Man arrested in Bellingham on suspicion of attempted solicitation of sex from minor, Bellingham Public Schools rolls out new plan to withstand $15 million budget shortfall, Some Whatcom council members seeking new legal counsel after progressive loss of trust in Prosecutor’s Office, Ranked choice voting could be on the ballot, Nearly half of all Whatcom households reportedly below ALICE level of financial stability, Blaine man arrested following surrender of flash drive containing child pornography, WA breweries avoid raised increased excise tax on beer, though it remains on the agenda for next legislative session, Birch Bay Waterslides set to re-open
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, May 15th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Man arrested in Bellingham on suspicion of attempted solicitation of sex from minor
A 44-year old man has been arrested for sending sexual online messages to a young girl.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed at the Whatcom County Superior Court on May 1st, Bellingham Police responded to a report of an adult male who was communicating online with a juvenile female. His side of the conversations became explicit; he sent videos and requested photos from her, which she refused to provide. The parents consented to letting law enforcement take over the girl’s online account. During subsequent conversations with an undercover officer, a meeting was set where he was taken into custody.
44-year-old Morgan William Benson of Sedro-Woolley was arrested and booked into the Whatcom County Jail. He now faces charges of 1st-degree attempted assault of a child, exploitation of a minor, and communication with a minor for immoral purposes. Bail was later set at $500,000.
Benson remained in custody as of yesterday.
STORY: Bellingham Public Schools rolls out new plan to withstand $15 million budget shortfall
Bellingham Public Schools announced it will make significant staff cuts as it works to close a major budget shortfall.
In a recent letter to parents, Superintendent Greg Baker says the district faces a projected $15 million deficit for the upcoming school year. While about a quarter of that gap will be covered through new state funding, fee increases, sponsors, and support from the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation, the remaining $11.4 million must be addressed through budget cuts.
The district plans to eliminate the equivalent of 25 full-time positions. That includes eight administrative and support staff roles, 15 certificated teaching positions, and just over two classified staff jobs.
District spokesperson Dana Smith says some of those reductions are already happening through attrition and leaves of absence.
In addition to the staffing cuts, the district will slightly increase class sizes for grades 4 through 12, and shorten the school year by one day. Superintendent Baker also hinted at a possible special levy in November to help fund maintenance projects. Despite some increases in state funding for specific needs, Baker says overall support for K-12 education remains, quote, “inadequate.”
STORY: Some Whatcom council members seeking new legal counsel after progressive loss of trust in Prosecutor’s Office
A fiery email from a Whatcom County Council member is reigniting debate over whether the council should have its own legal advisor — separate from the Prosecutor’s Office.
Council member Todd Donovan sent a blunt message to county leaders last Friday, declaring that the council quote “now lacks legitimate legal counsel.” His email followed ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability in the Prosecutor’s Office — including recent reports of internal misconduct and mismanagement.
The council voted unanimously on Tuesday to explore hiring independent legal counsel — citing growing frustration and a lack of trust in Prosecutor Eric Richey’s office.
Tensions have been building since 2023, when council members said they were blindsided by a $225,000 sexual harassment settlement. That distrust deepened after revelations of a secret relationship between senior members of the Prosecutor’s Office and the resignation of Deputy Prosecutor George Roche.
Some council members argue that the Prosecutor’s Office is tasked with protecting the county government — not the legislative branch — and say they need legal advice tailored to council priorities.
Council member Jon Scanlon said he has researched models in King and Pierce counties, where councils have limited but dedicated legal advisors
for policy matters. Prosecutor Richey has pushed back, saying hiring outside counsel could waste taxpayer dollars and violate the separation of powers.
The council is set to take up the issue in more detail at its next meeting on May 27th.
STORY: Ranked choice voting could be on the ballot
Ranked choice voting could be headed to the ballot in Whatcom County — but time is running out for the Charter Review Commission to decide.
The Whatcom County Charter Review Commission is debating whether to implement the new approach — also called RCV — which lets voters rank candidates by preference. Supporters say RCV leads to fairer, more representative elections and reduces strategic voting.
But critics — including the Whatcom County Auditor and local Republican leaders — warn the system could confuse voters and bring high implementation costs. County Auditor Stacy Henthorn estimates the change would cost at least $256,000 — and notes the necessary software isn’t even certified yet in Washington state.
The 15-member commission is politically split, and needs a supermajority of 10 votes to send any amendment to the ballot in November. While progressives on the commission appear to support RCV, it’s unclear whether the proposal will gain enough traction before the July 10th deadline.
At a special meeting on Monday, commissioners heard from national experts on both the pros and cons of RCV. Several draft proposals were floated, from limited primary reforms to sweeping council restructuring.
The next meeting is set for next Thursday at Bellingham’s Civic Annex Building, where the commission may decide whether to move forward with a ranked choice proposal.
The commission will also take up a separate proposal on June 3rd to eliminate two at-large county council seats. Any final charter changes must be approved by voters this November.
STORY: Nearly half of all Whatcom households reportedly below ALICE level of financial stability
A new report reveals nearly half of Whatcom County households are struggling to make ends meet — despite being employed.
United Way of Whatcom County’s latest ALICE report shows that 45% of households in the county fell below the threshold of financial survival in 2023. ALICE stands for “Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed” — people who earn above the federal poverty line but still can’t afford basic needs like housing, child care, food, and healthcare.
Just 14% of households met the federal definition of poverty — but over twice that, 31%, qualified as ALICE. That’s a 7% increase from the year before, and higher than the state average.
The report highlights a growing gap between wages and living expenses. In Whatcom County, a family of four needs over $119,000 just to cover essentials in 2023 — nearly four times the federal poverty line. Among the most vulnerable are young families, seniors, and single mothers. In fact, 84% of single female-headed households with children in the county fall below the ALICE threshold.
The report also found that 75% of renters and 56% of homeowners below the ALICE line are “housing burdened” — spending more than 30% of their income on housing.
United Way says the findings highlight the urgent need for policies and programs that address the real cost of living, and not just federal poverty guidelines.
WX: Seven-hour Shower
And now for the weather:
Today is looking to be predominantly overcast, with chances of showers throughout the afternoon. Temperatures will remain fairly cool and consistent all day long, with highs around the mid-to-high 50s and lows in the high 40s.
Tomorrow is expected to be a touch warmer, though it doesn’t look like the clouds are in any hurry to leave.
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), Kathi O’Shea (O-shay), and Kai Blais-Schmolke (KI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee). 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: Blaine man arrested following surrender of flash drive containing child pornography
STORY: WA breweries avoid raised increased excise tax on beer, though it remains on the agenda for next legislative session
STORY: Birch Bay Waterslides set to re-open
Nearly a year after a serious injury shut it down, Birch Bay Waterslides has announced it will reopen on June 14th.
The park closed last August after a Navy veteran was hurt on a slide and later sued the owners. A new management firm is now overseeing major repairs and safety upgrades.
Whatcom County health officials must reinspect the park before it can reopen. That inspection could happen shortly after repairs are complete.
The park says it’s committed to guest safety as crews continue restoration work through May.
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