Pathogen-carrying invasive newts seized from Everson man, Major closures to begin next week as construction crews intensify work ahead of pause for World Cup, Whatcom County Council holds special meeting today discussing budget cap for new jail and behavioral health center, County Council approves of countywide tax for ferries, Bellingham leaders express concerns about vacancies downtown, AG’s office joins multi-state brief advocating against restriction of access to abortion medication
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, May, 5. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Pathogen-carrying invasive newts seized from Everson man State officials have seized 16 invasive newts in Whatcom County.
The animals were recovered from an Everson man as part of a multi-agency investigation into illegal amphibian trafficking tied to an out-of-state dealer. Officials say the species may carry a contagious and potentially deadly pathogen that could threaten native amphibian populations.
According to the state Department of Fish & Wildlife, the pathogen had not previously been detected in the United States. It could spread through direct contact and contaminated environments, causing major destruction to native species in the process.
The case is now under review by the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office; no arrests have been made.
STORY: Major closures to begin next week as construction crews intensify work ahead of pause for World Cup
Traffic between Seattle and the greater Puget Sound area is expected to get heavier this month.
The state Department of Transportation is going to step up construction work before the World Cup in June forces them to slow down. There will be construction along sections of Interstate 5, Interstate 405 (four-oh-five), State Route 520 (five-twenty), and State Route 99.
WSDOT (wash-DOT) warns that the tailback to and from Bellevue and Renton will likely stretch for miles; they also warn there will be heavy traffic in Kirkland as well.
STORY: Whatcom County Council holds special meeting today discussing budget cap for new jail and behavioral health center The Whatcom County Council today discussed a proposed budget cap for the new jail project.
Under the proposal, if 50% of a 205 million dollar budget cannot be raised, the jail would be scaled down to match the available budget.
Mayors, police chiefs, the sheriff, and the county executive all voiced strong opposition to the resolution, raising concerns and expressing long-standing frustrations with the 20 years spent on the project and the council’s interaction and regard of their inputs.
KMRE will air the public comment period in a special news segment at 6 p.m. tonight.
STORY: County Council approves of countywide tax for ferries
In related news, the County Council took an initial step toward the passage of a countywide property tax to fund the Lummi Island ferry system.
Council members last Tuesday unanimously advanced a proposal for a public hearing on forming a new ferry district. The district would have taxing authority over all county property owners, shifting costs away from the rural-only road fund and spreading them countywide. The council could consider the measure again as soon as its next meeting on May 12th.
Officials say ferry costs are straining the road fund and limiting road maintenance. The proposal does not set a tax rate; that would be determined later by the ferry district board, which would be the current County Council.
The Lummi Island ferry, which serves about 900 residents, relies on the aging 64-year-old M/V Whatcom Chief. Officials have cited rising maintenance costs; they also say the county risks losing about $35 million in grant funding without a replacement vessel.
STORY: New state law aimed at clearing massive backlog of DUI tests set to go into effect next month
A new state law will allow Washington to contract private laboratories to help clear a huge backlog of DUI tests.
Thousands of samples are waiting to be tested at the Washington State Patrol lab, some of which have been there for so long that the statute of limitations might have run out.
While the new law is effective from June, the state has yet to secure funding to use private labs.
STORY: State Supreme Court dismisses referendum request to overturn new income tax
The State Supreme Court yesterday turned down a request for a referendum on the so-called “millionaires’ tax”.
The ruling says that the new income tax “undisputedly generates revenue for the state’s existing institutions” and the clause effectively shields it from a referendum.
Let’s Go Washington, the conservative political committee which requested the referendum, could still try to overturn the “millionaire’s tax.” The group, however, will need twice as many signatures in order to move ahead.
STORY: Bellingham leaders express concerns about vacancies downtown
Bellingham leaders are considering new strategies to address downtown vacancies.
A new city report indicates that about 10% of first-floor retail space in downtown Bellingham is empty. Vacancy rates rise to 14% in the area’s pedestrian core, including long-empty sites like the former JCPenney building. Officials warn empty storefronts may weaken street activity and discourage investment.
Possible responses include financial incentives, tax breaks, and potential penalties for persistently vacant properties; some of these ideas, however, would require state approval.
Officials say the new report will guide future action, alongside efforts to support businesses and activate downtown, even as some stakeholders argue deeper structural changes are needed.
STORY: AG’s office joins multi-state brief advocating against restriction of access to abortion medication
Attorney General Nick Brown has joined a multi-state coalition seeking a stay of a recent U.S. Appeals Court action restricting access to mifepristone (mif-uh-PRISS-tone).
The ruling — which comes from a federal appeals court in Louisiana — would prevent patients nationwide from receiving mifepristone through a telehealth provider. An in-person visit to a medical dispenser would be required instead, despite a 2023 FDA study which found that requirement medically unnecessary. The Supreme Court yesterday issued a temporary stay, restoring access to mifepristone.
Also known as ‘the morning after’ pill, mifepristone has become the standard medication for terminating pregnancies in the first 10 weeks. Nearly two-thirds of abortions provided by the country’s health care system are medication abortions; in about a quarter of those cases, medication was provided after a telehealth consultation.
Brown argued the Fifth Circuit’s decision strips women of more essential health care services, disregards decades of science supporting the safety of mifepristone, and would effectively override or impede policies in states where abortion remains legal.
Attorneys general from California, Michigan, and twenty other states plus the District of Columbia partnered with Brown in filing the brief.
WX: Shiny Fun-timey
And now for the weather:
Expect a sunny day today with highs a little lower than the weekend— now floating around the high-60s and low-70s. Tonight should be similarly summer-like, with continuing cloudless skies and lows in the mid-50s.
Tomorrow, expect a few clouds — however, if you ignore them, it should be almost exactly the same as today.
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), 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!
##
Leave a Reply