Bellingham PD arrests accused perpetrator of threatening message to WCC, Family Care Network to acquire Optum’s Bellingham clinic, operations to be turned over by November, I-5 lane closures coming to downtown Bellingham, Chuckanut Creek starting this weekend, T-Mobile announces statewide layoffs and location closures, Bellingham store closes while call center remains open, Hatchery Chinook return to Bellingham Bay, Judge pauses USPS Final Rule for mail-in ballots, Trump administration sues four more states over noncitizen college tuition rates, including WA (may have to bump to Monday), I know a guy that’s free but cheap, Whatcom County Open House (run no later than 9/28)
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, August 28th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Bellingham PD arrests accused perpetrator of threatening message to WCC
A Bellingham man was arrested after allegedly making an online threat towards Whatcom Community College.
Police say the 26-year-old was on a social-media call early Thursday when he became upset and made a specific threat enter the campus and “shoot people,” prompting someone on the call to dial 911.
Officers flew a drone over the school but did not find him. They located the man later on F Street and took him into custody. He admitted to being in the chats.
The Bellingham Herald reports he was arrested on suspicion of felony harassment and threats to bomb or injure property. WCC says there is no threat now and the campus is operating normally.
STORY: Family Care Network to acquire Optum’s Bellingham clinic, operations to be turned over by November
A longtime Bellingham medical clinic is changing hands this fall.
Cascadia Daily News reports Family Care Network will take over Optum’s Ellis Street clinic in November. Family Care leaders say they expect to retain clinician staff and maintain continuity of care for the clinic’s roughly 8,000 patients.
Optum has operated the site for seven years, most recently as a family-medicine and primary-care clinic with walk-in urgent care. The company says it’s selling the Bellingham clinic because it’s far from Optum’s other services and doesn’t fit into its regional care network.
Family Care says the Ellis Street site will become its tenth clinic in Whatcom County, without effecting their other locations.
STORY: I-5 lane closures coming to downtown Bellingham, Chuckanut Creek starting this weekend
Drivers should expect lane closures and delays on I-5 this weekend.
The right lane of northbound I-5 from Samish Way to north of Iowa Street will close from 6 a.m. tomorrow until 10 a.m. Sunday so that crews can replace damaged concrete panels.
Nighttime lane reductions are also planned from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. in the Samish Lake area on both north and southbound I-5.
WSDOT reminds drivers to slow down and stay alert in work zones.
STORY: T-Mobile announces statewide layoffs and location closures, Bellingham store closes while call center remains open
T-Mobile will close a retail store in Bellingham this fall as part of a statewide layoff.
The Bakerview & I-5 storefront is one of several retail sites the company plans to shut down. The call center on West Bakerview Road will remain open but will see job cuts. The company’s notice says a total of 77 workers across Washington will be effected, including cuts at other retail locations their corporate headquarters, and regional offices.
The layoffs are scheduled between September 21st and November 18th.
STORY: Hatchery Chinook return to Bellingham Bay
Chinook salmon are returning to Bellingham Bay and lower Whatcom Creek for the fall run.
About 7,000 hatchery Chinook are expected to return this season through a partnership between Bellingham Technical College, Fish and Wildlife, the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, and the Lummi and Nooksack tribes.
The fish usually arrive in late August and continue into October. Hatchery Chinook feed endangered Southern Resident orcas, support tribal and non-tribal fishing, and add nutrients to the creek ecosystem when they die of natural causes.
Officials say harvesting these Chinook is legal under current rules, and they’re asking people to be respectful of fishers.
You can see the salmon now at Maritime Heritage Park.
STORY: Judge pauses USPS Final Rule for mail-in ballots
A federal judge has put the brakes on the Postal Service’s new mail-in voting rules.
CNN reports a Boston court issued a two-week restraining order blocking parts of a USPS plan developed under a Trump executive order. The plan would force states to redesign ballot envelopes, upload voter lists, and get Postal Service approval before mailing ballots to voters — steps the judge says states cannot manage in the few weeks before midterms.
The judge also found the challengers — a coalition of states and voting-rights groups — are likely to succeed on claims that the Postal Service lacks the authority to impose requirements on the states as they are unconstitutional.
The order remains in place for 14 days while the court considers a longer block.
STORY: Trump administration sues four more states over noncitizen college tuition rates, including WA (may have to bump to Monday)
The US Justice Department is taking Washington State to court over its in-state tuition and financial-assistance rules.
Federal officials say the state gives in-state tuition to some undocumented students while charging higher rates to citizens from other states. They argue the laws discriminate against out-of-state citizens and grant benefits to immigrants that are not available to U.S. citizens.
The agency also filed similar complaints against Arizona, New Mexico, and Oregon.
The DOJ says yesterday’s filings bring the total number of tuition-related challenges to 21 nationwide.
STORY: I know a guy that’s free but cheap
It’s Friday – if you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a bit of what’s going on around the county.
Wild Things meets at Lake Padden tomorrow from 9:30 to 11am for a nature-based outing for kids aged zero to 6 along with their keepers. It’s pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $10 per person or $20 for a family.
Head to the corner of Railroad and Holly tomorrow for the Love Thy Neighbor Block Party – a free, all-ages party featuring live music, local artists, and community groups, all benefitting Planned Parenthood. Doors open at noon and the fun begins at 1pm.
Stop by the Deming Library tomorrow at 10:30am to meet nature artist Cory Lykaina, enjoy an open mic session at 11am, and visit the adjacent farmers market.
View an all-ages display of digital and physical concept art by illustrator Ken Christiansen at the Blaine Library from 10am to 5pm tomorrow.
Enjoy a free family-friendly community concert and fundraiser on Saturday 5–8 p.m. at the Heart of Anacortes, at 4th & O Streets. Expect live music from The Enthusiasts, a live auction, 50/50 raffle, beer garden, and cake. All funds raised support local art and music programs for underserved kids.
And, on Sunday, there’s a Fix-It Fair at the K2 Roosevelt Taproom on Kentucky Street from noon to 3pm. Volunteer fixers will be on hand to help repair everyday items and keep them out of the landfill. This event is open to all ages and is free or by donation.
WX: Cumuhigh
And now weather…
We’re closing out the week with mostly cloudy skies and warmth, with highs in the upper 60s and low 70s. Expect rain later tonight and into tomorrow. Nighttime lows in the upper 50s.
Dreary weather this weekend, with intermittent clouds on Saturday and a dark Sunday.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg, Kathi O’Shea, Kai Blais-Schmolke, Jenny Lam, Natalie Jones, Noelle Reger, 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 _David Korb________… thanks for listening!
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STORY: WA sues to protect repro & preventative health care
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.
The event is September 30 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the County Courthouse, with staff from county departments and elected offices available to answer questions and explain how county government works.
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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