Community tips lead to rescue of two human trafficking victims from Bellingham massage spa, WWU draws ire for decision to sell two properties amid budget deficit, Bellingham Business Beat, Bellingham rental properties will require locking mailboxes beginning in 2025, Whatcom County sheriff requests fentanyl-sniffing dog, County installs naloxone dispenser boxers throughout Whatcom County, Popular Fairhaven boutique announces closure
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, August 14th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Community tips lead to rescue of two human trafficking victims from Bellingham massage spa
Two human trafficking victims were rescued by law enforcement yesterday at a Bellingham massage spa.
According to a news release issued by Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, police received tips about the location months ago from concerned community members who thought women were being trafficked there. 33 Mansion Mental Massage Spa, located on Lincoln Street across from Carl Cozier Elementary School, also reportedly ran online ads that suggested women at the location were available for commercial sex acts.
The location was searched by the Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force (WGDTF), Bellingham Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, as well as Customs and Border Protection and two trafficking victims were rescued. During the search, the Bellingham Police Department’s code enforcement and planning department building official found several code violations but did not find a business or massage license linked to the property.
No arrest details were immediately available. The property owner, registered as Chun-Hsu Chen (CHUN SU CHEN) according to the Whatcom County Tax Parcel Viewer, will receive non-compliance notices for the code violations found in the building.
The investigation is ongoing.
STORY: WWU draws ire for decision to sell two properties amid budget deficit
WWU is under criticism for selling two of its properties amid a budget deficit.
An agreement unveiled by the Cascadia Daily News reveals that one of the properties, located on San Juan Island, was donated to Western in 1996 by Dr. Patricia Swenson. Under the conditions of the donation agreement, Western was obligated to convey the property to the San Juan Preservation Trust if the university no longer wanted to use it. Friends of Swenson, who died in 2010, have expressed that selling the property would not respect their late friend’s wishes.
The sale of the second property, the ViQueen Lodge on Sinclair Island, has attracted criticism from locals due to concerns regarding not only the environmental impact of the sale, but also the potential loss of a space that locals have been using for outdoor recreation for decades.
According to documents from Western’s Board of Trustees, proceeds from the two properties would go toward the Shannon Point Marine Center, as well as student clubs and activities.
STORY: Bellingham Business Beat
This week, KMRE is proud to present another installment of Bellingham
Business Beat– a limited series where we find out more about the
small businesses who are the heartbeat of our downtown. Every
Wednesday we explore their origins, impact on our
community, and what drives their passion for Bellingham. Here’s a preview
of our interview with Stones Throw Brewery.
PLAY “BBB e3 PREVIEW” AUDIO CLIP
To hear the entire interview, tune in today after the 5pm news.
STORY: Bellingham rental properties will require locking mailboxes beginning in 2025
Starting next year, landlords in Bellingham will be required to provide locking mailboxes for their rental units.
City staff said the new rule will reduce the risk of mail and identity theft. The original ordinance was drafted in 2021 by Happy Valley resident Todd Lagestee (lag-uh-STEE), after he noticed an increase in mail theft. Lagestee, who’s now an interim commissioner for the Whatcom Public Utility District, said that mail theft is quote “a social and economic justice issue” unquote, since a majority of people without locking mailboxes are lower income.
All registered residential properties will have to comply with the new ordinance. Case-by-case extensions will be granted in the event of unique hardships.
STORY: Whatcom County sheriff requests fentanyl-sniffing dog
Sheriff Donnell Tanksley (duh-NELL) has requested a fentanyl-sniffing dog from the federal government to detect the synthetic opioid.
At a County Council meeting in July, Tanksley told the council that the request was prompted by the spiking number of fentanyl-related issues within the Whatcom County Jail. The problem gained urgency after inmate Angel Lewis Leffingwell was charged in June with supplying drugs that led to another inmate’s fatal overdose. The jail has experienced at least 13 overdoses in 2023. The Sheriff’s Office is also hoping to get new body scanners to improve contraband detection, as the current ones are no longer serviced by the manufacturer.
Tanksley told the council that– due to high demand–the new drug dog might not arrive until 2026.
STORY: County installs naloxone dispenser boxers throughout Whatcom County
In more fentanyl-related news–– as part of a new initiative to combat the opioid crisis, Whatcom County Health and Community Services has announced it will install naloxone dispenser boxes at select locations throughout Whatcom County.
Naloxone is a lifesaving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses.The dispenser boxes will provide 24/7 access to naloxone for individuals who may have no other means to obtain it or prefer privacy. The Health Department says the first box will be located at Ferndale Community Services, and plans to strategically place additional boxes in locations that are easily accessible to vulnerable populations. The program aims to reduce opioid-related deaths by making naloxone more readily available in public spaces.
For more information and access to free naloxone kits go to whatcomoverdoseprevention.org.
STORY: Popular Fairhaven boutique announces closure
And finally, a boutique in historic Fairhaven Village has announced its closure.
Bella Rose Boutique, a bath and beauty shop located next to the Fairhaven Village Inn, cited rising operational expenses and a desire to spend time with family as the reasons for closing. A social media post thanked the community for being the heartbeat of the boutique.
Bella Rose Boutique is set to close on September 15th.
WX: Partly sunny
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Partly cloudy today, with increasing sun as the day goes on. Daytime highs are projected to reach into the low-mid 70s, with calm south-southwestern winds, and a nighttime low in the mid-50s. Tomorrow is expected to be just about as warm, with slightly sunnier skies.
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, 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.
WEDNESDAY 8/14 5 P.M. NEWS ONLY – PLAY “BBB e3 – Stones Throw” AUDIO FILE
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