FEMA to open disaster assistance center in Sumas this Wednesday, Over 100 additional parking spots coming to Bellingham’s downtown waterfront, UW study finds parasite in WA coyote population capable of being transmitted to pets and humans, Bellingham Chick-fil-A sets opening date for end of month, Statewide proposal banning trans student athletes from participating in girls’ sports fails a second time, Calls for firing of director among many heated comments lodged at last week’s Fish and Wildlife commission meeting, Statewide proposal banning trans student athletes from participating in girls’ sports fails a second time, Officials press pause on license plate readers in some parts of state, New housing rule workshop offered, Chee and Freap
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, April, 21. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: FEMA to open disaster assistance center in Sumas this Wednesday
A FEMA Disaster Assistance Center is opening tomorrow in Sumas to help residents impacted by December’s flooding.
The center at Sumas Advent Christian Church will offer in-person help with disaster aid applications and SBA loans, with hours Monday through Friday 9 to 5 and limited hours on Saturday.
Officials say the aid includes some notable changes. One of the biggest is that applicants are no longer required to apply for and be denied Small Business Administration loans before qualifying for certain assistance by FEMA. Officials say this removes a step that previously delayed access to
aid.
Other updates include a shift from reimbursement-based hotel assistance to upfront displacement payments for temporary housing. Additionally, home repair coverage has been expanded in some cases to include work needed to make homes safe and functional, even if pre-existing damage is involved.
In addition to the 2026 declaration, funds from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program were released to elevate 16 properties in Sumas, Everson, and Ferndale that were damaged in the 2021 flood disaster.
State officials also note it took about 123 days to issue this declaration, compared to roughly 50 days following the 2021 flood disaster. This leaves less time for residents to complete applications before deadlines.
The application deadlines for assistance are June 10th for physical damage, and January 7th, 2027 for economic injury.
STORY: Over 100 additional parking spots coming to Bellingham’s downtown waterfront
The Port of Bellingham is expanding parking at the downtown waterfront.
Over 100 new spaces will be added along Granary Avenue. In a post on Facebook, officials announced they hope the new spots will ease congestion during busy summer days and major events, as well as improve access to businesses, Waypoint Park, and the Portal Container Village. The new lot will include ADA parking and temporary access points for a planned future skate park.
The Port says it’s working with city and event partners to ensure the added parking supports both visitors and ongoing development; however, no construction timeline has been announced.
STORY: Ferry Advisory Committee meets tomorrow
The Whatcom County Ferry Advisory Committee will meet tomorrow at 6 p.m. on Lummi Island.
According to the agenda, committee members will discuss the passage of House Bill 2588 in Olympia and the potential for a new Whatcom County Ferry Tax District.
The public is allowed to attend.
STORY: UW study finds parasite in WA coyote population capable of being transmitted to pets and humans
A new study has found that coyotes and rodents in western Washington may carry a tapeworm that can be passed on to humans and dogs.
The parasite can cause liver damage in people, and may not show up for ten years or longer. According to the National Library of Medicine, human cases have been found in Alaska, Canada, and Vermont.
The recent study, done at the University of Washington, looked at 100 coyote carcasses in Puget, Whatcom, and Pierce counties; the parasite was found in 37% of them.
To prevent infection, officials say you should stop your dogs from eating rodents and the feces of coyotes. If your dog is prone to doing that, talk to
your vet about medication that targets tapeworms. Additionally, always wear gloves and personal protection equipment if you handle coyotes.
STORY: Bellingham Chick-fil-A sets opening date for end of month Bellingham’s first Chick-fil-A is set to open on April 30th, near the Bellis Fair Mall on Cordata Parkway.
Since 2012, the company has been in the spotlight over its charitable giving to anti-LGBTQ causes, including opposition to same-sex marriage. After announcing in 2019 it would stop funding organizations associated with anti-LGBTQ positions, Chick-fil-A drew mixed reactions — some critics said the change did not go far enough, while more recent shifts have prompted some conservative customers to accuse the company of moving away from its original values. The controversy has hampered expansion into some more liberal areas.
Ahead of the launch, the company announced it donated 25-thousand dollars locally to support hunger relief through Food Lifeline.
STORY: Statewide proposal banning trans student athletes from participating in girls’ sports fails a second time
A state-wide proposal to ban transgender female athletes from girls’ sports in Washington schools failed to pass for a second year.
29 members of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association voted “yes” last week, while 24 said “no”… however, the amendment failed to reach the 60% needed to pass. At the meeting, officials from the WIAA said that even if it had passed, it would not have been implemented as it violates state law.
The Lynden School District made the proposal that would have limited girls’ sports to, quote, “students whose biological sex is female” end quote, and open boys’ sports to, quote, “any athlete who wants to participate” unquote.
STORY: Calls for firing of director among many heated comments lodged at last week’s Fish and Wildlife commission meeting
A heated meeting last week yielded calls for the director of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to be fired.
According to reporting from the Washington State Standard, those who wanted to see Kelly Susewind (SOOZ-wind) dismissed questioned if the commission violated open meetings and public records statutes when the spring bear hunts were canceled in 2022.
The call came after Susewind forwarded a memo to Governor Bob Ferguson last August on whether two of the nine commissioners had conflict of interest with the Washington Wildlife First, a pro-hunting group.
STORY: Officials press pause on license plate readers in some parts of state
Police departments across Washington are reassessing their use of license plate readers after new statewide restrictions took effect last month.
The cameras, which track vehicle movements, are seen by law enforcement as valuable tools for solving crimes; however, critics argue they raise serious privacy and surveillance concerns.
The new law, signed on March 30th by Governor Ferguson, places limits on how long data can be stored — now capped at 21 days — and restricts how that information may be shared, including with federal agencies. Additionally, data collection near sensitive locations like schools, health care facilities, places of worship, and immigration-related sites is banned.
Police departments in cities like Seattle and Kent have temporarily shut off their systems while reviewing policies to ensure compliance. Others, like Redmond, Lynnwood, and Sedro-Woolley, had already scaled back or discontinued the technology.
Officials say the pause reflects a broader debate over how to balance public safety with personal privacy, as communities weigh how much surveillance they are willing to accept.
WX: Mardi McFly
And now for the weather:
Expect some daytime cloud cover with highs in the low-60s, later giving way to mostly overcast nighttime skies, complete with a chance of the odd shower or two early on in the evening. Nighttime lows are looking to hover right around 50 degrees.
Tomorrow, expect to kick things off with a dash of early morning rain, before things become sunny once again.
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), Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Kieran (KEAR-un) Dang, Bella Farris, and Jenny Lam. 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 _________… thanks for listening!
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STORY: Seattle area moves to limit ICE
Seattle and King County are moving to limit federal immigration enforcement on staging in city and county spaces.
Under the new rules passed by the Seattle City Council in March, immigration agents are restricted from gathering, conducting surveillance, or setting up operations in places like parks and government buildings without a judicial warrant. King County also passed a similar ban. Both jurisdictions are also placing temporary bans on new detention centers.
The shift comes as Whatcom County’s Superior Court reports suspected enforcement activity near its courthouse. Judges there say they’re expanding remote access to hearings and adding new advisements to ensure people can safely reach court.
STORY: New housing rule workshop offered
The City of Bellingham is hosting a free workshop to help renters and landlords navigate new housing rules.
The event takes place April 28 at City Council Chambers, where city staff and local groups — including Western Washington University Off Campus Living and the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center — will break down new rental regulations and answer questions.
Topics include local ordinances, statewide rent stabilization, and fair housing laws, with a focus on disability discrimination — the most common complaint in Whatcom County.
The session is part of Fair Housing Month, which also includes a film screening and panel discussion on April 22.
STORY: Chee and Freap
Celebrate Earth Day with us
Save the date for Earth Day on April 22! The City is hosting several events throughout April to celebrate, including:
● Free First Friday at the Whatcom Museum with activities around the new exhibition, Painted Forest: The Science and Beauty of Petrified Wood
● Earth-themed Children’s Storytimes with the Bellingham Public Library
● Volunteer work party to improve water quality and habitat at Squalicum Creek
● A recycling drop-off event for hard-to-recycle items – bring your sensitive documents for shredding, electronic waste, batteries, and used athletic sneakers
● A tour of our recently completed Padden Creek fish passage project
Check out a full list of events with details online.
Residents of Whatcom County can safely and responsibly dispose of old or leftover household paint at a Free Paint Collection & Recycling Event.
The event will take place on Saturday, May 2, in Lynden. https://www.whatcomcounty.us//CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=5453
THRIFTOPIA! A FLEA MARKET BLOCK PARTY
Saturday, April 25 10AM – 3PM | 900 E Fairhaven Ave, Burlington
Held just once each spring during the Tulip Festival season, this FREE-admission event features 70+ local vendors offering everything from arts & crafts and jewelry to clothing, garage sale treasures, and new or gently used goods.
With booths filling the Burlington Parks & Recreation Building, Burlington Public Library (Friends of the Library Used Book Sale), and Burlington Senior Center, you’ll find plenty of INDOOR and OUTDOOR shopping. Grab a bite from Mexicraves or Drifters Desserts, and don’t forget to ride your bike for a FREE tune-up from the Skagit Valley Bicycle Coalition! Visit our facebook event page for updates.
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