North Cascades Highway reopens northeast of Marblemount, Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council reports two rescues of skiers from Baker backcountry over weekend, Suburban neighborhood east of Bellingham reports latest in recent rash of cougar sightings, WCC to cut several programs and disciplines in bid to restructure for long-term financial stability, Changes at WC Fire District 7, WCSO warns residents of new rash of scam calls, Millionaires tax moves forward, New survey indicates 1 in 4 Washingtonians would support bid to secede from union
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, February 17th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: North Cascades Highway reopens northeast of Marblemount
North Cascades highway is now open past Marblemount.
According to WSDOT, Whatcom-based IMCO Construction, was hired to repair a culvert, guardrails, and remove fallen trees caused by the flooding back in December. The damage blocked all through traffic for the 6 miles east of Marblemount, and effected the communities of Diablo Lake and Newhalem as well as North Cascades Institute.
Crews continue repair work on other sections of the road near Concrete. Winter recreation is not recommended beyond the road closure at Ross Lake Dam because of unsafe conditions.
STORY: Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council reports two rescues of skiers from Baker backcountry over weekend
The Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council announced that it responded to two rescues near Mount Baker over the weekend.
In a Facebook post by the Council, it shared that on Saturday, their volunteers responded to a skier with multiple injuries caused by an avalanche. The solo skier was reportedly transported to Heather Meadows ski lodge.
On Sunday, the team was dispatched to the Hemispheres backcountry, outside the Mount Baker Ski Area. The patient had suffered a serious injury and was loaded into an ambulance.
In the Rescue Council’s post, it advised backcountry skiers to pack clothes and first aid equipment, as well as going with a buddy or informing someone where you will be ahead of time.
STORY: Suburban neighborhood east of Bellingham reports latest in recent rash of cougar sightings
Residents in the Geneva area east of Bellingham say a cougar has been roaming their suburban neighborhood for nearly two months.
Neighbors report multiple daytime sightings near Cable and Geneva streets, as security cameras captured the cat resting in some brush. Residents say the cougar appears comfortable around people and have urged the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to intervene.
Wildlife officials ask anyone who sees the animal to report it immediately. Cougars that prey on pets or livestock are often lethally removed for public safety.
Nearby schools have alerted staff, and some parents say they are keeping young children indoors until the situation is resolved.
STORY: WCC to cut several programs and disciplines in bid to restructure for long-term financial stability
Whatcom Community College says it will cut seven academic programs in a push for long-term financial stability.
According to Public Information Officer Marni Saling Mayer (SALE-ing MAY-or), programs being discontinued include applied business management, finance, hospitality and tourism, parenting education, retail management, software development, and visual communication. The discipline of dance and two other Humanities courses will also be removed.
The parenting education program will phase out over the next year, with affiliated preschools remaining open through the 2026–27 school year for a smooth transition.
According to Mayer, the decisions were based on multiple factors, including enrollment trends, economic outlook, lack of market demand, completion rates, and cost per student. College officials say current students will be able to finish their degrees, but no new students will be admitted to those programs.
WCC President Justin Guillory attributed the cuts to an enrollment that has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, and state funding that has not kept pace with the college’s real costs.
STORY: Changes at WC Fire District 7
Whatcom County Fire District 7 is freeing up space at Station 41 for 24-hour staffing of firefighting and EMS crews.
District officials say they are relocating administrative offices to a new site on Third Avenue.
Fire Department leaders say the move is part of a larger facilities plan to modernize infrastructure and address rising call volume. Once fully staffed, Station 41 will join four other 24-hour stations in the district. Residents who seek permits or other services will now need to visit the new administrative office location.
STORY: WCSO warns residents of new rash of scam calls
What-Comm 911 Dispatch says a recent spike in scam calls has cost people hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Scammers are spoofing the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office caller ID and using the names of real deputies to appear legitimate. Authorities say they are also pulling real names from jail bookings and targeting family members with false promises to release loved ones in exchange for payment.
The Sheriff’s Office warns it will never call to demand money, gift cards, bitcoin, or threaten arrest. If you get a suspicious call, hang up and contact real law enforcement immediately.
STORY: Bill mandating WA employers notify employees of incoming immigration enforcement passes House
A bill requiring Washington employers to notify workers about federal immigration inspections is headed to the state Senate.
House Bill 2105 — known as the Immigrant Workers Protection Act — would require employers to give employees at least 72 hours’ notice after learning of a planned federal inspection of immigration records. The proposal, backed by Attorney General Nick Brown, would also bar employers from retaliating against workers who assert their rights under the law.
Supporters say the measure does not interfere with federal enforcement but ensures workers have time to get their paperwork in order. Republicans argue it puts employers in the middle of a conflict between state and federal authorities.
The bill passed the House on a mostly party-line vote and now awaits action in the Senate.
STORY: Millionaires tax moves forward
Yesterday, the Washington state Senate approved a proposed income tax on millionaires, and sent the measure to the House for debate.
The bill passed on a 27 to 22 vote and would apply a 9.9 percent tax on annual income above $1 million starting in 2028. Supporters estimate it would raise more than $3.5 billion a year and impact roughly 20,000 taxpayers — less than 1 percent of households in the state.
Democrats argue the tax would help rebalance what they call one of the most regressive tax systems in the country, which relies heavily on sales and property taxes. All Senate Republicans voted against the measure, warning it could hurt economic growth.
The bill now heads to the House, where lawmakers will debate potential changes ahead of the Legislature’s March 12th adjournment.
STORY: New survey indicates 1 in 4 Washingtonians would support bid to secede from union
A new survey has found that one in four Washingtonians would support the state seceding from the United States.
The poll was conducted by YouGov, a market research group. In the study, around 27 thousand U.S. adults were asked the same question, with 18 percent of Americans supporting their state’s secession.
Washington tied with New Mexico at 25 percent support for independence, coming in second to California at 27 percent.
In the survey, eight percent of Washington respondents say that if the state were to break away, they’d like it to be an independent country. 23 percent say they would opt to create a new nation with other states, while 31 percent say they would want to join Canada.
WX: Snown’t you believe it
And now weather:
Today, expect intermittent chilly showers and highs in the mid-40s. Early morning snow is in the forecast for the week with temperatures expected to drop to just below freezing, making for icy roads. Early-morning commuters are urged to use caution. Chance of showers turning from rain to slush may also complicate travel, however, nothing is expected to stick.
Tomorrow, be prepared for another round of chilly rain during the day, before we change gears to what may be the coldest, snowiest night of the week.
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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