Hero sloth escapes gulag, PeaceHealth union launches hardship fund in advance of upcoming strike, Candidate Filing Deadline Approaches in Whatcom County, Downtown community meeting held today, Garden Minute starts on KMRE after today’s newscast, Rep. Larsen to hold town hall in Skagit County, City of Bellingham seeks community member support, 14 Whatcom County Schools Honored for Student Success
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, May 7th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Hero sloth escapes gulag
Bellingham’s now-famous stuffed sloth perched high in the trees along northbound I-5 will stay put — at least for the time being.
The Washington State Department of Transportation says it will not remove the current sloth, which appeared after two previous ones were taken down for being traffic distractions. The latest sloth is positioned much higher in the trees, and WSDOT (WASH-dot) says removing it would require closing part of the interstate — something they do not plan to do because of limited resources.
Despite safety concerns, the mystery of who is placing the sloths — and how — remains unsolved. The third sloth first gained attention on Reddit, where locals expressed overwhelming support for letting it remain.
Some residents have even begun placing sloths elsewhere around town, with photos online showing one perched on a sign along Marine Drive.
WSDOT says it will continue to monitor the situation.
STORY: PeaceHealth union launches hardship fund in advance of upcoming strike
More than 900 PeaceHealth workers in Bellingham are preparing to strike on Monday, and their union is asking for community help to support those on the picket line.
The Service Employees International Union Healthcare 1199NW has set up a hardship fund to help workers buy groceries and pay bills during the planned five-day strike. The strike targets what union members call “bad-faith bargaining” by PeaceHealth executives. Their contract expired in November, and the union has filed five unfair labor practice complaints so far this year.
The union also says $100-a-day strike pay is not enough for many, and the hardship fund — supported by community donations and union solidarity — is meant to help fill that gap.
Two other union groups will also strike: advanced care providers, as well as hospitalists (HAA-spuh-tuh-luhsts), both represented by the Union of American Physicians and Dentists. The hospitalists have yet to begin bargaining, amid a dispute over joint employment.
Meanwhile, the Washington State Nurses Association will hold an informational picket on May 15th, just before their next bargaining session with PeaceHealth.
The hospital has canceled bargaining sessions with the striking unions and says it will focus on patient care during the strike, using temporary and partner staffing to maintain operations.
STORY: Candidate Filing Deadline Approaches in Whatcom County
Prospective candidates for public office in Whatcom County have until 5pm this Friday to submit their Declaration of Candidacy forms.
The Whatcom County Auditor’s Office encourages candidates to file online, but filings are also accepted by mail, email, fax, or in-person. All submissions must be received by the deadline.
A random lot draw to determine the order of candidate names on the ballot will take place shortly after 5pm on Friday, with results posted on the County Auditor’s website.
Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn advises all potential candidates to review the Candidate Filing Guide, which includes fees, office openings, and current requirements–– that information can be found on the Candidate Resource page on the Auditor’s website.
STORY: Downtown community meeting held today
The Downtown Neighborhood Association will host a community meeting today, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at Boundary Bay Brewery’s outdoor beer garden.
Organized by the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, the free event is open to all. Mayor Kim Lund will share updates on the City’s efforts to move ‘Downtown Forward’. It’s a chance for residents to engage and help shape the future of Bellingham.
More details are available on the Downtown Forward website.
STORY: Rite Aid to sell majority of assets, including Whatcom locations
The drugstore chain Rite Aid announced it will attempt to sell most of its assets — including its six stores in Whatcom County.
The company said on Monday that its stores will stay open for now as it re-enters Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Rite Aid also plans to ensure customer prescriptions are transferred safely to other pharmacies.
Rite Aid first filed for bankruptcy in October of 2023, and will now continue its restructuring efforts as a private company. Local stores affected include three in Bellingham and one each in Ferndale, Lynden, and Blaine.
STORY: WA DOL experiences surge in appointments as residents scramble to receive enhanced IDs
The federal ‘REAL ID’ deadline is here, and Washingtonians are scrambling to meet the new requirements.
Starting today, travelers at U.S. airports will need REAL ID-compliant identification to board any flight –– standard driver’s licenses will no longer be accepted for domestic travel. Other acceptable forms of ID include U.S. passports, Global Entry cards, military IDs, and tribal-issued photo IDs.
Washington offers enhanced driver’s licenses and ID cards that meet the new federal standards, but demand has surged — and there is a shortage of appointments at Department of Licensing offices. Officials say most urban offices are now booking appointments 45 to 60 days out. According to the DOL, the state issued a record 93,000 enhanced IDs in April alone.
Officials recommend checking online for current wait times and arriving early.
STORY: Garden Minute starts on KMRE after today’s newscast
Got a green thumb — or wish you did?
Join us for The Garden Minute — your weekly guide to growing success! Each week, KMRE visits a local Whatcom County garden expert to bring you timely tips and know-how… just when you need it. What should you be doing in your garden right now? We’ve got the answers.
Tune in after the 5PM news — only on community powered KMRE.
WX: Cloudsire
And now for the weather:
A cooler, cloudier day is in store for us today, with highs falling back down into the low 60s. Be prepared in the event of scattered showers throughout the day, with some mild winds potentially reaching up to 20 miles per hour. This weather pattern should continue into the evening, with nighttime lows hovering around the mid-40s.
The sun should come out once again tomorrow, though temperatures are expected to remain on the cooler side.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Cody Mills, Aidan Larson, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), and Kathi O’Shea (O-shay). 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 your donations. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thank you for listening.
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STORY: Rep. Larsen to hold town hall in Skagit County
STORY: City of Bellingham seeks community member support (FOR THUR)
If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to help the City of Bellingham grow, here are two options.
The City says it currently has two open positions on the Transportation Commission—an advisory board that plays a key role in guiding local transportation planning and policy. If you’re passionate about how people get around Bellingham, visit cob.org/bc to learn more and apply.
And if clean water, healthy forests, and outdoor recreation is more your thing, don’t miss the upcoming community meeting on the Lake Whatcom Forest Management Plan. The City of Bellingham and Whatcom County are partnering with experts to plan the future of over 13,000 acres of forested land. Join the conversation on TODAY, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Silver Beach Elementary School. Can’t make it in person? Share your input online at engagebellingham.org.
STORY: 14 Whatcom County Schools Honored for Student Success
Fourteen schools in Whatcom County are being recognized by the Washington State Board of Education.
The School Recognition Program for outstanding progress in key areas of student achievement has honored six schools in the Bellingham School District, including Cordata, Lowell, Northern Heights, Parkview, and Wade King Elementary Schools, along with Bellingham High School.
Blaine High School was also recognized for its achievements.
In the Ferndale School District, Eagleridge Elementary, Vista Middle School, and Ferndale High School were honored.
Additional local schools receiving recognition include Vossbeck Elementary in the Lynden School District, Meridian School District’s Irene Reither (RYE-ther) Elementary; Harmony Elementary in the Mount Baker School District, and Nooksack Elementary.
This year, only 16-percent of schools statewide were recognized. The awards are based on data from the Washington School Improvement Framework, and reflect high performance in areas such as academic growth and closing achievement gaps.
Each honored school will receive a banner to display in its building.
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