progress on the Waterfront Quiet Zone, which will cover multiple crossings — including Pine Street, Cornwall Avenue, and C Street. So far, three crossings have already been upgraded, with further improvements pending design and funding.
STORY: UK tourist denied entry into Canada, detained by ICE in Blaine
A Welsh family is urgently seeking the release of their 28-year-old daughter who has been detained at an ICE facility in Tacoma since February 26th.
According to a recent interview with the BBC, Becky Burke was on a backpack tour of North America, and was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Blaine after being denied entry into Canada. Unable to re-enter the U.S., Burke was handed over to ICE for repatriation. According to Facebook posts by her father, Paul Burke, while ICE has confirmed her detention due to a violation of her admission terms, there is no clear timeline for her release. The family has requested voluntary departure, but the process requires approval from a judge, and they have not been given guidance on how to proceed.
The Canada Border Services Agency would neither confirm nor deny that it refused to allow Burke from entering.
STORY: WA House passes bill requiring permit and safety certification to purchase firearms
A proposal that would require Washington gun buyers to obtain a permit and a completed safety course is headed to the state Senate.
House Bill 1163, sponsored by Representative Liz Berry of Seattle, requires prospective gun buyers to apply for a five-year permit through the State Patrol. Fingerprints would be submitted with the application, as well as a certificate confirming the completion of a firearms safety course within the last five years. The State Patrol would then issue a permit within 30 days, or 60 days if the applicant doesn’t have a state ID or has not resided in Washington for the previous 90 consecutive days.
The Democratic majority in the state House passed the bill with a 58-to-38 vote; all House Republicans rejected the measure. All but one of the Republican-filed amendments were rejected. The bill now heads to the state Senate for a public hearing and debate.
WX: Drizzle Do’Urden
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Today looks to be another drizzly one, with much of the rain concentrated in the morning and early afternoon. Daytime highs are projected to hit the upper 40s, with some mild winds throughout. We may even see the sun for a moment or two as we head into the evening, where temperatures will drop slightly into the low 40s.
Increasing overnight rains are expected to continue into tomorrow, with precipitation expected to increase by up to a quarter of an inch.
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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