Oregon congresswoman’s team locates family being detained in Ferndale, Bellingham PD arrest DUI suspect after chase and brief confrontation, Whatcom man sentenced to ten years following conviction for child rape, More changes incoming to Holly Street bike lanes, Whatcom County puts Northwest Annex upgrades on hold in favor of new sheriff’s office, More changes incoming to Holly Street bike lanes, Whatcom County puts Northwest Annex upgrades on hold in favor of new sheriff’s office, Free and cheap, Freeway blocked Wednesday (run tomorrow, TUES), AG’s office bans sale of machine gun converters in WA, Sedro-Woolley police arrest man following alleged assault and attempted arson, Dept of Health urges kids to get shots before school starts
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, July 14th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Oregon congresswoman’s team locates family being detained in Ferndale
A Portland mother and her four young children are being held without charges at a federal facility in Ferndale.
According to an announcement from U.S. Representative Maxine Dexter, the family has been detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for nearly two weeks with no access to legal counsel. Dexter spoke out on Friday, calling it a “kidnapping” and saying CBP initially misled her office about the family’s whereabouts.
Kenia (KENYA) Jackeline Merlos (MEHR-los) and her four children were stopped on June 28th while trying to enter Canada with Merlos’ mother, a Honduran national with a valid travel visa. All the children are U.S. citizens under age 10. The grandmother was separated and sent to a detention center in Tacoma.
Dexter says the children should be enjoying their summer, not being held incommunicado (in-kuh-myoo-nuh-KAA-dow) by their own government.
STORY: Bellingham PD arrest DUI suspect after chase and brief confrontation
A 63-year-old man was arrested in Bellingham after allegedly leading police on a high-speed chase while possibly under the influence.
According to Bellingham Police, the incident began around 10 p.m. on July 5th, when an officer saw the man nearly lose control of his car near James and Ohio streets. The driver ran a stop sign and sped off when police tried to pull him over.
He reportedly hit speeds over 90 miles an hour, ran a red light at Lakeway, and ended up at a dead-end on Samish Way.
Police say the man refused to leave his car. Officers used bean bag rounds and chemical irritants before he finally surrendered.
He was treated at St. Joseph Medical Center, then booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of DUI, resisting arrest, and attempting to elude police.
STORY: Whatcom man sentenced to ten years following conviction for child rape
A Whatcom County man has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison for assaulting a 13-year-old girl he met online.
24-year-old Steven James Moreau (mor-OH) pleaded guilty to second-degree rape of a child and possession of explicit images of a minor. He was sentenced Tuesday to 119 months in prison, followed by lifetime community custody.
Court records say Moreau, then 20, began exchanging sexual messages with the girl in 2021 after meeting her through a family connection. Her father discovered the two during a sexual encounter in a car on the family’s property. He was arrested weeks later.
At sentencing, the victim and her mother described lasting trauma, fear, and years of emotional distress. The family had to move, fearing Moreau would find them after posting bail.
Judge Robert Olson called Moreau’s actions a “horrific pattern of manipulation and abuse.” His case will go before the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board, which could extend his time behind bars.
STORY: More changes incoming to Holly Street bike lanes
The City of Bellingham’s Public Works Department has announced another set of changes to the Holly Street bike lanes.
Last year, the City created parking-protected lanes between State and Bay as part of a pilot project intended to increase cycle usage and safety. However, between March and April of 2024 alone, over 60 accidents and near-misses occurred, mostly at intersections where drivers had to execute so-called right-hook turns.
In addition, community feedback highlighted concerns about parked cars obstructing views, difficulties with left turns for cyclists due to the configuration of traffic lanes, and more dangerous pedestrian crossings.
New changes include replacing the parking-protected lanes with traditional buffered bike lanes, as well as relocating parked vehicles back next to sidewalks. Public Works crews will also install additional enhanced safety measures at busy intersections. Weather permitting, the City says it expects to begin work on the reconfigurations during the week of July 21st.
STORY: Whatcom County puts Northwest Annex upgrades on hold in favor of new sheriff’s office
The future of the nearly 100-year-old Northwest County Annex building is now in limbo.
In 2021, officials said the aging structure — which currently houses planning and public works staff — had reached the end of its useful life. With one-and-a-half million dollars already spent on renovation planning, the county has hit the pause button on a $64 million plan to replace it with a new three-building government campus.
County Deputy Executive Aly Pennucci (ALLIE puh-NU-chee) told the council in March the building is, quote, “bursting at the seams.” However, limited real estate tax revenue means county officials must now choose between funding the new campus, a much-needed sheriff’s office, or a replacement morgue.
The County says it will take 6 months to re-evaluate the options, which now range from moving forward to scrapping the project entirely.
STORY: WA to ban sale of two common ivy varietals in August
A once-popular landscaping staple is now on Washington’s noxious (NAAK-shuhs) weed list.
The state Department of Agriculture announced last Wednesday that both English and Atlantic varieties of ivy will be banned for sale starting on August 9th due to their threat to native trees and ecosystems.
Washington now joins Oregon as one of only two states to ban English ivy. Officials stress, however, that the ban does not apply to existing plants in yards — only future sales.
According to experts from the Whatcom Million Trees Project, the invasive ivy chokes out trees by climbing trunks and competing for sunlight — often killing them. The group, along with multiple individuals and other organizations, successfully pushed for the ban over the past two years.
The ivy ban is part of a broader update to the state’s noxious weed seed and plant quarantine. In total, 19 species were added to the banned list.
Residents who want to remove ivy from their trees are encouraged to sever vines at chest height and let the upper growth die off. Protective gloves are recommended, as the sap can cause skin irritation.
More information is available through the state Noxious Weed Control Board.
WX: *ahem* Seventy-fouuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrr
And now for the weather:
Today’s forecast calls for sunshine amid some light cloud cover. Be prepared for a U.V. index rating of 8 and highs in the mid-70s, though some mild winds throughout the day should help things feel a touch cooler. This evening’s forecast calls for clear skies and lows in the upper 50s.
Tomorrow should see temperatures break into the 80s for a few days. May your rotary fans be sturdy.
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), Nate Landi (LAND-ee) and Hailey LeRoy. 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: Free and cheap
Pioneer Old Settlers Grand Parade at 11am on Saturday, July 26th.
STORY: Freeway blocked Wednesday (run tomorrow, TUES)
Drivers can expect nighttime delays on southbound I-5 between Blaine and Ferndale starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 16.
The Washington State Department of Transportation says repair work will stretch across 10 miles of freeway and continue through early morning hours until Friday, July 18.
Crews will repave deteriorating lanes, ramps, and shoulders, and install upgraded guardrails, barriers, and traffic counters along the corridor.
Work hours run nightly from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Drivers are urged to plan ahead and expect lane closures.
STORY: AG’s office bans sale of machine gun converters in WA
STORY: Sedro-Woolley police arrest man following alleged assault and attempted arson
STORY: Dept of Health urges kids to get shots before school starts
As students get ready to head back to class, the Washington State Department of Health is urging families to make sure kids are up to date on required vaccinations.
The rules apply to all students—including those in child care or remote learning.
State officials say immunizations protect children, prevent illness outbreaks, and help keep kids in school.
Childhood vaccination rates have been struggling statewide since the pandemic. In 2024, whooping cough cases jumped 25-fold amid a drop in DTaP vaccine coverage.
The Health Department says now is the time to check with your doctor and get caught up.
