State issues emergency closure of Drayton Harbor shellfish harvesting, Lynden girls and LC boys advance to state, Mt. Baker Ski Area open to night skiing for first time next weekend, Bellingham landlords critique new regulations in city survey, Flooded coal mine under Bellingham could become heat source for college, CHS announces more closures, Local Thai restaurant listed for sale, Two bills strike controversy over AG powers, Local couple walks 3000 miles for cancer research, Two bills strike controversy over AG powers, Free or cheap (Austin?), Officials concerned over spike in measles, Submissions open for designs of Whatcom’s 2026 “I Voted” stickers, Whatcom Chief dry dock dates updated, 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 Friday March 6th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: State issues emergency closure of Drayton Harbor shellfish harvesting
An emergency shellfish closure has been issued for Drayton Harbor.
The Washington State Department of Health says several people got sick from oysters and clams harvested between February 13th and 23rd. Some were sold at the Drayton Harbor Oyster Company, while others were sold at the Bellingham Dockside Market on February 21st. All shellfish harvesting in Drayton Harbor is now closed; it is expected to reopen by March 24th.
Health officials say the symptoms reported are consistent with norovirus, including vomiting, fatigue, and stomach cramps.
The Drayton Harbor Oyster Company remains open, but they are not serving harbor shellfish until the area is declared safe.
STORY: Lynden girls and LC boys advance to state
In high school basketball, the Lynden girls are headed to the state semifinals after another dominant win in Yakima.
The top-seeded Lions beat Deer Park 58 to 33 in the 2A quarterfinals, extending their winning streak to 73 games. They face Clarkston in the semifinals tomorrow at 3:45.
The Lynden Christian boys are also moving on after an 84 to 56 win over Seattle Christian. The Lyncs face the King’s in 1A semifinals tomorrow.
Also advancing are the boys from defending 1B champion Lummi Nation, who beat Neah Bay 70 to 48 to reach the semis.
Meanwhile, the Lynden Lions boys season ended with a 46 to 36 loss to Renton in 2A.
Lastly — tonight, the Lynden Christian girls are seeking to reach the 1A semifinals when they face Annie Wright in Yakima.
STORY: Mt. Baker Ski Area open to night skiing for first time next weekend
Mt. Baker Ski Area will make history next weekend with its first-ever night skiing on Chair 7.
The lift will run from 5:30 to 8:30pm next Friday, March 13th and Saturday, March 14th, lighting the terrain for evening runs.
Season passholders and anyone with a day, half-day, or C-7 ticket will be allowed to ride, with extended food service in the White Salmon Lodge.
General Manager Mike Trowbridge says that, if goes well, skiers could see more night runs in the future.
STORY: Bellingham landlords critique new regulations in city survey
Landlords and property managers in Bellingham say new state and local rental rules are making life difficult for them.
According to a report issued by the City, a survey of nearly 630 landlords and property managers shows that the new ordinances — which include limits on fees and requirements for upfront disclosure — have prompted changes to leases and operations. Many respondents said rising utility costs and layered regulations add to the challenge, though only 7% of them report taking units off the market.
The Bellingham City Council is set to review the survey results and discuss next steps at their meeting next Monday evening, with public comment accepted in person or online.
STORY: Flooded coal mine under Bellingham could become heat source for college
The old coal mine under the Birchwood neighborhood could soon heat a local college.
Cascadia Daily News reports that Bellingham Technical College is exploring a geothermal project with Cascade Natural Gas. The plan would tap warm groundwater that fills the historic Bellingham Coal Mine.
Engineers would pump the water to the surface, pass it through heat exchangers to warm or cool campus buildings, then send it back underground.
If approved, the project could cut emissions, give students hands-on engineering experience, and turn a century-old mine into a new source of clean energy.
STORY: Grocery Outlet announces some store closures
Discount grocery chain Grocery Outlet is scaling back after expanding too quickly, announcing it will close 36 stores across the nation.
CEO Jason Potter told investors that the closures are a correction to ensure profitability, and the chain is not fully exiting any state. Most of the cuts will occur on the East Coast — the Bellingham and Ferndale stores are not scheduled for closure.
In addition, the 80-year-old company still plans to open 30 to 33 new stores in 2026.
STORY: CHS announces more closures
Lynden-based CHS Northwest says it has filed a mini-Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (or WARN) notice with the state ahead of plans to sell three additional locations — its Convenience and Farm & Home stores in Nooksack, Ferndale, and Lynden. The move follows earlier closure announcements this year, that included Lynden True Value and the Bellingham location.
The company says employees were first notified last November as it began looking for a buyer focused on retail operations.
Under state and federal law, WARN notices must be filed at least 60 days before a planned closure.
STORY: Local Thai restaurant listed for sale
Supon’s Thai Kitchen near Western Washington University is up for sale.
A listing from a broker with RE/MAX says the 2,700-square-foot space seats up to 80 guests and includes a fully equipped commercial kitchen with woks, deep fryer, walk-in cooler, and prep stations.
STORY: Local couple walks 3000 miles for cancer research
A Bellingham couple is walking more than 3,000 miles this year to raise money for cancer research.
Nala Henkel-Aislinn and her husband Eric Aislinn aim to walk a combined 3,339 miles — the same distance Canadian cancer fundraiser Terry Fox ran in 1980.
The couple has already covered more than 2,100 miles, walking local trails like Galbraith Mountain and Lake Padden, and they hope to raise at least a dollar for every mile.
According to her Instagram, Henkel-Aislinn says the effort is personal — her mother battled breast cancer — and she’s inspired by the breakthroughs made possible by research funded through Fox’s legacy.
STORY: Two bills strike controversy over AG powers
Washington’s attorney general has sparked debate over two new bills that would expand the authority of the office.
Senate Bill 5925 would let the AG issue civil investigative demands — or CIDs — to gather documents and testimony for potential civil law violations, while House Bill 2156 would allow AG-appointed investigators limited authority to serve certain warrants.
Supporters say the bills streamline investigations and protect civil rights, especially as federal enforcement has declined. Critics warn the measures could give the AG unchecked power and allow politically selective investigations.
SB 5925 has passed the House and Senate along party lines and awaits final approval, while HB 2156 has cleared the Senate and now heads to the governor’s desk as the session nears its March 12 deadline.
STORY: Free or cheap (Austin?)
It’s Friday! Here are some fun and affordable events this weekend to cap off a busy week.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to play Mario Kart while a live band is playing the soundtrack? Aslan Depot is hosting Mario Kart Live tomorrow from 6 to 11 PM. 5 dollars to play the game and of course it’s free to watch — and open to all ages.
The City of Bellingham is hosting a community work party tomorrow to help pot plants and prepare the city’s native plant nursery for another year of restoration projects. Registration is required online for two time slots of 9am to noon, or 1to 3pm. The nursery is located at 2710 Donovan Avenue. Tools and equipment are provided, and dress for the weather!
Also on Saturday, The New Prospect Theatre is hosting Molly’s Musical Adventure at 1pm. Bob the Stage Manager has lost the script — but the show must go on! So, help Molly find the script while singing along to pop hits — fun for all ages. Tickets are 10 dollars.
WX: Yours, Mine, and Showers
And now weather:
Expect a 90 percent chance of rain today— up half an inch. High temperatures should hover around 50, with scattered showers tonight, and overnight temperatures in the mid-40s.
For the weekend, expect rain and strong wind on and off—with slightly warmer temps and highs around 53 on Saturday—- but expect a chance of rain and snow on Sunday. Winter’s not done with us yet.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg, Kathi O’Shea, Austin Wright, Kai Blais-Schmolke, Kieran Dang, and Bella Farris. 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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STORY: Submissions open for designs of Whatcom’s 2026 “I Voted” stickers
Submissions are now open for this year’s “I Voted” stickers in Whatcom County.
According to an announcement, the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office has organized the contest and will feature the winning design in its office beginning on July 15th. Submissions are required to fit within a 4-inch diameter circle. Hand-drawn as well as digital designs are accepted— but no AI-generated art is allowed.
Entries are due by May 1st. More information can be found at “Whatcomcounty-dot-U.S.-slash-Elections”
STORY: Officials concerned over spike in measles
Washington health officials say measles cases are rising sharply this year.
The Washington State Department of Health has confirmed 26 measles cases across four counties so far in 2026. That’s already more than double the 12 cases reported statewide during all of last year.
Most of the cases are in children, and nearly all involve people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Cases have been reported in Snohomish, Clark, Stevens and Kittitas counties.
Health officials say measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. They say the MMR vaccine remains the most effective protection against the disease.
Nationally, the U.S. has now recorded more than 1,100 measles cases this year.
STORY: Whatcom Chief dry dock dates updated
The Whatcom Chief ferry will be out of service for its annual dry dock later this spring, Whatcom County officials announced Wednesday.
The outage is scheduled from Saturday, April 25, through Sunday, May 17, a week later than previously planned. The ferry, which carries both vehicles and pedestrians between Gooseberry Point and Lummi Island, will be replaced by a pedestrian-only vessel during the maintenance period.
This year, Lummi Island riders will no longer have access to the shuttle service that normally helps passengers get around. County documents say the shuttle vans, originally obtained from WTA surplus, have reached the end of their usable life, and replacing them is cost-prohibitive.
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.
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