City of Bellingham testing home-sharing program to match renters with vacant rooms, Bellingham At Home store to close following chain’s bankruptcy declaration, Skagit County to move forward with battery storage plans following denial of appeal, Recall of ready-to-eat chicken alfredo sold at Kroger, Walmart, PeaceHealth upgrades cancer radiation treatment at Sedro-Woolley hospital, Canada Strong” pass aims to boost Canadian travel, WA beekeepers and researchers tracking diets to combat increasing rates of hive collapse, Bellingham campground one of best in nation, WCSO and Ferndale School District issue joint statement over improperly authorized training exercise, Crab season opens July 17th
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, June 18th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: City of Bellingham testing home-sharing program to match renters with vacant rooms
The City of Bellingham has unveiled a new effort to try to address Whatcom County’s worsening affordable housing crunch.
Through the new Bellingham Home Sharing Program, the City will match local homeowners with available spare rooms to potential tenants. To help administer the program and host its website, the City has partnered with Nesterly, a tech service with experience developing similar programs in cities like Boston.
The 2023 American Community Survey suggested that there are thousands of unoccupied rooms in the Bellingham metropolitan area. Meanwhile, a 2024 report by the Washington Student Achievement Council found that as many as one-third of students at Western Washington University and Northwest Indian College experience housing insecurity.
Extra rental income could help homeowners keep and maintain their houses even as the cost of repairs, utilities, and taxes continues to rise. Renters, meanwhile, will see more choices for long-term affordable housing, as well as increased flexibility — including an option in the plan for tenants and landowners to negotiate payment of some rent in chores.
Other potential benefits noted on the Bellingham Home Sharing Program website include an increased sense of security for tenants and property owners alike, strengthened community connections, and the opportunity to act now to alleviate some of the region’s housing issues by using existing homes — rather than relying on future construction.
STORY: Bellingham At Home store to close following chain’s bankruptcy declaration
Another national retailer is closing its doors in Bellingham.
The Bellingham Herald reports that home décor chain At Home has filed for bankruptcy and will shut down its store in Sunset Square.
According to court filings, At Home plans to close 26 of its 200 stores nationwide, including locations in Bellingham and Yakima.
The Texas-based chain says it’s restructuring to reduce debt and stabilize the business, including a $200 million capital boost and plans to wipe out nearly $2 billion in debt through a deal with major lenders.
The company has not announced a closing date, but liquidation sales are expected soon at the Bellingham store.
STORY: Skagit County to move forward with battery storage plans following denial of appeal
A controversial battery storage project near Mount Vernon is moving forward, after Skagit County commissioners denied an appeal yesterday.
According to Cascadia Daily News, the board upheld a permit for NextEra Energy Resources to build a large lithium-ion battery facility off Ovenell (OH-vuh-nell) Road. The site, next to Puget Sound Energy’s Fredonia substation, would house up to 368 battery units to store and discharge power during peak demand.
Opponents, including the group Stewards of Skagit, argued the project poses fire and safety risks; they also said the application was incomplete. But county staff said the project was thoroughly vetted by emergency and utility agencies, and commissioners found no clear error in the original approval.
Commissioners reiterated their opposition to a separate battery project known as Goldeneye, near Sedro-Woolley, on agricultural land next to a salmon-bearing creek.
STORY: Recall of ready-to-eat chicken alfredo sold at Kroger, Walmart
Some packaged chicken fettuccine alfredo sold at Walmart and Kroger stores nationwide has been recalled due to potential listeria (luh-STEE-ree-uh) contamination.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service says all ready-to-eat versions under the Marketside and Home Chef brands made before June 17th are affected. Check for best-by dates of June 27th or earlier on the 32.8-oz and 12.3-oz Marketside trays, and June 19th or earlier on the 12.5-oz Home Chef trays.
FSIS is investigating a multistate listeria outbreak that sickened 17 people across 13 states. As of Tuesday, three deaths and one miscarriage have been linked to the same listeria strain found in a March sample at the manufacturer’s facility.
Consumers are advised to throw out the recalled products or return them to the store.
More info is available at fsis.usda.gov.
STORY: PeaceHealth upgrades cancer radiation treatment at Sedro-Woolley hospital
PeaceHealth United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley has reached a major milestone in cancer care.
After more than three years of planning and fundraising, the hospital’s Cancer Center has installed a new high-precision linear accelerator; they have already treated its first patient with the technology.
The new system delivers highly targeted, noninvasive radiation therapy, offering sub-millimeter precision and faster 3D imaging. Without it, patients needing treatment for brain metastases would still have to travel to Bellingham. It also enables better targeting of lung cancer.
The installation is part of a broader $12 million upgrade, including construction of a new specialty room. According to Cascadia Daily News, speakers at last Thursday’s ribbon-cutting called the investment a commitment to keeping care close to home.
STORY: “Canada Strong” pass aims to boost Canadian travel
Canada is sweetening the deal for summer travelers — both locals and international visitors.
The Department of Canadian Heritage has launched the Canada Strong Pass, offering free and discounted admission from June 20th to September 2nd across the country’s top destinations.
Parks Canada sites — including national parks, historic landmarks, and marine conservation areas — will be free for everyone, with 25% off camping fees.
National museums and the Plains of Abraham Museum will be free for kids under 18, and half-off for young adults aged 18 to 24.
VIA (VEE-uh) Rail is offering free train rides for youth under 18 traveling with an adult, and 25% off for young adults.
There’s no physical pass required — just show up. Space may be limited, however, so check ahead before you go.
Officials say the goal is to help Canadians and international visitors explore the country’s natural beauty and cultural treasures — without breaking the bank.
WX: Rain’t Misbehavin’
And now for the weather:
Today’s forecast calls for clouds and some light showers until around mid-afternoon, whereupon we may see the sun return for a few brief intervals. Daytime highs are projected around the mid-60s, with some mild winds and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Evening skies are looking to be partly cloudy, with lows right around 50 degrees.
Juneteenth looks to provide a brief reprieve from what could be a substantial stretch of rainy weather, with mostly sunny skies and pleasant temperatures.
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: WA beekeepers and researchers tracking diets to combat increasing rates of hive collapse
STORY: WCSO and Ferndale School District issue joint statement over improperly authorized training exercise
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and Ferndale School District are revising their training protocols after a SWAT drill during school hours sparked concern.
This according to a joint statement on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
Last Friday, video surfaced of the county’s SWAT team conducting a training exercise on a school bus on Ferndale school property—while school was in session.
The district confirmed the drill was approved by a staffer not authorized to do so, and it skipped normal facility-use procedures.
Superintendent Kristi Dominguez told parents she would have denied the request had it followed proper channels. She noted that while first responder trainings are common, they usually happen outside of class time.
Dominguez and Sheriff Donnell “Tank” Tanksley met over the weekend and agreed to establish clearer protocols going forward.
Both offices apologized and said student and community safety remains their priority. A joint meeting is set for next week to finalize the updated process.
STORY: Bellingham campground one of best in nation
A Bellingham-area campground has earned national recognition.
Rusty Ranch Tree Farm and Forest has been named one of Hipcamp’s 50 Favorite Places to Camp in America Right Now. The list was selected from more than half a million campsites nationwide, based on camper reviews, ratings, and editorial picks.
Located just outside Bellingham, Rusty Ranch is part working farm, part outdoor classroom, and part family-friendly retreat. It offers five tent and RV sites, a pet-friendly bunkhouse, trails through quiet woods, and extras like fresh farm breakfasts, salmon filets, and veggie baskets.
Campers can also pick berries, watch birds in the orchard, and even take home a tree.
Rusty Ranch is known for creating a space where families can unplug and reconnect with nature – which, according to Hipcamp, makes it one of the region’s most welcoming spots to camp in 2025.
STORY: Crab season opens July 17th – YAY! (run on/before 7/17!!)
Get your gear ready—Marine Area 7 South, including the San Juans and Bellingham, opens for crabbing July 17th.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says pots can be dropped Thursdays through Mondays, with no crabbing allowed on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
A shellfish license and catch record card are required. The daily limit is five male Dungeness crabs, at least 6-and-a-quarter inches wide, plus six red rock crabs of any sex. Crab must be kept whole so size and sex can be verified.
Area 7 North – from Inati Bay to Point Roberts — remains closed. WDFW expects that season to open in mid-August, once shell condition sampling wraps up.
Always check for emergency closures before heading out. More info at wdfw.wa.gov.
