Disaster Unemployment Assistance now available to northwestern WA residents impacted by flooding, Whatcom man sentenced to eight years in prison on multiple charges, including child rape, Two Bellingham physicians allege interim medical director at St. Joe’s influencing patient care without active medical license, Infrastructure project at St. Joseph’s to limit emergency room visitor parking over next two years, Stretch of North Fork Road to close next month as crews work on replacing Racehorse Creek bridge, DFI reaches settlement with brokerage firms over overcharging, AG’s office wins lawsuit invalidating set of federal tariffs, Free et cheap, WA voting experts call for change after SCOTUS ruling, Upcoming early dismissals from local schools
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, May 8th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Disaster Unemployment Assistance now available to northwestern WA residents impacted by flooding
Federal disaster unemployment aid is now available for workers effected by last December’s flooding.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance — or DUA — is open to eligible residents who lost work, had hours reduced, or experienced at least one week of full or partial unemployment because of the flooding and do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits.
The assistance applies to residents in 10 eligible counties, including Whatcom and Skagit members of Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Indian Tribe.
Applications for benefits must be submitted by June 10.
STORY: Whatcom man sentenced to eight years in prison on multiple charges, including child rape
A Whatcom County man has been sentenced to nearly eight years in prison after pleading guilty to charges including child rape and assault by strangulation.
Twenty-four-year-old Fredy Eduardo Martin Esteban received a 95-month sentence in Whatcom County Superior Court on Wednesday. Prosecutors say the case involved abuse against a former girlfriend and her child.
After serving his sentence, Martin Esteban’s release will be reviewed by the state’s Indeterminate Sentence Review Board, and he will remain under lifetime community custody and no-contact orders.
STORY: Two Bellingham physicians allege interim medical director at St. Joe’s influencing patient care without active medical license
Two physicians say a PeaceHealth leader has been directing patient care without a valid Washington state medical license.
According to the Lookout Daily Springfield doctors have filed complaints with the Washington Medical Commission, alleging the interim medical director of hospitalist services at St. Joseph Medical Center reviewed charts and advised clinicians despite lacking an active state license.
Dr. Erika Walker has served in the role since last fall through Sound Physicians, which contracts with the hospital.
Washington’s public medical license database does not list an active license for Walker. Physicians who spoke anonymously said she acknowledged early in her tenure that she was not licensed in the state.
Walker declined to comment. PeaceHealth and Sound Physicians also declined to respond to detailed questions about the allegations.
An internal email sent to hospitalists April 27 said Dr. Kevin Lee is serving as interim director while Walker “pursues getting her WA State Medical License.”
STORY: Infrastructure project at St. Joseph’s to limit emergency room visitor parking over next two years
In more PeaceHealth news, parking at St. Joseph is about to get tighter.
Beginning Monday, the Emergency Department lot on the west side of the main entrance off Squalicum Parkway will close for construction tied to the new Peter Paulsen Pavilion. The closure removes 33 parking stalls and is expected to effect public parking for the next two years.
PeaceHealth says new signs are going up around the emergency room and along Squalicum Parkway to direct visitors to the Central Garage. Flyers with a simplified parking map will be available at the Emergency Department Security desk, East Tower information desk, and near the pickup and drop-off area.
The six-story pavilion will expand women’s and children’s services as well as the Emergency Department and it is expected to open in 2028.
STORY: Stretch of North Fork Road to close next month as crews work on replacing Racehorse Creek bridge
A key stretch of North Fork Road will close in June for a state project to replace the aging bridge over Racehorse Creek.
The 50-year-old bridge, located about one-and-a-half miles beyond the end of the paved roadway in eastern Whatcom County, will be replaced with a larger structure. Designed to better handle flooding and improve fish habitat in the creek, the $900,000 project is funded through the state capital budget and road maintenance funds.
A temporary gate was installed in early May and will close once construction begins. The road is expected to reopen by October.
This closure will also block summer access to Racehorse Falls, a popular hiking destination known for multiple injuries and rescues in recent years.
STORY: DFI reaches settlement with brokerage firms over overcharging
Washington state regulators say five major brokerage firms overcharged investors on thousands of small-dollar trades.
The state Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) reached consent orders with Edward Jones, LPL Financial, RBC Capital, Stifel, and TD Ameritrade after finding they charged excessive commissions on nearly 35,000 equity trades — sometimes taking most of the value of the transaction. The firms will return over half a million dollars to Washington investors.
A multi-state investigation led by Washington focused on trades of $2,500 or less, where minimum commissions often pushed fees above the state’s 5-percent limit.
DFI Director Charlie Clark says firms should not take more than necessary to handle investors’ money.
Along with restitution and interest, the firms will pay $185,000 in fines and $70,000 in investigative costs, and must update their policies to prevent excessive commissions going forward.
STORY: AG’s office wins lawsuit invalidating set of federal tariffs
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown announced a federal court has blocked President Donald Trump’s latest tariff policy.
According to the ruling, the administration lacked legal authority to impose the import taxes. The U.S. Court of International Trade sided with a coalition of 24 states challenging the tariffs, specifically barring their enforcement in Washington state and against private plaintiffs in the case.
Brown called the ruling a win for both affordability and the rule of law, arguing consumers and businesses have borne the brunt of his tariffs.
The court found Trump’s use of Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose 10 percent tariffs on many imported goods was not authorized by law. Judges ruled the statute applies only in cases involving serious balance-of-payments deficits, not standard trade deficits.
The lawsuit was led by Washington and joined by attorneys general and governors from more than 20 other states.
STORY: Free et 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.
Bellingham Community Chamber Orchestra’s Spring 2026 Concert is at 7:30pm tonight at the FireHouse Arts & Events Center and 3pm tomorrow at the Jansen Art Center in Lynden.
In Skagit County, the 32nd Annual Master Gardener Plant Fair returns tomorrow at the Skagit County Fairgrounds with free entry, parking, and tool sharpening.
A Mother’s Day beach cleanup runs Sunday from 9 to 11 a.m. at Maritime Heritage Park.
And, volunteers at the Bellingham Makerspace will host a free repair event Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
For nature lovers, Padilla Bay offers free wildlife viewing all weekend at the Breazeale (bruh-ZEEL) Interpretive Center, with trails, marine exhibits, and opportunities to spot eagles, herons, and migratory shorebirds.
Families can also practice bike skills at the I-5 Colonnade Park pump track, which is open all weekend for drop-in riding.
WX: CEASE AND DISPERSE
And now weather:
We’re having another cool day of partial sunshine. Highs are forecast in the mid to upper 60s, decreasing to lows in the high 40s this evening. Expect cloud cover tonight.
The weekend should be similar to today, the only difference being that the clouds will stick around.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg, Kathi O’Shea, Kai Blais-Schmolke, 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 _David Korb________… thanks for listening!
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STORY: WA voting experts call for change after SCOTUS ruling
Civic engagement leaders in Washington call on the state to adopt rank choice voting as a way to secure voting rights against changes to the federal Voting Rights Act. Washington News Service’s Isobel Charle (shar-LAY) reports:
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STORY: Upcoming early dismissals from local schools
Bellingham Public Schools will have announced early dismissals on Thursday, May 14 and May 21.
According to the release, this is to accommodate scheduled staff and instructional planning. Elementary schools dismiss at 12:20 p.m., middle schools at 1:15, and high schools at 2 p.m. Schools will also be closed Friday, May 15, as a planned weather make-up day is no longer needed, and again Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day. Classes resume Tuesday, May 26. More information, including school calendars, are available on the district’s website.
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