Bellingham man hospitalized following accident near Everett, City of Bellingham terminates agreement with waterfront developer, Bellingham tiny house village set to open at the end of the month, City of Bellingham seeks community member support, 14 Whatcom County Schools Honored for Student Success, Rep. Larsen to hold town hall in Skagit County, Statewide cap on rent hikes signed into law
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, May 8th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham man hospitalized following accident near Everett
A Bellingham man was hospitalized following a multi-vehicle crash on northbound I-5 in Everett on Tuesday night.
According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash happened just after 9 p.m. near some road work that had reduced the highway to a single lane. A 51-year-old man driving a 1993 GMC truck changed lanes to avoid a stopped vehicle, but struck a semi-truck and trailer before it crashed into the stopped truck from behind.
The GMC driver was taken to Providence Medical Center in Everett. It’s still unclear whether he was wearing a seatbelt or if impairment was a factor. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
STORY: City of Bellingham terminates agreement with waterfront developer
The Port of Bellingham has officially ended its development partnership with Ireland-based Harcourt Developments.
In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, Port commissioners approved a termination agreement following years of delays and legal disputes. Commissioner Michael Sheppard said the Port has made every effort to work with Harcourt but emphasized that “contracts matter” and the public expects them to be enforced.
Under the agreement, Harcourt loses its exclusive development rights on the waterfront, which it held since 2015. The company must also clear all of its stockpiled materials from Port-owned property within a year.
Harcourt will retain ownership of the restored Granary Building and three condo buildings along the Whatcom Waterway — two of which remain under construction.
Port Legal Counsel Holly Stafford said it was quote “a miracle” the two sides reached a deal, ending a strained relationship marked by lawsuits and even a restraining order.
The Port says discussions about next steps for the waterfront will happen in future meetings.
STORY: Bellingham tiny house village set to open at the end of the month
North Haven, the new tiny home village in Bellingham, is set to open by the end of this month to support local residents without permanent shelter.
The village will merge two existing communities — Swift Haven and Unity Village — that are being relocated. Construction is underway at the new site on Northwest Avenue, just south of Fire Station 5. About fifty new 8-by-12-foot homes are being built by volunteers, including City Council member Michael Lilliquist, who says he has spent several days helping frame the structures.
The City of Bellingham purchased the property for just over $1 million earlier this year, and has invested another almost $1.5 million to add essential utilities like electricity, water, and sewer. Community and Economic Development Division Manager Tara Sundin (sun-DEAN) says the investment reflects a push toward “more permanence” in mobile housing.
City Council also voted unanimously this week to donate fifteen smaller 8-by-8-foot units — no longer suitable for the new site — to the United Way of Skagit County. The North Haven village will continue to be operated by Homes Now! and will include mobile kitchens, laundry, shower, and toilet facilities.
STORY: City of Bellingham seeks community member support
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 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.
STORY: Rep. Larsen to hold town hall in Skagit County
U.S. Representative Rick Larsen will host an in-person town hall in Skagit County at 6 p.m. on Monday.
Representative Larsen says he will respond to questions from local residents and share details about his dealings with the Trump administration.
Anyone interested in attending must RSVP for the meeting ahead of time; the exact location of the town hall will be shared on the morning of the event with those who register. The meeting will also be livestreamed over Representative Larsen’s Instagram and Facebook pages.
STORY: Statewide cap on rent hikes signed into law And in more political news, Washington now has a statewide cap on rent increases.
Governor Bob Ferguson signed a new law yesterday limiting most residential rent hikes to no more than 10% per year, or 7% plus inflation, whichever is less. The cap is effective immediately and lasts 15 years. Manufactured home rents are limited to 5% annually with no expiration.
The law also requires 90 days’ notice for rent increases, and bans any hikes during the first year of a lease. Supporters say it will protect renters from being priced out. Critics warn it could reduce housing supply and quality.
The Rental Housing Association says it is considering a legal challenge.
WX: Part – ly sunny – of that wooooooorld
And now for the weather:
Today’s forecast calls for partly sunny skies and highs around 60 degrees. Despite the clouds, we’re expecting a potentially hazardous U.V. index rating of 7, so exercise caution if you plan to be outside. The sky is expected to become increasingly overcast as the evening wears on, with nighttime lows projected in the mid-to-high 40s.
The clouds are expected to persist throughout tomorrow and beyond, though temperatures are expected to warm slightly.
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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