BPD investigating hit-and-run on Sunset Drive, Bellingham woman arrested on suspicion of human trafficking, Washington man pleads guilty to 2022 murder and string of home robberies up and down Puget Sound, Bellingham licensing building to close for three weeks, Bham kid demo shrinking, district considers consolidation, “Millionaire’s tax” introduced in state legislature, Sedro-Woolley City Council now accepting applications for vacant seat, Ferndale renames itself “Hawkdale,” in anticipation of Superbowl, Places to free file your taxes, Free or Cheap, 2/6 Free/Cheap: Salish Seed swap
- Menace Brewing Puppy Bowl
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, February, 4. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: BPD investigating hit-and-run on Sunset Drive
Bellingham Police are investigating a hit-and-run where a 32-year-old woman was injured.
Lieutenant Claudia Murphy says officers were dispatched to an area between East Sunset Drive and Barkley Boulevard after receiving a report of a domestic altercation between the woman and a man.
During the drive over, it was revealed that the woman had been hit by a car. Murphy said officers later discovered that both individuals ended up in the roadway during the fight. A car approached, and despite the man’s efforts to push the woman away, she was hit by a red sedan that fled east soon after.
The woman was taken to St. Joseph’s with minor injuries.
STORY: Bellingham woman arrested on suspicion of human trafficking
A Bellingham woman is accused of human trafficking involving a child.
Police say the 42‑year‑old arranged hotel rooms so a man could sexually assault a teenager in exchange for methamphetamine. Bellingham Police Lieutenant Claudia Murphy identified the man as 46-year-old Kyle Strode of Bellingham. He was arrested in October of 2024 and has pled not guilty to several charges, including rape of a child and commercial sex abuse of a child. Murphy says the woman was aware of the sexual assault and drug use in the hotel rooms.
The woman is being held in lieu of a $40,000 bond.
STORY: Washington man pleads guilty to 2022 murder and string of home robberies up and down Puget Sound
The co-leader of a violent home‑invasion crew has pleaded guilty to racketeering.
Federal prosecutors say 24‑year‑old Christopher Johnson admitted to helping run a string of armed robberies across Western Washington in 2022 — including a home invasion and kidnapping in Mount Vernon.
Prosecutors say Johnson and co‑leader Kevin Thissel (THISS-ul) sent masked crews posing as police into homes at night, where they zip‑tied victims – including children – and ransacked homes. They often picked targets based on social media posts about wealth or collections. One mother was shot and killed in Everett as her 7‑year‑old lay beside her.
Other admitted crimes span Mercer Island, Kent, Burien, and Everett.
Johnson faces life in prison, though both sides say they will recommend 25 years. Court records indicate that he also plans to plead guilty in Snohomish County to second‑degree murder in the Everett killing, with another 25‑year term recommended to run concurrently.
STORY: Bellingham licensing building to close for three weeks
The only in-person driver’s license office in Whatcom County will close for maintenance between February 13th and March 4th.
Washington’s Department of Licensing says the closure affects only the office on Cordata Parkway in Bellingham. A number of common licensing services, including address changes, renewals or replacements, and status checks can be accessed through the Department of Licensing’s website at dol.wa.gov.
All of the Whatcom offices that handle vehicle and vessel licensing will remain open as usual.
According to a recent Facebook post by the D.O.L., county residents who require in-person help during the closure period are being urged to visit either the Mount Vernon driver licensing office, or the Smokey Point office in Arlington.
STORY: Bham kid demo shrinking, district considers consolidation
Local school leaders say recent voter-approved levies helped ease budget pressure, but did not close the gap.
State law caps how much districts can raise locally, while lawmakers in Olympia have yet to fully fund K-thru-12 education. More than two-thirds of district revenue comes from the state, and officials will not know next year’s funding levels until the legislative session wraps up in mid-March.
According to a recent open letter shared with the media – and signed by the Bellingham School Board – the rising costs for utilities and insurance, combined with inflation and flat state funding, will force more cuts. District leaders have approved a shift from an eight-period to a seven-period high school schedule to save money while preserving course options.
Simultaneously, a decline in birth rates is driving lower enrollment projections, even as Bellingham continues to grow — largely due to housing that’s unaffordable for families.
District officials say they’re working with a demographer to plan for possible school consolidations or site repurposing, and urge residents to press local and state lawmakers to fully fund public education.
STORY: “Millionaire’s tax” introduced in state legislature
In related news, Washington state legislators have introduced a proposal for a tax on residents making over $1 million per year.
My Bellingham Now and KOMO News both report that Senate Bill 6346, which was introduced on Tuesday, would create an income tax of 9.9% for the state’s highest earners.
According to Governor Bob Ferguson, the money generated by such a tax should fund K-thru-12 public education and supportive programs. He did, however, recommend changes to the bill’s language on Tuesday afternoon, claiming that the current proposal does not ensure the revenues would return to Washingtonians’ pockets.
If passed, the so-called “millionaire’s tax” would take effect on New Year’s Day in 2028, with the first payments due in April of 2029.
STORY: Sedro-Woolley City Council now accepting applications for vacant seat
The Sedro-Woolley City Council is now accepting applications for Ward 6’s vacant seat.
Until recently, that seat was occupied by Joe Burns of the Democratic Party, who had been reelected to the City Council in November by a significant margin. Burns, however, was appointed to the Skagit County Board of Commissioners to fill the vacancy left by the retiring Lisa Janicki; he will serve through the end of 2026.
Burns had originally told the Cascadia Daily News that he saw no conflict between the commissioner position and his City Council seat; however, he changed his mind after learning more, and resigned from the City Council last month.
Applications and a letter of interest for the vacant seat are due by 4 p.m. on March 2nd. Applicants are required to have continuously resided within Sedro-Woolley city limits for at least one year, be a registered voter in the city and county, and reside in Ward 6.
STORY: Ferndale renames itself “Hawkdale,” in anticipation of Superbowl
The City of Ferndale has temporarily changed its name to Hawkdale.
The name change comes through a resolution by the city council as a nod to the Seattle Seahawks, who will play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60 on Sunday.
The resolution was proposed by councilmember Jon Mutchler and passed unanimously. The move comes after the City of Issaquah’s decision to also temporarily change its name in support of the Seahawks.
WX: El Infierno
And now for the weather:
A lovely midwinter quote-unquote ‘spring’ day is in store for us, with highs around in the low 60’s and sunshine expected to emerge by this afternoon. In contrast, the evening should be a fair bit cooler than those of recent weeks, with lows dropping down into the mid-30s. Skies should remain mostly clear all throughout the night.
Tomorrow should be warm and sunny as well. The rain is expected to come back for the weekend, so take advantage of the sun while you can!
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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STORY: Places to free file your taxes
Even though the Trump Administration has ended the IRS Direct File program, many Americans can still file their taxes for free this season.
Taxpayers earning under eighty-nine thousand dollars a year can use IRS Free File software online, while those making about sixty-seven thousand dollars or less may qualify for free, in-person help through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites at libraries and community centers. Seniors can get no-cost help through AARP Tax-Aide, and military members can file for free through the Defense Department’s MilTax program.
Anyone can also file at no charge using the IRS’s Free File Fillable Forms on IRS dot gov. The tax filing deadline is April fifteenth.
STORY: Free or Cheap
STORY for 2/6 Free/Cheap: Salish Seed swap
- Menace Brewing Puppy Bowl
