Authorities confiscate drugs, firearms as two people arrested during Lynden searches, Authorities make quick arrest following attempted robbery at Bellingham liquor store, Man hospitalized after stabbing in Roosevelt neighborhood, Whatcom County Council holds special meeting after sexual harassment scandal, DOJ charges four for smuggling people across U.S.-Canada border in Washington for profit, Net Neutrality restored, Social Security expands rental subsidy, Signatures being gathered to repeal children’s levy passed in, Commercial pot seizure at U.S./Canada border crossing lands in B.C. court
______________________________
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Monday, April 29. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Authorities confiscate drugs, firearms as two people arrested during Lynden searches
Two Lynden residents were arrested last Thursday after a drug bust.
Detectives from the County Sheriff’s Office say they seized about two-and-a-half pounds of meth, and 43 grams of cocaine. Three handguns and about $4,000 in cash were also confiscated. The evidence resulted in the arrest of 43-year-old Benjamin Vallejo, and 31-year-old Ashley Andrews. Three young children who were under their supervision were turned over to Child Protective Services.
Vallejo and Andrews were arrested on suspicion of multiple charges, including maintaining a dwelling for drug sales and possession of stolen firearms. Both were released on bail on Saturday.
STORY: Authorities make quick arrest following attempted robbery at Bellingham liquor store
Bellingham Police officers have arrested a suspect in last week’s attempted robbery at the Meridian Liquor Store.
According to police reports, 32-year-old Jesse Joseph Moon attempted to rob the store while pointing what might have been a gun at the clerk. The clerk refused to comply with Moon’s demands and chased him out of the store with a baseball bat. Moon then fled the scene. After an investigation, he was located, arrested, and charged with first degree robbery.
Moon remains in custody at the Whatcom County Jail.
STORY: Man hospitalized after stabbing in Roosevelt neighborhood
The Bellingham Police Department says they are investigating a stabbing in the Roosevelt Neighborhood.
According to Megan Peters, a spokesperson for BPD, officers were dispatched to reports of an assault in the 1500 block of Alabama Street on Friday night at around 11:30 pm. When they arrived on scene, they found a large gathering of people and a man with multiple stab wounds in need of immediate medical attention. Peters says a man unknown to the group attempted to join the gathering but was escorted away by the victim, who he then attacked. The man fled the scene before officers arrived. The victim was transported to the hospital and Peters did not offer information on the status of the suspect’s arrest.
Bellingham police are asking anyone who may know something about the assault to contact the Police Department.
STORY: Whatcom County Council holds special meeting after sexual harassment scandal
The Whatcom County Council will convene a special meeting to address concerns regarding the handling of sexual harassment allegations against a former county employee.
The meeting, scheduled for tomorrow at 10:15 a.m., will focus on the employment events reported last week by Crosscut.com. The article detailed allegations of sexual harassment by Jon Hutchings, the former director of Whatcom Public Works, involving three women between 2020 and 2022. Crosscut also reported the settlement of an ongoing lawsuit surrounding the matter for $225,000. After the story broke, it was revealed that the County Council had not been informed of the situation.
The public can attend the meeting in person at 311 Grand Ave. or watch it online via the county council’s website.
STORY: Community Boating Center’s new inclusive Wheelhouse Building completed
Bellingham’s Community Boating Center announced the completion of its new Wheelhouse Building.
The structure will provide fully accessible, heated spaces with restrooms and showers, plus classroom and community facilities to support its programs. The project broke ground in fall 2023 and is the first phase of the center’s expansion plans. Phase two will coincide with the Port of Bellingham’s small watercraft dock next to the new building, which will be the first accessible dock north of Everett.
The boating center will host its first annual Seize the Bay event on June 23rd, where attendees can try out the boats and other water activities.
STORY: DOJ charges four for smuggling people across U.S.-Canada border in Washington for profit
Four people have been federally indicted by a grand jury in Seattle for their involvement in human smuggling across the U.S.-Canada border.
According to a Department of Justice press release, the four people indicted are linked to two events near Peace Arch Park in Blaine last year that involved the illegal border crossing of eight citizens of India. Three of the accused, Rajat Rajat, Sushil Kumar, and Bobby Joe Green, are from Santa Rosa, California. The last is Sneha, an Indian citizen on a student visa. All four were indicted and charged with one count of conspiracy to bring in and transport noncitizens for profit, eight counts of bringing a noncitizen into the U.S. at a place other than a designated Port of Entry and eight counts of attempted illegal transportation of a noncitizen for financial gain.
All of the charges are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
STORY: Net Neutrality restored
On Thursday, the Federal Trade Commission voted to restore “net neutrality” rules that prevent internet providers from favoring some sites and apps over others.
The measure passed 3-2, split along party lines, with Democratic commissioners in favor and Republicans opposed. The move effectively reinstates a net neutrality order the commission first issued in 2015, which was later repealed in 2017. Net neutrality effectively requires providers of internet service to treat all traffic equally, banning practices that throttle or block certain sites or apps, or that reserve higher speeds for the services or customers willing to pay more for them.
Washington State passed its own net neutrality law in 2018 after the federal repeal, becoming the first state to do so.
WX: Rain
Your Whatcom County weather – Today will have sun and a slight chance of rain, with moderate winds and a high of 54 degrees. The showers may add thunderstorms later tonight, as temperatures drop to a low of 40. The rain will continue into tomorrow morning, but should stop later that day.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman, Kye Salinas (KEY suh-LEE-nus) 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.
##
STORY: Social Security expands rental subsidy
The Social Security Administration announced they will expand the rental subsidy policy for those on Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
SSI provides monthly payments to individuals with disabilities, blindness, or those aged 65 and older with limited income and resources to cover basic needs like rent, food, and medicine. The department says the rule aims to simplify and broaden rental subsidy policies nationwide, improve program equality and reduce administrative burden. The expanded policy will apply nationwide starting September 30th, and will potentially increase payment amounts and eligibility for many.
For more details on SSI eligibility and applications, visit the SSA website.
STORY: Signatures being gathered to repeal children’s levy passed in 2022
STORY: Commercial pot seizure at U.S./Canada border crossing lands in B.C. court
A British Columbia cannabis grower is suing a Kelowna-based shipping company for compensation over a truckload of marijuana seized at the U.S. border.
Last May, a delivery truck driver for Seven Elks Shipping Inc. mistakenly crossed into the U.S. at the Blaine border while transporting cannabis products from We Grow B.C. U.S. Customs seized the load, with a retail value of more than $800,000 dollars. According to an official spokesperson for Customs and Border Patrol, the driver said he was traveling domestically in Canada and was not seeking entry to the U.S. but made a wrong turn, ending up at the CBP Pacific Highway Cargo Facility. We Grow B.C. is seeking more than $11,000 in shipping fees, as well as compensation for the seized goods, and reputational loss.
Marijuana is legal in B.C. and Washington state. However, bringing the drug into the U.S. from across the border is a federal crime.
