Suspect in custody following fatal shooting in Ferndale, Crisis response at Sunset I-5 ramp resolves peacefully, Candidates announced for August primary elections Whatcom and Skagit, Split board vote leads to “no” verdict on Ferndale School District’s proposed later start time, WSDOT sets soft deadline of Independence Day for reopening of North Cascades Highway, Let’s Go Washington pivots to ballot measures after failed referendum attempt to repeal millionaire’s tax, WA residents on Premera Blue Cross insurance may lose coverage at MultiCare facilities as early as next month, 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, 11. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Suspect in custody following fatal shooting in Ferndale
One person is dead following an early morning shooting in Ferndale on Friday, and a suspect is now in custody.
Ferndale Police say they responded to reports of gunfire just after 3:30 a.m. in the 2300 block of Ferndale Terrace. The victim was taken to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, where he later died.
Authorities say the suspect fled before officers arrived. Around 5:50 a.m., a person matching the suspect description was spotted hiding in a trailer near Sandy Point. Multiple agencies, including the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Lummi Nation Police, Bellingham Police, Washington State Patrol and U.S. Border Patrol, assisted in the search.
The suspect was taken into custody without incident shortly before 9 a.m. The individual was booked into the Whatcom County Jail on probable cause charges including first-degree murder.
The investigation remains active.
STORY: Crisis response at Sunset I-5 ramp resolves peacefully
A crisis response near Interstate 5 in Bellingham shut down traffic for about two hours Friday afternoon, May 8.
Bellingham Police and Fire responded to reports of a person in crisis near I-5 and Sunset Drive shortly after 1 p.m. Officials say northbound lanes were initially closed, with southbound lanes shutting down about 40 minutes later as a precaution.
Traffic backed up for several miles in both directions during the closure. Police say the freeway and bridge were closed out of an abundance of caution while crews worked to safely resolve the situation.
Authorities say the incident ended peacefully and the individual is now receiving assistance. All lanes reopened shortly before 3 p.m.
STORY: Candidates announced for August primary elections Whatcom and Skagit
Candidate filing week has brought a crowded field to local and regional races for the August primary.
According to the Whatcom County Auditor, 207 candidates have filed for 157 offices, including seats in Congress, the state Legislature, county courts and the Port of Bellingham Commission.
Key races include the U.S. House District 2 seat held by Congressman Rick Larsen, the open race for Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney, the new open port commission positions, and multiple contested legislative races in the 40th and 42nd districts. Candidates have until today to withdraw from the ballot.
The top two finishers in the Aug. 4 primary will advance to the November general election, regardless of party.
STORY: Split board vote leads to “no” verdict on Ferndale School District’s proposed later start time
After months of discussion, the Ferndale School Board has voted to keep current school start times unchanged.
The decision came in a 3–2 vote on April 28, despite data regarding adolescent sleep research and support from district leadership. Under the current schedule, Ferndale High School starts at 7:40 a.m., while most elementary schools begin at 9:25 a.m.
The proposal was based in part on guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends later start times for middle and high school students to better align with teen sleep patterns. Districts such as Seattle Public Schools and Bellingham Public Schools have already made similar changes, with research showing improved sleep, attendance, and some academic gains.
In Ferndale, board members opposing the change raised concerns about childcare, transportation safety, athletics, and family schedules. Some also argued that teen sleep issues are driven more by screen time and habits than school start times.
With the vote, Ferndale’s bell schedule will remain the same, while district leaders say they will continue looking for other ways to improve student learning and attendance.
STORY: WSDOT sets soft deadline of Independence Day for reopening of North Cascades Highway
The full reopening of the North Cascades Highway (SR 20) has been delayed until early July.
In a Facebook post, Washington State Department of Transportation says the road is open only from Winthrop to the Porcupine Creek gate, while a 26-mile section between mileposts 130 and 156 remains closed as an active work zone.
WSDOT (WASH-dot) says repairs include slope stabilization near Diablo Lake after a major rockslide in southeastern Whatcom County. Officials are now targeting a July 4 reopening, though that date could change.
Drivers are urged to check updates before traveling.
STORY: Let’s Go Washington pivots to ballot measures after failed referendum attempt to repeal millionaire’s tax
A new effort is underway in Washington state to repeal the so-called “millionaire’s tax.”
The political action committee Let’s Go Washington announced it received ballot titles Friday for multiple initiatives aimed at overturning the tax and plans to begin gathering signatures within the next month. This new proposed initiative is separate from a referendum attempt that was recently ruled invalid by the court.
The group would need roughly 400,000 signatures by July 2nd to qualify. Organizers say they have not decided whether to target the November ballot or submit the measure to the Legislature for referral back to voters in 2027.
The tax faces a separate constitutional challenge in court that is expected to reach the Washington State Supreme Court later this year. Officials also say they anticipate legal challenges to the ballot titles in the coming days.
STORY: WA residents on Premera Blue Cross insurance may lose coverage at MultiCare facilities as early as next month
Starting in June, Washingtonians insured through Premera Blue Cross could lose in-network coverage at MultiCare facilities if the two organizations fail to reach a new contract agreement.
According to reporting by the Washington State Standard, the dispute centers on reimbursement rates between the Mountlake Terrace-based insurer Premera Blue Cross and Tacoma-based health system MultiCare Health System. Without a deal, patients may face higher out-of-network costs at MultiCare hospitals and clinics across the state.
Premera has notified roughly 100,000 households that coverage could be affected, though emergency care would still be covered at in-network rates under federal law. Some ongoing treatments and certain insurance plans, including Medicare Supplement coverage, would not be impacted.
MultiCare operates 13 hospitals and numerous clinics across Washington, including Tacoma General Hospital and Yakima Memorial Hospital. Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue is not part of the current dispute.
The organizations say they are still working toward an agreement, but time is running short before the potential June disruption.
WX: Warm and Peace
And now for the weather:
It’s set to be another warm, slightly overcast day here in Whatcom, with high temperatures reaching back into the low-70s. Light clouds are expected to roll in towards the evening, leaving us with a mostly clear, pleasantly cool night with lows right around 50 degrees.
Tomorrow, temperatures are expected to hit the high-70’s, possibly 80, with a chance of rain in the evening.
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!
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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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