Man arrested following fight near Toad Lake that left him and one other hospitalized, Recount underway for District 42 state senate race, Air quality update, Section of Mount Vernon riverwalk closes for flood repairs, New park in King Mountain area, Whatcom County hosts Court Education Day (see note!), Time running out to register for Bellingham Traverse, Dog food sold in WA recalled, Fish & Wildlife Commissioner dies, Supreme Court stays injunction blocking Trump’s mail-in voting executive order, Whatcom County Open House (run no later than 9/28)
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STORY: Man arrested following fight near Toad Lake that left him and one other hospitalized
A fight near Toad Lake ended with one person arrested and another hospitalized.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office says the altercation happened around 1 a.m. Saturday at a residence in the area. Deputies say the 26‑year‑old and another person got into a physical fight that left the victim with significant facial injuries, scrapes, and tooth marks on their chest. The victim was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center for treatment.
He was arrested on suspicion of second‑degree assault and later released on $25,000 bond.
STORY: Recount underway for District 42 state senate race
A manual recount began today in the Legislative District 42 state Senate race.
The top two Democratic candidates were separated by just four votes in the August 4th primary. Certified results show Michael Alvarez Shepard ahead of Eamonn Collins; the results, however, are within the margin that triggers a mandatory recount under state law.
The recount started this morning at the Election Center in the Whatcom County Courthouse. The proceedings are open to the public, with space for up to 12 observers at a time.
The Canvassing Board will certify the recount results after the process is complete. The date and time of that certification will be posted on the Whatcom County Auditor’s elections website.
STORY: Air quality update
Air quality is worsening across Whatcom County today as wildfire smoke drifts in from fires in Washington and British Columbia.
Parts of Bellingham, Custer, and Lynden are in the moderate range.
Geneva, Sudden Valley, and Acme are unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Deming, the Sheridan Trail area, and the eastern portions of Whatcom and Skagit Counties are unhealthy.
Particulate levels are expected to taper off by tomorrow morning.
STORY: Section of Mount Vernon riverwalk closes for flood repairs
A section of Mount Vernon’s riverwalk is closed for levee repairs.
Dike District 3 and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began work on August 24 on the levee along the northern section of the riverwalk.
The section will be closed through September 28 to accommodate construction. People using the riverwalk should follow the posted detour along Freeway Drive.
The project will repair damage to the levee caused by the December 2025 flood. Officials say the repairs are important to prepare for next flood season.
STORY: New park in King Mountain area
Residents of Bellingham’s King Mountain and Meridian neighborhoods will soon have a new 26-acre neighborhood park.
The city will begin work on Bakerview Meadows Park, located between East Bakerview Drive and Telegraph Road. The 29-acre property was purchased by the city in 2020 for $2.3 million; the money came from Greenways levy funds.
A master plan calls for trails and natural areas, along with a playground, picnic shelters, dog park, and tennis and pickleball courts.
The project will be built in phases. The first permanent phase is estimated to cost about $6 million and will include trails, a fenced dog park, restrooms, and benches. A second phase is expected to cost about $7 million and will add more recreation facilities, trails, and infrastructure.
Public access is currently available from Woodbury Way, with more signs and dog-waste stations planned.
The city says it also plans to set aside about three acres for a future affordable housing project. Officials expect to use proceeds from the eventual sale of that property to help fund park improvements.
STORY: Whatcom County hosts Court Education Day (see note!)
Whatcom County Superior Court is opening its doors to the public for a special Court Education Day.
The free open house runs Friday from 1 to 5 p.m., giving visitors a chance to tour the courthouse, observe public hearings, and meet judges and court staff.
The court says the event is meant to demystify how Superior Court works — from recovery courts and pretrial services to juvenile programs, clerks, probation, and other parts of the justice system. Staff will be on hand to answer questions, explain how cases move through the system, and highlight the programs that connect the court to the community.
Organizers say the day is meant to make the courthouse feel less intimidating and more connected to the community it serves.
STORY: Time running out to register for Bellingham Traverse
The Bellingham Traverse hits the city Saturday.
The relay runs from noon to 4 p.m., beginning with a paddle from Waypoint Park and continuing through biking and running legs that wind across parks, trails, and the waterfront. Drivers should expect delays along park and greenway corridors, share the road with cyclists and runners, and slow down near transition zones at Waypoint Park and Marine Park.
Teams are still encouraged to sign up, but registration closes Thursday.
Full race details and course maps are at bellinghamtraverse.com.
STORY: Dog food sold in WA recalled
Fromm Family Foods is recalling more than 5,800 cases of canned dog food.
The recall affects two canned foods: Fromm Turkey Pâté and Milos Meatloaf Pâté. The products were sold at pet stores and online retailers in the U.S. and Canada.
Fromm says the recall comes after receiving complaints about metal contamination. Dogs that eat the affected food could experience vomiting, choking, loss of appetite, lethargy, or stomach discomfort. Sharp pieces of metal could cause injuries to a dog’s mouth or digestive tract.
Pet owners are urged to stop feeding their dogs the recalled food and return it to the retailer. So far, there have been no reports of injury or illness connected to the products.
STORY: Fish & Wildlife Commissioner dies
A Skagit County educator, hunter and fisherman appointed to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission last year, has died.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Victor Garcia’s death Monday. No cause was provided.
Garcia was appointed by Governor Bob Ferguson in April 2025; his term was set to run through December 2030. A native of Grays Harbor County, Garcia taught math, biology, and other science courses before retiring. He also worked as a commercial fisherman in the Bering Sea region, and as a biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Ferguson will appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of Garcia’s term.
STORY: Supreme Court stays injunction blocking Trump’s mail-in voting executive order
The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared President Donald Trump to move forward with new federal rules on mail‑in ballots.
The 6-to-3 decision allows the administration to begin implementing major parts of Trump’s executive order. Homeland Security can assemble a federal citizenship list, the Attorney General can prosecute state officials who issue ballots to ineligible voters, and the Postal Service can move ahead with new ballot design requirements for states.
The ruling does not address the most controversial provision — requiring USPS to verify every voter’s eligibility and withhold ballots from anyone not on a federal list. That part remains blocked.
USPS has already issued its final rule, adding new verification steps and directing states to upload voter information to a federal portal.
WX: Hot smoked salmon
And now for the weather…
Today’s forecast calls for some patchy smoke obscuring an otherwise sunny sky — coupled with near record-setting temperatures — as highs look to peak in the mid-80s.
Looks for clouds this evening, along with some strong breezes of up to 20mph. Nighttime lows will be in the upper-50s.
Sunny skies return tomorrow, but temperatures should return to the mid-70s.
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, 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: Whatcom County Open House (run no later than 9/28)
Whatcom County residents will have a chance to learn more about county government during the second annual Whatcom County Open House on September 30.
The event runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the County Courthouse. Staff from county departments and elected offices will be on hand to answer questions, discuss upcoming projects and explain how county government operates.
Topics will include the new jail and behavioral health care facility, the upcoming county budget process and the county court system. Attendees can also test their knowledge with Whatcom County trivia.
County Executive Satpal Sidhu said the event is intended to make local government more accessible and give residents an opportunity to connect directly with county staff and elected officials.
County Council Chair Kaylee Galloway said the open house is also an opportunity for residents to raise concerns and have direct conversations with the people who serve them.
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