ICE detains nearly 40 people following Bellingham raid, Ferguson rejects tax-heavy state budget, Northwest Youth Services workers call for removal of interim director, Bellingham Port Commission eyes business growth at airport and surrounding areas, Sehome Hill Arboretum access to be interrupted by construction project, State Democrats divided on how to handle school funding, Former State Supreme Court Justice passes away, Washington sues Trump administration
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, April 3rd. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: ICE detains nearly 40 people following Bellingham raid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a raid at Mount Baker Roofing in Bellingham yesterday and arrested nearly 40 workers.
Employees reported that around 50 masked agents arrived unannounced at 8 a.m., separated workers and loaded those detained onto buses. In total, 37 workers were detained for alleged immigration violations. ICE stated that the raid was part of a criminal investigation into unlawful employment practices.
Company owner Mark Kurske expressed concern over the impact on his employees and the local economy, stating that many detained workers had been longtime contributors to the community. Witnesses reported that ICE agents remained masked, refused to identify themselves, and barred onlookers from the premises.
The raid follows a similar ICE operation in Ferndale last week, where farmworkers, including political activist Lelo (LAY-lo) Juarez Zeferino, were detained.
STORY: Ferguson rejects tax-heavy state budget
Governor Bob Ferguson announced on Tuesday that he will not sign either of the state Legislature’s proposed budgets, citing an over-reliance on a wealth tax that could face legal challenges.
\With a $16 billion shortfall looming, Ferguson held a press conference in the Governor’s Conference Room and urged lawmakers to take a different approach to avoid financial instability.
He emphasized five key conditions for a budget he would approve, which include protection of the Rainy Day Fund, realistic revenue projections, and avoiding dependence on legally uncertain taxes. Ferguson warned that federal funding cuts could worsen the state’s fiscal outlook, and called the situation a “five-alarm fire.”
While the Governor acknowledged the need for budget reductions, he also remains opposed to deep service cuts. His stance received support from business groups and some Republican lawmakers, though concerns persist about potential property tax hikes. With the legislative session set to end April 27th, negotiations must accelerate to prevent a special session.
STORY: Northwest Youth Services workers call for removal of interim director
Workers at Northwest Youth Services have called for the immediate removal of Interim Executive Director Lance Jones and Senior Director Daniel Pry.
Staff cite leadership failures that have harmed staff and diminished services for homeless youth. In a public letter released on Tuesday, over half of the nonprofit’s 42 employees signed on, accusing leadership of eroding trust with both staff and the community.
The demand comes amid prolonged instability at the organization, and follows the departure of former CEO Jason McGill in September after serious complaints about his leadership. The nonprofit has since struggled to regain stability, losing board members and abruptly closing its Skagit County facility last month with little public explanation.
Jones declined to directly address the allegations, but stated that Northwest Youth Services is working toward long-term sustainability. Meanwhile, board members have remained silent despite repeated requests for comment.
With only three board members remaining, staff say they want a clear plan to hire a permanent director and restore trust within the organization.
STORY: Bellingham Port Commission eyes business growth at airport and surrounding areas
The Port of Bellingham is focusing on aeronautical and manufacturing industries as key drivers for future business growth at and around Bellingham Airport.
During a three-hour meeting on Tuesday, commissioners and staff discussed strategies to recruit new industries to the airport’s limited
development space. Port officials estimate that only about six acres remain available for new projects, which makes careful planning essential. Economic development leaders emphasized the importance of targeting businesses that align with the airport’s current tenants, such as aviation consulting firms, carbon fiber manufacturers, and emergency management agencies.
Commissioner Michael Shepard highlighted the need to prepare for the rise of electric aviation, warning that without planning, BLI could lose opportunities to airport hubs like Moses Lake or Everett. Meanwhile, business owners like Lyle Jansma of Six Pack Aero called for better support for small aviation-related companies, and compared their needs to the port’s existing resources for commercial fishermen.
In addition to business recruitment, commissioners acknowledged the importance of increasing public engagement, and also discussed new airlines and restaurants as well as the creation of viewing areas for aviation enthusiasts.
STORY: Sehome Hill Arboretum access to be interrupted by construction project
Access to Sehome Arboretum will be disrupted as construction crews install electrical service for the House of Healing, a Coast Salish-style longhouse.
Bellingham Parks and Recreation announced that Arboretum Drive will remain closed through April 15th during the construction.
Designed to promote healing and cross-cultural understanding, the House of Healing is set to open this fall and will serve as an educational and cultural center for Western Washington University. The facility will feature a gathering hall, kitchens, and student lounges.
In addition to powering the longhouse, the electrical installation will also bring an EV charging station to the Arboretum road.
STORY: State Democrats divided on how to handle school funding Washington state lawmakers say they are trying to negotiate the gap in school funding in both proposed state budgets.
Key differences include special education spending, grant program cuts, and funding distribution to school districts. The Senate’s $78.5 billion budget allocates roughly 44% of that amount to public schools, while the House’s $77.8 billion plan sets aside 43%. A major gap lies in special education funding, with the Senate proposing a $1 billion increase compared to the House’s nearly $189 million. The Senate also includes $175 million to help schools with rising operational costs, which the House omits.
Both budgets seek savings with a cap on enrollment in the Transition to Kindergarten program and cuts to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The House proposes deeper cuts to grant-funded academic programs, eliminating nearly all but one, while the Senate preserves partial funding for many.
Lawmakers in both houses would like to tie funding increases to potential new taxes, which raises concerns about what happens if those measures don’t pass. Negotiations are expected to continue until the session’s April 27th deadline.
WX: Zip-a-dee-doo-dah
And now for the weather:
Today we’ll see the sun, the whole sun, and nothing but the sun, with highs in the mid-50s. Some slight cloud cover will accumulate in the evening, as temperatures drop to lows in the high 30s.
And the sun should stick around for the next few days, as daytime highs climb back into the 60s.
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.
##
STORY: Former State Supreme Court Justice passes away
STORY: Washington sues Trump administration
Washington is among 23 states suing the Trump administration over the abrupt cancellation of $12 billion in federal health funding, including $160 million designated for Washington.
The cuts impact infectious disease prevention, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment, potentially eliminating hundreds of public health jobs statewide.
The lawsuit, led in part by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, argues that these cuts violate federal law by stripping funds without proper justification. The funding rollback affects programs like disease tracking, COVID surveillance, and Care-A-Van mobile health clinics, which serve underserved communities.
Additionally, the administration announced layoffs of 10,000 federal workers and the closure of the Seattle regional Health and Human Services office, which serves Washington and neighboring states. Brown called the move both illegal and reckless, saying it undermines efforts to combat public health crises. The states are seeking a court order to block the cuts.
Leave a Reply