Residents of Bellingham assisted living facility eligible for $250 credit following Bonaventure settlement, Whatcom refinery and pipeline operator fined over $3 million for 2023 Conway spill, Local insurance co provides free turkeys to community, Nighttime I-5 lane closures scheduled through tomorrow morning, City of ‘Lightdale’ turns on, WSP says ‘No tipsy turkeys’ over the holiday, Cantwell calls for urgent action to reduce health care costs, Larsen introduces bill to protect air traffic control system during shutdowns
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, November, 25th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Residents of Bellingham assisted living facility eligible for $250 credit following Bonaventure settlement
Nearly 70 residents of Spring Creek by Bonaventure in Bellingham are eligible for a $250 credit after a state investigation found the facility failed to provide key services.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown says Bonaventure Senior Living — which operates 15 facilities statewide — will pay $7 million to improve care after likely violating the Consumer Protection Act. Investigators cited gaps in housekeeping, medication assistance, maintenance, dining, and infection control.
Residents of senior living facilities can file complaints with the Attorney General’s office.
STORY: Whatcom refinery and pipeline operator fined over $3 million for 2023 Conway spill
A Whatcom County refinery and fuel pipeline operator now face nearly $4 million in fines for a 2023 gasoline spill that shut down roads.
The state Department of Ecology has issued a $3.8 million penalty to Olympic Pipe Line and BP Pipelines after 21,000 gallons of gasoline leaked into a fish-bearing irrigation ditch near Conway. The spill also forced Conway Elementary school to close. Along with the fine, Ecology wants the companies to reimburse more than $820,000 in response costs.
DOE says the spill was caused by a corroded pressure-monitoring component, and sent gasoline toward the Skagit River and nearby wetlands which coated wildlife and created toxic fumes. Cleanup took three months, with crews removing thousands of cubic yards of contaminated soil.
BP and Olympic Pipe Line have 30 days to appeal. The same pipeline has leaked twice in the past year and was also involved in the deadly 1999 explosion at Whatcom Falls Park that killed three people.
STORY: Local insurance co provides free turkeys to community
Brown & Brown of Lynden has donated nearly 5,000 pounds of turkey and chicken to Whatcom County families in need.
The insurance company’s 14th-annual Turkey Drive provided 174 whole turkeys, 60 turkey breasts, and 400 chickens, which will feed 634 local families this month.
The donations were funded by more than $5,500 from individuals, businesses, and Brown & Brown employees, plus $2,000 from the company itself. Organizers say the drive helps local food banks meet growing demand amid rising food prices.
STORY: Nighttime I-5 lane closures scheduled through tomorrow morning
Lane closures on I-5 and the Guide Meridian tomorrow could slow your commute.
WSDOT (WASH-dot) says overnight construction will shut down the left lane in both directions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Wednesday morning — first near the North Lake Samish overpass, and farther south near the Alger (AL-jer) and Nulle (NEW-lee) Road exits.
STORY: City of ‘Lightdale’ turns on
The City of Ferndale announced it will transform into “Lightdale” this holiday season, and invites residents to help brighten the city with festive displays.
Homeowners are encouraged to deck their homes, yards, and windows with lights, inflatables, and winter magic. Participants will receive an official City of Lightdale yard sign to show their holiday spirit.
Community members can vote online for their favorite displays from December 19th through January 1st, with prizes for the top three homes. Voters will also be entered into a random prize drawing.
Ferndale Mayor Greg Hansen says the event aims to bring joy and strengthen neighborhood connections. Registration is open through Friday, December 12th. More details can be found on the City of Ferndale’s website.
STORY: WSP says ‘No tipsy turkeys’ over the holiday
The Washington State Patrol has announced a “No Tipsy Turkeys” emphasis patrol in Bellingham tomorrow night, as students head home for Thanksgiving.
The State Patrol has partnered with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Bellingham Police, and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office to focus patrols around Western Washington University.
Officers will use an all-crimes approach, which targets collision-causing behaviors like speeding, impaired or distracted driving, following too closely, and aggressive driving.
Drivers are also reminded to buckle up — every trip, every time.
STORY: Cantwell calls for urgent action to reduce health care costs
Senator Maria Cantwell has called for urgent action as health insurance costs spike around Washington.
New data shows visits to WAHealthPlanFinder.com surged 47% during the first week of open enrollment, which highlights the growing concern among Washingtonians who buy coverage through the ACA marketplace. Cantwell’s office reports average premiums could rise over $1,000 a month across all 39 counties next year if federal subsidies lapse, with rural counties east of the Cascades hit hardest.
At a Senate Finance Committee hearing, Cantwell promoted the Basic Health Program, which allows states to negotiate lower-cost plans for those just above the Medicaid threshold. She cited examples from New York, Minnesota, Oregon, and D.C., where the program is already saving millions. Cantwell says implementing Basic Health in Washington could potentially save residents $33 billion.
STORY: Larsen introduces bill to protect air traffic control system during shutdowns
In more news from Congress, Washington Representative Rick Larsen has introduced legislation to protect air traffic during government shutdowns.
According to a recent release, the Aviation Funding Solvency Act would ensure air traffic controllers and other FAA staff continue to be paid and that critical airspace operations remain safe, even if federal funding lapses.
The bill allows the FAA to use the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund, which currently holds more than $2.6 billion, to maintain operations. The fund, originally set up for airline war-risk insurance claims, has gone largely unused since 2014 but could now help keep the aviation system running smoothly during any future shutdowns.
WX: Watch Game Changer on droplet.tv
And now for the weather:
Today should bring us heavy cloud cover, as well as around a quarter-inch of rain. Temperatures are expected to get chillier, with highs maxing out around the mid-40s. The forecast for the late evening calls for infrequent showers, and lows in the upper 30s.
For tomorrow we’re looking at more of the same, with grey skies and light showers. So, if you expect to travel I-5 for the holiday, it won’t be sunny, but it will be manageable.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, 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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