Blaine man dies in federal custody following brief chase, Seattle judge blocks federal cuts to climate change preparation funds, Mount Ker Theater sign damaged by wind, Food programs try to get by, Free and cheap
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Friday, October 24th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Blaine man dies in federal custody following brief chase
A Blaine man died while in federal custody after a car crash and brief chase near the Canadian border on September 20th.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says that 43-year-old Trinn Hatch died near the Peace Arch Port of Entry. Officials say Hatch crashed into a curb near the inspection lanes and then tried to run away.
During the chase, officers saw a handgun fall from his waistband. After taking him into custody, they say Hatch continued to resist, so they used restraints and a wheelchair to move him to a secondary inspection area.
A short time later, officers say Hatch became unresponsive. Emergency crews tried to revive him but declared him dead about an hour after the incident began. A preliminary autopsy found a major artery blockage, though toxicology results are still pending.
The Border Patrol’s Office of Professional Responsibility says it is reviewing the incident.
STORY: Seattle judge blocks federal cuts to climate change preparation funds
A federal judge in Seattle has blocked the Trump administration from cutting millions in climate adaptation funds for Washington state.
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges’ Tribal Steward Program was awarded more than $9 million under the Inflation Reduction Act to train over 2,000 students in environmental and natural resources. According to court records, the goal was to increase tribal representation in those careers.
The funding, along with a separate $250,000 grant for coastal hazard reduction work by the Department of Ecology, was terminated in May.
However, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman (PESH-man) ruled this week that ending multiyear grants simply because of an administrative change would cause “unnecessary chaos” across government-supported programs. State officials say the decision protects critical work to help Washington adapt to more severe heat waves, wildfires, flooding, and sea level rise.
Attorney General Nick Brown called the ruling a major win for communities on the front lines of climate change.
STORY: Mount Ker Theater sign damaged by wind
Strong weekend winds caused some unexpected drama at one of Bellingham’s most iconic landmarks.
The Mount Baker Theatre says gusty winds nearly tore the “B” and “A” from its signature sign. City officials stepped in to help after reports that one of the letters was hanging tenuously.
Bellingham PD used a drone to inspect the damage, while the Fire Department brought a ladder truck to remove the loose letters before they could fall.
The Mount Ker Theatre remains open, and the letters will soon be replaced.
STORY: Ferguson signs executive order intended to broadly strengthen tribal and state government relations
Governor Bob Ferguson has signed a new executive order to strengthen Washington’s relationship with Native American tribes.
The order, signed Wednesday during the Centennial Accords meeting hosted by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, expands tribal relations training for state workers and directs agencies to develop new consultation policies with tribes.
It also gives the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs a permanent seat in the governor’s cabinet, along with expanded authority to help carry out the new directives. Tribal leaders praised the move as a meaningful step toward deeper, government-to-government collaboration — though some pointed to ongoing challenges around trust and treaty obligations.
Ferguson said the goal is to move beyond “checking boxes” and towards genuine communication and respect for tribal sovereignty.
The Office of Indian Affairs will report back next year with recommendations to improve state-tribal relations.
STORY: Food programs try to get by
Washington state announced it has secured additional federal funding to keep the WIC Nutrition Program running through mid-to-late November.
The funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture helps support the state’s WIC administrative team and ensures food benefits continue for eligible women, infants, and children. But they warn, if program redemption rates rise, the funds could quickly run out.
Meanwhile, the USDA has stopped processing SNAP benefits for November, which puts 42 million Americans at risk as the holidays approach. In Washington state, more than 1 in 10 residents rely on SNAP. Over half of participants are families with children and nearly 40% are families with older adults or people with disabilities.
Food banks across the state are struggling to keep up with demand, following federal budget cuts that tightened eligibility and work requirements for SNAP benefits. Officials continue to monitor the situation closely and urge residents to check the state’s Federal Government Shutdown webpage for updates.
STORY: Free and cheap
It’s Friday – if you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a bit of what’s going on around the county.
Make a Difference Day is tomorrow. Support the continued conservation at Whatcom Falls Park with NSEA and the City of Bellingham.
Join the City and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and celebrate with a work party from 9am to noon. Participants will help 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. Spots are limited, so please register in advance at volunteerbellingham.org.
WX: Swimming pedestrians
And now weather:
Today, we end the week with more stormy weather. Winds are expected to reach speeds of 30 miles per hour, and heavy rainfall is projected from dawn ‘till dusk, perhaps reaching three-quarters of an inch. The windstorm should persist through the evening, with increased chances of a thunderstorm in the late hours. Daytime highs are projected around 60 degrees with evening lows in the upper 40s.
Looks like we’ll have stormy weather throughout the weekend— with heavy rain. A Winter Weather Advisory is also in effect for the Cascades this weekend. The National Weather Service in Seattle says snow is expected in the Cascades across Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Lewis Counties from Saturday night through Sunday night, with 6 to 10 inches of accumulation above 3,500 feet.
Travel could be difficult or even impossible at times, and this marks the first significant snowfall of the season. Officials urge anyone heading into the mountains to prepare for winter driving conditions — and possible power outages.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron Danielson, Glen Hirshberg, Kathi O’Shea, Bella Mae, and Kai Blais-Schmolke. 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 _David Korb________… thanks for listening!
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