First arrest made by AG’s new missing and murdered indigenous persons cold case unit, Bellingham couple sues city over alleged improper seizure of motor home, Bellingham City Council to expand affordable housing opportunities, WA leaders decry deployment of National Guard in L.A., wary of federal response to this weekend’s planned protests, Gas prices continue to rise in Bellingham, Whatcom, and WA at large, Iconic Bellingham sculpture re-emerges at Bow Sanctuary off Chuckanut, Downtown streets expected to close for Bellingham’s “No Kings,” protest, 2024 saw slight increase in tourism spending in Whatcom, Bald eagles in the Pacific Northwest suffering from spike in lead poisonings
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, June 12th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: First arrest made by AG’s new missing and murdered indigenous persons cold case unit
A major breakthrough in a years-old mystery marks a first for Washington’s Indigenous cold case unit.
The state Attorney General’s Office says Arkansas resident Tina Alcorn is now charged with second-degree murder in the 2016 death of Neah (NEE-ah) Bay woodcarver George David. It’s the first-ever case brought forward by Washington state’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Cold Case Unit — formed just last year.
Investigators say Alcorn was initially arrested in Mount Vernon, shortly after David’s body was found in a Port Angeles apartment — however, she was extradited to Arkansas on an unrelated felony theft warrant.
Years later, cold case detectives reopened the file and — with the help of DNA analysis — linked Alcorn to the crime.
Alcorn was arrested again last week, and appeared in Clallam (KLEH-lum) County Superior Court on Tuesday. Her bail has been set at one million dollars.
STORY: Bellingham couple sues city over alleged improper seizure of motor home
The City of Bellingham is preparing for a legal battle after being named in a new lawsuit over the seizure of a local couple’s motorhome.
On Monday, City Council authorized the mayor to retain legal counsel after residents Jerry and Terri-Lynn Land filed a lawsuit in Whatcom County Superior Court. The Lands allege city police and public works employees seized their RV last September without proper notice or a chance to dispute the action. They claim the RV was their only housing.
The suit accuses a police lieutenant of lying on an affidavit that declared the RV a junk vehicle, and says a city parking technician sent a notice card with no postage — which the Lands never received. When officers and tow trucks arrived, the Lands say they were threatened with arrest and forced to quickly gather what belongings they could before the vehicle was hauled away and scrapped.
The lawsuit seeks damages and policy reforms to protect people living in vehicles — citing due process violations and emotional distress.
STORY: Bellingham City Council to expand affordable housing opportunities
In more housing-related news, the Bellingham City Council has finalized a key piece of legislation aimed at boosting development of affordable housing.
On Monday, the council gave final approval to one of two ordinances designed to facilitate the construction of multi-family housing across the city.
The ordinance amends Bellingham’s multi-family tax exemption program, and offers new incentives for developers to build affordable housing in designated urban villages. It also raises the income limits for eligibility, and expands the program’s reach to more neighborhoods.
Both ordinances stem from an executive order issued last fall by Mayor Kim Lund, as the city looks for new ways to tackle its growing housing crisis.
STORY: WA leaders decry deployment of National Guard in L.A., wary of federal response to this weekend’s planned protests
Concerns are growing in Washington, as the federal government escalates immigration enforcement and deploys military forces to respond to protests.
Workplace immigration raids in Southern California have sparked nearly a week of demonstrations. President Trump has responded by sending in the National Guard and Marines — over the objections of state and local leaders.
According to NBC News, ICE’s eyes are now on Seattle, one of five Democratic-led cities reportedly being targeted by the agency for possible tactical team deployments. A daylong protest outside Seattle’s Jackson
Federal Building on Tuesday led to two arrests. More demonstrations are expected this weekend.
Local officials, including Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, say they have received no communication from the federal government. They’re urging calm while condemning what they see as federal overreach.
Harrell stressed Washington’s “sanctuary state” laws, which bar local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration raids. Governor Bob Ferguson joined other regional leaders in calling Trump’s military deployment illegal. His office says he’s been in contact with state agencies, and is monitoring the situation closely.
U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal and Senator Patty Murray echoed those concerns, calling the administration’s actions an intimidation tactic aimed at escalating conflict rather than promoting public safety.
STORY: Gas prices continue to rise in Bellingham, Whatcom, and WA at large
Gas prices are on the rise in Whatcom County.
According to AAA (triple A), Washington now has the third-highest gas prices in the nation, averaging $4.36 a gallon — up 9 cents from May.
Here in Whatcom County, prices jumped even more sharply. The county average sits at $4.29 a gallon, up 19 cents from last month. In Bellingham, the average reached $4.30 on Tuesday — a 20-cent increase.
But for those looking to save, there’s one standout: the cheapest gas in the county, according to GasBuddy, can be found at the ARCO on the Guide Meridian in Lynden, where a gallon was going for just $3.79.
Nationwide, the average price for a gallon of gas is lower — $3.12–– slightly down from last month, and more than 30 cents below last year’s average.
STORY: Iconic Bellingham sculpture re-emerges at Bow Sanctuary off Chuckanut
“Grace” has found a new home.
The metal sculpture of a dancer doing a yoga pose had become a celebrated Bellingham landmark before its creator removed it from its perch near Taylor Dock last fall. It has now reappeared in the garden of the Bow Sanctuary, a yoga and wellness center.
Local artist and community activist Alex McLean originally installed “Grace” without permits in 2011. He removed it after a year, but returned it to its roost just offshore in Bellingham Bay in 2021 at the request of local leaders. The sculpture evolved into a much-loved symbol of local creativity
and enterprise, celebrated in poems and songs, and appearing in thousands of photographs.
Last fall, McLean again removed the statue from the Bay, citing significant damage and rust caused by years of exposure to the elements. At the time, he stated that because of her condition, “Grace” would never return to public space.
Soon afterward, though, Fairhaven resident Beth Rusk contacted McLean, and eventually convinced him to lease the sculpture to the Bow Sanctuary, which she co-owns. McLean has built it a new base and done some essential repair work.
For at least the next year, the statue will grace the Sanctuary’s Japanese-styled garden, which is open to the public.
WX: Sw-heat relief
And now for the weather:
We’re in for cloudier weather over the next few days, with today’s skies expected to feature just partial sunshine instead. Temperatures should reach highs in the upper 60s. However, we still have a max U.V. index
rating of nine, so continue to exercise caution if you plan to be outdoors for any protracted period. Some clouds will stick around into the evening, when temperatures will fall down into the low 50s.
Tomorrow– we should see some heavy cloud cover in the early morning, before gradually becoming warm and sunny again.
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 (KAI 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: Downtown streets expected to close for Bellingham’s “No Kings,” protest
STORY: 2024 saw slight increase in tourism spending in Whatcom
A new report from Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism shows nearly 3.5 million people visited the region in 2024—roughly the same as 2023.
According to data from Tourism Economics, those tourists spent more money which prompted a spending rise of just over 3%. Retail saw the
biggest boost, while tourism-related jobs saw only a slight increase—but remained above pre-pandemic levels.
Tourism CEO Dylan Deane-Boyle says the outlook for 2025 is cautiously optimistic, despite challenges tied to inflation, rising travel costs, and uncertainty around Canadian travel.
STORY: Bald eagles in the Pacific Northwest suffering from spike in lead poisonings
The Wildlife Center of the North Coast in Astoria, Oregon says they are seeing an unusual surge in bald eagle poisonings.
Bald eagles, often seen as majestic symbols, are opportunistic scavengers that feed on carrion (KEH-ree-uhn), including gut piles from hunted animals. The remains often contain lead bullet fragments that can cause fatal neurological damage, even in tiny amounts.
A 2022 study published in Science magazine — and backed by the U.S. Geological Survey — covered 1,210 eagles across 38 states, and found nearly half suffer chronic lead poisoning. Nearly one-third experience acute exposure, especially during hunting seasons. Lead poisoning is estimated to reduce bald eagle population growth by nearly 4% annually.
The wildlife hospital says two of three eagles recently admitted to the wildlife hospital tested positive for lead exposure. Last March, a juvenile bald eagle in Powell Butte (BYOOT) was also found to be suffering from lead poisoning.
In addition to bullet fragments, eagles risk lead exposure from shotgun pellets, lost fishing tackle, contaminated fish, unretrieved waterfowl, and occasionally mining sites.
The Wildlife Center says it seeks public support to fund treatment, including chelation (KEY-lay-shun) therapy, to help the affected eagles recover.
