Blaine man arrested following high-speed chase, Lynden man arrested under suspicion of burglary, arson, CA man previously arrested for smuggling people into Whatcom County sentenced, Three Bellingham parks to be locked off at night following recent string of vandalism, Fishery forecasts potentially worrisome numbers of pink salmon returning to PNW waters in July, Sen. Murray holds event in Blaine assessing tariff damages to border businesses, Cap on rent hikes passes in Olympia, heads to governor’s desk, Ferguson signs law expanding multi-family household tax credit, WA legislature approves 6-cent gas tax
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, April 29th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Blaine man arrested following high-speed chase
A 42-year-old Blaine man was arrested on Saturday after leading deputies on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash involving two parked cars.
According to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect was driving nearly 50 mph over the speed limit on Bay Road and refused to pull over. He eventually jumped a curb, drove through a yard, and struck a parked car that collided with another. Deputies later found alcohol in the vehicle.
The suspect was hospitalized before being booked into the Whatcom County Jail.
STORY: Lynden man arrested under suspicion of burglary, arson
Lynden police arrested a 35-year-old man on Wednesday in connection with a fire that destroyed a co-worker’s RV.
According to police, the man entered the RV, located at East Badger Road during an ongoing dispute with the vehicle’s owner. A witness reported seeing the suspect throw belongings out of the RV before both the pile and the vehicle caught fire. No injuries were reported.
The man was booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of first-degree arson and residential burglary and remains in custody.
STORY: CA man previously arrested for smuggling people into Whatcom County sentenced
A man from Santa Rosa, California has been sentenced to five months in federal prison for his involvement in an illegal border smuggling operation.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, Rajat Rajat (ruh-JUT ruh-JUT), a 27-year-old citizen of India, was described by prosecutors as a “mid-level manager” in a smuggling ring that helped noncitizens cross from Canada into the U.S. The organization reportedly directed individuals to Peace Arch Park in Canada, then facilitated their illegal entry into the U.S. and their transport to various destinations across the country.
Two co-defendants—36-year-old Sushil Kumar (soo-SHEEL koo-MAHR), and 68-year-old Bobby Joe Green — were sentenced in March to six and four months in prison, respectively. A fourth individual, 20-year-old Sneha (snay-HA), is expected to go to trial in January.
STORY: Three Bellingham parks to be locked off at night following recent string of vandalism
Three of Bellingham’s most popular parks — Boulevard, Cornwall and Squalicum Creek — will be gated and locked at night starting this summer.
According to an announcement by the Parks and Recreation Department, the decision follows years of consideration and comes in response to a rise in graffiti, vandalism, and other criminal activities after dark.
The closures will be tested over the summer, with adjustments made in the fall and winter based on daylight hours and findings from this pilot phase. Parks staff will make rounds near closing time to notify visitors and ensure no vehicles are left behind locked gates.
Park hours across the city remain sunrise-to-sunset.
STORY: Fishery forecasts potentially worrisome numbers of pink salmon returning to PNW waters in July
Pacific Northwest fishermen could see a record pink salmon run this summer.
The Pacific Salmon Commission released its pink salmon forecast in March; up to 34 million fish are predicted to return from the Fraser River to Puget Sound beginning in late July. The surge is credited to strong ocean conditions and a successful fry migration in 2024, the highest on record at 1.35 billion.
While the abundance offers opportunity, experts warn of limited processing capacity in the region. Without enough freezing infrastructure, much of the catch may go unsold or overwhelm spawning grounds. Local and tribal fishers, already stretched thin, may struggle to handle the volume.
State officials are encouraging proper fish identification to support sustainable fishing during the busy season.
STORY: Sen. Murray holds event in Blaine assessing tariff damages to border businesses
U.S. Senator Patty Murray visited Blaine last Thursday to address economic impacts she attributes to President Trump’s trade policies and tariffs.
At a roundtable with local leaders and cross-border stakeholders, Murray criticized what she called Trump’s “chaotic trade war,” and cited a sharp drop in Canadian tourism and spending due to strained U.S.-Canada relations. Blaine has seen a 40% decline in retail and service revenue, and border traffic from Canada has reportedly decreased by 50%.
Murray and others emphasized the importance of cross-border ties for local economies, and expressed concern over the lasting damage to small businesses and regional relationships.
STORY: Cap on rent hikes passes in Olympia, heads to governor’s desk
Democratic lawmakers passed a compromise rent cap bill on Sunday, the final day of Washington’s 2025 legislative session.
House Bill 1217 limits annual rent increases to 7% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is less, and bars rent hikes within the first year of a new tenancy. The bill passed 27-to-20 in the Senate and 54-to-44 in the House, with no Republican support and a few Democrats voting no. The measure includes a 5% cap for manufactured and mobile homes, and exempts new construction for 12 years.
If signed by Governor Bob Ferguson, the bill would mark Washington’s first statewide rent control policy.
STORY: Ferguson signs law expanding multi-family household tax credit
And in more political news, Governor Ferguson signed a new law on Friday aimed at expanding affordable housing opportunities across Washington state.
House Bill 1494, sponsored by State Representative Alex Ramel (RAM-ul) of Bellingham, broadens the state’s Multifamily Housing Tax Exemption program, which provides tax breaks to developers building multi-unit homes with a focus on affordability.
Over 50 jurisdictions, including Bellingham and Ferndale, already participate in the MFTE program. The new law extends eligibility to additional cities and counties, with the goal of accelerating affordable housing development statewide.
Representative Ramel said the legislation was quote “about delivering results for Washington families” by giving local governments stronger tools to meet growing housing demands while promoting more equitable development.
Ferguson thanked legislators, staff and his team for their hard work, and announced he will review the final budgets line by line before offering more detailed feedback.
WX: Cloud ‘n clear
And now for the weather:
An overcast start to the day is expected to give way to mostly sunny skies by the afternoon, with temperatures up to highs around 60 degrees. Some light cloud cover is expected to remain throughout the day and into the evening, when the mercury should fall to lows in the mid-40s.
The sun is expected to return in tomorrow, with temperatures rising slightly to boot.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Cody Mills, Aidan Larson, 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.
##
FOR TOMORROW
Several political and labor activism events are planned in Bellingham this week.
On Thursday, May 1st, May Day will bring a series of demonstrations, including all-day overpass rallies hosted by Stand Up For Democracy from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and a “May Day Strong” protest organized by the 50-50-1 group at the Federal Building from noon-2pm.
FOR FREE OR CHEAP ON FRI
The community is invited to celebrate the grand opening of the newly renovated Little Squalicum Pier with a ribbon-cutting event at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 at Little Squalicum Park. Attendees can gather near the parking lot at 640 Marine Drive, where the celebration will include live music and remarks from key project contributors. A procession to the pier will follow the ceremony. More details about the pier renovation are available on the city’s website.
STORY: WA legislature approves 6-cent gas tax
The Washington State Legislature has approved a multibillion-dollar transportation revenue package centered on a 6-cent increase to the state’s gas tax — the first hike in nearly a decade.
The Senate passed the measure late Friday following House approval a day earlier, and have sent it to Gov. Bob Ferguson for final consideration. The increase would raise Washington’s gas tax from 49.4 cents to 55.4 cents per gallon starting in July, with annual 2% adjustments for inflation. Diesel taxes would also rise by six cents over two years, subject to the same inflationary increases.
The gas and diesel hikes are expected to raise about $1.6 billion over six years, contributing to the package’s total projected revenue of $3.2 billion. Senate Bill 5801 includes a broad range of other fee increases: higher passenger vehicle weight fees, added sales taxes on car purchases, higher tire replacement fees, increased rental car taxes, and surcharges on luxury vehicle and aircraft sales.
Supporters say the measures are necessary to address a looming $8 billion shortfall in the state’s transportation budget and fund overdue maintenance and safety projects. Critics, particularly Republicans, argue the new taxes will burden working families already facing rising costs.
The final plan, still awaiting full funding details, is expected to channel upward of $15 billion into transportation projects over the coming years.
Gov. Ferguson has not yet indicated whether he will sign the package into law.
Leave a Reply