WWU & WCC launch guaranteed admission, Whatcom officials weigh pros and cons of attaching mental health facility to upcoming detention center, Derek Long steps down, : More than $3.4 million in grants allocated to Whatcom County to aid in salmon habitat restoration, Products “on a stick,” recalled from two companies following reports of wood pieces embedded in food, Hello Fresh meals recalled, Intruder causes “significant damage,” after breaking into WA Capitol Building, State insurance commissioner calls on insurance companies to offer grace to federal workers, State insurance commissioner calls on insurance companies to offer grace to federal workers, Fire Safety Week focuses on fire safety, Bham speed limit changes in near future (run ASAP), Ferndale ballot dropbox temporarily moved (kill 10/28 without edit, 11/3 with edit)
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, October 8th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: WWU & WCC launch guaranteed admission
Students at Whatcom Community College now have a guaranteed path to a bachelor’s degree at Western Washington University.
A new transfer partnership was announced by both schools on Monday. The agreement guarantees admission to Western for Whatcom students who complete a transfer degree with at least a 2.5 GPA — and also waives the $70 application fee.
In a release, WCC President Justin Guillory says the partnership removes uncertainty for students and strengthens collaboration between the two institutions. Western President Sabah Randhawa says the program expands access and removes barriers for transfer students.
Qualifying students will enter Western as juniors, with direct admission into nearly 30 majors and coordinated advising to ensure a smooth transition.
Whatcom joins four other community colleges in the region now offering guaranteed transfer to Western Washington University.
STORY: Whatcom officials weigh pros and cons of attaching mental health facility to upcoming detention center
As design work begins on Whatcom County’s new justice center, county leaders are debating where things will be located.
Voters approved a 0.2% sales tax last year to fund both the jail and the treatment center. The jail will replace the aging downtown Bellingham facility, while the behavioral health center was pitched as a treatment alternative for people struggling with mental health or substance use.
Locating the center next to the jail could provide treatment options for inmates and reduce incarceration, but it would limit access and make treatment ineligible for Medicaid funding. A site in Bellingham near the Anne Deacon Center for Hope, would allow more people to receive care and qualify for federal reimbursement but make access more of a problem for inmates.
Officials say no final decision has been made, and costs and capacity are still being determined. County residents can learn more during a public town hall on November 20th.
STORY: Galbraith hiking trails temporarily closed for construction of logging roads, longer-term closures expected in spring
Trail closures are in effect at the top of Galbraith Mountain as logging crews build access roads.
The Bellingham Herald reports the closures affect about two miles of trails, including Evolution, Scorpion, Swirlz, Wraparound, Tower Trail, and others. The roads should be finished by next week, with trails reopening until logging begins next spring.
The work is part of the Junia Timber Sale, where Janicki Logging paid $700,000 for the right to harvest about 48 acres, with some trees left standing for wildlife habitat.
Seasonal watershed rules prevent logging between Nov. 1 and March 31, so construction is happening now. When the logging begins next spring, it’s expected to last about two months. The area will be replanted with a mix of species after the harvest.
STORY: Derek Long steps down
Sustainable Connections Executive Director Derek Long announced he will step down after more than two decades leading Sustainable Connections.
In a statement yesterday, Long said he will leave the non-profit at the end of October to focus on family and make room for new leadership. The organization — known for its work in housing, food systems, and energy efficiency — says operations and programming will continue unchanged.
Long’s tenure hasn’t been without controversy — some former employees criticized decisions around the Cloud Mountain Farm Center, which Sustainable Connections plans to divest from by the end of the year due to funding challenges.
Still, according to Long, his departure isn’t related to those issues and that the organization’s staff will carry its mission forward.
STORY: More than $3.4 million in grants allocated to Whatcom County to aid in salmon habitat restoration
More than three million dollars is coming to Whatcom County to help restore salmon habitat.
The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office announced over sixty-one million dollars in grants statewide this week — including three projects in Whatcom County.
The largest grant — nearly two-point-four million dollars — goes to the Lummi Nation Natural Resources Department to restore more than a mile of habitat along the South Fork Nooksack River. The project will add logjams and cooler water areas to support spawning salmon, including Chinook.
The Nooksack Indian Tribe will receive half a million dollars to plan restoration of thirty miles of the Nooksack River. And the Whatcom Land Trust will use more than five hundred thousand dollars to purchase and restore land along lower Kenney Creek.
State officials say these efforts are key to protecting wild salmon — nearly three-quarters of which are now listed as threatened or endangered in Washington.
STORY: Products “on a stick,” recalled from two companies following reports of wood pieces embedded in food
It’s the second big recall in a week for foods on a stick — Hillshire Brands is pulling back 58 million pounds of corn dogs and sausage-on-a-stick because of possible wood contamination.
The USDA says pieces of wood were found embedded in the batter. The recall covers Jimmy Dean, State Fair, and Fresh to You products made between March and late September and shipped nationwide. Hillshire launched the recall after multiple consumer complaints, with five people reporting injuries.
Packages show establishment numbers EST-582, P-894, or EST. 47991 near the USDA inspection mark.
This comes just days after Foster Farms recalled its own corndog products for the same issue.
Consumers are urged to throw the products out or return them — and not to eat them.
STORY: Hello Fresh meals recalled
There’s yet another food safety alert — this time for certain Hello Fresh ready-made meals that may be contaminated with Listeria.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the affected meals were produced by FreshRealm and contain spinach regulated by the FDA. The recall covers two items shipped directly to consumers — Cheesy Pulled Pork Pepper Pasta and Unstuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey — with specific lot codes listed by the USDA.
Officials say consumers should not eat the meals, and instead throw them away or return them. Listeria infection can be serious, especially for pregnant women, young children, and older adults.
STORY: Intruder causes “significant damage,” after breaking into WA Capitol Building
A man with a hammer broke into Washington’s Capitol, torched historic artifacts and left heavy damage in his wake.
Governor Bob Ferguson says the intruder smashed his way into the Legislative Building late Sunday, vandalized flags and statues, then set a fire in the historic State Reception Room.
KOMO News reports troopers were on scene within 30 seconds and arrested 34-year-old Gunnar Schubert as he tried to leave. Court documents say he broke in through a ground-floor window with a hammer, and troopers found a bottle of Zippo lighter fluid and a lighter near the window.
Schubert was booked into the Thurston County Jail on charges of burglary, arson, and malicious mischief. He appeared in court yesterday afternoon, where a judge released him on his own recognizance following a mental-health evaluation.
Officials say the attack was not politically motivated.
Cleanup and repairs are underway. Legislative leaders say the “people’s house” remains open, and the work of democracy will continue.
STORY: State insurance commissioner calls on insurance companies to offer grace to federal workers
Washington State Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer has called on insurance companies to support federal workers impacted by the government shutdown.
Kuderer has urged insurers to offer at least a 30-day grace period for federal employees who can’t make premium payments on time, saying families shouldn’t lose coverage because of circumstances beyond their control.
Kuderer’s office says it will continue to monitor how insurers respond to ensure Washington consumers are treated fairly during the shutdown.
STORY: Fire Safety Week focuses on fire safety
It’s Fire Prevention Week, and this year’s theme is focused on lithium-ion batteries.
The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office and the National Fire Protection Association want to share three simple steps to reduce fires.
First, buy safely — look for certification marks like UL, ETL, or CSA when purchasing battery-powered devices. Second, charge safely — use only approved chargers, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and unplug once fully charged to avoid overheating. And third, recycle responsibly — never throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash— take them to a safe recycling location, which you can find at call2recycle.org.
WX: Cool kids club
And now for the weather:
Today should bring us closer to our typical autumn weather, with cooler temperatures, partly sunny skies, and highs that hover around the upper 50s and low 60s. Be prepared for a small chance of showers throughout the day and a much higher chance in the evening. We should also see temperatures drop down to lows in the mid-high 40s.
Tomorrow should bring us more of the same, with rain likely in the morning.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THARE-un) Danielson, Cody Mills, Aidan Larson, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Bella Mae, 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: Bham speed limit changes in near future (run ASAP)
Slower speed limits could be coming to Bellingham roads.
My Bellingham Now reports the City Council’s Public Works and Natural Resources Committee reviewed a proposal Monday to lower limits in many parts of the city, especially in high-collision areas.
The plan would make the downtown core 20 miles an hour throughout and reduce speeds along stretches of Alabama Street, Lakeway Drive, and Sunset Drive. Another option would set 20 miles an hour as the default on residential streets and designate some as shared streets.
The committee voiced support, and staff showed how speed limits would gradually drop on roads like Mount Baker Highway as it approaches the city.
If approved, the changes could begin rolling out in early 2026.
STORY: Ferndale ballot dropbox temporarily moved (kill 10/28 without edit, 11/3 with edit)
Due to construction, Ferndale’s Drop Box has temporarily moved to Pioneer Pavilion Community Center at 2007 Cherry Street, for this election only! Be sure to return your ballot in an Official Ballot Drop Box by 8:00 pm November 4 or by mail, postmarked by November 4, 2025. The United States Postal Service recommends mailing by Tuesday, October 28.
You can find an official ballot box near you on the Whatcom County website.
