WSP issues MIPAs for pair of teens last seen in Bellingham, State game officials trap and euthanize cougar in Sudden Valley, New rock beach at Boulevard Park set to open to public this week, B.C. to adopt permanent daylight saving time, PSE looks to ramp up rates by as much as 30% by 2029, Big Tech scores win in Olympia, Long term weather outlook, Whatcom County to host second community engagement workshop for new jail RUN AGAIN BY/ABOUT MAR 16, No Kings Day March 28th, Lummi Island ferry dry dock scheduled for mid-April, Places to file your taxes for free
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, March 3rd. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: WSP issues MIPAs for pair of teens last seen in Bellingham
The Washington State Patrol has issued three separate Missing Indigenous Person Alerts for two teen girls in the last 24 hours.
17-year-old Tabitha Running-Bear is 5 foot, 2 inches tall, and 120 pounds. She has brown hair and eyes, and was last seen in the Bellingham area on Sunday at 12:30 PM, wearing a black shirt and jacket.
16-year-old Ariel Feliciano (AIR-ee-el fuh-liss-ee-AH-no) is also 5 foot, 2 inches tall, and 130 pounds. She has brown hair and eyes, and was also last seen in the Bellingham area on Sunday at 12:30 PM. She was wearing a blue sweater, white tan checkered pants, gray shoes, and a large bag.
The Patrol issued these alerts on behalf of Lummi Police, but did not indicate whether the cases were linked in any way. Each teen’s photo and case number have been posted on the State Patrol’s Twitter account. Anyone with information is asked to call the non-emergency number at 360-312-2274.
STORY: State game officials trap and euthanize cougar in Sudden Valley
State wildlife officials trapped and killed a large cougar on Saturday after it attacked a dog in Sudden Valley.
Footage from the family’s doorbell camera shows the cat carrying the small dog down the driveway before climbing a tree across the street. The owner chased after the cougar and threw rocks at it, prompting it to drop the pet. The injured dog underwent emergency surgery and is recovering.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says the cougar may be the same one reported in recent months in nearby Geneva.
Residents should report sightings to Fish and Wildlife, and call 9-1-1 in emergencies.
STORY: New rock beach at Boulevard Park set to open to public this week
A new rocky beach at Boulevard Park is set to open to the public this week.
Construction began last fall, with the total approximate funding of one-and-a-half million dollars. The city says on its website they hope the work will improve beach access with improved walkways, while newly planted native plant species will help buffer against sea level rise and coastal erosion.
On the park’s eastern beach, the city said it focused on removing old retaining walls from the inter-tidal zone. On the western beach, crews added a small retaining wall and rock garden for shoreline protection.
According to the City’s website, construction barriers will be removed this Thursday.
STORY: B.C. to adopt permanent daylight saving time
This weekend’s switch to daylight saving time will be the last for British Columbia.
Global News reports the province is moving to permanent daylight saving time. From March to November, clocks line up with the U.S. West Coast — but from November to March, B.C. will stay an hour ahead of Washington, Oregon, and California.
Premier David Eby (EE-bee) says ending the clock change means fewer tired kids, confused pets, and groggy drivers.
[clip eby-1.wav :11 out: of British Columbia]
Washington approved permanent daylight time in 2019, but that was held up because federal law takes precedence. Congress would have to act before Washington can finally make the switch.
STORY: PSE looks to ramp up rates by as much as 30% by 2029
Energy bills could be on the rise again across the Puget Sound.
Puget Sound Energy has filed a three-year rate increase proposal with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. If approved, residential electric rates would rise nearly 30 percent and natural gas rates close to 20 percent by 2029.
PSE says it needs to invest more than $3 billion in its gas and electric systems, with about 70 percent aimed at strengthening and protecting the power grid as demand grows. A 2024 investigation by ProPublica and The Seattle Times found expanding data centers in Central Washington are adding strain to the state’s power supply.
The company says it also plans to boost investment in local renewable energy.
State regulators are expected to review the proposal over the next 11 months.
STORY: Big Tech scores win in Olympia
In related news, big tech scored a win in Olympia yesterday as a sweeping data center regulation bill failed to advance in the Legislature.
House Bill 2515 would have required data centers to pay additional utility charges, meet clean energy standards, and scale back power use during peak demand. Supporters said the measure was aimed at protecting other ratepayers, the power grid, and the environment as these facilities rapidly expand across the state.
According to reporting by the Washington State Standard, tech giants including Microsoft and Amazon opposed the bill, arguing it would impose costly regulations and potentially expose trade secrets as companies race to build infrastructure for artificial intelligence.
The bill was scheduled for a vote in the Senate Ways and Means Committee but was never brought forward before a key deadline. Lead sponsor Rep. Beth Doglio criticized industry lobbying efforts, saying the state must ensure that the costs of growth are not passed on to working families.
Industry leaders countered that data centers support essential services, create jobs, and generate billions in investment.
Lawmakers say the debate is likely to return next session.
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. The change could bring average highs of 53 degrees in March, 58 degrees in April, and 66 degrees in May.
However, there is a 60% chance La Niña could linger into April, which would help the Nooksack River watershed recover from an unusually dry January. Data from the Natural Resource Conservation Service show that snow pack in the Mount Baker area was 87% of normal in January but rose to 116% by Feb. 20. However, 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 spring unfolds.
WX: It’s a terrible day for rain
And now weather:
Expect a stretch of rainy weather here in Whatcom which should last through the end of the week. Today’s forecast calls for up to a quarter-inch of precipitation in some areas, with winds of up to 20 miles per hour, and highs in the mid 50s. The evening could become a bit stormier, with up to a half-inch of rain and temperatures in the mid-40s.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg, Kathi O’Shea, Austin Wright, Tyler Warne, Kai Blais-Schmolke, and Kieran 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, or Substack, or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _David Korb________… thanks for listening!
##
STORY: U.S. Small Business Association opens disaster loan outreach centers in regions of WA recovering from floods
Last week, we reported that the Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Sumas had opened up— now, there are centers open across Washington.
The U.S. Small Business Administration outreach centers are now open in Auburn, Chehalis, Fall City, Sedro-Woolley, and Snohomish. They offer low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofits impacted by the flooding. Businesses can apply for up to $2 million for physical damage, while homeowners may qualify for up to $500,000 to repair or replace a primary residence.
More than 100,000 people were under evacuation orders during the December disaster, with nearly 4,000 homes damaged statewide. In Whatcom County alone, over 1,200 homes along the Nooksack River were flooded.
The deadline to apply for physical damage assistance is April 27.
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: 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.
Leave a Reply