Eight more mutilated canine carcasses wash ashore in Skagit County, bringing total to 21, LNI cites Whatcom County for safety violations in ME’s office, PeaceHealth holds mandated community forum, Lighthouse Missions Ministries President and CEO steps down, Ferndale police to provide emergency relief using pre-loaded debit cards, Workers now able to view contributions to WA Cares Fund, Let’s Go Washington founder files petition to state Supreme Court asking for referendum on “millionaire’s tax”, WA gears up to fight for vote-by-mail
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, April, 6. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Eight more mutilated canine carcasses wash ashore in Skagit County, bringing total to 21
Authorities in Skagit County are investigating a troubling series of discoveries along local shorelines.
According to a recent announcement, officials say eight more mutilated canine carcasses were found Thursday on Guemes Island, bringing the total to 21 since late March. It’s still unclear whether the animals are domestic dogs or wild coyotes, and investigators say it could take weeks to determine the cause of death. The bodies are believed to have been dumped elsewhere and drifted ashore.
The Sheriff’s Office and Animal Control are asking anyone with information to come forward.
STORY: LNI cites Whatcom County for safety violations in ME’s office
The Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office is accused of failing to provide emergency eye wash and shower for workers in the morgue who might be exposed to corrosive chemicals.
Those are some of the more serious safety violations following an inspection by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries last week.
The violations may amount to more than $11,000, according to the Bellingham Herald.
Meanwhile the county has been looking for a new medical examiner since January.
STORY: PeaceHealth holds mandated community forum
Leaders at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center say shifting federal health care policies are creating new financial pressures for hospitals nationwide.
PeaceHealth is required by the City of Bellingham to host public forums twice a year as a condition of its ongoing $336 million expansion of St. Joseph Medical Center.
In the most recent meeting held last Thursday, Northwest Chief Executive Charles Prosper said cuts to federal support and changes to Medicaid are already leading to a rise in uninsured patients, with many entering care through the emergency department. Officials warn that as more people lose coverage, routine care may decline, potentially driving more costly emergency visits.
While it’s too early to measure the full impact, the hospital says it expects uncompensated care to increase in the coming years, even as it moves forward with a major expansion project planned for completion in 2028.
STORY: Lighthouse Missions Ministries President and CEO steps down
Lighthouse Mission Ministries CEO Hans Erchinger-Davis announced last week that he will step down on June 30th.
Starting as a chaplain in 2006, he’s led the Bellingham-based nonprofit as President and CEO since 2016, where he guided it through the COVID-19 pandemic, expanded services, and oversaw construction of its new five-story shelter campus that opened last fall. Board leaders credit Erchinger-Davis with growing the Mission’s reach and impact, while the organization continues fundraising to cover remaining construction costs.
The Board of Trustees has begun a search for a new CEO, with plans to name a successor by mid-June.
STORY: Ferndale police to provide emergency relief using pre-loaded debit cards
Ferndale police officers will carry pre-loaded debit cards to provide emergency relief for those in need.
The City of Ferndale announced the cards, valued at $50 to $100, will be given to people in crisis, such as homelessness, and mental health challenges so that they can get shelter, medication or food.
Ferndale Police Department is running the program with BlueBridge Alliance, a non-profit that aims to enhance trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery has donated $10,000 to seed the program.
Ferndale Police Chief Matt Huffman said officers often encounter people who are struggling and do not need law enforcement action, but they simply need help.
STORY: Workers now able to view contributions to WA Cares Fund
Washington residents can now inspect their accumulated WA Cares Fund contributions.
The Department of Social and Health Services recently announced that workers can track their annual contribution statements by setting up a benefits account.
Since the summer of 2023, almost all Washington workers have paid 0.58% of each paycheck into WA Cares. The Fund is currently set up to provide up to $36,500 in earned benefits to help cover the costs of long-term care for anyone requiring help to live independently, whether due to age, disability, illness, or other causes.
Beneficiaries need to meet contribution and care-needs requirements to obtain funding. To find out more or set up a benefits account, visit wacaresfund.wa.gov.
STORY: Let’s Go Washington founder files petition to state Supreme Court asking for referendum on “millionaire’s tax”
Opponents of Washington’s new “millionaires’ tax” are asking the state Supreme Court to step in, and say they hope to give voters a chance to repeal the law this November.
Conservative activist Brian Heywood filed an emergency petition urging justices to require Secretary of State Steve Hobbs to accept a referendum that was rejected earlier this week. State officials say the Legislature included a “necessity clause,” which blocks referendums—but Heywood argues that interpretation is too broad.
If the court allows the effort to move forward, supporters would need more than 154-thousand signatures by June 10 to qualify for the ballot.
If not, opponents say they’ll pursue an initiative instead, while a separate legal challenge to the tax is also expected.
STORY: WA gears up to fight for vote-by-mail
Washington state is challenging a new executive order from Donald Trump that could reshape how mail-in voting works nationwide.
The order would limit ballot delivery to voters on a federally approved list, a move state officials say could disenfranchise many residents. In a recent announcement, Attorney General Nick Brown called the action unconstitutional and an overreach of presidential power, and says he will co-lead a multi-state lawsuit. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs says Washington’s long-standing vote-by-mail system is secure and designed to ensure all registered voters receive ballots.
A federal judge is now being asked to block the order from taking effect.
WX: Sixty and lovin’ it
And now for the weather:
Get out the sunscreen — Whatcom is expected to see temperatures in the mid-60’s.
Forecasters say we can expect several sunny days this week with occasional scattered clouds, before cooler weather comes back, with highs dropping back into the 50s later this week. Overnight temperatures should dip into the low 40’s.
The National Weather Service says conditions should stay mostly dry with some sunshine through Friday, even as temperatures dip. Locals know the pattern well — a brief taste of spring, before the return of what many jokingly call “June-uary.”
But then again, it’s Spring in the Northwest, so whatever weather you expect, you know you can count on disappointment.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRAH-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Austin Wright, Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Kieran (KEAR-un) Dang, and Bella Farris. 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. To help support our work, check out our Patreon, or Substack, or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________… thanks for listening!
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