Governor issues emergency proclamation suspending several state laws in bid to aid those impacted by wildfires, Phoenix man sentenced to over a decade in prison for role in attempting to smuggle drugs into western WA, Blaine School District denies any misconduct in case of sexual assault of deaf student, Bellingham among multiple western WA cities to receive additional federal funding for law enforcement, Complete burn ban set to go into effect for Skagit County tomorrow, Sexagenarian Bellingham swim coach achieves multiple podium finishes and a PNW record at national championship, : Warehouse fire suspends Amtrak Cascades service between Seattle and Portland Robert Clark will write this, KICKER: A ghost ship with a crew of cats (Tacoma), Ferndale Back-to-School night (kill 8/17-watch dating), Central WA data center scuppered (bump for time if needed), F&C Aug 21, Children’s Craft Fair at the Bellis Fair Mall, Friday, August 21, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Inside Bellis Fair Mall
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, August, 11. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Governor issues emergency proclamation suspending several state laws in bid to aid those impacted by wildfires
Governor Bob Ferguson signed an emergency proclamation to help communities impacted by wildfires.
The governor’s order suspends state laws to help people recover from recent wildfires. The act covers Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens, Douglas and Yakima counties, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and the Spokane Tribe of Indians.
Disaster assistance cash programs and unemployment benefit coverage will be expanded. Residents will be able to replace documents lost in the fires for free, such as birth certificates and drivers’ licenses. The order eases regulations for healthcare facilities and extends deadlines for local businesses. Landlords cannot evict tenants or claim abandoned property for the next two weeks.
A federal emergency declaration was granted by the Trump administration. The governor’s office is now seeking a major disaster declaration, which would unlock FEMA funds to help individuals recover from the fires.
STORY: Phoenix man sentenced to over a decade in prison for role in attempting to smuggle drugs into western WA
A Phoenix man has been sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in federal prison for brokering large shipments of meth and fentanyl headed to western Washington.
42-year-old Ryan Matthew Gennette, a former Auburn resident, was sentenced today for his role in this drug smuggling operation. He was originally arrested in Phoenix in late 2024, and pleaded guilty in May of this year.
Federal prosecutors say Gennette was involved in multiple drug shipments. One of these shipments contained seven kilograms of fentanyl pills, nearly two kilograms of fentanyl powder, and more than 10 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Investigators later seized additional shipments, including about 6-and-a-half kilograms of counterfeit M-30 pills made to look like oxycodone.
Prosecutors also say Gennette helped arrange firearms shipments to drug sources connected to cartels in Mexico.
At sentencing in the U.S. District Court in Tacoma, Judge Benjamin Settle said Gennette was willing to participate in the large-scale distribution of dangerous drugs for money.
The investigation involved the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the DEA, along with several federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
UPDATE: Blaine School District denies any misconduct in case of sexual assault of deaf student
The Blaine School District is denying allegations that a student was sexually assaulted in one of their school buses.
The allegations are part of a lawsuit filed in Whatcom County Superior Court by the student’s parents. They accuse the Blaine and Bellingham school districts of negligence, disability and gender discrimination, as well as violations of Washington’s Equal Educational Opportunity Law.
The parents say their daughter was assaulted on a Blaine school bus during the 2020-2021 school year, and that the district failed to investigate.
In a court response filed Friday, the Blaine School District said it did not have enough information to respond to some of the allegations; therefore, the district also denied claims regarding any misconduct or allegations that it failed to investigate.
The lawsuit also alleges the student was assaulted again on a bus operated by Bellingham Public Schools. Bellingham has acknowledged that another student moved to sit next to the girl, that the girl screamed, and that the bus driver intervened. The district denies that the student touched her inappropriately.
Blaine says it should not be held responsible for an incident involving a bus operated by another district.
Both school districts have asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.
STORY: Bellingham among multiple western WA cities to receive additional federal funding for law enforcement
Washington state and local governments are receiving more than eight million dollars in federal grants for law enforcement.
The U.S. Department of Justice awarded the Byrne grants last month to the state and ten cities and counties across Washington.
The two largest grants — totaling nearly six-and-a-half million dollars — went to the Washington State Department of Commerce. The money will be distributed to cities, counties and nonprofits for community safety programs.
Seattle Police and surrounding jurisdictions will receive more than 842-thousand dollars for equipment, technology and overtime.
Tacoma and Pierce County will get nearly 395-thousand dollars, including funding for Tacoma’s BRAVE program, which works to reduce youth and young adult violence.
Other grants include nearly 139-thousand dollars for Vancouver and Clark County, more than 84-thousand for Snohomish County, and nearly 47-thousand for Kitsap County.
Bellingham will receive about 44-thousand dollars to help bring back its motorcycle traffic unit, while Everett will get nearly 38-thousand dollars for investigative technology and a police drone.
Smaller grants were also awarded to Longview and Cowlitz County, Bremerton, Marysville and other local jurisdictions.
Federal officials say the grants are intended to strengthen partnerships between federal, state and local law enforcement while improving community safety.
STORY: Complete burn ban set to go into effect for Skagit County tomorrow
A complete burn ban will go into effect tomorrow in Skagit County.
All outdoor burning will be illegal in unincorporated Skagit County. The ban is in response to the high risk of fire and commitments to shared firefighting resources with nearby counties. The only exception is agricultural burning, which has to follow local regulations and can sometimes require permits. Burning household trash or construction waste is always illegal.
Propane and gas cooking appliances and charcoal grills are allowed during the ban but should be used with caution. Charcoal has to be disposed of in metal containers and doused with water, at least 10 feet from buildings and vegetation.
If you are within the limits of an incorporated city, check with your local fire department for current burning restrictions. Those wishing to report illegal fires may refer to the Northwest Clean Air Agency.
STORY: Sexagenarian Bellingham swim coach achieves multiple podium finishes and a PNW record at national championship
Turning 60 has not slowed down Bellingham swimmer and coach Brad Jones.
Jones returned from this year’s Long Course Masters National Championships in Sacramento with three trips to the podium — and a new Pacific Northwest Masters record.
Competing against more than 15-hundred swimmers from across the country, Jones finished second in the 100-meter butterfly and the 200-meter individual medley, and third in the 400-meter freestyle.
His biggest highlight came in the 100-meter butterfly. Jones finished in one minute, five-point-six-nine seconds, breaking a Pacific Northwest Masters record in the 60-to-64 age group that had stood for 10 years.
Jones also competed in relays with Puget Sound Masters.
He says Masters swimming is a big part of his life — and turning 60 has given him another reason to see what he can accomplish.
For Jones, the message from Nationals is pretty simple: getting older does not necessarily mean slowing down.
WX: French sunion soup
And now for the weather…
A perfectly pleasant summer afternoon looks to be ahead of us today, with ample amounts of sunshine, a handful of clouds, and highs in the mid-70s. Expect some cool breezes and similarly clear skies this evening to round the day out. Nighttime lows are projected in the mid-to-high-50s.
Tomorrow looks to be almost identical to today, the only difference is that there will be a few more clouds then today.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRAH-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell (can-TRELL), Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Jenny Lam, Nate Landi, Natalie Jones, Noelle Reger (no-ELL REE-ger), and Sean Lynch. 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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STORY: Warehouse fire suspends Amtrak Cascades service between Seattle and Portland Robert Clark will write this
KICKER: A ghost ship with a crew of cats (Tacoma)
STORY: Ferndale Back-to-School night (kill 8/17-watch dating)
Families getting ready for the new school year have a one‑stop event coming up in Ferndale.
Ferndale High School will host a back‑to‑school resource night on Tuesday, August 18th, from 4 to 7 p.m. The event offers free school supplies, an immunization clinic, twenty‑dollar sports physicals, community resource booths and more. Families can also connect with support services to prepare for the year ahead.
No registration is required, and all district families are welcome.
STORY: Central WA data center scuppered (bump for time if needed) A proposed natural gas power plant planned to supply electricity to a Central Washington data center has been canceled.
Texas-based VoltaGrid had proposed installing 14 gas generators in Quincy to serve the nearby Vantage data center campus, but withdrew its air quality permit application after environmental groups submitted more than 500 public comments opposing the project. Grant County Public Utility District officials confirmed the project will not move forward, saying the on-site power generation is no longer needed.
The proposal had drawn criticism over its emissions and its connection to the growing energy demands of artificial intelligence data centers.
F&C Aug 21
Children’s Craft Fair at the Bellis Fair Mall
Friday, August 21, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Inside Bellis Fair Mall
Enjoy a wide array of handmade crafts and baked goods created by children ages 13 and younger. All items are priced $5 or less; cash only sales. Fun for all ages to shop for unique treasures and support local youth.
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