Ferndale man arrested and charged with second-degree assault following fight that left one man hospitalized, Detour set as southern portion of South Bay Trail closes to public, American Lung Association ranks Bellingham among best cities in nation for air quality, Biannual Drug Takeback Day scheduled for this Saturday, Red Cross announces more aid for flood damage, New housing rule workshop offered, Public input wanted for Hazard Mitigation Plan, Drug takeback day scheduled, Seattle area moves to limit ICE, High school graduation requirements for WA students under review, WA’s population of gray wolves continues to bounce back, Free and Cheap
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, April, 23. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Ferndale man arrested and charged with second-degree assault following fight that left one man hospitalized
Police arrested a man on Saturday for attacking another man in Bellingham.
Bellingham Police Department lieutenant Claudia Murphy said officers were called to Railroad Avenue on Saturday night because of a fight.
The 21-year-old man arrested is from Ferndale and has been charged with second-degree assault.
STORY: Detour set as southern portion of South Bay Trail closes to public
Construction is now underway in Fairhaven, closing a small but popular stretch of the South Bay Trail.
The two-tenths mile section between Douglas and Mill Avenue was closed on Monday, with walkers and cyclists detoured to nearby sidewalks. The closure could last up to two years as crews begin work on the new Fairhaven Center development at the site known as “the pit.” The project includes rebuilding the trail and adding a public bay overlook.
Meanwhile, multiple nearby developments are also moving forward, bringing significant changes to the South Hill area.
STORY: American Lung Association ranks Bellingham among best cities in nation for air quality
Bellingham has some of the cleanest air in the country, according to the latest report by the American Lung Association.
Whatcom and Skagit counties are given “A” grades for ground-level ozone pollution, but both have “C” grades for short-term particle pollution, based on data collected between 2022 and 2024.
The Northwest Clean Air Agency attributes some of the particle pollution to wildfires.
STORY: Biannual Drug Takeback Day scheduled for this Saturday
Saturday is Drug Takeback Day.
Organised by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s office, any expired or unused medications can be dropped off between 10 am and 2 pm at North Fork and Birch Bay libraries, no questions asked.
Officials say any solid medication is accepted, but no needles, liquids, or inhalers. Year-round disposal is available at locations like the Unity Care NW Pharmacy on Unity Street and most Haggen stores. Check the Med Take Back Washington Map for other permanent drop-off sites.
This event is held twice a year.
STORY: Red Cross announces more aid for flood damage
The American Red Cross has opened Phase 2 of its bridge financial assistance program homes damaged in the December floods.
The program offers non-repayable aid for long-term recovery needs of a family’s primary house that are not covered by insurance or FEMA. To qualify, homes must have sustained major damage—such as at least 18 inches of water on the first floor— or damage that leaves the home uninhabitable.
The assistance follows severe flooding caused by a series of atmospheric rivers in December that pushed the Nooksack River beyond record levels in Everson, Nooksack, and Sumas.
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: Public input wanted for Hazard Mitigation Plan
Whatcom County is opening three public meetings as it updates its Hazard Mitigation Plan.
The plan must be revised every five years to stay eligible for FEMA funding — including money for flood‑mitigation projects like home elevations, buyouts, and infrastructure upgrades. Officials say flooding remains the county’s most frequent and costly disaster risk, and the update will incorporate new data from recent flood events.
The Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management is inviting residents to review risks and offer feedback.
The first meeting is April 28 at North Bay Community Church in Birch Bay, with additional sessions in Bellingham and online in June.
STORY: Drug takeback day scheduled
Got leftover prescriptions? Washington’s Take Back Day is Saturday.
Collection sites will be open statewide from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, offering a safe and anonymous way to get rid of prescriptions that are no longer needed. Health officials say removing unused pills from the home is one of the simplest ways to prevent misuse.
In Whatcom County, the Sheriff’s Office will take drop‑offs from 10 to 2 at the North Fork and Birch Bay libraries. Swinomish and Burlington police will also collect medications at their station drop boxes. A full list of sites is posted at DEAtakeback.com.
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: High school graduation requirements for WA students under review
From credits to careers, Washington may be rethinking what it means to graduate.
For many students, the finish line doesn’t come with a clear next step.
FutureReady, a statewide task force, suggests gaps remain – pointing to limited support, fewer real-world learning opportunities, and a narrow definition of success.
The state’s 24-credit graduation requirement has only been in place since 2021, and questions remain about how well it prepares students for what comes next.
The group says they are now working with schools, community partners, and tribal leaders to shape a more connected plan, with legislation intended for 2027.
STORY: WA’s population of gray wolves continues to bounce back
Washington’s gray wolf population is on the rise again.
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the state counted at least 270 wolves across 49 packs in 2025—a 17 percent increase from the year before and the highest total on record. Wolves were nearly wiped out in the 1930s but have steadily rebounded since returning to the state in 2008.
Most packs are located in Eastern Washington and the North Cascades, with no confirmed packs yet in the South Cascades or coastal regions.
While the vast majority of wolf packs avoided livestock conflicts, state officials still documented 17 depredation events involving cattle. Overall, wolf recovery continues to show strong growth alongside ongoing management efforts.
WX: In temperatures of sixty-one, hurrah, hurrah
And now for the weather:
Expect sunshine for most of the day today and highs today around sixty degrees. That should fall back into the low 40s and upper 30s later tonight.
Expect the night skies to be mostly clear, allowing us all a gorgeous, unobstructed view of the Lyrid (LEAR-id) meteor shower. The best viewing will be after midnight tonight in a dark part of the county– astronomers say look toward the northeast in the direction of the constellation Lyra (LIE-ruh).
Conditions are expected to get warmer and brighter tomorrow, with high temperatures inching tantalizingly closer to 70.
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: Free and Cheap
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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