PeaceHealth nurses set to vote on new contract this week, Port of Bellingham set to acquire Boxx Berry Farms, WA breweries avoid raised increased excise tax on beer, though it remains on the agenda for next legislative session, Pro-transgender crowd demonstrates outside of Lynden School District board meeting, Bureau of Land Management announces fire restrictions on all public lands in WA and OR, Whatcom Public Works Dept petitions council to amend accounting rules, hoping for greater road work financing, Blaine School District announces new superintendent
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, May 19th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: PeaceHealth nurses set to vote on new contract this week
After a full day of bargaining last Friday, nurses have reached a proposed agreement with PeaceHealth.
The Washington State Nurses Association says the deal includes the largest three-year wage increases in the unit’s history — starting with a flat 4-25 hourly raise in year one, followed by 3-point-25-percent and 3-percent increases in years two and three.
The union’s bargaining team is urging members to vote “yes” when they cast ballots on Thursday and Friday.
STORY: Officer-involved shooting south of Bellingham leaves one dead
A 34-year-old man is dead after a police standoff southeast of Bellingham.
The Bellingham Herald reports the incident began Saturday evening when officers tried to stop a stolen motorcycle on I-5 near Mount Vernon. The rider fled, eventually abandoning the bike on Alger Cain Lake Road.
Deputies say the man then took a boat onto the lake, and fired shots near surrounding homes. SWAT officers returned fire, hitting him. He was pulled to shore and given first aid, but died from his injuries.
An autopsy is pending. The Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team is investigating the shooting because it involved officers from multiple agencies in Whatcom and Skagit counties.
STORY: Port of Bellingham set to acquire Boxx Berry Farms
A popular berry farm is reaching the end of its 65-year history in Ferndale.
The Boxx Berry Farm announced last Friday that they are in the process of selling the property to the Port of Bellingham.
According to a letter from Port Economic Development Director, Tyler Schroeder, to County Executive Satpal Sidhu (saht-POW see-DO), the Port presented an application for a planned agricultural research station to be located on the property. The project has been in the works for years and is backed by the Port, Whatcom County, and local agriculture leaders. It will provide a research hub for farmers and scientists working together on modern agricultural challenges.
The Port has requested a nearly 2-million-dollar grant and a 933-thousand loan from the county’s Economic Development Investment board to complete the purchase. The Port also received a 741-thousand dollar grant from the state. The funding will cover the purchase of property, with Washington State University and other partners expected to contribute research and resources.
County officials are expected to finalize the agreement by mid-June. Boxx Berry Farm will operate as normal this summer with berries, flowers and corn.
STORY: WA breweries avoid raised increased excise tax on beer, though it remains on the agenda for next legislative session
Washington’s small breweries are breathing a sigh of relief — for now.
A controversial bill that would have nearly doubled the beer excise tax on small breweries failed to pass during this year’s legislative session in Olympia. But brewers say it’s likely to return next January.
House Bill 2079 would have raised taxes on breweries that produce under 60,000 barrels annually — a move that would impact more than 400 craft brewers statewide, including several in Whatcom County. The Washington Brewers Guild calls the proposal a direct threat to small, independent producers already struggling with inflation, shifting consumer habits, and slow post-pandemic recovery. Local brewery owners warn the added costs could lead to higher prices, reduced staff, and even closures.
The Brewers Guild is urging lawmakers to reject the bill when it returns.
STORY: Pro-transgender crowd demonstrates outside of Lynden School District board meeting
A school board resolution in Lynden is drawing statewide attention and protest over its stance on transgender student-athletes.
About 100 people demonstrated outside the Lynden School Board meeting last Thursday, opposing a resolution that challenges state policy on transgender students in school sports. The board voted last month to pursue legal action against Washington’s education department, arguing that allowing transgender girls in girls’ sports creates unfair competition and may violate federal law.
The resolution follows a local athlete’s loss to a transgender competitor at a state track meet. Supporters say the board is protecting fairness in girls’ athletics. Opponents say the move threatens the safety and inclusion of trans students. Washington law protects against gender identity discrimination, and state officials say current athletic policies comply. Attempts to change those policies have already failed at the state level.
Despite the backlash, Lynden’s board is moving forward with legal complaints. Advocates on both sides say they will continue to push their cases.
STORY: Bureau of Land Management announces fire restrictions on all public lands in WA and OR
Fire restrictions went into effect across all public lands in Washington and Oregon last Thursday.
The restrictions were announced a day after their enactment by the Bureau of Land Management. The use of fireworks is now prohibited, as is the use of exploding or metallic targets, steel component ammunition, tracer or incendiary devices, and sky lanterns. Those who break the law can be fined up to $100,000 and face up to a year in prison; additionally, anyone found responsible for starting wildland fires on federal lands can be billed for the cost of fire suppression.
The Bureau says the restrictions are meant to reduce human-caused fires, which have increased over the years.
STORY: Additional checkpoints added at two WA-Canadian border crossings
Drivers heading north through the Peace Arch border crossing are seeing tighter security in recent weeks — and longer delays.
Customs and Border Protection has added extra checkpoints along I-5 near the U.S.-Canada border, briefly stopping vehicles and searching for ammunition and illicit substances. Border Patrol officials say the inspections are part of a broader effort to combat fentanyl smuggling and other illegal activity. They’ve already made minor drug seizures and recovered hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
But local leaders in Blaine are worried about the impact. Mayor Mary Lou Steward says the city depends heavily on Canadian visitors for gas, groceries, and package pickups — and these checkpoints may scare them off. She’s also concerned about growing anti-American sentiment in Canada, fueled in part by past U.S. policies and recent border activity.
Steward says restoring cross-border trust and economic ties will take time — but it’s crucial to the future of her city.
WX: Comin’ down, comin’ down to Earth
And now for the weather:
It’s back to rain for the next few days, with today expected to see up to a quarter inch of precipitation. Daytime highs will remain around the mid-to-high 50s, but temperatures should drop into the upper 40s later this evening.
Currently, it’s looks like we’re in for more of the same tomorrow.
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: Whatcom Public Works Dept petitions council to amend accounting rules, hoping for greater road work financing
Whatcom County’s Public Works Department is facing a cash flow crunch, and the County Council is being asked to step in to keep road projects moving.
The issue lies in the county’s Road Fund, which pays for road construction, repairs, and snow removal. While the fund has enough money on the books, delays in property tax collections and falling gas tax revenue leave it short on actual cash during peak construction season. Public Works Director Elizabeth Kosa says the rise of labor and material costs, along with long-standing budget challenges, will put key summer projects at risk — including work along Everson-Goshen Road and rock slide removal on Lummi Island.
To manage the shortfall, Kosa is asking the council to allow short-term interfund loans of up to $4 million. The council agreed to consider the request at its meeting tomorrow.
If approved, the money would likely come from the General Fund or real estate excise taxes and would be repaid. Officials stress this is about managing timing, not overspending.
To cut costs, Public Works has delayed some projects, frozen 14 job openings, and warns that without stable cash flow, the county could struggle to respond to emergencies like washouts or landslides.
STORY: Blaine School District announces new superintendent
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