Bellingham City Council denies proposed Britton Road annex on account of budget shortfall, Arrest made in Little Squalicum assault, Major Skagit aerospace employer set to dramatically expand campus, Lummi Island residents raise $125K to preserve one teacher’s job, Little Squalicum Pier sustains damage, fireworks thought to be the cause, State lawmaker warns of potential ballooning insurance premiums as ACA cap expires, Dept of Commerce reports homelessness still growing across WA, Elections board rules voter ineligible to vote, Free and Cheap (Kill 9/5), Free or Cheap (Kill 9/12)
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, August 28th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham City Council denies proposed Britton Road annex on account of budget shortfall
The Bellingham City Council has voted to reject a proposal to annex 146 acres of land on the city’s north side.
The property, adjacent to the Barkley neighborhood, falls within Bellingham’s designated Urban Growth Area.
The annexation process began in March of 2024, when the Council approved a resolution to review the request. One year later, the Whatcom County Boundary Review Board gave its approval.
In a split vote, Council member Michael Lilliquist cast the lone vote against the rejection.
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Lilliquist said he had hoped the Council would defer the proposal instead of rejecting it outright.
Council member Dan Hammill raised concerns about the city’s strained finances.
[clip: Hammill.wav, :04, out: “at this point”]
Hamill noted that the city recently discussed a possible sales tax increase to address a growing budget shortfall — and pointed out that culvert work alone in the annexation area would cost nearly $2 million.
The final vote was five in favor of rejecting the annexation, one opposed, and one abstention.
STORY: Arrest made in Little Squalicum assault
A suspect has been arrested in connection with the sexual assault and robbery at Little Squalicum Park.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened on August 20th on the park’s trail system. After an initial search, the suspect was not found.
An announcement made by the Sheriff’s Office this morning said that dozens of businesses and residents provided key evidence that helped detectives identify the suspect’s vehicle, which led to a person of interest. Witness accounts led to the arrest of 35-year-old Joseph Drager of Lynden, who was booked and charged with suspicion of first-degree rape, first-degree robbery, and second-degree assault with a deadly weapon.
STORY: Major Skagit aerospace employer set to dramatically expand campus
A major Skagit County aerospace employer is gearing up for a major growth spurt.
Janicki Industries is adding 350 jobs with an expansion at its Hamilton campus.
The company has started construction on a 162,000-square-foot manufacturing facility — called Building 12 — plus a 20,000-square-foot storage addition. It’s part of a rapid growth streak that has more than doubled Janicki’s workforce since 2020.
The new building will house cutting-edge aerospace manufacturing equipment, including the largest autoclave north of Everett, advanced robotics, and expanded cleanroom space.
It’s also being built with sustainability in mind, featuring mass timber construction and a 500-kilowatt solar array.
The facility is expected to open next March. Hiring is already underway for roles ranging from entry-level to senior leadership.
STORY: Lummi Island residents raise $125K to preserve one teacher’s job
Students are headed back to class across Whatcom County, even as schools struggle with deep budget cuts — however, one community on Lummi Island was able to restore a position that had been cut.
The Ferndale district had planned to eliminate one of Beach Elementary’s two longtime teachers because of a decline in enrollment and a $6 million budget deficit. The move would leave one teacher expected to cover all six grades. According to recent reporting by the Cascadia Daily News, the Lummi Island Foundation for Education, the Parent Teacher Organization, and island residents raised $125,000 with bake sales, donations, and fundraisers to bring back a second teacher for the year.
Teachers say they’re deeply moved by the support — and call it proof that the tiny, 30-student school remains the “heartbeat” of the island. However, leaders say it’s a short-term fix. As enrollment shrinks and housing costs rise, questions remain about the school’s long-term future.
STORY: Little Squalicum Pier sustains damage, fireworks thought to be the cause
The decking at Little Squalicum Pier was damaged last weekend — seemingly by fireworks.
The incident, which is believed to have happened on Saturday night, ended up with part of the pier deck scorched and melted. In an email to The Bellingham Herald, city spokesman David Brauhn said that both Bellingham Police and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office received calls about gunshots or fireworks around the time the incident presumably occurred.
Visitors to Little Squalicum Pier are asked to exercise caution. According to the City, they are assessing the damage and working with a contractor
to schedule repairs. The pier may be partially or fully closed during repair work.
STORY: State lawmaker warns of potential ballooning insurance premiums as ACA cap expires
U.S. Representative Kim Schrier warns that health insurance costs are about to spike for Washington families.
At a news conference in Seattle this week, the Democrat from Sammamish (suh-MAM-ish) said federal changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will slash Medicaid funding and end caps on Affordable Care Act premiums. That means Washington residents on ACA plans could see rates jump 65 percent on average — a $10,000 plan today could cost $16,500 next year.
Schrier says the ripple effects will hit everyone — even those insured through large employers — as companies pass rising costs to workers.
Health officials warn the changes could double Washington’s uninsured rate, lead to more people skipping preventative care, and push patients into overcrowded emergency rooms.
Supporters of the law argue Medicaid reforms are needed to fight waste, fraud, and abuse. However, critics call it cruel, saying it trades affordable care for tax breaks to the wealthy.
STORY: Dept of Commerce reports homelessness still growing across WA
Homelessness is still on the rise in Washington, however, the pace is starting to slow — that is according to data collected by the state Department of Commerce.
According to the state’s 2025 Point In Time Count, more than 22,000 people were recorded as experiencing homelessness on a single night in January — up 4.4% from last year, but far less than the 15% jump the previous year.
About one-third of those counted were unsheltered, living on the streets or in public places. However, the report did not include unsheltered data from King County, which typically accounts for half of the state’s total.
To fill in the gaps, the state Department of Commerce also released its annual Snapshot of Homelessness, which combines data from multiple agencies. That report found more than 158,000 people unhoused or in emergency shelters — an increase of just over 2%.
The Washington State Standard reports that Commerce Director Joe Nguyễn (NWIN) says more investment is needed to reverse the trend. Lawmakers approved $1.8 billion in the latest state budget for housing and homelessness programs — including emergency shelters, youth services, and infrastructure to support affordable housing development.
WX: Clouds, Interrupted
And now for the weather:
We can expect to see intermittent periods of overcast skies and bright, sunny weather, today. You can also expect it to remain fairly warm throughout the day, with highs set to peak around the mid-70s. This evening, we should see partly cloudy skies, and lows around 60 degrees.
Tomorrow, we’ll see more sunshine and highs in the 80s once again, before the weekend takes a turn toward the rainy side of things.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THARE-un) Danielson, Cody Mills, Aidan Larson, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Bella Mae, Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Nate Landi (LAND-ee) and Hailey LeRoy (luh-ROY). 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. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thank you for listening!
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STORY: Elections board rules voter ineligible to vote In a follow-up to a recent story, a Whatcom County elections board has ruled that Ferndale City Council candidate Steve Potvin does not live at his registered address.
The county Canvassing Board met on Monday to hear arguments after Norman Glenn Stewart challenged Potvin’s voter status. The board sided with the challenger, saying evidence showed Potvin’s registered residence was actually his business.
The board’s ruling allows Potvin to update his voter registration; if he fails to do that, it will be cancelled. Potvin says he plans to appeal the decision.
The board did not weigh in on whether Potvin is eligible to remain a candidate. As of now, his name is still on the Secretary of State’s official list for the November ballot.
STORY: Free and Cheap (TOMORROW, THE WORLD)
STORY: Free and Cheap (Kill 9/5)
STORY: Free or Cheap (Kill 9/12)
https://www.whatcomcd.org/run-with-the-chums — Sat, Sept. 13
Mark your calendars for the 13th Annual Run with the Chums on September 13th at BP Highlands in Birch Bay.
This free, family-friendly 5K fun run celebrates salmon, clean water, and community. All ages and paces are welcome, and the scenic course offers stunning views of Whatcom County’s shoreline.
Kids 10 and under can enjoy the Smolt Sprint obstacle course starting at 9:30 a.m., with the 5K kicking off at 10.
Check-in opens at 8:30 a.m.—arrive early for a free T-shirt while supplies last.
