Two hospitalized following rollover crash on I-5 near Slater Road, City of Bellingham begins annual water main flushing, Lake Whatcom annual meeting tonight, Bellingham Public Library seeking donations for proposed upgrade to children’s section, Results are in from 38th Whatcom Business Awards, State lawmakers reveal bipartisan “basic needs,” budget proposal, Trump administration guts health care programs, Former State Supreme Court Justice passes away
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, April 2nd. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Two hospitalized following rollover crash on I-5 near Slater Road
First responders were dispatched late Saturday night to a rollover crash on northbound I-5, north of the Slater Road interchange.
According to State Patrol Trooper Kelsey Harding, the incident occurred when an SUV, which was stopped on the shoulder for a tire change, was struck by another car that veered off the road. The impact pushed the SUV and its driver into a ditch.
Both drivers were transported to St. Joseph Medical Center for treatment. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and no information on citations or charges is available.
STORY: City of Bellingham begins annual water main flushing
Residents may notice changes in their tap water as the City of Bellingham begins its annual water main flushing.
According to Public Works officials, the flushing may cause temporary discoloration or reduced water pressure, but the water is still safe to drink. The maintenance helps remove natural mineral deposits from pipes. If tap water appears cloudy, residents are advised to run cold water for a few minutes to clear it.
The process will continue across the City through May.
STORY: Lake Whatcom annual meeting tonight
In other water-related news– the annual Lake Whatcom Joint Councils and Commissioners Meeting will be held tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Local leaders from the Lake Whatcom Management Program will gather to share presentations and discuss our area’s primary drinking water source.
Residents can attend in person at City Council Chambers or join online via Zoom to listen and provide comments.
STORY: Bellingham Public Library seeking donations for proposed upgrade to children’s section
The next phase of a major renovation at the Bellingham Central Library is set to begin this year, and community partners are fundraising to help.
The 75-year-old library, which saw nearly half a million visits in 2024, is undergoing a multi-phase remodel. The first phase, completed in 2021, updated the main floor, restrooms, and study rooms. The second phase will focus on an upgrade of youth spaces, meeting rooms, and staff areas, with an estimated total cost of $7 million.
The library has requested $2 million from the state’s Library Capital Improvement Program; however, even with grant funding, additional private donations are needed. The fundraising campaign, launched yesterday on National Library Giving Day, aims to raise three-and-a-half million dollars, with $1.4 million already committed. A donor has pledged to match up to $100,000 in new gifts this year.
Pending full funding, construction is expected to start next year. For more information or to donate, visit bellinghampubliclibrary.org.
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 the 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: Results are in from 38th Whatcom Business Awards
The 38th annual Whatcom Business Awards took place on Saturday, celebrating outstanding local businesses and entrepreneurs.
Each year, the awards are presented at the Whatcom Business Awards Black & Gold Gala, and recognize 15 individuals whose contributions to the business community might otherwise go unnoticed.
This year’s winners include:
- Avenue Bread for Small Business of the Year;
- Create it Studio for Start-Up Business of the Year;
- Ty McClellan of Hardware Sales for Business Person of the Year;
- A Whatcom Lifetime Achievement Award for Mike Hammes (HAMS) of RAM Construction
- The Employee of the Year Award for Jennifer Boer (BORE) of the Mount Baker Vision Clinic, and;
- The Public Service Award for John Perry, the Mayor of Everson.
STORY: State lawmakers reveal bipartisan “basic needs,” budget proposal
Washington lawmakers unveiled their proposed capital budgets on Monday.
Both proposals emphasize bipartisan cooperation to bridge the state’s essential needs. The House and Senate proposals allocate $7.6 billion and $7.3 billion respectively for construction projects over the next two years.
Key investments include:
- Over one billion dollars for K-through-12 school construction and modernization, including seismic safety upgrades;
- Over $720 million in both proposals for homelessness support, with significant funding for affordable housing;
- Around $2 billion for mental health, which includes $282 million for the ongoing Western State Hospital revamp, and;
- Roughly $2 billion for environmental projects, which include toxic cleanup, salmon recovery, and conservation efforts.
The Senate plan includes $391 million from Climate Commitment Act funds, while the House plan incorporates $299 million. Lawmakers must finalize the capital budget before the legislative session ends on April 27th, alongside negotiations for the state’s operating budget.
STORY: Trump administration guts health care programs
The Trump administration has shut down the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services regional office in Seattle, which affects public health services across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.
The closure is part of a broader effort to downsize HHS, including thousands of layoffs and billions in budget cuts. The Region 10 office, located in Columbia Center, was among five regional HHS offices closed nationwide.
According to U.S. Senator Patty Murray, approximately 200 Seattle employees were fired, along with 90 at a Spokane research lab. Murray criticized the move, calling it dangerous, thoughtless, and callous. U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene (SOO-san del-BEN-ay) also criticized the move, calling it quote “an irresponsible decision that will harm public health” unquote.
The closures leave the region without key federal support for public health programs, including disease prevention, affordable health coverage, and civil rights protections. Nationwide, up to 10,000 HHS employees, including researchers and health experts, are expected to be laid off.
WX: We booked the part.
And now for the weather:
It’s mostly sunny skies today, with temperatures hovering around the mid-50s. Skies are expected to stay fairly clear throughout the afternoon and into the evening, when temperatures will drop to lows in the high-30s.
Tomorrow— look for another day of sunshine, though temperatures will still remain fairly cool.
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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STORY: Former State Supreme Court Justice passes away
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