SR 20 closure expanded due to second fire, Stage 2 burn ban in unincorporated Whatcom County, Kent man sentenced in killing of Bellingham woman, New Amtrak electric bus to Seattle, Removal of historical railroad trestle in Whatcom Falls Park, AG Ferguson Sues O’Reilly for Discrimination, Meta Challenges Campaign Finance Law
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, August 17th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: SR 20 closure expanded due to second fire burn ban in unincorporated Whatcom County, A.G Ferguson
A second fire started along State Route 20 on Tuesday near Blue Lake. The Blue Lake Fire prompted further closures on North Cascade Highway from milepost 120 in Newhalem to milepost 171 at the Silver Star gate, about 22 miles west of Winthrop.
The fire is estimated to cover 10 to 15 acres and burns a few miles southwest of Washington Pass in the Methow Valley Ranger District.
For traveling east to west across the state, use I-90, US 2 and 12.
STORY: Stage 2 burn ban in unincorporated Whatcom County,
The Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office announced a stage 2 burn ban in unincorporated Whatcom County that went into effect yesterday.
A stage 2 ban means all outdoor burning is prohibited, including yard debris fires, land clearing fires, and recreational fires. Propane fire pits without solid wood burning material and propane and charcoal BBQs are still allowed.
The ban comes in conjunction with other statewide burn bans enacted by the Department of Natural Resources and the US Forest Service on Tuesday. Rule burns, permit burns, and campfires are all no longer allowed in DNR-protected land in the Northwest counties of Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom.
STORY: Kent man sentenced in killing of Bellingham woman
A Kent, Washington, man will spend nearly a decade in prison after he hit a 49-year-old Bellingham woman’s vehicle in January. The collision caused the woman’s vehicle to immediately burst into flames, resulting in her death.
Teofilo (Tey-oh-fee-low) Garcia Uribe (Ooo-ree-bay), 37, was sentenced Tuesday morning in Whatcom County Superior Court to nine years and two months in prison, with a year and a half of probation. Uribe pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide by way of reckless driving.
Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Lee Grochmal (Grosh-mul) said Uribe’s sentence was high because there was a level of recklessness involved in the crime.
Grochmal credited Uribe with taking responsibility for his actions and showing remorse for the victim and her family.
STORY: New Amtrak electric bus to Seattle
On Wednesday, the Washington State Department of Transportation and Amtrak rolled out their first electric buses making daily trips between Bellingham and Seattle.
The new electric fleet is the first set of electric buses in Amtrak’s National Network. The two buses will be operated by MTRWestern and can make the whole trip on a single charge. District 2 Representative Rick Larsen has stated that this line is ‘another important step toward building a cleaner and greener transportation network in Bellingham and Northwest Washington’.
The buses will travel daily from Fairhaven at 10:45 am and 3 pm, and from Seattle at 12:15 and 4 pm. Tickets start at 19 dollars.
STORY: Removal of historical railroad trestle in Whatcom Falls Park
The city has begun demolition of the historic trestle bridge in Whatcom Falls Park, a remnant of the narrow-gauge railroad that carried timber from operations in Lake Whatcom to the Bellingham waterfront.
The structure is irreparable and poses a safety hazard, according to the Parks and Recreation Department. The trail next to the trestle has already been detoured for several years and its removal will help water quality in the creek.
Demolition work will involve creek bypass pumping, taking down the pilings and restoring vegetation. Expect trail closures and construction traffic in the area off Electric Avenue.
STORY: AG Ferguson Sues O’Reilly for Discrimination
Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced yesterday that he is suing O’Reilly Auto Parts for discriminating and retaliating against pregnant workers.
Ferguson claims that the top-down practice of discrimination harmed at least 22 Washington women and their babies.
The charges allege that the Missouri-based auto parts store refused accommodations to pregnant mothers and retaliated against those who sought work modifications by demoting them, threatening to fire them and forcing them to take unpaid leave, or quit.
Women who worked for O’Reilly described being coerced to return to work before the end of their scheduled maternity leave, being denied breaks to pump breast milk and being forced out of their jobs after asking for accommodations, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
O’Reilly provided records to the Attorney General’s Office showing that employees in Washington made at least 134 requests for pregnancy accommodations between January 2019 and February 2023.
Washington’s Healthy Starts Act requires employers to provide accommodations for pregnancy by limiting how much workers lift and handle hazardous materials – as well as allowing sitting, resting, and flexibility for bathroom breaks.
Former employee Skylar Ramsdall told the Seattle Times there is a strong possibility she would not have miscarried if she was allowed the accommodations O’Reilly denied her.
STORY: Meta Challenges Campaign Finance Law
Facebook parent company Meta is challenging the constitutionality of Washington state’s campaign-finance disclosure law. Campaign-finance oversight groups are weighing in on the side of the state’s law. Here is Eric Tegathoff with more.
Campaign Finance Audio
WX: It’s sunny and warm today in Bellingham with a high of 80 degrees and an overnight low of 58. The forecast shows clouds moving in tomorrow bringing temperatures down to the low 70’s. Expect more sun this weekend with temperatures around 80 degrees.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Myles Weber, Emma Toscani and Carlos Braga. 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. I’m ________________ and thanks for listening.
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