Officials warn of dangerous drug (for Thurs 10/9), Ferndale Council opposes citizen initiative on Nov ballot, County signs lease for Severe Weather Shelter for, Bham speed limit changes in near future run, Property tax hike among proposed solutions to Whatcom ambulance funding crisis, Property tax hike among proposed solutions to Whatcom ambulance funding crisis, Dept. of Energy expected to be able to fund Hanford site cleanup for first four weeks of shutdown, Ferndale breaks ground on new civic campus, Free or cheap, Twin Sisters Mobile Market – Every Saturday, now through October 25 from 10am to 2pm at the Deming Library, and from 9am to 3pm at the North Fork Library
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, October 9th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Officials warn of dangerous drug (for Thurs 10/9)
Whatcom County is seeing a dangerous spike in overdoses from an especially toxic drug supply – and officials say Narcan alone is not always enough.
Both Lummi Counseling Services and the Lummi Tribal Health Center report several overdoses over the weekend where victims needed ongoing breathing support, even after multiple doses of Narcan.
Preliminary tests point to carfentanil (car FEN tan il), a synthetic opioid up to 100 times stronger than fentanyl, and xylazine (ZAI-luh-zeen), or “tranq,” a powerful animal sedative. Carfentanil can cause instant overdose — even a few grains can be deadly. Meanwhile, Narcan will not reverse xylazine’s effects, but rescue breathing can keep someone alive until help arrives.
Health officials urge anyone who uses: never use alone, take turns, and always carry Narcan. Free Narcan kits are available at various locations throughout the county, including Lummi CARE and the Lummi Nation Health Center, the Bellingham and Blaine Food Banks, the Ferndale Community Center, and Whatcom Health and Community Services. These
kits can also be ordered online for free at
WhatcomOverdosePrevention.org.
STORY: Ferndale Council opposes citizen initiative on Nov ballot Ferndale voters are facing a fight over the city’s first-ever citizen initiative.
The council voted 5-to-2 Monday night to oppose the November ballot measure that would ban so-called “junk fees” for renters. The initiative would cap rental application fees at $50, and prohibit extra charges for using in-unit appliances, mail services, or shared spaces. In a resolution, the council argued the proposal could hurt small landlords and make it harder to keep up with maintenance and safety work.
Council member Jon Mutchler (MUCH-lur) voted to oppose, saying the initiative ties the city’s hands.
[clip: mutchler.wav, :08, out: “…raise rents”]
Council member Ryan O’Larey (OH LARRY), however, voted no on opposing the measure, and said residents told him the council should stay out of it.
[clip: olarey.wav, :04, out: “…to the voters”]
The initiative goes before Ferndale voters in the November general election.
STORY: County signs lease for Severe Weather Shelter (for 10/9) Help is on the way for Bellingham’s unhoused this winter.
The Whatcom County Council approved a new lease on Tuesday to reopen the city’s severe weather shelter. The county will once again partner with Lutheran Community Services Northwest to use space at 925 North Forest Street — the same location as last year.
The lease runs from November through March and costs about $66,000. If expenses climb, the City of Bellingham has agreed to match up to $100,000. The shelter is expected to be open between 25 and 35 nights when temperatures drop to 32 degrees or below, with costs totaling around $425-to-525,000.
The shelter will provide 60 beds, hot meals, and nightly visits from the Street Medicine Team. Hiring is underway now for shift leads and on-call staff to help operate the shelter.
The shelter is expected to be ready to open by November 15th.
STORY: Bham speed limit changes in near future (run ASAP) Slower speed limits could be coming to Bellingham roads.
The City Council’s Public Works and Natural Resources Committee reviewed a proposal on 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 roads as shared streets.
The committee voiced support for the changes, and staff showed how speed limits would gradually drop on roads like the Mount Baker Highway as it approaches the city.
If approved, the changes could begin rolling out in early 2026.
STORY: Property tax hike among proposed solutions to Whatcom ambulance funding crisis
Whatcom County homeowners could pay higher property taxes next year to keep ambulance services running.
The Medic One program operates the countywide emergency medical response, and officials say costs are rising faster than revenue. The current levy pays for five countywide ambulances staffed by paramedics, as well as training and equipment. Deputy Executive Kayla Schott-Bresler told council members this week that the program faces a nearly three-million-dollar deficit this year, which could double by 2028 without new funding.
One proposal would add about twenty-six dollars to the average homeowner’s tax bill in 2026. Some council members say budget cuts should be on the table until voters renew the EMS levy in 2028.
The EMS Oversight Board will discuss its options on Friday, and County Executive Satpal Sidhu (saht-POW see-DO) is expected to bring forward his own proposal soon.
STORY: Whatcom farm reaches settlement with county over illegal irrigation allegations
A Whatcom County farmer has reached a settlement with the state over claims of illegal irrigation.
The Department of Ecology says RAN General Partnership will pay fifteen thousand dollars — without admitting wrongdoing — to resolve allegations it irrigated forty acres of blueberries west of Sumas (SUE-mass) without water rights. It’s the second penalty against the farm and its owner, Rick Alamwala (a-luhm-WAH-lah), following a twelve-thousand-dollar fine in 2023 for a similar violation. As part of the settlement, Alamwala must install remote water meters so Ecology can monitor usage and prevent future issues.
The case comes as Whatcom County remains under a drought emergency declared earlier this year.
STORY: Dept. of Energy expected to be able to fund Hanford site cleanup for first four weeks of shutdown
Cleanup work at the Hanford nuclear site in Eastern Washington will continue despite the federal government shutdown.
According to state officials at the Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board’s virtual meeting on Tuesday, the Department of Energy has enough money to maintain operations for about a month. Roughly 13,000 people work at Hanford, where crews are preparing to begin treating radioactive waste at the long-awaited vitrification plant. The state recently issued the final permits needed for that process, and the facility’s massive melters are already running around the clock.
If the shutdown drags on and carry-over funding runs out, some nonessential work could pause or even stop, but officials say critical safety operations are expected to continue.
WX: The third act looks to be fraught with turmoil
And now for the weather:
We should see mild temperatures today, with scattered showers and decidedly un-scattered clouds. Highs should hover between the upper-50s and mid-to-low 60s. The total rainfall should be about one-tenth of an inch. The evening’s forecast calls for another cool, cloudy night, with lows in the upper-40s.
Expect tomorrow to look very similar to today, though with significantly heavier rainfall predicted to grace our storm drains.
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: Ferndale breaks ground on new civic campus
Ferndale has broken ground on its new Civic Campus Project, a major step toward modern, accessible city facilities.
The $6.75 million in state and federal grants will help fund the 19,000-square-foot building, which brings City Hall, Municipal Court, and Council Chambers under one roof.
Mayor Greg Hansen called it a “historic investment” that will improve access and efficiency.
Construction by Dawson Construction is underway, with completion expected in 2027.
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.
STORY: Free or cheap
Twin Sisters Mobile Market – Every Saturday, now through October 25 from 10am to 2pm at the Deming Library, and from 9am to 3pm at the North Fork Library
Everyone should have access to fresh, local produce, pasture-raised eggs, meat and more! This is a novel way to build a more equitable and resilient food system in East Whatcom County, while supporting small local farms. Alternative payment methods like SNAP/EBT are accepted. For more information about Twin Sisters Mobile Market, visit twinsistersmarkets.com.
Orca Recovery Day, Sat Oct 18, Join NSEA, Whatcom Conservation District, and Whatcom Land Trust in restoring habitat along Kenney Creek! 9am-12pm – Deming, WA | Click here for more information.
Make a Difference Day, Sat Oct 25, Support the continued conservation at Whatcom Fall Park with NSEA and the City of Bellingham. 9am-12pm – Bellingham, WA | Click here for more information.
Fishttrap Creek Planting, Sat, Nov 1, Help NSEA and the City of Lynden finish up planting in a newly restored section of Fishtrap Creek. 9am-12pm – Lynden, WA | Click here for more information.
Sat Nov 8, Kendall Creek Tree Planting, Convert a portion of Kendall Creek from lawn to riparian forest at the Kendall Creek Hatchery! 9am-12pm – Deming, WA | Click here for more information.
Sat Nov 15, Cordata Park Work Party Support riparian and wetland restoration with NSEA and the City of Bellingham at one of Bellingham’s most loved parks. 9am-12pm – Bellingham, WA | Click here for more information.
Sat Nov 22, California Creek Tree Planting, Join NSEA, Whatcom Conservation District, and Whatcom Land Trust to improve habitat near Drayton Harbor! 9am-12pm – Blaine, WA | More information coming soon!
Sat Dec 6, Deer Creek Tree Planting, Support coho salmon by improving riparian habitat along Deer Creek and planting trees and shrubs! 9am-12pm – Bellingham, WA | Click here for more information.
Sat Dec 13, Connelly Creek Tree Planting, Improve wetlands with NSEA and the City of Bellingham in the Connelly Creek Nature Area. 10am-1pm – Bellingham, WA | Click here for more information.
