Co-founder of Bellingham Naked Bike Ride arrested on charges of viewing and possessing child pornography, Judge dismisses lawsuit against city of Bellingham and BPD over COVID vaccine firings, E.R. physician’s lawsuit thrown out, Two Seattle men arrested in connection with Whatcom drug ring, Whatcom County Council approves additional funding for Lummi Island Ferry, unanimously upholds free rides for youth, Runner-up in last two elections appointed to vacant seat in Sedro-Woolley City Council, Study points to widening race and gender disparity in wages in WA, Star Park open house on April 6, FREE OR CHEAP
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Friday, March 27th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Co-founder of Bellingham Naked Bike Ride arrested on charges of viewing and possessing child pornography
Co-founder of the Bellingham Naked Bike Ride, Zachary Elisha Robertson, has been charged in Whatcom County Superior Court with possession and viewing of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Bellingham police arrested the 42-year-old on March 10 after investigators say images were discovered on his laptop. Court documents indicate roughly two dozen files were found during an initial search.
Robertson has pled not guilty to the felony charges. He was released on bail the following day, and his trial is scheduled for April 27.
STORY: Judge dismisses lawsuit against city of Bellingham and BPD over COVID vaccine firings
A judge in Whatcom County Superior Court has dismissed a lawsuit against the city of Bellingham and its police department over COVID-19 vaccine exemptions.
Judge Lee Grochmal ruled in favor of the city, rejecting claims from former officers Michael Scanlon and Jonathan Weiss, who argued they were denied reasonable religious accommodations.
The officers were fired in 2021 after seeking exemptions from the vaccine mandate. The judge dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.
STORY: E.R. physician’s lawsuit thrown out
In more COVID-era news, a Whatcom County Superior Court judge has dismissed all claims in a high-profile lawsuit brought by ER physician Dr. Ming Lin.
Judge David Freeman threw out the case earlier this month, just weeks before it was set to go to trial. Lin had accused staffing firm TeamHealth of wrongful termination and retaliation after he was fired in 2020 for speaking out about COVID-19 safety concerns.
Lin’s attorney called the ruling ‘horrendous’ and says they will continue fighting the case.
STORY: Two Seattle men arrested in connection with Whatcom drug ring
Two Seattle men are in custody following a drug investigation in Whatcom County.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office says the case began earlier this year, targeting a group suspected of dealing fentanyl and cocaine.
Detectives with Bellingham PD and the DEA, served search warrants in the Seattle area on March 25.
Authorities say they seized large quantities of suspected drugs, along with cash and a scale. Two men, aged 33 and 49, were arrested and are being held without bail in Whatcom County Jail.
Investigators say they expect more arrests.
STORY: Whatcom County Council approves additional funding for Lummi Island Ferry, unanimously upholds free rides for youth
The Lummi Island Ferry has secured additional funding from WSDOT. The Whatcom County Council voted unanimously to let youth ride the Lummi Island Ferry for free, approving a contract amendment with the state that boosts reimbursement to just over $100,000 to cover the cost.
The funding will be provided by the state’s transportation budget and is covered until June of next year. Youth 19 and under can ride the Lummi Island Ferry for free.
STORY: Tulip Festival Opens
The tulips are blooming early and the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is already drawing visitors from all over North America.
The month-long event officially opens April 1st through 30th, but with flowers already in bloom, it’s a great time to beat the traffic. KMRE spoke to our Tulip Festival insider– Marisa Papetti (muh-REE-suh pah-PET-ee), one of the owners of the PNW Artist Marketplace which runs during the festival. She says it’s a great time to head south.
Papetti Audio One
Visitors can explore popular stops like RoozenGaarde and Tulip Town, along with street fairs, art shows, and family-friendly activities. Papetti shared some of her pro tips for viewing the blooms.
Papetti Audio Two
Many community events remain free, check out tulipfestival.org for a complete list of activities. To hear the complete interview with Marisa Papetti, tune in after the 5 O’Clock news.
STORY: Runner-up in last two elections appointed to vacant seat in Sedro-Woolley City Council
Sedro-Woolley has a new councilmember.
Karl de Jong has taken the City Council seat previously held by Joe Burns, who resigned to become a Skagit County Commissioner.
Cascadia Daily News reports Burns and de Jong ran against each other twice for the council seat, with Burns winning both races. But just days into his new term, county commissioners appointed Burns to the open commissioner position, a move that required him to leave the council.
Three candidates applied to fill the vacancy. De Jong, who had previously served on the council, was sworn in on Wednesday. He said he’s grateful for the council’s confidence and ready to get to work. De Jong is a vice president with the Washington State Labor Council.
He says returning feels familiar, with many of the same issues still in front of the city, and that “the basics” continue to matter.
STORY: Study points to widening race and gender disparity in wages in WA
Women in Washington still face a wide wage gap.
In Congressional District 2, which includes Bellingham, women earn just 69 cents for every dollar paid to men. That’s from a new report by the National Partnership for Women and Families.
Statewide, the gaps are even larger for many women of color, with annual losses ranging from about $13,000 for Asian American women to nearly $38,000 for Latina women. The Washington State Standard reports the overall gap actually widened in 2024.
Brittany Gregory, who leads the Washington State Women’s Commission, says the state needs a clearer understanding of what’s driving the shift. She notes that Washington’s highest-paying industries — like tech and aerospace — still employ far more men than women.
Gregory says closing the gap will take clearer data — and a commitment to bringing more women into Washington’s highest-paying industries.
STORY: Free and cheap
It’s Friday – if you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a bit of what’s going on around the county.
Community members in Bellingham are planning another No Kings rally and march tomorrow from 1 to 4 p.m. The procession will begin near Waypoint Park at 1 o’clock before moving through downtown. After the march, organizers are hosting a “No Kings: Creative Demonstration” at Maritime Heritage Park from 4 to 7 p.m. The event features interactive art, live painters, performers, and a full musical lineup.
The Pickford Film Center celebrates 20 years of the Bellingham Children’s Film Festival on Saturday and Sunday, a weekend devoted to pure imagination and kid-friendly creativity. A free ice cream social for ticket holders follows on Saturday — ice cream courtesy of Crooked Spoon.
The Whatcom Wedding Showcase runs Saturday, from 10 to 3pm at the Ferndale Events Center, featuring over 60 local wedding vendors, live makeup demonstrations, a 1 p.m. fashion show, samples, giveaways, and swag bags for the first 100 guests. Each $10 ticket enters guests into giveaways for their big day.
The 38th Annual Fairhaven Neighbors Plant and Tree Sale also runs Saturday from 10 to 3pm in the Hillcrest parking lot at Old Fairhaven Parkway and 14th Street. Shoppers will find veggie starts, flowers, herbs, natives, berries, and more from local growers. The sale supports Fairhaven Neighbors and other community nonprofits. Admission is free, and shoppers are encouraged to bring boxes.
WX: *manically slurping up every drip of spring possible*
And now weather:
We’re in for another pleasant day as we close out the week here in Whatcom. Bright, partly sunny skies should dominate today, while temperatures remain stable at around 55 degrees. Look for a few gathering clouds as the evening wears on, leaving us with some overcast and a mildly chilly evening with lows in the upper 30s.
It should be a great weekend to enjoy the tulips — expect more sun tomorrow, with drizzles returning on Sunday.
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!
##
STORY: Star Park open house on April 6
The City of Ferndale is inviting the community to celebrate a new addition aimed at making local parks more inclusive.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new communication board at Star Park is set for Monday, April 6th at 11:30 a.m.
The boards use symbols and pictures to help children communicate, especially those with disabilities, making it easier to interact and play.
Following the ceremony, families are invited to stay for a free Spring Break Bubble Playdate featuring games, activities, and community fun through 1 p.m.
FREE OR CHEAP
School District Events
| March 20, 21, 27, 28 | 7:30 PM | Firebringer: A Rock Musical | Options Theater | $25 GA / $15 Student | Presented by Bellingham TheatreWorks in partnership with Options High School drama; directed by Zacharee Simm. |
| March 26, 27 | 7:00 PM | Vista & Horizon Middle School Play | Ferndale HS PAC | Not specified | Joint production by Vista and Horizon Middle Schools in Ferndale. |
| March 27, 28 | 7:00 PM | Sweeney Todd: School Edition | Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth | See website | BAAY student production of the Sondheim musical; directed by Dylan Cisneros and Logan Hyer-Long. |
| March 28, 29 | 2:00 PM | Sweeney Todd: School Edition | Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth | See website | BAAY student production of the Sondheim musical; directed by Dylan Cisneros and Logan Hyer-Long. |
| March 29 | 2:00 PM | Firebringer: A Rock Musical | Options Theater | $25 GA / $15 Student | Final performance of the partnership production between Bellingham TheatreWorks and Options HS Drama. |
Leave a Reply