Military transport plane in Bellingham NOT an ICE flight, Amtrak hopes to partially restore rail service today, Whatcom County man accused of videotaping minors while changing sentenced to four years in prison, Unfinished WWU research points to means of protecting salmon from road-borne pollutants, Bellingham projected to bear majority of precipitous population growth in Whatcom over coming decades, Affordable mobile dental clinic set to visit Whatcom three times over six weeks, WA State Parks set to expand same-day reservations in parks with bookable campgrounds
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, April 1st. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Military transport plane in Bellingham NOT an ICE flight
Last week, a C-130 military plane that landed at Bellingham International Airport caused a stir on social media when rumors linked it to ICE activity in our area.
Yesterday in an interview with KMRE News officials confirmed the plane was not associated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to Rob Fix, Executive Director of the Port of Bellingham, there has been no ICE activity on Port property, nor discussions about using the facilities for immigration enforcement. Fix clarified that the aircraft merely landed, refueled, and departed.
Fix also said that, as a federally funded, public airport, Bellingham International cannot deny federal use of the airport. Any attempt to block such activity could result in the suspension of federal funding and licensing. A recent ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last November, also determined that King County could not block ICE flights from Boeing Field, which makes attempts at similar restrictions in Whatcom County unlikely.
STORY: Amtrak hopes to partially restore rail service today
Amtrak says it plans to resume some roundtrip train service between Seattle and Vancouver today.
Last week, the company removed 26 Horizon rail cars from service between Eugene and Vancouver due to corrosion concerns. Since then, Amtrak has relied on bus connections to cover parts of its Cascade route, and ordered temporary replacement cars from across the country.
The first cars to arrive will be placed on the 516 and 519 routes between Seattle and Vancouver. Amtrak spokesperson Kelly Just told the Seattle Times that additional replacement cars will allow for the restoration of the entire Cascades route, but with reduced capacity while the Horizon cars undergo repairs.
It is not yet clear how many fewer seats will be available, and Amtrak has not announced a timeline for the return of the Horizon cars.
STORY: Whatcom County man accused of videotaping minors while changing sentenced to four years in prison
A Whatcom County man was sentenced to 50 months in prison yesterday for secretly recording minors.
37-year-old Donald Eddy Feliciano (fuh-lee-cee-AHN-no) was arrested in March 2021 and charged with multiple counts of voyeurism (VOY-ur-i-zm) and explicit depictions of minors. Court records show that one of the victims discovered a hidden camera disguised as a cellphone charger in a shared bathroom, which led to the recovery of 38 videos. Footage dating back to November 2020 included a clip showing Feliciano installing the camera.
At sentencing, two victims spoke about the emotional toll of the crime. Feliciano entered an Alford (AL-fuhrd) plea in October. An Alford plea allows a defendant to acknowledge the evidence against them while still maintaining their innocence. Judge Lee Grochmal (GROCK-mall) sentenced Feliciano to 50 months in prison, followed by three years of community custody. He must also register as a sex offender and comply with a two-year protection order for the victims.
STORY: Unfinished WWU research points to means of protecting salmon from road-borne pollutants
Researchers at Western Washington University may have discovered a way to protect salmon from a deadly pollutant found in tire dust.
A 2020 study identified a toxic chemical in tire debris that washes into urban streams, proving lethal to migrating coho (COE-hoe) salmon. Scientists have since been working to prevent this pollution from reaching waterways, and early results are promising.
WWU researchers tested water collected from under Seattle’s I-5 Ship Canal Bridge, filtering it through four soil mixes before introducing juvenile salmon. While fish exposed to untreated water died, those in filtered water survived. The most effective filtration materials included coconut fiber, sand, and a charcoal-like fertilizer.
One mix is currently being tested near Bellingham, with hopes for broader implementation if it proves safe and effective.
STORY: Bellingham projected to bear majority of precipitous population growth in Whatcom over coming decades
Whatcom County is expected to grow by nearly 70,000 residents by 2045—a 30% rise from its current population of nearly 235,000.
According to the most recent data being discussed by officials, the city of Bellingham will absorb nearly half of that growth, adding more than 30,000 residents and which will require an estimated 18,390 new housing units. Mayor Kim Lund emphasized the challenge of balancing sustainable development with affordability. Other cities, including Ferndale, Blaine, and Lynden, are also preparing for substantial increases in population, jobs, and housing needs.
Smaller communities like Everson, Nooksack, and Sumas (soo-MUHZ) say they will manage growth while addressing infrastructure and environmental concerns. County officials plan to focus development within urban areas to prevent suburban sprawl.
The county’s comprehensive plan, updated every 10 years, outlines strategies to accommodate new residents while maintaining Whatcom County’s quality of life and economic opportunities.
STORY: Affordable mobile dental clinic set to visit Whatcom three times over six weeks
A mobile dental clinic is working to provide essential dental care to individuals who lack easy access to services.
Founded by former Lummi Tribal Health Center dental director Dr. Jessica Dubek (DOO-beck), DentALL initially provided portable services before it became a mobile clinic in January. The bright blue van now brings dental care directly to patients, which reduces barriers such as transportation and insurance complexities.
Washington faces a severe shortage of dental providers, with 38 out of 39 counties designated as Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas. In 2021, only 23% of Medicaid-eligible residents received dental care.
DentALL currently serves Maple Falls, Recovery Café Skagit, the Whatcom County Jail, and both Lopez and Orcas islands; there are plans to expand in the coming months. The clinic also provides medical interpretation services in Spanish, Russian, and Ukrainian.
DentALL accepts Medicaid and Medicare and offers free care to uninsured patients. While funding for DentALL’s services in eastern Whatcom is only secured through May, partners hope to continue the program through grants and donations.
The clinic is scheduled to return to the East Whatcom Center on April 17th, May 1st, and May 17th.
STORY: WA State Parks set to expand same-day reservations in parks with bookable campgrounds
Campers can now make same-day reservations at all Washington State Parks with reservable campgrounds.
Under the new policy, visitors can secure a campsite until 2 p.m. on their intended arrival day, which removes uncertainty about availability. After 2:30 p.m., any unreserved sites will be open for first-come, first-served camping.
In Whatcom County, Birch Bay and Larrabee state parks are among those offering reservable campsites.
Campers can book same-day reservations through two options– go to washington.goingtocamp.com or call 1-888-campout.
WX: Sun! Rain! Sun! Rain! GOOSE!
And now weather:
Today, expect a blend of scattered showers and partial sunshine, which will alternate throughout the morning before turning sunny in the afternoon. We’ll see highs in the mid-50s, alongside calm southern winds. Expect, however, to transition into a cooler, largely overcast evening, with temperatures in the low-40s.
The sun-and-rain tango should continue through tomorrow morning, before gradually becoming clearer in the afternoon.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Stevie Sjogren (SHOW-gren) and Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg). 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. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thank you for listening.
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