Murder victim identified, Motorcycle crash, Washington declares state-wide drought, Apartment fire caused by ceiling fan, Lummi announce salmon restoration plan, Old Town to receive revitalization money, More details of proposed border crossing expansion emerge, WA extends emergency graduation waiver, Free Transportation Camp
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, April 17th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Murder victim identified
The man found shot in the North Bellingham woods on Monday has been identified as Zachariah Janusiewicz (yawn-uh-SEE-vitz) of Everson, WA.
According to a recent report, the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide as a result of a shooting. The next of kin has been notified and detectives encourage anyone with knowledge surrounding the events to contact local law enforcement.
No other victims or suspects were found as a result of the search efforts yesterday. The investigation is ongoing.
STORY: Motorcycle crash
A car accident on Portal Way has left a motorcyclist with serious injuries.
On Sunday at about 6:45 pm, first responders were dispatched to the scene of the 6100 block of Portal Way. According to Ferndale Police, the crash occurred when a car, turning northbound onto the street from eastbound New Kirk Road, encountered a southbound motorcycle. The motorcyclist was transported to PeaceHealth Saint Joseph Medical Center for treatment.
Ferndale police say that no citations or charges were given following the accident.
STORY: Washington declares state-wide drought
The Washington State Department of Ecology has declared a statewide drought emergency, anticipating a dry summer ahead.
Exacerbated by both an El Niño pattern and the effects of global warming, snowpack levels were significantly below normal. Some areas received only about half their usual levels, and overall precipitation was at just 87% of normal. Rising temperatures were cited as a key factor, causing precipitation to melt early or fall as rain, leaving insufficient water stored as snow.
The declaration of drought excluded certain cities with adequate water reserves, but does include Whatcom County. The drought declaration would unlock funds to assist affected communities, especially those facing significant financial challenges maintaining water supply for crops like blueberries, apples, and hops.
STORY: Apartment fire caused by ceiling fan
Bellingham apartment residents were forced to evacuate their homes due to a faulty ceiling fan.
On Monday morning at about 9:45 a.m., fire crews were called to an apartment building at 1422 Alabama Street. Visible smoke was seen coming from the second floor when crews arrived. Most of the fire was contained in the attic, and was quickly brought under control.
After investigating, Bellingham Fire Department Captain Dustin Michaelis (mi-KAY-liss) says the fire was the result of a faulty ceiling fan. No injuries were reported.
STORY: Lummi announce salmon restoration plan
The Lummi Indian Business Council has announced their plan to use a recent almost-$10 million dollar grant to support salmon populations.
Despite previous successes, the heat dome of 2021 caused significant losses in salmon hatchlings. The new plan involves: using fallen trees to create habitat structures, the installation of a flood fence, and finding more ways to create cold environments as climate change increases temperatures. The current project, spanning five locations in the South Fork Valley, will take at least five years to complete and relies on conducting restoration efforts when salmon populations are low.
While the tribe sees the project as a victory, obtaining permits for the work remains a challenge. However, according to a spokesperson for the Tribe, maintaining salmon populations is crucial for Lummi cultural practices and the well-being of future generations.
STORY: Old Town to receive revitalization money
On Monday, Bellingham City Council approved 3 million dollars in funding for the Bellingham Old Town Revitalization project.
The plan is meant to revitalize the 18-block area northeast of Roeder Avenue and Chestnut Street. Developers say they envision 500 units of housing, as well as a parking district and a commercial district. The area will also house the new 300-bed Lighthouse Mission Ministries homeless shelter.
In addition, the city is also investing more than 2 million dollars on infrastructure improvements for almost six blocks of the area, and 3 million dollars from the county will cover the remaining three blocks. Construction on street infrastructure should start in 2025 – according to the development manager from the City of Bellingham.
The entire redevelopment project is expected to take up to 10 years.
STORY: More details of proposed border crossing expansion emerge
More details about the planned expansions of the Sumas and Lynden border crossings are being shared by the federal government.
The projects aim to increase capacity at both ports of entry, and include: expanding lanes for personal and commercial vehicles as well as modernizing infrastructure. However, according to the draft plans, the expansions will require purchasing land from several businesses and landowners. The federal General Services Administration recently held an open house providing minor updates, with the final project plan expected by the end of this year. Concerns have been raised about the impact on local economies and potential border closures, however, the GSA says it is in contact with affected landowners to outline the process of land acquisition.
Construction is set to begin in September 2026 and is expected to be completed by November 2028.
STORY: WA extends emergency graduation waiver
Washington school districts can waive certain graduation requirements for high school students for 2024 due to the lingering impacts of COVID-19.
The waiver allows districts to bypass the state’s “graduation pathways” established in 2019, which offer alternative routes to graduation such as demonstrating technical skills. Initially set to expire in the 2022-23 school year, the waiver has been extended with new limitations aimed at balancing academic excellence and student well-being. However, students are still required to demonstrate competency in math and English.
School officials and the State Board of Education say the adjustment aims to ensure that students maintain proficiency in essential subjects while accommodating the challenges brought about by the pandemic.
STORY: Free Transportation Camp
The Washington State Department of Transportation is looking for 20 curious high school students to attend summer camp for free.
Students interested in transportation, engineering, and planning will work closely with industry professionals for hands-on experience in traffic safety, artificial intelligence, supply chain logistics, and other transportation matters.
Two 6-day/5-night camp sessions are planned and will be held at WSU and the University of Washington. Lodging and meals are provided FREE of charge. Deadline to apply is April 28th.
WX: Sun
Your Whatcom County weather – The forecast is sun! Today’s high will reach 57 degrees, with clear skies overnight and a low of 38. Expect more sun tomorrow and Friday, with an expected high of 66 degrees. Get out there and enjoy it while you can.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman, Kye (KEY suh-LEE-nus) Salinas and Tristan Trudell. 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 listener donations. Check out our Patreon page or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thanks for listening.
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