Meridian High School athlete accused of rape, COB purchases land for affordable housing, tiny homes, Bellingham wastewater plant violated air quality last month, WA state gun sales rise, then fall as new laws come on line, WA state gun sales rise, then fall as new laws come on line, Ballot curing legislation
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, April 9th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Meridian High School athlete accused of rape
An 18-year-old star athlete at Meridian High School has been charged with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in December.
Jase Kristopher Klinkhammer has been charged with one count of second-degree rape and one count of second-degree perjury. Klinkhammer’s alleged assault involved an incident where he reportedly raped the girl at a friend’s house, despite her repeated objections. He has denied the accusations, but evidence from Snapchat location data contradicts his statements to law enforcement.
Despite the charges, Klinkhammer has continued to compete in school sporting events. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association responsible for governing high school sports in the state, does not have specific guidelines for suspensions related to off-the-field behavior, leaving the decision to the schools. Meridian High School, where Klinkhammer is a student, has its own code of conduct for student-athletes but has not publicly disclosed how the decision to allow him to compete was made.
Klinkhammer was released from jail after posting a $1,000 bond following his arrest.
STORY: COB purchases land for affordable housing, tiny homes
Last night the Bellingham City Council approved the purchase of property for affordable housing development.
The site is located at 3300 Northwest Avenue near the former Northwood Hall at Northwest and Maplewood avenues. The property will cost the city $1.2 million dollars and will be used to relocate two existing tiny home villages. Both Swift Haven and Unity Village are currently located on city property and face pending relocation deadlines. In a presentation at the Council meeting, Mayor Kim Lund highlighted the effectiveness of tiny homes in addressing the housing crisis and emphasized the importance of diverse solutions. She said the purchase not only addresses immediate housing needs but also prepares for future affordable housing initiatives.
The new village, named North Haven, is expected to be operational by late 2024 pending permit approval.
STORY: Bellingham wastewater plant violated air quality last month
Incinerators that burn sewage at Bellingham’s wastewater treatment plant are violating air quality standards, according to a notice from the Northwest Clean Air Agency.
Sewage from Bellingham residents and other parts of Whatcom County goes to the city’s Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant near the Fairhaven waterfront. Treated water is pumped into Bellingham Bay and the solid material that’s left is burned in incinerators that were installed in the 1970s. The air quality violation notice was issued on March 27th, but the city must meet emissions limits and standards within a 180-day window.
City Council members voted unanimously last night to hire a law firm to help with the situation, and Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund promised full cooperation.
STORY: WA state gun sales rise, then fall as new laws come on line
Gun sales in Washington have dropped this year following the implementation of new state gun regulations.
According to the FBI’s national criminal background check data, there were more than 77,000 background checks for gun purchases in the state last March, which dropped to just over 22,000 in March of this year. The decline comes after a surge in sales last year that experts say was driven by anticipation of a ban on AR-15-style weapons. The new laws in Washington include a 10-day waiting period and mandatory safety training for gun purchases. While it’s unclear if these policies directly impacted sales, circumstantial evidence suggests they may have.
Additionally, Washington has enacted various other gun control measures in recent years, ranking it now among the strictest states in the nation for gun laws. State officials view the decrease in sales positively, but critics argue it’s a hindrance to gun manufacturers and dealers.
STORY: Ballot curing legislation
Legislation passed during this year’s session will make it easier for Washingtonians to correct issues with their ballots. The law goes into effect ahead of the November election.
BALLOT AUDIO
WX: Sun
Your Whatcom County weather – Today, expect a mix of clouds and sun with a high near 55 degrees. Clouds will start rolling in this evening– expect an overnight low of 38. Tomorrow, partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies throughout the afternoon. The high tomorrow should be about 56 degrees.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman and Tristan Trudell. 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 listener donations. Check out our Patreon page or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thanks for listening.
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