Rep Larsen gives update on ICE activity in Whatcom, Hands Off rallies draw thousands across Whatcom and Skagit, Local state reps seeking additional funding for WWU beginning in 2029, New San Juan Islands ferry schedule to commence in June, New San Juan Islands ferry schedule to commence in June, Bellingham’s Little Squalicum Pier opens to the public, Bill under review in House would grant picketing workers unemployment benefits, Former State Supreme Court Justice passes away, Woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars from Whatcom business, Home prices stabilized in Whatcom over first quarter of 2025
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, April 7th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Rep Larsen gives update on ICE activity in Whatcom
Last Wednesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted a raid at Mt. Baker Roofing and detained 37 individuals.
Yesterday, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen sat down with the KMRE News team to give an update on the men detained and what he has been doing to try to help.
RL wrote letter Audio :25
The letter demanded detailed information about the raid, including the number of individuals taken into custody, their demographics, immigration status, and any pending asylum claims. Representative Larsen says he also wants clarification on ICE’s collaboration with state and local law enforcement during the operation.
Larsen also gave an update on Alfredo ‘Lelo’ (LAY-lo) Juarez, who was detained by ICE agents on March 25th.
RL Lelo :21
Larsen, who has consistently advocated for comprehensive immigration reform and humane enforcement practices, says there are things we can do to help.
RL what you can do Audio :50
When asked if there is any political will on the part of Congress to do something to address the situation, Larsen was not hopeful.
RL any help from congress Audio 1:04
Larsen reiterated his stance that ICE actions undermine trust between communities and law enforcement, ultimately making communities less safe. But, he says, public pushback will be important for any kind of change.
RL Hands off work to do Audio :40
STORY: Hands Off rallies draw thousands across Whatcom and Skagit
Thousands of people gathered at Bellingham City Hall and the Federal Building on Magnolia Street on Saturday to protest President Trump and his administration.
As part of the nationwide Hands Off! movement, protests were also held in Everson, Deming, and Mount Vernon, as well as 1,300 more across the country.
The rallies, organized by 50-51 and Indivisible Bellingham, featured a diverse lineup of speakers including teachers, doctors, Planned Parenthood staff, and immigrants.
The speeches lasted around 90 minutes, and Bellingham Police reported no incidents or arrests. The Hands Off! protests echo a rising wave of national resistance, as citizens across the country push back against what they view as authoritarian overreach and systemic injustice.
Protesters denounced a broad range of federal actions, from mass immigration arrests to the dismantling of government agencies.
Hands Off Voices Audio :38
To hear more voices from the Hands Off rally in Bellingham stay tuned to a Special Report today after the 5pm news.
STORY: Local state reps seeking additional funding for WWU beginning in 2029
Local lawmakers are pushing for increased state funding for Western Washington University, though the proposed changes wouldn’t take effect for four years.
District 42 Representatives Joe Timmons and Alicia (uh-LEE-shuh) Rule, along with District 40 Representatives Alex Ramel (RAM-ul) and Debra Lekanoff (leh-cuh-NOFF), submitted a budget request last Thursday to adjust state funding formulas and quote “ensure parity among state colleges” unquote. The bill could bring WWU an additional $21.4 million — the exact amount requested by the university this legislative session.
Currently, WWU receives the lowest per-student funding among all state universities. The proposal would align its funding with that of Central Washington University, the next lowest-funded institution.
Timmons said in a statement that the bill addresses longstanding funding disparities and offers WWU financial predictability, while being structured to take effect outside the current four-year budget outlook. He also emphasized his ongoing efforts to shield the university from potential cuts in the current cycle, as Governor Bob Ferguson has proposed a 3% reduction to all four-year institutions.
WWU has already cut 74 positions since last fall to manage budget constraints.
STORY: New San Juan Islands ferry schedule to commence in June
A new summer ferry schedule for the San Juan Islands will take effect on June 15th.
According to Washington State Ferries, this marks the first major update to the sailing timetable in over a decade. The route between Anacortes and the San Juans has evolved significantly in recent years, and now includes a vehicle reservation system and steadily growing ridership — over 754,000 passengers traveled the route last summer alone.
To address challenges in reliability due to staffing shortages, State Ferries introduced a revised schedule with more realistic crossing and terminal times last December. Following improvements this winter and spring, the updated timetable will now extend into the busy summer season. WSF urges travelers to reserve in advance at WSDOT’s (wash-DOTS) website, especially with 90% of ferry capacity now available for booking, which leaves fewer spots for drive-up passengers.
Vehicle reservations for summer sailings open at 10 a.m. on April 15th.
STORY: Bellingham’s Little Squalicum Pier opens to the public
Little Squalicum Pier is now open for public use.
The announcement was made by the City last week, and marks the first time the pier has been accessible to the public since its construction in 1912. Originally built to transport cement via railcars to cargo vessels, the pier has undergone significant renovations funded by a $1.6 million allocation from the Greenways Levy. The improvements include new pedestrian guardrails, deck grating, and wind- and solar-powered lighting.
Extending 1,248 feet into Bellingham Bay, the City says Little Squalicum Pier is now the longest public pier in Washington state and the longest on the West Coast between White Rock, B.C., and Pacifica, California.
The Park and the pier are open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. A public celebration is scheduled for 3 p.m. on April 26th in the parking lot at 640 Marine Drive.
WX: Rainy-o, hotman
And now for the weather:
The forecast calls for blustery rain for a little while — today will feature highs in the mid-50s, gusts up to 31 mph, and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Evening will bring lows down into the mid-40s, though the breezy drizzles will likely stay right where they are.
A very similar weather pattern is in the forecast for tomorrow, with projected rainfall of up to a quarter of an inch.
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: Bill under review in House would grant picketing workers unemployment benefits
STORY: Former State Supreme Court Justice passes away
STORY: Woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars from Whatcom business
STORY: Home prices stabilized in Whatcom over first quarter of 2025
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