Helicopter aids in rescue of injured biker on Galbraith Mountain, Injured hiker rescued from North Cascades; hiker’s dog rescued two days later, Paraglider killed after apparent takeoff issue around Big Lake, Bellingham names new HR director and deputy director, Judge weighs dismissal of lawsuit brought by fired PeaceHealth ER doctor, Roll into the long weekend in style, Fireworks, Trail detour near Fairhaven Park, Free youth vaccine clinics, More pickleball options coming to Cornwall Park, WA forest health survey reveals over half a million acres of stressed or dead trees, New L&I law guarantees equal pay regardless of gender for WA workers
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, July 3rd. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Helicopter aids in rescue of injured biker on Galbraith Mountain
Rescue crews responded to a serious mountain biking accident near Bellingham on Tuesday.
The South Whatcom Fire Authority says a woman was severely injured while riding the Double Vision trail on Galbraith Mountain. The 911 call came in around 1 p.m., prompting a joint rescue response from SWFA and Bellingham Fire paramedics.
The woman was stabilized with a vacuum splint and carried to an ambulance on a nearby mountain road. From there, she was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for specialized treatment.
Her current condition has not been released.
STORY: Injured hiker rescued from North Cascades; hiker’s dog rescued two days later
A complex mountain rescue in the North Cascades last week ended with a hiker and their dog safely recovered.
The Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council says it responded last Thursday afternoon to an injured hiker near Twin Lakes. The person had fallen in steep, off-trail terrain near the Heather benches; they were found by two U.S. Forest Service employees, who kept them stable until rescuers arrived.
Teams worked through rain into the night, using ropes to raise, lower, and guide the patient back to the trail.
Two days later, rescue crews returned to search for the hiker’s dog, Remi, who had gone missing during the evacuation. Remi was found safe after two nights alone near the summit of Winchester Mountain, and reunited with her owner in Glacier.
BMRC says this was its 26th call-out so far this year.
STORY: Paraglider killed after apparent takeoff issue around Big Lake
A certified paraglider pilot was killed yesterday afternoon in a crash near Big Lake in Skagit County.
Sheriff’s deputies responded just after 1 p.m. to Andal (ANN-dahl) Road, where the 68-year-old man reportedly crashed shortly after takeoff. Emergency crews attempted to assist, but the man died at the scene.
Authorities say there’s no indication that drugs or alcohol were involved. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.
STORY: Bellingham names new HR director and deputy director Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund has completed a major leadership transition at City Hall with the announcement of two key hires.
Yesterday, the city named Deborah Danner as the new HR director. Danner brings over 30 years of public service experience, which includes roles with the Washington Attorney General’s Office and Eastern Washington University. She’ll earn about $204,000 annually.
Ameleah (uh-ME-lee-uh) Sullivan, who has served as interim director since last August, will step into the new role of deputy HR director. A longtime city employee, Sullivan brings 13 years of experience focused on labor and employee relations.
This move finalizes Lund’s senior leadership team reshuffle that began last summer, after the firing of the city’s previous HR and public works directors.
STORY: Judge weighs dismissal of lawsuit brought by fired PeaceHealth ER doctor
A Whatcom County Superior Court judge has to weigh the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a local ER doctor against his former employers.
The suit was filed by Dr. Ming Lin against PeaceHealth and Northwest Emergency Physicians after he was fired in 2020 over Facebook posts criticizing St. Joseph Medical Center’s response to the COVID pandemic. He had worked in the emergency department for 20 years.
Lin later included claims of racial discrimination and harassment that he says were not investigated or remedied.
According to court documents, Lin and PeaceHealth reached a settlement in December, which was described as “lucrative” by an attorney for PeaceHealth. The court agreed with the settlement, and the case was dismissed.
Lin then amended a complaint after the trial to make claims against TeamHealth. He alleged wrongful termination and a hostile work environment. He is looking to gain compensation for these claims and for attorney fees.
According to the Herald, Judge David Freeman said that he was “not comfortable” with deciding on dismissal on Monday morning. While Freeman says he hasn’t seen a clear basis for dismissal, he believes Lin has been inconsistent with the allegations.
STORY: Roll into the long weekend in style
You can get an early start on the long weekend today at Whatcom Museum’s Access for All Free First Thursday.
The Museum says they have a full day of bike-themed activities planned — including a free bike valet from Let’s Bike Bellingham, music and gallery tours for kids, cyanotype (sigh-AN-o-type) printing, as well as jewelry-making with reclaimed bike parts. The public is also invited to take
part in a ‘Bike & Sketch ride’ with Smart Trips, test adaptive bikes, and explore the Salmon Art Trail on a public art walk.
The day wraps up with a slow bike race, a festive afternoon parade, and an evening concert by North Country Highway in the Lightcatcher Courtyard. A full schedule of events is available on the Whatcom Museum website.
STORY: Fireworks
As Independence Day approaches, Whatcom County residents are being urged to know the rules before lighting the fuse.
These rules come after years of public input — from neighbors, first responders, and veterans — all asking for safer celebrations.
In Bellingham, all personal fireworks are banned — no exceptions. Lighting them, even if purchased legally elsewhere, could cost you up to $1,000 in fines and a visit from law enforcement.
In Blaine, fireworks are allowed only on the Fourth, from 10 a.m. to midnight, but not west of Shintaffer (SHIN-toff-er) Road — including Semiahmoo Spit, the marina, Blaine Harbor, and public parks.
In unincorporated Whatcom County, fireworks can be used today and Saturday from 6 to 11 p.m., and until midnight on the 4th. Sales continue daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. through July 6th.
Other cities like Lynden, Sumas, Everson, Nooksack, and Ferndale have their own regulations. Officials say to check your local code at whatcom.com before celebrating.
And a reminder: fireworks from tribal stands are only legal on tribal land. Once you leave, they’re illegal to possess or use. And explosives like M-80s and M-100s? Those are banned everywhere.
Finally, for those wanting to skip the stress and see the sparkle, Bellingham’s Fourth of July Spectacular at Zuanich Point Park kicks off with live music, food, and Whatcom County’s biggest fireworks show at 10:30 p.m.
WX: Hi Dad! Hi Sun!
And now for the weather:
The sunny weather should continue today, with a max U.V. index of 9 and highs around 70 degrees. Expect some light cloud cover throughout the day, which will increase into the evening. The nighttime should bring comparatively cloudy skies and lows around 50 degrees.
We’re looking at a bright and sunny forecast for Independence Day weekend and beyond, so grill those brats without fear.
One final note: the KMRE News team will be taking tomorrow off, but we’ll be back again as usual on Monday.
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), Bella Mae (BELL-uh MAY), Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI
BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), and Nate Landi (LAND-ee). 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. I’m _________, and for all of us at KMRE News, have a great holiday weekend!
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STORY: Trail detour near Fairhaven Park
A heads up for Interurban Trail users: a detour is in place between 10th Street and Fairhaven Park.
The temporary reroute will allow crews to remove two fish passage barriers where the trail crosses Padden Creek. The project will make the creek crossings fully accessible to native fish species.
Construction is expected to last through the fall. Trail users can find more details on the city’s website.
STORY: Crab season opens July 17th – YAY! (kill date 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.
STORY: Free youth vaccine clinics
In response to the first confirmed measles cases in Whatcom County in over a decade, local health officials have added a second no-cost vaccine clinic this month for children and teens.
The clinics—open to anyone 18 and under—will offer all standard childhood vaccines, including the MMR shot for measles, mumps, and
rubella. The second on Tuesday, July 8th from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Chestnut Professional Building in Bellingham. Walk-ins are welcome.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses and can linger in the air for hours. Health officials say local vaccination rates need to rise from 87% to 95% to prevent an outbreak.
Dr. Megan Lelonek, Whatcom County’s Co-Health Officer, says demand for vaccines is rising as parents take steps to protect their children—and the community.
STORY: More pickleball options coming to Cornwall Park Changes are coming to the play courts at Cornwall Memorial Park.
Starting this month, the City will begin replacing two existing tennis courts with a new layout featuring three pickleball courts and one tennis court. The renovation project will temporarily close those courts through the summer, but other pickleball courts at the park will remain open.
Construction is expected to wrap up by September.
STORY: WA forest health survey reveals over half a million acres of stressed or dead trees
A new state survey shows that Washington’s forests are under growing stress.
According to the Department of Natural Resources, aerial surveys this year found more than 545,000 acres of trees across the state are dead or showing signs of severe stress—largely due to drought, insects, and disease.
That’s the second-highest total in the past decade. Officials say the findings highlight the urgent need for forest health treatments and wildfire prevention strategies as climate pressures intensify.
STORY: New L&I law guarantees equal pay regardless of gender for WA workers
Washington’s equal pay protections just got stronger.
A new rule that took effect July 1 expands the state’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act beyond gender—now covering workers regardless of sexual orientation, race, immigration status, or physical ability.
The Department of Labor and Industries says equal pay will now be determined by job skill, effort, and responsibility—not just job titles.
More changes are on the way later this month. Starting July 27th, employers can’t require a driver’s license unless driving is part of the job, and larger employers must include pay and benefits information in job postings.
