WCSO deputy among those injured in two-vehicle crash in Bellingham, Downtown Bellingham chef named semifinalist for James Beard award, Office space demand soars, retail stumbles, Squalicum Pier re-opens, Bill proposed that would bar ICE agents from law enforcement positions in WA, State verifies signatures on anti-trans initiative, Free and Cheap
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, January 23rd. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: WCSO deputy among those injured in two-vehicle crash in Bellingham
A two-vehicle crash outside Ferndale involving a Sheriff’s cruiser sent the officer and the other driver to the hospital.
According to Lieutenant Claudia Murphy of the Bellingham Police Department, the crash occurred at around 4:00 PM last Tuesday, near the intersection of West Smith Road and Saratoga Lane.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deb Slater said that the officer is recovering at home and hopes to return soon. No information about the other driver’s status was available.
The Bellingham Police Department is the lead agency in the ongoing investigation. The department is seeking witnesses, as well as dash cam or home security footage that may have recorded the incident.
STORY: Downtown Bellingham chef named semifinalist for James Beard award
A Bellingham chef has been announced as a semifinalist for the James Beard award.
According to the James Beard Foundation website, the honor represents “the pinnacle of culinary recognition in the US”. Jordan Koplowitz (KOP-luh-vitz) is the co-owner and chef at Starla’s in Bellingham, a wine bar and pizza restaurant that opened in 2024.
Koplowitz is a semifinalist in the category for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific, which recognizes chefs in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Finalists are announced on March 31st.
STORY: Office space demand soars, retail stumbles
Bellingham’s office and industrial markets ended 2025 on solid footing, as retail space costs softened.
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 bit more. Industrial space remained the steadiest part of the market, with the vacancy rate dropping slightly.
Retail space weakened across several submarkets. Sunset Square remains the biggest drag, with about 170,000 square feet left empty. Bellis Fair was the lone bright spot, showing a modest improvement.
Martin says he thinks lower borrowing costs have boosted confidence as we head into 2026.
STORY: Squalicum Pier re-opens
Just in time for sunny weekend weather, the city has reopened Squalicum pier ahead of schedule after storm damage repairs.
Parks and Rec crews fixed the trail and pier abutment damaged by high tides during December’s storms, completing the work in record time. Crews used 160 tons of rock to stabilize the shoreline, which they expect will protect the pier for years to come.
STORY: New bill would give businesses and workers time to prepare for ICE inspections
We’ve got a few items of note as we watch the legislature this term. 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 paperwork. Supporters say that warning will give both workers and businesses time to confirm records and 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.
STORY: Bill proposed that would bar ICE agents from law enforcement positions in WA
In more ICE-related lawmaking news, State Rep. Tarra Simmons has introduced the ICE Out Act.
The proposed bill would bar ICE agents hired after Jan. 20th of last year from becoming law enforcement officers in Washington. Simmons says the bill is about concerns raised over their training culture — not about politics. Republicans call it discriminatory and harmful to police recruitment.
The proposal is expected to be heard in the House Community Safety Committee and would take effect Oct. 1st if approved.
STORY: New state bill would create regulatory structure for license plate cameras and data they collect
Another bill that Washington lawmakers are considering would regulate license plate-reading cameras.
A bill sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau would set rules to ban its use for immigration investigations and limit how long data can be stored. Supporters say the measure protects constitutional rights and public trust, while some law enforcement leaders warn the proposed 72-hour data retention limit could hamper investigations.
The bill has bipartisan support and is set for executive action in the Senate Law and Justice Committee.
STORY: State verifies signatures on anti-trans initiative
And finally, a new state initiative that would bar transgender students from participating in girls’ sports is moving forward.
Secretary of State Steve Hobbs says enough signatures have been verified for the Let’s Go Washington measure to advance. If approved, it would prohibit students assigned male at birth from competing in female youth sports.
Lawmakers can choose to adopt the initiative or send it to voters in the November election, though Democratic leaders say they don’t plan to take it up.
State officials are still verifying signatures for another Let’s Go Washington initiative called the Parent’s Bill of Rights.
STORY: Free or Cheap
It’s Friday, and here are some things you might consider for the weekend.
Today: check out ‘The Murder at Mortlake Manor’ at the upfront theater— an interesting take on murder mysteries where the audience is the detective. Tickets are between $13 and $17 with a 7:30pm show time.
Saturday: tree planting is happening at Kinney Creek from 9am to noon.
Also on Saturday, check out Western basketball — the women’s team plays at 3pm and the men at 5:30pm — both at Carver gym. Tickets are between $15 and $20.
And on Sunday: it’s the last day of the Bellingham Folk Festival. There are events taking place all over Bellingham — take a look at their website for more info.
WX: Bright ‘n shivery
And now weather:
Tired of partial sunshine? Get ready for nothing but sun, as today is expected to bring one of our brightest days in months. Forecasts call for little to no cloud cover all day with highs in the mid 40s. Skies should remain clear throughout the evening and into the night, with temperatures dropping to lows in the upper 20s.
Expect the weekend to continue our streak of sunny days and cold nights. Although, near the end of the weekend, we will get some cloud cover. Enjoy it while you can!
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg, Kathi O’Shea, Austin Wright, Tyler Warne, 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. To help support our work, check out our Patreon or Substack or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _David Korb________… thanks for listening!
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