WSP releases identity of woman killed in Tuesday’s I-5 crash, Overnight shelters to open in Bellingham and Ferndale as temperatures continue to drop, Third trial begins for Arlington man accused of killing friend while camping, Trial date set for Whatcom County man accused of child sexual assault children, Lummi Nation holds vigil for Besalynn James on anniversary of her disappearance, Bellingham’s Little Squalicum Pier reopens following December storm damage, Mt Baker Ski Area postpones legendary Banked Slalom until February 2027 because of snow conditions, Governor’s office requests federal disaster declaration that would allow for over $21 million in aid to victims of flooding, WA Lawmakers Hear Testimony on Ghost Gun Improvement Bill, New bill would give businesses and workers time to prepare for ICE inspections, Dirty Dan Harris reopens (See notes – needs update), Free or Cheap, STORY for 2/6 Free/Cheap: Salish Seed swap
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, Jan, 2026. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
UPDATE: WSP releases identity of woman killed in Tuesday’s I-5 crash
A Whatcom County woman was killed in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 late Tuesday afternoon.
Washington State Patrol says a northbound pickup truck crossed the median into the southbound lanes, and collided with a Tesla driven by 22-year-old Momina Khan of Blaine, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the Tesla was also injured. Additionally, a third vehicle was struck, though none of its occupants were injured.
The crash remains under investigation. The State Patrol says drugs and alcohol were not involved, and southbound I-5 was closed for more than five hours.
STORY: Overnight shelters to open in Bellingham and Ferndale as temperatures continue to drop
Local cold‑weather shelters have opened their doors.
Bellingham’s Severe Weather Shelter is open nightly through Saturday, with check‑in from 4-to-8 p.m. and check‑out at 8 a.m. the next morning. Space is first‑come, first‑served, with limited storage available. The shelter is located at 925 North Forest Street, and service and support animals are welcome.
Ferndale’s Severe Weather Shelter, located at the United Church of Ferndale on Washington Street, is also open. It offers 15 beds, with check‑in from 5:30-to-8 p.m. and check‑out at 9 a.m. Pets are allowed, and off‑street parking is available.
Finally, the Lighthouse Mission remains open nightly in all conditions, with check-in from 7-to-9 p.m.
STORY: Third trial begins for Arlington man accused of killing friend while camping
The third trial of an Arlington man accused of killing his friend at Baker Lake with a machete is now underway in Whatcom County Superior Court.
36-year-old Alexander Vanags (VAH-nahgs) faces a charge of second-degree murder in the 2019 death of 28-year-old Mark Stebakov (steh-BAH-koff).
Prosecutors say the killing was intentional, while defense attorneys argue Vanags acted in self-defense while the two were camping and using psychedelic drugs.
Two previous trials ended in hung juries, and testimony is expected from forensic experts, law enforcement, and Vanags himself.
STORY: Trial date set for Whatcom County man accused of child sexual assault children
A Whatcom County man faces eight felony charges in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of two children.
29-year-old Cristopher Phillip Cerecedes (say-ruh-SEE-dees) was arrested earlier this month after parents reported their children had been molested. Court records say both victims were under 16, and investigators allege the abuse occurred repeatedly and included requests for explicit photos and videos.
Cerecedes has pleaded not guilty, and remains in custody at the Whatcom County Jail on a bond of $200,000. His trial is scheduled for February 23rd.
STORY: Lummi Nation holds vigil for Besalynn James on anniversary of her disappearance
The Lummi Nation held a vigil yesterday for Besalynn James, a grandmother who has been missing for a year.
A crowd of around 50 people gathered to remember James, who was last seen at her home on January 21st, 2025. According to her boyfriend, Terry Bowman, James had gone for a walk at 2 a.m. with temperatures in the 20s. Investigators named him a person of interest in July.
James is one of 110 missing Indigenous people in Washington as of this month, according to the State Patrol’s Missing Indigenous Persons list.
The Lummi Nation estimates that about five Lummi tribal members are reported missing every year.
STORY: Bellingham’s Little Squalicum Pier reopens following December storm damage
The longest public pier in Washington has reopened.
City crews wrapped up repairs to the Little Squalicum pier and trail in record time, placing 160 tons of mixed aggregate rock to stabilize the shoreline and protect the structure for years to come.
A few finishing touches are planned for next week, but the pier will stay open. The abutment (uh-BUHT-ment) was damaged by high tides and heavy wave action during the December 10th storm.
STORY: Mt Baker Ski Area postpones legendary Banked Slalom until February 2027 because of snow conditions
The management at the Mount Baker Ski Area has decided to delay the world famous and beloved snowboard race until next year.
Gwyn Howatt announced the news on Wednesday.
HOWATT AUDIO 1
The Legendary Banked Slalom (SLAA-luhm), also known as LBS, revolutionized competitive snowboarding when it started in 1985. It began as a small race initiated by a local bike shop owner Bob Barci (BAR-see), Tom Sims — founder of Sims snowboards — and Mount Baker’s Duncan Howatt. The race has attracted world famous snowboarders and their followers to the ski area since 1985; it was, however, canceled last year due to low snowfall.
According to Amy Trowbridge-Howatt, the race could not be rescheduled to sometime later this year because lodging and transportation would be too difficult to coordinate for people travelling from long distances. However, the crew at Mount Baker say they are optimistic that the spring will bring more snow and good times for visitors and families at Mount Baker.
The next Banked Slalom will be held in February 2027.
STORY: Governor’s office requests federal disaster declaration that would allow for over $21 million in aid to victims of flooding
Governor Bob Ferguson sent a letter to President Trump, formally requesting a federal disaster declaration and $21 million in aid.
The request comes a month after a series of atmospheric rivers caused historic flooding and damage across western Washington. 100,000 people were ordered to evacuate, 4,000 homes were damaged, and one person died during the span of 383 emergency rescues.
Governor Ferguson’s request asks FEMA to open the maximum funding available in its Individual Assistance funds. This funding would help residents in 10 counties and 15 Tribal nations repair their homes, or find immediate stable housing.
STORY: WA Lawmakers Hear Testimony on Ghost Gun Improvement Bill
The Washington House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary heard testimony this week on a new bill aimed at cracking down on ghost guns and 3D‑printed firearms.
Supporters said the technology is creating an unregulated gun market, while opponents argued the bill’s language is too broad.
Anna Kamala (AH‑na Ka‑MAL‑uh), a senior at Lake Washington High School, said that when she first researched the bill, she wondered whether shootings with 3D‑printed guns had even happened.
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Seattle makerspace president Christian Tsar questioned whether the bill’s broad wording could expose anyone who sells a 3D printer to criminal charges if a third party later posts online about using that model to make a ghost gun.
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Tsar noted that the same liability concerns could force community spaces to remove their printers.
HB 2320 now heads to a markup session for debate, amendments, and a vote before it moves to the full chamber.
WX: The sun is coming up and I’m getting cold
And now for the weather:
We’re in for another round of chilly sunshine today, with forecasts calling for some light cloud cover and temperatures expected to reach highs in the mid-40s. One of the reasons it has felt so chilly is because our area is dealing with 100% humidity and light-to-no winds. This afternoon, expect the clouds to remain as the sun goes away, leaving us with a partly overcast night and lows around 30 degrees. There’s also a chance of freezing fog tonight.
Looks like we’ll do this same song and dance again tomorrow — watch out for possible patchy fog in the morning.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRAH-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Austin Wright, Tyler Warne, 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. To help support our work, check out our Patreon, Substack, or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thanks for listening!
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FOR FRIDAY: New bill would give businesses and workers time to prepare for ICE inspections
Washington lawmakers are moving to shield workers from surprise immigration enforcement.
At the request of Attorney General Nick Brown, state Representative Lillian Ortiz‑Self has introduced the Immigrant Workers Protection Act. The bill would require employers to give workers 72 hours’ notice when they learn federal agents plan to inspect employment‑verification paperwork. Supporters say that window gives both workers and businesses time to confirm records and, they hope, avoid disruptive ICE raids.
Ortiz‑Self says there is an overreach in the federal government in response to the immigration issue.
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Ortiz‑Self, a Mukilteo Democrat, testified on the bill during a public hearing earlier in the session. A vote in the full House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee is expected late next week.
FOR FRIDAY: Office space demand soars, retail stumbles
Bellingham’s office and industrial markets ended 2025 on solid footing, even as retail continued to soften.
A new report from Pacific Continental Realty co‑owner Ryan Martin shows vacancies in office and industrial space edged down as demand outpaced new supply.
Office vacancies dropped about one percent, with most outlying areas improving while downtown saw a slight uptick. Industrial space remained the steadiest part of the market, with vacancy slipping slightly.
Retail weakened across several submarkets. Sunset Square remains the biggest drag, with about 170,000 square feet of mostly big‑box space still empty. Bellis Fair was the lone bright spot, showing a modest improvement.
Martin says lower borrowing costs are boosting confidence heading into 2026
STORY: Dirty Dan Harris reopens (See notes – needs update)
A beloved Fairhaven steakhouse is back up and running.
Dirty Dan Harris has reopened more than two years after the Terminal Building fire forced the longtime restaurant to close. The December 2023 fire caused significant damage to the historic structure, and left the business shuttered as repairs moved forward and the community recovered.
According to recent Facebook posts, the restaurant reopened Sunday under new owner Steve Marandola. Updates to the former Churchill Room have been completed, and is now renamed the Phantom Room. The space can be reserved for private dining.
Owners say they’re grateful for the community’s support and patience throughout the long closure— and say they look forward to welcoming customers back as the landmark spot begins its next chapter.
STORY: Community Forum on South Fork Nooksack River Scheduled for January 27
The Lummi Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe are inviting local residents, landowners, and partner organizations to a community forum focused on the South Fork Nooksack River. The event will take place Tuesday, January 27, 2026, from 4–7 p.m. at the Rome Grange, 2821 Mt. Baker Highway.
Attendees can learn about salmon recovery efforts, flood management strategies, and ongoing river restoration projects. The forum offers a casual, welcoming environment to meet the people leading these initiatives, ask questions, and join discussions about the river’s future. Refreshments and raffle prizes will be available.
RSVP by January 19 via email at outreach@triangleassociates.com or by phone at (206) 981-2229 ext. 102.
STORY: Free or Cheap
STORY for 2/6 Free/Cheap: Salish Seed swap
