Bellingham man arrested in connection with assault, One escaped cow still at large within Bellingham, Swimming advisory issued for Taylor Dock after high levels of bacteria detected in water, Mudslide buries part of State Route 20, WTA seeking feedback on two new proposed bus routes, Swinomish among first tribal nations to be awarded DHS cybersecurity grant, Initiative to repeal cap-and-trade bill could lower WA gas prices, but also jeopardize climate investments
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, August 13th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham man arrested in connection with assault
A man accused of assaulting someone with a chain in Downtown Bellingham last week has been located.
37-year-old Jacob Sparks was found at the Lakeway Fred Meyer and arrested Saturday after he admitted to assaulting a man early Friday morning. Bellingham Police say the victim exchanged words with the suspect before being assaulted and sustaining a head wound.
A witness to the assault was able to capture a clear photograph of the suspect before he fled. When confronted by BPD officers Sparks confirmed that he was the person in the witness photo.
Sparks remains at the Whatcom County Jail and is being held without bail.
STORY: One escaped cow still at large within Bellingham
Two cows escaped their trailer in Bellingham over the weekend – and one is still on the loose.
It all started Saturday morning around 8AM, when both cows were spotted near the intersection of East Sunset Drive and Hannegan Road. The police gave chase, but the cows were having none of it—completely ignoring the sirens and acting like they were above the law. The cows later split up. One of them was discovered several hours later and was eventually secured in a trailer, but the other is still missing.
Bellingham Police are asking anyone who encounters the missing cow to contact the Whatcom Humane Society, or to call 911 in case the cow is posing a threat to traffic.
STORY: Swimming advisory issued for Taylor Dock after high levels of bacteria detected in water
The Whatcom County Health Department has issued a swimming advisory for Boulevard Park after high levels of fecal bacteria were detected in the water.
The contamination was traced to an outfall pipe but has spread to other areas of the park, particularly near Taylor Dock. The Health Department advises humans and their pets to avoid the water until the advisory is lifted.
Health and Human Services says swimming in contaminated water can cause skin rashes, gastroenteritis, and respiratory infections. Those who insist on swimming should avoid the water after heavy rainfall, keep their heads above water, avoid swallowing it, and shower afterward.
If illness occurs, contact a doctor and report it to health authorities.
STORY: Mudslide buries part of State Route 20
Part of State Route 20 has been buried by a mudslide.
The mudslide happened on Sunday evening at milepost 152, southeast of Diablo Lake, after nearly two inches of rainfall. State Route 20 has been closed intermittently between Granite Creek and Rainy Pass due to dangers presented by the Easy Fire, which currently covers a little over 2,000 acres and is 0% contained due to the area’s steep terrain.
The state Department of Transportation estimates it will take at least two days for the slide to be cleaned up, and says road conditions will be reevaluated tomorrow.
STORY: Swinomish among first tribal nations to be awarded DHS cybersecurity grant
The Swinomish (SWIN-uh-mish) Indian Tribal Community will be one of the first tribal nations in the country to receive a cybersecurity grant.
The grant, awarded by the Department of Homeland Security, will provide the tribe with almost $550,000. This comes months after a cybersecurity incident shut down the Swinomish Casino & Lodge for weeks. In an interview with the Cascadia Daily News, Vinnie Singh, the director of Information Technology for the tribe, said that tribal communities are seen as attractive targets by cybercriminals due to quote “perceived weaker cybersecurity defenses” unquote, and that tribal governments are currently facing digital threats ranging from phishing attacks to cyber fraud.
The Suquamish (soo-KWA-mish) Tribe, near Seattle, are the only other indigenous group in Washington to receive a grant–– which totals about $460,000. In total, 32 tribes will split just over $18 million dollars in cybersecurity grants from Homeland Security.
STORY: WTA seeking feedback on two new proposed bus routes
The Whatcom Transportation Authority is seeking feedback on an interim waterfront transport service for Bellingham.
Two new routes proposed to begin this fall–– route ‘46 Granary’, would run from Bellingham Station to the Millworks Building at Cornwall Avenue six times a day. The other would be route ‘47 Harbour/Downtown’, which would run seven times a day from Bellingham Station to Millworks to Squalicum Harbour.
The proposed routes will be temporary until permanent routes are put in place. According to the WTA, the organization aims to address the need for bus routes to the waterfront, especially after the opening of the Millworks building – which sports 83 affordable housing units and a child care center.
The WTA board of directors will hold a public meeting on the proposals this Thursday at 8am. The public can attend in person at 4011 Bakerview Spur or on Zoom by visiting ridewta.org.
STORY: Initiative to repeal cap-and-trade bill could lower WA gas prices, but also jeopardize climate investments
This November voters will decide on Initiative 2117, which aims to prohibit any state agency from implementing a cap-and-trade tax program as well as repeal the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act.
The Climate Commitment Act is a cap-and-invest program that has generated $2.2 billion since January 2023, funding a wide array of climate-related projects. These projects include forest conservation, micro-hydroelectric plants, and solar power initiatives.
According to supporters of the new repeal Initiative, the CCA is making Washington’s cost of living one the highest in the nation. Initiative sponsor Republican State Rep. Jim Walsh links the cap-and-trade program with higher gas prices, and says the CCA punishes working families and does not reduce emissions.
Those who support the Climate Commitment Act say that a repeal could lead to a significant loss of state revenue, and impact many critical environmental and community projects. Proponents of the CCA also argue that the program is essential for a just transition to clean energy, particularly for low-income and disadvantaged communities.
General election ballots will be mailed the week of October 18th and are due on November 5th.
WX: Partly sunny
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Today is expected to be warm and cloudy once again, with highs in the upper 60s, and a chance for the sun to come out later in the afternoon. Expect mild south-southwest winds throughout the day, and a nighttime low in the high 50s. Tomorrow is expected to be much the same, with partial clouds, and a slightly warmer high of around 74 degrees.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman (COOL-mun), Carlee Schram (CAR-lee SHRAM), Tristan Trudell, Kyler Cantrell, Ikumi Mashiko (ih-KOO-me muh-SHE-ko), Anna Vickers, and Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson. 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 thank you for listening.
##
