Bellingham Public Library to reduce operating hours and staff in response to budget shortage, Community engagement workshop on upcoming Ferndale jail to be held next month, WWU President Randhawa’s contract extended through 2028, Port of Bellingham seeks public comment on updates to five-year plan, Bellingham-based hot sauce company takes home several awards from New York expo, Report released by state agencies points to potential energy shortages across the PNW in coming years, WA cuts rebates to farmers affected by heavy fuel surcharges amid budget restrictions, Free and cheap
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, October 22nd. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham Public Library to reduce operating hours and staff in response to budget shortage
Bellingham’s public libraries will close on Sundays starting next year as part of citywide budget cuts.
The move is among several cost-saving measures to help close a projected $10 million deficit heading into 2026. Library Director Rebecca Judd told the City Council this week the change affects both the Central Avenue and Bellis Fair branches. The Barkley and Fairhaven branches already close Sundays.
The library will also trim its new materials budget by about $90,000 and leave several staff positions unfilled. According to Judd, the move will also help address ongoing staffing challenges.
STORY: Community engagement workshop on upcoming Ferndale jail to be held next month
The new jail and behavioral care center needs your input.
Whatcom County will host a Justice Project community workshop on November 20th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Pioneer Pavilion Community Center in Ferndale.
According to Policy and Communications Specialist with Whatcom County, Riley Sweeney, the event will give residents a chance to learn about progress on the project and share input on design and service priorities.
SWEENEY AUDIO 1
Elected officials, county staff, and construction experts will be on hand to answer questions and gather feedback. Sweeney says the Justice Project aims to reshape the county’s approach to criminal justice and behavioral health.
SWEENEY AUDIO 2
According to Sweeney, key decisions remain to be made.
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The Justice project is funded by a sales tax approved by voters in November of 2023.
STORY: WWU President Randhawa’s contract extended through 2028
Western Washington University President Sabah Randhawa will stay on through July 2028.
The university’s Board of Trustees approved a two-year contract extension during its meeting last Friday. Board Chair Faith Pettis says the updated contract encourages Randhawa to take up to 30 days each year for professional development or rest — something she called important for sustaining his leadership. Randhawa earns just over $506,000 a year and also holds a tenured faculty appointment in Western’s College of Business and Economics.
Randhawa has led Western since 2016, following a decade as provost at Oregon State University.
STORY: Port of Bellingham seeks public comment on updates to five-year plan
The Port of Bellingham has asked for public input on its five-year strategic plan.
Port officials are revising the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for 2027 through 2031 and have launched an online survey to gather community feedback. Residents are invited to share priorities, challenges, and opportunities for local economic growth through December 20.
Economic Development Director Tyler Schroeder says the plan will help guide action and keep Whatcom County eligible for key state and federal funding.
STORY: Bellingham-based hot sauce company takes home several awards from New York expo
A Bellingham hot sauce maker is in the news again.
According to a recent release, Funky’s Hot Sauce, founded by Matthew Mini in 2019, took home multiple honors at the New York City Hot Sauce Expo last month — including two first-place Screaming MiMi awards.
Funky’s Nirvana sauce won in the triple-X-hot category, and Trilby’s Chipotle Marionberry BBQ sauce took first in fruit-based BBQ.
The local company has now racked up 31 awards in just six years — and has been featured on the popular YouTube show Hot Ones.
STORY: Report released by state agencies points to potential energy shortages across the PNW in coming years
A new report raises concerns about the Pacific Northwest’s ability to meet growing electrical demands.
The report, produced by consulting firm E3, projects the region could face a shortfall of 1,300 megawatts in 2026, growing to 8,600 megawatts by 2030. The analysis was commissioned by the region’s largest utilities, and warns that power shortages could occur during extreme weather.
According to the report, a rise in demand from population growth, electric vehicles, data centers, and increased air conditioning, along with retiring coal plants, has put pressure on the grid. Last winter, during a cold stretch in January 2024, the Northwest had to rely on power imports from California and came close to implementing rolling outages.
Utilities say they are adding wind, solar, and battery projects, but experts say delays in construction and transmission could make it difficult to close the gap by 2030. While the report flags potential shortages, officials stress that a blackout in the next five years remains unlikely.
Experts say the situation highlights the need for a diverse mix of energy resources and careful planning to maintain grid reliability.
STORY: WA cuts rebates to farmers affected by heavy fuel surcharges amid budget restrictions
Washington has quietly ended a program that gave millions in rebates to farmers and agricultural haulers who paid improper fuel surcharges under the state’s Climate Commitment Act.
According to reporting in the Washington State Standard, the Agriculture Support Program, funded with $30 million in 2024, issued nearly $7.9 million in rebates before it closed on June 30th. Remaining funds were returned to the climate fund. Lawmakers say new legislation and a state-created online directory of retailers who sell exempt agricultural fuel will help farmers avoid surcharges at the pump rather than seek rebates after the fact.
Some Republican lawmakers praised the change as an easier path for farm fuel users and haulers of agricultural goods to receive the fuel exemption promised under the state’s cap-and-trade system. But, they say, the broader effort to address how climate laws affect agriculture is ongoing.
WX: Polls have yet to reach a consensus
And now for the weather:
Today’s forecast calls for predominantly cloudy skies, with periodic chances for both partial sunshine and light showers, as well as some gusty winds reaching up to 24 miles per hour.. Daytime highs are set to hover around the low 60s once again. Things should stay like that into the evening, with cloudy skies and lows around 50 degrees.
Look for more of the same tomorrow.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THARE-un) Danielson, 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: Free and cheap
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.
