July 2, 2026 News Transcript

Technology firm announces layoff of 75 workers at Bellingham location, Schweinhaus owner charged with felonies, WCSO seeking information on whereabouts of missing hiker, Earthquake detected in Oak Harbor, Average hourly wage in Bellingham tops national average, One more chance to weigh in on City Comp Plan, Rep. Larsen announces Port of Bellingham to receive over $23 million in federal funding as part of BUILD grant program, Whatcom and Skagit offered nearly $6 million in state Dept. of Ecology grants for water quality projects, Twenty-one arrests made in multi-agency investigation into child sexual abuse in Snohomish County, Governor, AG, and state legislators all receive seven percent pay raises this year, F&C – JULY 25 (not June) from FB post:

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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, July, 2. Good afternoon, I’m ______—- happy Canada Day to our neighbors across the line.

STORY: Technology firm announces layoff of 75 workers at Bellingham location

75 workers at Alpha Technologies Services in Bellingham will lose their jobs at the end of August.

The Washington State Employment Security Department received notification yesterday that the company will close its Bellingham facility. Open since 1975 with locations around the world, Alpha Technologies also laid off 77 workers at its Spokane branch two years ago.

The other locations will remain open.

STORY: Schweinhaus owner charged with felonies
The owner of Schweinhaus Biergarten in Bellingham is facing multiple felony charges related to selling alcohol from a brewery he previously owned.

Brandon Bates set up Formula Brewing in Issaquah in partnership with Danial Bohm in 2018, but the brewery eventually went into receivership due to disagreement between the two.

Prosecutors allege Bates used brewery funds to buy expensive spirits that were never delivered to the business, which resulted in losses estimated at about $125,000.

Bates was charged June 25 with theft, identity theft, possession of stolen property, and trafficking in stolen property. He is scheduled to be arraigned in King County Superior Court on July 13. Bates has not publicly commented on the allegations.

STORY: WCSO seeking information on whereabouts of missing hiker

A Canadian hiker has been reported missing in the South Twin area of the Twin Sisters.

34-year-old Gursimran Singh, also known as Randawa, was expected home four days ago. His white Toyota Tacoma was found on the Middle Fork Road.

Bellingham Mountain Rescue is looking for him and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s office has asked anyone who might have seen him to call 911.

STORY: Earthquake detected in Oak Harbor
A small earthquake rattled parts of northwest Washington overnight.

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded 3-point-8 magnitude tremors just after 11:30 p.m. The epicenter was near Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, about 30 miles south of Whatcom County.

The quake was reportedly felt from Everett to Bellingham.

There were no reports of damage, according to the state Emergency Management Division.

STORY: Average hourly wage in Bellingham tops national average

Workers in Bellingham receive a higher hourly wage than the national average.

Bellingham’s average hourly wage in May 2025 was thirty-four dollars and twenty-nine cents, compared to the national average of thirty-three dollars and fifty-four cents.

Higher paying occupational groups in Bellingham include management, healthcare practitioners and technical, and computer and mathematical. Lower paying groups are building and grounds cleaning and maintenance, food preparation and serving related, and healthcare support.

STORY: One more chance to weigh in on City Comp Plan
Residents will have one more chance to weigh in on the future growth of Whatcom County next week.

Whatcom County Council will hold a public hearing Tuesday, July 14th on major updates to the county’s Comprehensive Plan, development regulations and zoning maps. State law requires counties to update those plans every ten years to prepare for the next two decades of growth. The changes help guide decisions on housing, transportation, jobs, agriculture, natural resources and climate policy.

The hearing begins at six p.m. in Council Chambers and will also be available online through Zoom. Written comments can be submitted directly to the County Council ahead of the meeting.

STORY: Rep. Larsen announces Port of Bellingham to receive over $23 million in federal funding as part of BUILD grant program

The Port of Bellingham will receive a sizeable grant from the US Department of Transportation.

Representative Rick Larsen said the 23-and-a-half-million dollar grant is designed to help rebuild infrastructure and create jobs.

The Port will use the funding to continue restoring its aging shipping terminal by strengthening deck loading capacity and upgrading a mooring system as part of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal North Pier rehabilitation project.

The project’s completion will move the Port closer to its goal of operating at significantly increased volume, improving both movement of goods and worker safety, which should lead in turn to more local jobs.

STORY: Whatcom and Skagit offered nearly $6 million in state Dept. of Ecology grants for water quality projects

Millions of dollars in state funding are headed to Whatcom County for clean water and wastewater projects next year.

The Washington State Department of Ecology announced its list of 2027 grants and low-interest loans, which include funding for several projects across the county.

Among the largest local projects is a $2.4 million loan to the Lummi Nation Water and Sewer District for long-term improvements to its wastewater collection and treatment system.

Whatcom County Water District 13 will also receive a $1.5 million loan to help design a new wastewater treatment facility in Maple Falls.

Other local grants will support stream restoration, fish habitat improvements and efforts to reduce pollution in local waterways.

STORY: Twenty-one arrests made in multi-agency investigation into child sexual abuse in Snohomish County

A child sex abuse sting operation in Snohomish County has led to the arrest of twenty-one individuals.

Of those detained, eighteen are from Washington. The three others are from Texas, Mississippi, and Mexico. Individuals are between the ages of twenty-two and sixty-five, and all are accused of sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

“Operation Guardian” was led by the Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force, although it involved more than thirty agencies on local, state, and federal levels.

Those arrested are accused of rape of a child in the first and second degree, commercial sexual abuse of a minor, communication with a minor for immoral purposes, sexual exploitation of a minor, and unlawful possession of a firearm. However, the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has yet to determine which charges will be filed.

STORY: Governor, AG, and state legislators all receive seven percent pay raises this year

The Washington governor, attorney general and state legislators will each receive a 7 percent pay raise this year.

The Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials decides the salaries for state politicians. State legislators asked for the cost-of-living adjustment during collective bargaining in 2025.

The governor’s new salary sits at just over 230-thousand dollars. State legislators’ new salary sits at about 70-thousand dollars.

Lieutenant Governor Danny Heck said in a 2024 Commission meeting that state legislator pay does not match up with the magnitude of responsibilities and time demands they have.

The Washington State Standard reports that state senator Yasmin Trudeau appealed to the WCCSEO, arguing that compensation should be high enough to attract working people who can’t afford to live on a smaller salary.

Commissioners meet again in September for the next round of salary-setting, and will release final recommendations early next year.

WX: Charlie St. Precipitation

And now for the weather:

This afternoon, expect more continued cloudy weather and sporadic showers, with temperatures remaining in the low 60s. Temperatures will cool down this evening and measurable rain is also expected.

Some partial sunshine should break through the overcast skies tomorrow.

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, Jenny Lam, Natalie Jones, Noelle Reger (REE-ger), and Sean Lynch. 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 _________… thank you for listening!

F&C – JULY 25 (not June) from FB post: