Blaine PD arrests man accused of brandishing weapon during road rage incident, Dept. of Ecology releases update on drought declared last April, California company donates mobile dam to Sumas fire department in efforts to stave off future floods, PeaceHealth to cap optional phase of cardiac rehabilitation, PeaceHealth has announced it will scale back part of its cardiac rehabilitation program in Bellingham, New Sunset Pond loop trail opens to public, Spanish-speaking callers to WA Dept. of Licensing answered by accented AI English voice, WA leaders decry “unconstitutional” attack on Iran, Invasive Species Awareness Week, Whatcom County to host second community engagement workshop for new jail RUN AGAIN BY/ABOUT MAR 16, Lummi Island ferry dry dock scheduled for mid-April, Places to file your taxes for free, Long Term Weather Outlook
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, March, 2. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Blaine PD arrests man accused of brandishing weapon during road rage incident
A 22-year-old man is in custody following a road rage incident involving a gun.
Blaine PD says its officers were summoned just before 5 p.m. on Thursday after someone reported a man pointed a gun at them and began chasing them through the city. Police say the suspect was speeding and driving recklessly.
Officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop at Third and H streets. Police say they were aware the suspect had previously possessed a firearm, and a loaded pistol was found inside the vehicle.
The suspect was booked into the Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of first-degree assault and reckless driving. Formal charges have not yet been filed.
STORY: Dept. of Ecology releases update on drought declared last April
A drought affecting thirteen Washington counties will continue on with no end in sight.
In an update to its website, the state Department of Ecology said that a lack of snowfall this winter has contributed to the problem. February’s snowpack level is currently at 52 percent of its normal figures, which makes it the third-lowest on record for this time of year.
The announcement comes as Washington faces increasingly warmer temperatures, with 2026 already the warmest year on record.
The department said it will release a water availability forecast for residents living in the troubled Yakima (YAK-i-mah) Basin early this month.
STORY: California company donates mobile dam to Sumas fire department in efforts to stave off future floods
A California company has donated a mobile dam to the Sumas (SOO-mass) Fire Department.
Heavy flooding caused by December’s atmospheric river caused Sumas Fire District 14 to evacuate for the third time since the station was originally built in the 1980s.
According to a news release from the District, the department reached out to Aqua Dam Incorporated in Scotia (SKO-sha), California, which then gave the Sumas station the dam — for just the cost of shipping.
The dam is a 420-foot water-filled barrier valued at over $44,000. District 14 says it plans to use the dam in future flood events, but will still set up a command center outside of Sumas as rescue vehicles are not able to leave the station when it floods.
STORY: PeaceHealth to cap optional phase of cardiac rehabilitation
PeaceHealth has announced it will scale back part of its cardiac rehabilitation program in Bellingham.
Hospital leaders told patients and the community this week that Phase Three cardiac rehab — the optional, long-term maintenance program — will now be capped at eight weeks. Starting in late April, current participants will no longer be eligible once they reach that limit.
PeaceHealth says rapid growth in its medically necessary Phase Two program — up about 12-to-13 percent annually — is driving the change. They also cite space constraints on the St. Joseph campus. The hospital says it is working on a partnership with the YMCA to transition patients after their eight weeks.
However, many longtime participants say they’re concerned about losing medically supervised sessions near the emergency room, warning the change could impact their safety and long-term heart health.
STORY: New Sunset Pond loop trail opens to public
More than thirty years after it was first conceived, the Sunset Pond Loop trail is now open.
Initially envisioned in Bellingham’s Greenways levy of 1990, Sunset Pond Loop is the product of four-plus years of recent design, permitting, and construction. According to a recent release by the City of Bellingham, highlights include boardwalks through scenic and previously inaccessible marsh and wetlands. Open to hikers and cyclists, the new path expands and connects trail networks from North Bellingham to Barkley Village, Bellingham Bay, and more.
Parks & Recreation Director Nicole Oliver noted the years of work that went into Sunset Pond Loop’s development on the city’s website, and celebrated it as, quote, “a genuine nature escape right in the heart of North Bellingham” unquote.
STORY: Spanish-speaking callers to WA Dept. of Licensing answered by accented AI English voice
The Washington State Department of Licensing has pulled foreign language options from its phone system after callers discovered a bizarre glitch.
People who selected Spanish were met with a voice speaking English — but with a heavy Spanish accent. The error went viral after a Washington resident posted a TikTok video that’s now racked up hundreds of thousands of likes.
In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for the DOL said the error is an “unfortunate byproduct” of expanding services into nine new languages, and described the rollout as a complex phone system transition. Officials say the issue appears to stem from a configuration change and are still evaluating the cause.
For now, foreign language options have been removed, and the agency says it’s monitoring the system to prevent the problem from happening again.
STORY: WA leaders decry “unconstitutional” attack on Iran
Washington state’s congressional delegation is sharply divided after President Donald Trump authorized U.S. airstrikes on Iran.
In recent public statements, most of the state’s Democratic lawmakers condemned the move, calling it unconstitutional and warning it could drag the U.S. into a prolonged Middle East war. U.S. Senator Patty Murray urged Congress to return immediately to vote on ending the conflict, saying Americans deserve to know where their leaders stand. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell and several House Democrats echoed concerns that the president bypassed Congress and failed to clearly justify the action.
Congressman Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, called the strike an “offensive use of military force,” and said lawmakers will push for a war powers resolution to limit the campaign.
However, U.S. Representative Michael Baumgartner (BOW-gart-ner), a Republican congressman from Eastern Washington, praised the president’s decision, calling Trump’s leadership strategic and decisive.
It’s unclear whether Congress will have enough support to curb the military action.
WX: How many fathers have died in the sun?
And now for the weather:
This weekend’s return to partial sunshine will stay with us today, with temperatures in the mid-50s. The skies should remain partially clear throughout the evening, with clouds growing throughout the night. Expect evening lows in the mid-40s.
Expect a few days of rain starting tomorrow, as we inch ever closer to spring.
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, Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), and Kieran (KEAR-un) Dang. 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: Invasive Species Awareness Week
This week marks the start of Invasive Species Awareness Week in Washington and across the country. The annual campaign highlights plants and animals that can harm local ecosystems.
Washington Invasive Species Council is hosting several free webinars this week to educate the public on protecting waterways from aquatic invasive species, weeds, and harmful insects.
Residents can learn practical steps to prevent the spread of invasive species and access information about the events on the council’s website.
STORY: Whatcom County to host second community engagement workshop for new jail RUN AGAIN BY/ABOUT MAR 16
Whatcom County wants the public to weigh in on plans for the new jail and behavioral health facility.
The county will host its second community engagement workshop for the voter-approved Justice Project next month in Lynden. The initiative, passed in November 2023, includes construction of a new jail and a behavioral care center.
County leaders are expected to decide this spring on the final capacity, scope and budget before construction begins later this year.
Residents can review project updates and provide feedback at the workshop, scheduled for Thursday, March 19th, at the Lynden City Annex Chamber.
STORY: No Kings Day March 28th
STORY: Long term weather outlook
Spring in Western Washington is shaping up to be near normal for temperatures and rainfall, according to the National Weather Service’s long-range forecast. Meteorologists say the La Niña pattern, which usually brings cooler, wetter weather to the Northwest, is expected to fade into a neutral phase between March and May. That could bring average highs of 53 degrees in March, 58 in April, and 66 in May.
However, there’s a 60% chance La Niña could linger into April, which would help the Nooksack River watershed recover from an unusually dry January. Snowpack in the Mount Baker area was 87% of normal in January but rose to 116% by Feb. 20, data from the Natural Resource Conservation Service shows. Additionally, if snow levels fall again or melt too quickly in a warm spring, drought conditions could persist, raising the risk of wildfires, smoky skies, and water restrictions.
Officials urge communities to monitor conditions closely as the spring season unfolds.
STORY: Lummi Island ferry dry dock scheduled for mid-April
STORY: Places to file your taxes for free
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.
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