Jury settles negligence case after Deming woman injured at Costco, Search teams rescue injured biker on Lookout Mountain, One lane of I-5 in Ferndale closes this week for construction projects, SR 20 closes for three days, COB says avoid flooding, adopt a stormdrain, Water rates going up in the New Year, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife announces record sockeye returns to Baker River system, Dept. of Health announces second round of funding for key federal food assistance program, Nightclub catering exclusively to young adult patrons opens in Bellingham, Accessible voting units available in Whatcom County (for 10/14), Ferndale ballot dropbox temporarily moved (kill 10/28 without edit, 11/3 with edit), Free and Cheap
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STORY: Jury settles negligence case after Deming woman injured at Costco
A Whatcom County jury has ruled that Costco was not negligent in a personal injury lawsuit brought by a Deming woman.
Heather Bradford filed the lawsuit in 2021, years after an incident in which an employee reportedly struck her with a cart loaded with furniture boxes, causing her lasting neck, shoulder, and back pain.
After hearing from medical experts on both sides, the jury deliberated for one day before it decided that neither Costco nor Bradford were negligent in the incident.
STORY: Search teams rescue injured biker on Lookout Mountain
Search and rescue teams responded to Lookout Mountain on Friday morning after a mountain biker was injured on a steep trail.
The call came in just before 9 a.m. Crews from the Bellingham Fire Department, the South Whatcom Fire Authority, and Bellingham Mountain Rescue worked for several hours to bring the rider to safety.
Chief Mitch Nolze said rescuers used a rope system to carefully lower the man down the mountain, describing the process as slow but necessary for safety.
The injured biker was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center, and later released. Authorities have not shared details about his injuries.
STORY: One lane of I-5 in Ferndale closes this week for construction projects
Drivers should expect nightly lane closures on Interstate 5 in Ferndale starting this weekend.
The Washington State Department of Transportation says the left lanes in both directions will close between Portal Way and Grandview Road for paving and safety upgrades.
Southbound closures began last night and will continue through Friday morning, while northbound work starts tonight and also runs through Friday.
Crews will repave the roadway and install new cable barriers as part of WSDOT’s (WASH-dots) ongoing Nooksack-River-to-Blaine paving project.
STORY: SR 20 closes for three days
State Route 20 near Oak Harbor will close nightly from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., tonight through Thursday.
According to WSDOT (WASH-dot), the new West Fakkema (FEH-kuh-mah) Road roundabout will be paved. The new roundabout is designed to slow traffic, improve safety, and make navigation easier for large trucks. Travelers can get real-time updates via the WSDOT mobile app or the Travel Center Map.
Drivers are advised to detour using West Ault (AALT) Field and Goldie roads, while local traffic on the east side can use Sleeper and Crescent Harbor roads.
STORY: COB says avoid flooding, adopt a stormdrain
As our fall weather gets windier, Bellingham officials want to remind residents to help keep storm drains clear.
Leaves, trash, and debris can build up and cause secondary flooding on streets and into homes. City staff is urging people to adopt a storm drain near their homes and sweep or rake them, especially on rainy days.
Officials say never sweep leaves into the street, or lift the storm grates. Instead, dispose of debris in yard waste or garbage bins.
STORY: Water rates going up in the New Year
The City of Bellingham wants utility customers to know they will see a 13.5% increase in monthly water bills next year.
The City Council approved the rate increase in July, citing the need to upgrade aging infrastructure. The city announced it will expand its Customer Assistance Program to support households earning 80% of the area median income or less. Current participants will be automatically enrolled, and new applications are available online.
More information on rates and assistance can be found on the city’s Customer Assistance Program webpage.
STORY: Dept. of Fish and Wildlife announces record sockeye returns to Baker River system
Sockeye salmon are making a historic comeback in the Baker River system near Concrete.
From June through October, nearly 92,000 salmon returned to the Skagit River system on their way to Baker River and Baker Lake — a dramatic increase from fewer than 100 fish in 1985.
The run includes salmon native to Baker Lake and the Baker River, a tributary of the Skagit. A record number of one-and-a-half million juvenile fish passed through Baker Lake and Lake Shannon during the May outbound migration.
Returning sockeye are trapped below two dams on the lower Baker River and transported above the dams. Some are placed on artificial spawning beaches, some go to hatcheries, and others are released into Baker Lake to spawn naturally or be caught by anglers. Natural spawning occurs mostly at the head of the lake and in the upper Baker River, while fry grow in Baker Lake and Shannon Lake before heading downstream to the sea.
STORY: Dept. of Health announces second round of funding for key federal food assistance program
There is some good news for families relying on federal food assistance during the government shutdown.
The Washington State Department of Health says its Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program — or WIC — will continue running through the end of October, thanks to a second round of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. WIC provides healthy food, nutrition advice, and support for pregnant people, new parents, and children under 5.
That funding will keep food benefits flowing and preserve the state’s 10-person WIC team — at least for now — despite uncertainty over how long the shutdown will last.
The Health Department says it’s doing everything possible to keep services open, but warns that some WIC offices may need to close temporarily if the shutdown continues. Officials say they’ll post updates on the Department of Health website as the situation develops.
STORY: Nightclub catering exclusively to young adult patrons opens in Bellingham
Bellingham has a new nightlife spot downtown — an 18-plus dance club and LGBTQ+ event space called HUT.
The club opened on Railroad Avenue in August and was created by Rian Greer and Andrew Keith, who also own Rumors Cabaret.
Greer says the goal was to create a safe, inclusive space for younger adults to dance and connect without the problems sometimes seen at mixed-age events.
HUT takes its name from The Hut Tavern, a Prohibition-era Bellingham bar that later became the site of Rumors.
WX: Joyous Chris Smallpox
And now for the weather:
Expect another day of intermittent clouds and partial sunshine here in Whatcom, with highs today in the high-50s and low-60s. Today’s heavy wind advisory is only in effect until 2 P.M., but do not expect the winds to die down entirely. We should see gusts of around 24 miles per hour throughout the evening and into the night, accompanied by low temperatures in the mid-to-high 30s.
Tomorrow’s weather should be slightly sunnier.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THARE-un) Danielson, Cody Mills, 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: Accessible voting units available in Whatcom County (for 10/14)
Voters with accessibility needs can cast their ballots independently on new accessible voting units in Whatcom County.
The units, equipped with visual and audio technology, will be available at the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office starting tomorrow. They will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through November 3.
On Election Day, November 4, the office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for accessible voting.
The Auditor’s office is located at 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 103 in Bellingham. More information is available by calling the Auditor’s Office, Election Division.
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 and cheap
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.
Join the City and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association in celebrating Make a Difference Day and Arbor Day in Whatcom Falls Park! This volunteer work party is on Saturday, October 25th from 9 a.m. to noon. Together, let’s improve habitat along the banks of Whatcom Creek by planting native trees and shrubs and removing invasive species close to Derby Pond. All ages and abilities are welcome, but participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
We will provide tools, gloves, coffee, snacks, and free pizza! We’re also giving away free tree saplings as part of our Community Tree Programs. Spots are limited, please register in advance at Bellingham Volunteer Opportunities.
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.
