Bellingham PD arrests two fugitives following brief chase and K-9 search, Gov’s office says November SNAP benefits should be ready for use, Bellingham man arrested on suspicion of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material, WA’s child welfare system expected to see record level of deaths and critical injuries across 2025, despite recent downturn, Total compensation for City of Bellingham employees reportedly exceeded $133 million in 2024, N’etse Mot: One Heart, One Mind brings community together, Washington urges vaccinations as respiratory virus season begins,
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KMRE brings you local news for Veteren’s Day Tuesday, November 11th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Bellingham PD arrests two fugitives following brief chase and K-9 search
Two fugitives from California were arrested Thursday in Bellingham after multiple police chases and a K-9 search.
After failing to stop at a stop sign, police say a 40-year-old man from Los Altos, California led officers on two pursuits — first on city streets, then on I-5. Officers later found his car crashed near Old Fairhaven Parkway, along with drug paraphernalia and stolen mail.
A K-9 unit found the man hiding in a truck bed. He was arrested for reckless driving and eluding police, as well as a California warrant for possessing a stolen vehicle.
Police also found his passenger, a 36-year-old Bellingham woman, injured and hiding in blackberry bushes. She was treated at St. Joseph Medical Center, then booked on fugitive warrants from San Mateo County, California for identity theft and other felonies.
Bellingham Police say additional charges — including vehicular assault and possession of a controlled substance — are under review.
STORY: Gov’s office says November SNAP benefits should be ready for use
After a weekend of confusion and a vote to reopen the federal government, officials now say SNAP benefits will continue.
The uncertainty began after a federal judge ordered full funding for the month during the ongoing shutdown. The Trump administration then ordered more than two dozen states to undo November SNAP payments that had already gone out — calling the funds “unauthorized”.
On Friday, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily paused those lower court rulings while the Supreme Court considers the issue. But with the government now set to reopen — at least through January — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will be fully funded– at least temporarily.
State officials in Washington and Oregon say any benefits already loaded onto EBT cards will not be taken away. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said families should continue using their benefits as usual.
STORY: Bellingham man arrested on suspicion of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material
A 62-year-old Bellingham man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing and distributing child sex abuse material.
Bellingham Police say their Internet Crimes Against Children unit received multiple CyberTips earlier this year, linking the man to private chatrooms where explicit images of children were uploaded.
Investigators say seven tips in total led them to nearly 100 files depicting child sex abuse. Probable cause was found for two crimes — possession and dealing in depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The man was arrested Thursday and booked into Whatcom County Jail. No formal charges had been filed as of yesterday morning.
Anyone can report suspected child exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at report.cybertip.org.
STORY: WA’s child welfare system expected to see record level of deaths and critical injuries across 2025, despite recent downturn
Child deaths in Washington’s child welfare system have slowed in recent months — but are still expected to reach a record high by the end of this year.
Through September, the state recorded 15 deaths and 30 near-fatalities among children in its care — mostly infants and toddlers. More than half were tied to opioids, especially fentanyl, according to the Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Officials say the numbers have dropped sharply since early this year, when the state saw 22 incidents in just the first quarter. Still, officials say 2025 will likely mark a record year. Republican lawmakers blame a 2021 law — the Keeping Families Together Act — for keeping children in unsafe homes. Some Democrats say the law may need fine-tuning, but not a full overhaul.
The Department says it’s asked Governor Bob Ferguson for $4 million to expand drug treatment and family support services, and to add 37 new staff positions in the child welfare system.
STORY: Total compensation for City of Bellingham employees reportedly exceeded $133 million in 2024
Employee compensation for the City of Bellingham has increased 42% compared with 2022.
According to Cascadia Daily News, that increase is a major factor in the city’s projected 10 million dollar budget deficit for 2026. Mayor Kim Lund says the city is experiencing “growing pains” as it transitions from a small to mid-sized city. The number of city employees earning over 100 thousand dollars rose from 484 in 2022 to 675 this year.
Lund, the city’s highest-paid employee, earns about 237 thousand dollars plus benefits — more than the governor, but less than Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu.
In September, Lund proposed cutting more than 40 mostly vacant jobs to reduce costs. She and her department heads have also declined their cost-of-living raises for next year.
Labor costs — including wages, benefits, and retirement — make up about 70 percent of local government spending. Analysts say those costs are rising faster than city revenue, which has been hard hit by tariffs and a decline in visiting Canadians. The gap has created a structural budget imbalance that Bellingham leaders are still working to solve.
STORY: Home for at-risk Lummi youth reopens after five-year closure
A home for at-risk Lummi Nation youth is open again after a five-year closure.
The “Young People Home,” formerly Lummi Youth Academy, first opened in 2008 to give displaced or at-risk children a safe place to live while they focus on school. COVID-19 forced the home to close in 2020, displacing its residents.
Currently, four students live there, though it can house up to two dozen 12- to 18-year-olds. Staff provide academic support, help with life skills, and transportation for needed services, while also offering recreational activities like basketball games.
Lummi Nation Chairman Tony Hillaire calls the home a story of “resilience, endurance, and love,” adding it also provides a safe space amid community challenges like fentanyl.
STORY: N’etse Mot: One Heart, One Mind brings community together
A major Indigenous gathering is coming to Seattle this November.
“Netse Mot (NET-suh MOTT) – One Heart, One Mind” is coming to the Paramount Theatre on November 18th. The event’s name draws from a Coast Salish phrase meaning “one heart, one mind” and is designed to honor unity, healing and indigenous voices from all backgrounds.
KMRE News spoke with Natasha Brennan, who is Director of Content and Relations at Children of the Setting Sun Productions to find out more.
BRENNAN AUDIO 1
This year’s gathering coincides with the National Congress of American Indians Fall Convening, which marks the organization’s first Pacific Northwest convention in over four decades. Brennan says the themes, however, are universal and hopes the entire community will attend.
Tickets are now on sale, and the event will feature a powerful lineup of artists, speakers, and cultural performances from across indigenous communities. Listen to the entire interview tonight after the 5 o’clock news.
STORY: Washington urges vaccinations as respiratory virus season begins
With respiratory virus season underway and the holidays approaching, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is reminding residents to get your shots.
Updated vaccines for COVID-19, flu, and RSV are generally covered by insurance or available at low or no cost for the uninsured. State Health Officer Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett (DOW SHONG KWAN-GET) says vaccines help prevent serious illness, reduce viral spread, and ease pressure on the health care system.
DOH has launched a new Respiratory Immunization Dashboard to track vaccination rates by county and age. RSV shots for infants are up 21% compared to last year—but many remain unprotected.
Washington residents can find more information and guidance on the Department of Health’s website.
WX: damn, yeah, that’s crazy, anyway
And now weather:
Expect partly sunny skies today and highs in the mid-50s. Some increasing cloud cover and occasional light rain is expected later this evening. Nighttime lows are set for the low 40s.
Tomorrow looks like rain in the afternoon with highs approaching 60, which should stick around at least until the weekend.
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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