Whatcom County ambulance struck by bullet along Mount Baker Highway, Woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars from Whatcom business, Ferndale selects next chief of police, Survey shows rising unemployment rates in Bellingham, Whatcom County, and Washington at large, Bill under review in House would grant picketing workers unemployment benefits, E-bike rebate applications open tomorrow, Second sloth removed from highway tree, Home prices stabilized in Whatcom over first quarter of 2025
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, April 8th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Whatcom County ambulance struck by bullet along Mount Baker Highway
An ambulance transporting a patient was struck by a bullet Sunday night while traveling on Mount Baker Highway.
According to Whatcom Fire District 14, the incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. As the ambulance traveled east of Deming, the crew reported hearing a loud bang as something hit the windshield. Law enforcement later confirmed that the damage appeared to be caused by a rifle round, which ricocheted off the windshield and lodged itself in the vehicle’s sheet metal.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. Fire officials remind the public to exercise caution and responsibility when using firearms, noting that stray bullets have led to injuries and fatalities in the county in previous years.
STORY: Woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars from Whatcom business
A 37-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree theft after allegedly stealing over $28,000 from a Whatcom County business.
According to the County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deb Slater, the business owner reported the suspected theft last month, after they noticed the former employee had taken an unauthorized draw in January. The woman initially claimed she would repay the money, but later insisted it was owed to her.
An investigation revealed that over the past year, multiple checks marked as “draw” — totaling over $28,000 — had been deposited into the woman’s bank account. When questioned by deputies, she was unable to explain how the funds ended up in her account.
She was arrested and is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday. The name of the business has not been released.
STORY: Ferndale selects next chief of police
After an extensive search, the City of Ferndale has announced the appointment of Sean O’Laughlin (O-LOF-lin) as its new Chief of Police.
O’Laughlin, who is currently the Deputy Chief of Police at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, is expected to begin his new role on July 2nd, pending a successful background check and other evaluations. He will succeed former Chief Kevin Turner, who left the department in
November to take a similar position in Burlington. Interim Chief Matt Huffman, a retired lieutenant from the Ferndale Police Department, has led the department since December 9th and will continue in the role through June.
In a statement released yesterday O’Laughlin expressed excitement to serve the city with quote “integrity, dedication and collaboration for a safer community” unquote. He also emphasized the importance of community partnerships and transparency in building public trust and safety.
O’Laughlin brings over two decades of law enforcement experience, beginning his career in 2001 with the University of Washington Police Department, where he served as a sergeant for 12 years.
A community reception and interviews played a key role in the selection process. Mayor Hansen credited the department’s staff and Huffman’s leadership for allowing time to find the right candidate for the position.
STORY: Survey shows rising unemployment rates in Bellingham, Whatcom County, and Washington at large
Unemployment rates in Whatcom County, the city of Bellingham and Washington state rose in February.
The latest report from the state Employment Security Department shows that Whatcom County recorded a 5.5% unemployment rate in February, an increase from January’s 4.9% rate. Despite the month-to-month rise, the
county’s unemployment rate has improved compared to February of last year, when it stood at 6.5%.
In Bellingham, the unemployment rate also climbed to 5.1% in February, up from 4.5% in January.
Statewide, Washington’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased slightly from 4.3% in January to 4.4% in February. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that Washington now ranks 13th-highest in the nation for unemployment, up from 17th in January.
STORY: Bill under review in House would grant picketing workers unemployment benefits
As over 900 unionized employees at St. Joseph Medical Center vote on a potential strike, Washington state lawmakers are considering a bill that could provide unemployment benefits to striking workers.
Senate Bill 5041, sponsored by State Senator Marcus Riccelli (ri-CHEHL-lee)—a Democrat from Spokane—would allow private sector workers on strike to collect unemployment benefits for up to 12 weeks, starting after the second week of a walkout. SB 5041 has passed the Senate, and is scheduled for its final committee hearing in the House on Monday.
The proposed legislation comes amid rising labor tensions in Bellingham, with healthcare workers preparing to hit the picket line if negotiations at PeaceHealth do not advance.
Currently, only two states—New York and New Jersey—offer unemployment benefits to striking workers.
STORY: E-bike rebate applications open tomorrow
Starting tomorrow at 7 a.m., eligible Washingtonians can apply for instant e-bike rebates through the WE-Bike site.
Funded through the 2023-to-2025 transportation budget and using revenues from Climate Commitment Act, the pilot program offers over $4 million in rebates, with approximately 10,000 available statewide. Applicants may qualify for either a $300 or a $1,200 rebate based on income eligibility. The rebates can be used toward the purchase of e-bikes and approved accessories.
The application window will remain open until noon on April 23rd.
STORY: Second sloth removed from highway tree
A second stuffed sloth spotted high in a tree along northbound I-5 near Lake Samish was removed yesterday morning, just days after it appeared over the weekend.
The plush animal was placed in the same area where the original sloth—nicknamed “Slothy” by online fans—charmed drivers for more than a year before being taken down last month by crews from the State Department of Transportation.
While the whimsical roadside mascots brought smiles to many—and WSDOT (WASH-DOT) acknowledged the public’s fondness for the sloths—the agency emphasized the importance of safety along the heavily traveled route and reiterated safety concerns as the reason for removal.
WX: Professor Pleutm
And now for the weather:
Expect rain again today, with average precipitation of up to a quarter-inch. Daytime highs will hover around the low-to-mid 50s, with gusts of up to 29 miles per hour, and a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Nighttime lows will be in the low 40s.
There’s a chance that sunshine may partially return tomorrow after a brief stint of morning rain.
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: Home prices stabilized in Whatcom over first quarter of 2025
Leave a Reply