AG creates Indian boarding schools Truth & Reconciliation Tribal Advisory Committee, Lynden teen found, Bellingham man arrested and charged for stabbing, WWU establishes the Merriman Financial Literacy Program w/ $3.6m donation, Student loan repayments restarted on the 1st, Kaiser Permanente Unions on Strike ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. AG creates Indian boarding schools Truth & Reconciliation Tribal Advisory Committee, Lynden teen found, Bellingham man arrested and charged for stabbing, WWU establishes the Merriman Financial Literacy Program w/ $3.6m donation, Student loan repayments restarted on the 1st, Kaiser Permanente Unions on Strike KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, October 4th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: AG creates Indian boarding schools Truth & Reconciliation Tribal Advisory Committee Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced the five members of his office’s Truth & Reconciliation Tribal Advisory Committee. The committee will study how Washington state can address the government’s role in the harmful legacy of Indian boarding schools. The committee was announced following the National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools on Saturday. The five members will consist of citizens from federally recognized tribes across the state, including Diana Bob from the Lummi Tribe. The committee will hold public listening sessions over the next year as part of a two-year journey toward uncovering the full history of Indian boarding schools in Washington. The first of those sessions will be held in January 2024. In May of 2022, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative released an investigative report detailing over 400 boarding schools across 37 states, including Washington, between 1819 and 1969. These schools deployed systematic and aggressive assimilation tactics, including renaming Indian children with English names, preventing the practice of their languages, religions, and culture and performing various forms of corporal punishment. STORY: Lynden teen found A missing persons alert for a Lynden teen was canceled this morning after they were reportedly found yesterday. The alert for 16 year-old Arianna Quinonez was sent out on Monday after she went missing two days earlier. At 8 am today Lynden Police Chief Steve Taylor informed the Lynden Tribune that she was found safe and sound last night in California. She had traveled alone to visit online gaming friends that she had made without informing anyone. STORY: Bellingham man arrested and charged for stabbing A Bellingham man was arrested on Monday for a stabbing that occurred in early September. On September 4th, police responded to the am-pm gas station near Bellingham Airport for the report of an assault with a weapon, where they found a man with a stab wound. A witness reported that Nathaniel Angelo Perry got into an argument with the man outside of a residence. According to the victim, the argument escalated and he pepper sprayed Perry and was stabbed in the chest in return. The victim was then taken to the hospital for treatment. Perry is being charged with one count of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon. The first court date has been set for Tuesday. STORY: WWU establishes the Merriman Financial Literacy Program w/ $3.6m donation WWU alumnus Paul Merriman and his wife, Zan Merriman, have made a $3.6 million commitment to establish the new Merriman Financial Literacy Program at the university. The program, which will complement the existing financial literacy courses at WWU, will provide financial literacy skills to students at Western and will be offered to members of the community, including K-12 students. The goal of the program is to provide all students and community members with skills to navigate their finances in a way that supports their financial future and overall well-being. Future offerings through the Merriman Financial Literacy Program will be through the College of Business and Economics, and members of the community will be able to access the program as a certificate through Outreach and Continuing Education at Western. STORY: Student loan repayments restarted on the 1st Student loan repayments began again on October 1st, after being suspended since 2020. Payments won’t be due immediately, but will instead be a part of a year-long on-ramp ending on September 30th of next year. Borrowers have a year of leniency to begin repayments, but interest will continue to accrue. Those who miss payments during the period will not be reported to credit bureaus, be considered in default, or referred to collection agencies. The restart of student loan payments will affect about 800,000 Washington residents, with the average owed around $36,000. However, a new plan was introduced recently that may help those with debt. Called the Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, the plan offers a way for millions of borrowers to more affordably pay their monthly student loan bills. The payments are income-driven and based on earnings and household size. After monthly payments are made for a set number of years, usually 20, any remaining balance is forgiven. Much of the new program is available now, but it won’t be in place in its entirety until July. The administration estimates the plan will save the typical borrower about $1,000 per year and urges borrowers who want to sign up, to do so now. Biden also just announced today the cancellation of an additional $9 billion in student debt. $5 billion of the aid will go to people who’ve worked in public service for a decade or more; $2.8 billion is for those enrolled in income-driven repayment plans; and $1.2 billion will go to borrowers with disabilities. The administration’s total amount of debt canceled is now nearly $130 billion. STORY: Kaiser Permanente Unions on strike Over 75,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers went on strike today in multiple states, making the strike the largest for healthcare workers in US history. The workers include licensed vocational nurses, home health aides, ultrasound sonographers, as well as technicians in the radiology, X-ray, surgical, pharmacy and emergency departments. Doctors were not part of the strike, and Kaiser Permanente said they would bring in temporary workers to fill in the gaps. The union representing the …
October 3, 2023 News Transcript
With shutdown averted, funding available to Whatcom flood victims, Silver Lake partially closed due to biotoxins, Whatcom County Council funds Blaine school district behavioral health coach, Mount Baker Highway reopens after 4-month and closure, 4.25% increase for ferry rides, Fema & FCC to conduct test of national alert systems ______________________________ Return to Transcripts
October 2, 2023 News Transcript
Fire restrictions lifted on most WDFW-managed lands, Arrest made in August armed robbery in Ferndale, Emma’s Salmon Funding Follow Up, Supreme Court reinstates conviction of Mount Vernon woman, Federal audit finds flaws in WA’s oversight of pandemic aid for schools, WA Min Wage to increase, Domestic Violence Awareness Month ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Monday, the 2nd. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Fire restrictions lifted on most WDFW-managed lands The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced on Friday it will lift its campfire and other fire restrictions in many areas. As wetter and cooler weather conditions decrease the danger of fire statewide, the WDFW has repealed restrictions on recreational fires in most Department-managed lands. Fire danger remains high in the White Salmon and Chelan areas, but many other areas like the Blue Mountains have downgraded their danger ratings in response to the rain. Those wanting to make fires outdoors are still encouraged to check restrictions online ahead of time. Information can be found on the Department of Natural Resources and Forest Services websites. STORY: Arrest made in August armed robbery in Ferndale Ferndale Police have arrested a suspect in an August armed robbery incident. The robbery occurred on August 15th at a retail business on Main Street. The suspect displayed a knife, and stole alcohol and tools before fleeing. Last week, during a traffic stop conducted by Lummi Nation Police, Juan Carlos Barron, aged 41, was arrested on an unrelated warrant. Ferndale Police officers noted that Barron had tattoos matching the description of the robbery suspect and he was positively identified as the robbery suspect. Barron has been booked into the Whatcom County Jail on charges of harassment and 1st-degree robbery. STORY: Supreme Court reinstates conviction of Mount Vernon woman On Thursday, the Washington State Supreme Court reinstated the conviction of a Mount Vernon woman found guilty of trying to convince her 10-year-old son to kill his father by tainting his food and drink with rat poison. Vanessa Valdiglesias-Lavalle (vall-di-GLAY-si-as luh-VALL?) was found guilty in April 2021 of first-degree solicitation to commit murder. In Washington, a person is guilty of criminal solicitation when the person “offers to give or gives money or other thing of value” with intent to promote or facilitate the commission of a crime. Key to the verdict was the son’s audio recording of his mom telling him that they could live “together forever” if he poisoned his father. However, her conviction was overturned last year after an appellate court ruled that that audio statement did not constitute a “thing of value”. The State Supreme Court disagreed with this and stated that “money or other thing of value” includes anything that possesses utility, desirability, or significance and doesn’t need to be limited to items with traditional economic or market value. In their opinion, Valdiglesias-Lavalle’s statement of being together forever does count as a thing of value. Valdiglesias LaValle is serving a 15-year sentence at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor. STORY: Emma’s Salmon Funding Followup The farmers who receive funding for salmon habitat restoration work from the Washington government are worried about how they might appear to the public. According to Save Family Farming spokesperson Dillon Honcoop, local farmers are not asking for a government handout, but rather their lobby efforts are aimed at making sure that family-owned farms are protected AND that salmon restoration is prioritized as well. The land involved in salmon restoration was originally going to be planted as natural habitat surrounding tributaries to the Nooksack river. Some of the contracts were renegotiated or canceled when government officials found errors in the original contracts. Honcoop says these contracts can do a lot for local farmers. [Clip – only about a month] According to Honcoop, work done for salmon is important, and cutting funding dramatically to these programs is worrisome to climate activists and farmers alike. [Clip – what’s at stake] STORY: Federal audit finds flaws in WA’s oversight of pandemic aid for schools In an audit last week, the U.S. Department of Education found flaws in Washington state’s oversight of more than $1 billion in federal dollars intended to help public schools weather the pandemic. Investigators found that the state didn’t have adequate transparency, and had issues with preparing plans and contracts properly. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction had previously had issues with spending transparency in 2021, when questions were raised about the lack of information from school districts around how they would use pandemic funds. It wasn’t until earlier this year that OSPI told districts to post more details about their spending plans. In addition, auditors found several instances where school districts failed to submit proper plans for spending the aid, with components missing. The plans have since been completed. As a result of the audit, school districts will be required to post their budgets online in an easily discoverable way. New, more detailed information about aid expenditure is due to arrive sometime this fall. In total, Whatcom school districts have claimed more than $50 million in aid due to this package. STORY: WA Min Wage to increase The Washington minimum wage is set to increase to $16.28 an hour starting next year. The increase is only a 3.4% increase from the current minimum wage, and will take place on January 1. The increase comes shortly before Whatcom County votes to change Bellingham’s minimum wage to one dollar above the state wage, eventually building to two dollars above the state wage in 2025. Currently, Washington has the highest minimum wage in the country, while the federal minimum wage is still at $7.25 an hour. Bellingham will join Seattle, SeaTac and Tukwila with an increased minimum wage if the initiative passes in March. STORY: Domestic Violence Awareness Month October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time when organizations across the community focus on raising awareness to the societal issue of domestic violence, including dating, intimate partner, and relationship violence. Western …
September 29, 2023 News Transcript
Maple Falls man who faked Native heritage sentenced in U.S. District Court, 24 school board seats open in Nov election, WA Supreme Court sides with Inslee in Challenge to eviction moratorium, New DOH dashboard details drug overdose deaths in Washington, House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus releases information about shutdown’s effects on states, Free and Cheap ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Friday, the 29th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Maple Falls man who faked Native heritage sentenced in U.S. District Court A Whatcom man was sentenced on Wednesday, after falsely representing himself as Native American to sell his art. Lewis Anthony Rath of Maple Falls pleaded guilty in March to violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, a law aimed at eliminating counterfeits from the Indigenous art market. The investigation into Rath began in 2018 when the Indian Arts and Crafts Board received a complaint that he was representing himself as an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe to sell items such as totem poles, masks and pendants to Seattle retail stores, despite neither having tribal enrollment nor heritage. In a statement to the court, Assistant U.S. Attorney and Tribal Liaison Tate London said that people like Rath defraud consumers who seek authentic Indian artwork and make it more difficult for Indian artists to make a living. Rath was given a sentence of 24 months of probation and 200 hours of community service. STORY: 24 school board seats open in Nov election More than half of school board seats in Whatcom County will be up for election in November, and some incumbents are expected to be ousted. School boards across the county are seeing an increase in candidates due in part to parents’ frustrations regarding school closures, mask mandates and students’ declining test scores during the COVID-19 pandemic. Balancing student needs, parent demands, and state rules has become more of a challenge over the last few years. One example is Ferndale. In 2021, parents and community members demanded the school board operate in defiance of state regulations regarding closures and masks, which would have jeopardized the majority of the state-funded operating budget. Three candidates have entered the Ferndale race to challenge the incumbents, running on a platform championing parents’ rights and involvement in school board matters. However, others like vice president of the Ferndale Education Association, Amy Nylen (KNEE-len), see the increase in candidates as misguided, arguing that the understanding of the mission and capabilities of a school board has become clouded. 41 candidates are running for 25 available school boards’ seats across the county, 9 of which being uncontested. STORY: WA Supreme Court sides with Inslee in challenge to eviction moratorium In a 5-4 ruling on Thursday, the Washington Supreme Court defended the state’s eviction moratorium, originally established during the pandemic’s state of emergency. The majority ruled that the eviction moratorium, which ran from March 2020 to October 2021, was lawful and did not exceed gubernatorial emergency powers. In the majority statement, Chief Justice Steven González said that without it, up to 790,000 people would have been evicted during the pandemic. Associate Chief Justice Charles Johnson wrote in the dissenting statement that the portion of state law Inslee relied on to issue the moratorium allows the governor to suspend certain activities as needed, but doesn’t allow him to suspend state laws. The majority argued that nothing in the emergency powers law “suggests the governor is limited to prohibiting activities that are untouched by statutes.” The suit to end the moratorium started 9 months after the moratorium began, when landlords in Centralia sued the governor and the state, arguing the moratorium violated their property rights and exceeded the governor’s emergency powers. Another case challenging the state’s moratorium and Seattle’s separate moratorium is awaiting a decision from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. STORY: New DOH dashboard details drug overdose deaths in Washington The Washington State Department of Health’s new Unintentional Drug Overdose Data dashboard aims to help communities better understand overdose deaths and make informed prevention decisions. Relevant drug overdose death data are collected through State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System, or SUDORS. SUDORS links information from coroner and medical examination reports, toxicology, autopsy and, when possible, prescription drug monitoring program data. The data on the dashboard are refreshed twice a year in the spring and fall. Thirteen Washington counties are currently participating in the program, accounting for about 88% of statewide overdose deaths. The goal is to eventually include the entire state. STORY: House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus releases information about shutdown’s effects on states The House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus released a report on the possible effects of the potential government shutdown on Washington state. Government shutdown would result in the closure of national parks, with thousands of park rangers placed on furlough. Even more worrisome are the immediate effects on the Nutritional Supplemental Program for WIC benefits, which helps over 120,000 in Washington state alone, and over 6 million country-wide. Additionally, as many as 143,000 federal workers and troops in Washington will be left without jobs and pay if the shutdown is not averted by the end of this weekend. Over 891,000 SNAP benefit recipients in Washington will be unable to access their benefits if the shutdown becomes prolonged. In addition, the lack of resources could leave many small businesses that depend on loans without money. States could be forced to provide funding for federal programs, including the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which affects nearly 75,000 Washingtonians. Government shutdown would also cause travel delays in airports, and the FDA would experience delays or interruptions on pharmaceutical testing and food safety inspections. STORY: Free and Cheap Looking for something to do this weekend? The closing celebration for Bellingham’s Climate Action Week will be held tomorrow from 3 to 7 at Kulshan Beer Garden downtown. It is an all ages event, with live music, a circus act and kids play zone, trivia with prizes, ebike demos, and food …
September 28, 2023 News Transcripts
PeaceHealth plans ‘new’ outpatient surgery center as Pacific Rim closes, Paving of New Ferndale overpass to impact traffic, Bellingham Schools announces new Climate Action Plan, Blaine school board approves levy and bond measures for February ballots, Colleges in Whatcom still recovering from pandemic-induced drop in enrollment, Update on Drug Test Lawsuit, WSP hiring lateral officers for the first time in agency history _____________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, the 28th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: PeaceHealth plans ‘new’ outpatient surgery center as Pacific Rim closes The Pacific Rim Outpatient Surgery Center in Bellingham closed on August 31, after its lease was not renewed by PeaceHealth. PeaceHealth plans to take over the facility and expand its own outpatient surgical center. The new facility will have six rooms, including five operating rooms. County leadership supports this expansion due to population growth and limited access to health services. Pacific Rim has proposed building a smaller facility in the Cordata area that would include three mixed-use rooms and is scheduled to open in late 2024. PeaceHealth remains the primary health service provider in the region and has faced criticism for reducing multiple services but plans to re-launch comprehensive palliative care in 2024. STORY: Paving of new Ferndale overpass to impact traffic Drivers should expect traffic impacts around the southbound I-5 on- and off-ramps at Portal Way, as paving work will be done on the new Thornton Street overpass between 7am and 7pm both today and tomorrow. The work is expected to cause delays in the area of the 2nd Avenue and Portal Way roundabout. Flaggers will be there to direct traffic as trucks enter and leave the work site via the roundabout, and motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and use alternate routes. STORY: Bellingham Schools announces new Climate Action Plan Bellingham Public Schools accepted their new Climate Action Plan yesterday, after a year in the works. The plan is split into three areas: facilities and operations, teaching and learning, and habits and culture. The plan lays out tactical goals that the school district should reach by 2025, such as better management of water, developing a more integrated climate change education, and making sustainability a central part of the school system. As said in the foundation statement, the plan will hopefully create a “systematic and enduring commitment to addressing the climate crisis”. The plan is motivated by recent extreme weather events, as well as other recent Climate Action Plans by the city of Bellingham and Whatcom County. By involving the nearly 13,000 students and staff in the process, Bellingham Public Schools hopes to develop an enduring culture of sustainability to prepare students and the community for the future. STORY: Blaine school board approves levy and bond measures for February ballots In a unanimous decision, Blaine School District board members approved placing separate levy and bond requests on the February 13th special election next year. The four-year, $7.5 million enrichment levy would replace an expiring one and maintain the existing tax rate depending upon assessment values in the district. It would increase to $8.5 million by 2028. The enrichment levy currently funds slightly over 17% of the district’s operating budget, with funds used to pay for enhanced staffing units, substitute staffing, extracurricular activities, transportation, food service and more. The board also approved placing a $70 million bond levy on the ballot that would be paid from local property taxes for up to 25 years. The district’s financial projections show that the tax rate would not exceed current levels. The bond would pay for improvements to the Pipeline Athletic Complex, the Point Roberts Primary School, the replacement of aging and outdated instructional spaces at the middle school, upgrades to the Performing Arts Center, preliminary design for the proposed Birch Bay school, and updates to electrical and mechanical infrastructure. STORY: Colleges in Whatcom still recovering from pandemic-induced drop in enrollment Colleges in Whatcom County and across the state are still recovering from a pandemic-induced drop in enrollment. The Education Research and Data Center released a report on Friday, detailing enrollment information for colleges across Washington. Data shows that enrollment at public institutions in Washington has continued to drop since the pandemic began in 2019. Community and technical colleges across the state have seen the biggest impact with a 25% drop in enrollment, while 4-year colleges have only gone down by 10% in 2022 compared to 2019. Whatcom Community College has noticed a slighter greater decrease in enrollment at 30%. Western matches the statewide trend of 10%, but according to Communications Director Jonathan Higgins, a large part of the challenge is ensuring that freshmen return after their first year. Last year, the university reported that only 77% of freshman students from 2021 returned in 2022. The university had recently received nearly $48 million from the state in April to construct a new Student Development & Success Center, hoping to bring together services centered around recruitment and retention. STORY: Update on Drug Test Lawsuit The recent drug test lawsuit against the Washington State Dept of Corrections regarding the use of presumptive drug tests to penalize inmates is seeking damages. Here to comment on the ongoing case is Alison Bilow, the attorney representing the plaintiffs of the case. [Clip – It’s really tragic] The case is setting a precedent that could be seen in practices that the Washington State Dept of Corrections use as far as drug testing goes. The effect of the penalties, especially solitary confinement, on the person is something that should be taken into account according to Bilow. [Clip – It really causes harm] While the case is ongoing, it is uncertain what will come of the lawsuit. STORY: WSP hiring lateral officers for first time in agency history The Washington State Patrol is accepting lateral hires for the first time in the agency’s more than 100-year history. The Washington Legislature has budgeted the WSP money to hold two lateral classes over the next two years in response …
September 27, 2023 News Transcript
HEADLINES: Minimum wage hike, renter relocation to be on Bham Ballot, Maple Falls woman arrested for DUI after chase, $5 million in new state Clean Energy Fund investments to rural communities, West Nile virus reported in humans and horses in WA, Food benefits for low income families at risk in gov shutdown, Inmates allege DOC using fault drug tests to levy harsh punishments, WA group brings ‘Alternatives to Violence’ to secondary students ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, the 27th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Minimum wage hike, renter relocation to be on Bham ballot Bellingham’s ballot on November 7 is due to have two initiatives that would combat the hike in rental housing costs and provide a boost to the city’s minimum wage. Initiative 1 would raise the minimum wage by $1 over the state rate of 15.74 in May of 2024, and by another dollar in May of 2025. Initiative 2 would require landlords to pay tenants three months’ worth of rent to help them relocate if the landlord chooses to raise the tenant’s rent by more than 8%. According to Seth Mangold, the vice chair of Community First Whatcom – the organization responsible for advancing both measures – the initiatives are intended to “address the growing unaffordability of Bellingham, by enabling our community to stay here if they choose.” Mangold added that housing costs are directly correlated with the rising homeless population and that the organization is working to address that as well. STORY: Maple Falls woman arrested for DUI after chase A Maple Falls woman was arrested on Friday afternoon after leading law enforcement on a chase while intoxicated. Everson Police initially tried to pull 33-year-old Tempest Duke over on South Pass Road, who then sped off after nearly hitting the officers’ car. Deputies later found the car in Everson, but the driver took off again, hitting 90 mph and crossing multiple double yellow lines. Duke was taken into custody after she attempted to turn around in a berry field. Duke has at least one prior felony DUI conviction and had a warrant for a separate assault charge at the time of her arrest. She remains at the Whatcom County Jail, with bail set at $150,000. STORY: West Nile virus reported in humans and horses in WA The Washington State Department of Health has reported four cases of West Nile virus in the state. Two of the reported cases are from residents from Walla Walla and Franklin counties, the other two are from horses in Grant and Benton counties. The cases were diagnosed within the past week. West Nile virus is a virus carried by mosquitoes that affects both humans and animals. Disease due to West Nile Virus occurs during mosquito season in Washington state, particularly in areas with hot summer temperatures. Most of those infected develop no symptoms, but risk of severe infection is higher in seniors and those with certain medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. The Department of Health cautions the public to avoid mosquito bites, and to contact your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms consistent with West Nile virus. STORY: $5 million in new state Clean Energy Fund investments to rural communities The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced seven grants totaling nearly $5 million from the state’s Clean Energy Fund to enhance dairy digesters and advance clean energy in rural communities. Dairy digesters are how cattle manure and urine is managed, the most common way being pools. These pools can generate a large amount of greenhouse gasses and are thus a large focus when it comes to efforts to fight climate change. The gasses from the digesters can be diverted, stored, and used for energy or fuel. Whatcom will be seeing a large portion of the money. $1 million will go to FPE Renewables in Lynden for more efficient generators and reduced emissions at Vander Haak (HACK) Dairy. The generators will supply power for over 3,000 electric cars annually, all from waste manure and food residuals. Almost half a million will go to Farm Power Lynden in Custer. The facility was originally built in 2010 and the money will go to upgrading the dairy digester’s generator. Each investment will result in improved air and water quality, soil health and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The Clean Energy Fund has invested nearly $300 million in clean energy projects since 2013. STORY: Food benefits for low income families at risk in gov shutdown A program that helps millions of low-income families afford healthy food could see substantial cuts as a result of the potential government shutdown. The White House released a state-by-state breakdown, estimating that nearly 7 million people who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children – also known as the WIC – could be at risk of losing funds and vouchers for food. Of those 7 million people, nearly 131,000 live in Washington state. The WIC program provides financial support for those who are low-income and pregnant or nursing, as well for children up to 5 years old. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that WIC recipients could feel the impact of a shutdown within days, with the vast majority of participants seeing an immediate reduction and elimination of those benefits. Funding for the WIC program is not mandatory spending, meaning the program would not be automatically funded in the event of a government shutdown. Instead, the program is funded through the Agriculture Appropriations bill, which has not been passed by Congress. STORY: Inmates allege DOC using faulty drug tests to levy harsh punishments According to a recent lawsuit filed by Washington inmates, the Dept of Corrections allegedly used faulty drug tests as a way to award harsh sentences. The tests used by the corrections officers are known to have a 38% false positive rate and are considered presumptive drug tests. The rate of false positive tests is a point of inaccuracy that cannot make …
September 26, 2023 News Transcript
Armed robbery suspects sought by Ferndale Police, Small fire at Bellingham’s Options High School was intentionally set, Ferndale Community Services Announces Safe Parking Initiative, High Winds leaves thousands without power across Whatcom, 6th candidate entered the race for Washington Commissioner of Public Lands, Washingtonians Out of Prison can Participate in Voter Registration Day, US heading towards government shutdown next week ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, the 26th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Armed robbery suspects sought by Ferndale Police The Ferndale Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying three suspects in an armed robbery that occurred last Sunday. Officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at Starvin’ Sam’s Mini-Mart on Barrett Road around 5pm. An employee reported that three suspects had entered the store and displayed a firearm while demanding money. Despite a search conducted in the area with a drone and K9 unit, and additional assistance provided by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and Bellingham PD, the suspects could not be located. The case remains under investigation. Those with any information are asked to contact the Ferndale Police Department. STORY: Small fire at Bellingham’s Options High School was intentionally set A small fire at Options High School in Bellingham is now suspected to be an act of arson and is under investigation. The fire occurred on Monday, September 18, and was confined to a men’s restroom on the school’s second floor. The estimated damage is approximately $10,000. Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy says evidence suggests it was purposefully set and investigations are ongoing. STORY: Ferndale Community Services announce Safe Parking Initiative Ferndale Community Services announced a new program yesterday that offers a secure place to park and sleep for people living in their vehicles. Called the Safe Parking Initiative, the program hopes to address the needs of unhoused individuals and families with off-street parking locations in Ferndale and North Whatcom County. The locations will include bathrooms and handwashing stations along with other amenities. The program is still looking for exact sites to host the vehicles as well as volunteers as it continues to work through the early stages of the planning process. Applications to volunteer are due this Friday, and more information is available on the Ferndale Community Services website. STORY: High winds leaves thousands without power across Whatcom The first high wind storm of the Fall hit Whatcom County yesterday. Strong winds reaching 40 mph were recorded at Bellingham Airport yesterday afternoon, and resulted in 3,000 residents without power in the county. The most affected area was Wickersham all the way to Everson. There were small outages in the South Hill, Happy Valley, and Fairhaven neighborhoods but power was restored to all areas by about 4 pm yesterday. STORY: 6th candidate entered the race for Washington Commissioner of Public Lands There are now six Democratic candidates in the race to manage the state’s public lands and forests. Current commissioner, Hilary Franz, is not seeking reelection, making the race particularly significant. The lands commissioner oversees Washington’s extensive state land holdings and their associated revenue generation. Additionally, the position plays a crucial role in the state’s response to climate change, particularly in wildfire management and carbon sequestration. The race now includes Democratic state Sen. Rebecca Saldana of Seattle, Patrick DePoe, a member of the Makah (Mah-Kah) Tribe and director of tribal relations for the Department of Natural Resources. King County Council Member Dave Upthegrove, a former state lawmaker, is also running and says, if elected he would become Washington’s first “out LGBTQ statewide executive officeholder.” They join state Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (Wedge) of Port Angeles, former state senator Mona Das (Daas) of Kent, and Republican Sue Kuehl (Kool) Pederson in the race. STORY: Washingtonians Out of Prison Can Participate in Voter Registration Day With voting rights restored for Washington residents who were in prison, a push comes to get them registered to vote after Voter Registration Day last week. Eric Tegetoff has more. VOTER AUDIO STORY: US heading towards government shutdown next week As the federal government heads towards a possible shutdown next week, Washington State agencies have been asked to identify programs that could be affected if federal funds stop flowing to the state. While not clear yet what initiatives are at risk, state agencies will have identified the programs by October 2nd, as directed by the Office of Financial Management. The agencies will include information about terminations or reductions in programs for residents, employee layoffs, and any contracts, loans, or grants that may need to be ended. The federal funding accounts for around 25% of the state’s current budget, with other states receiving a higher percentage on average. Some critical services like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and the postal service will be exempt from the shutdown as their funding comes from outside annual appropriations. Millions of federal employees, including members of the military, won’t receive paychecks. There are roughly 54,000 federal employees in the state of Washington, according to the Congressional Research Service. Parks maintenance will also be shut down, but many will remain open as long as visitors do not need a guide or administrative support. With no indication how long the shutdown will last, the state is bracing for a stoppage that may last weeks. WX: Showers and thunderstorms Today is going to be rainy, with a 90% chance of showers and a high near 65*. Thunderstorms are possible in the afternoon, and south winds as high as 25 mph are also expected. Nighttime will bring showers with it and temperatures are expected to drop to a low near 52, with south-southwest winds turning east after midnight, with gusts as high as 23mph. OUTRO: Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), 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 …
September 25, 2023 News Transcripts
FEMA flood relief grants for Whatcom property owners delayed indefinitely, Sourdough Fire now at 25% containment, Birch Bay Water and Sewer District to receive $1.5 million from state, Changes made to Whatcom conservation program will affect salmon habitat preservation, Judge upholds Washington’s $17B transportation package, US Gov announces $1.4 billion to improve rail safety and boost capacity ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Monday, the 25th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: FEMA flood relief grants for Whatcom property owners delayed indefinitely Millions of dollars in federal grants allocated for 2021 flood recovery in Whatcom County have been indefinitely delayed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Whatcom County had been working with FEMA to secure over $12 million in grants to acquire damaged homes, elevate structures, and assist residents affected by the floods of November 2021. The county was planning to buy out around 15 homes and elevate 14 others that were on the list. However, the Agency’s disaster fund is running out of money– in a year that’s already set records for billion-dollar disasters. The relief fund is almost depleted, says FEMA chief Deanne Criswell, and the agency had no choice but to limit spending to emergency needs. According to another FEMA official, there’s now growing concern inside the agency that funding could lapse entirely if the Republican majority in the House of Representatives shuts the government down on October first. County Executive Satpal Sidhu expressed frustration with FEMA’s failure to fulfill its commitments, noting that property owners in the grant application had been waiting for assistance for over 21 months. A potential government shutdown could also leave homeowners without flood insurance just as the rainy season approaches Whatcom County. According to Adam Smith, a NOAA climatologist who tracks natural disasters, there have been 139 separate billion-dollar disasters since 2016 that killed at least 5,200 people and cost over $1 trillion dollars in damage across the United States. STORY: Sourdough Fire now at 25% containment The Sourdough fire has reached 25 percent containment, after growing 1,000 acres last week. Now spanning over 7,300 acres, the fire has been burning near Diablo Lake since late July. Current containment is focused around state Route 20 and around at-risk structures. Firefighters are moving equipment like hoses and pumps away from the remaining areas, and are monitoring the wildfire for any additional changes. According to a National Park Service press release, a change in containment is unlikely until a season ending event like significant rain or snow. STORY: Birch Bay Water and Sewer District to receive $1.5 million from state The Birch Bay Water and Sewer District will receive over $1.5 million dollars in construction loans to improve the domestic water supply at Birch Point. The loan is part of a $220 million package approved by the Washington State Public Works Board to repair decaying and damaged infrastructure around the state. In total, 61 projects throughout 51 communities received funding. Water quality and conservation has been a frequent concern for Birch Bay residents as of recently. The board also approved an $800,000 loan for a reservoir replacement project by the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District. STORY: Changes made to Whatcom conservation program will affect salmon habitat preservation The Farm Service Agency is cutting payments to dozens of Whatcom County farmers and rural landowners. The agency states landowners were wrongly being paid as part of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. In return for payment, the owners were to leave their land unsown and plant trees and other habitat along the Nooksack River and its tributaries, where critically endangered salmon species live. About 200 landowners were affected, including 1,500 acres of land and 120 miles of stream “buffers” for salmon habitat. After October 1st, some landowners will be removed from the program while others will see changes in their contracts. The cuts have led to agricultural and environmental interests appealing to Governor Jay Inslee in an effort to replace funding the landowners receive from the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. A letter to Inslee was signed by the Whatcom Family Farmers, the Washington State Dairy Federation, and the Nature Conservancy, among others. Owners like former County Councilman Rud Browne worry about how they can maintain conservation efforts, stating that they may need to return the land to agriculture to afford to pay property taxes. STORY: Judge upholds Washington’s $17B transportation package On Friday, a Thurston County Superior Court Judge dismissed a case attempting to invalidate a $17 billion transportation law. The motion to invalidate the 2022 law came in January from the Citizen Action Defense Fund, who argued that that legislation contains multiple unrelated topics which would violate a state requirement that bills only cover one subject. The attorney general’s office argued that the law doesn’t violate the rule because it works as an omnibus bill that compiles a range of transportation topics. Thurston County Judge Mary Sue Wilson agreed, stating that “each of the challenged sections have some incidental or rational relationship to one another.” The conservative advocacy group disagreed with the ruling, and plans to appeal to the State Supreme Court. The law, called Move Ahead Washington, is a blueprint for spending $17 billion through 2038 on road projects and maintenance, transit expansion, fish-barrier removal, and more. It was signed into law by Governor Inslee in March of 2022. STORY: US Gov announces $1.4 billion to improve rail safety and boost capacity In an effort to improve railroad safety and increase passenger capacity nationwide, the United States Government will spend $1.4 billion on track remediation to restore passenger travel in parts of the country. Washington state will see a large portion of that money, as the Palouse (puh-LOOSE) River & Coulee (COO-lee) City Railroad in Washington state will get nearly $73 million to upgrade the track and related infrastructure that will allow the rail line to handle modern railcars. The funding is spread out across 35 states, and efforts to improve railroad safety come after the East …
September 22, 2023 News Transcript
Lummi Health agencies issue emergency alert following overdose deaths, Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut ceremony postponed, Dry cleaning detective received unauthorized send-off after firing, Washington Education Association establishes 1.5 million Promise Scholarship for WWU’s aspiring teachers, Warmer than normal winter for Whatcom, AG Ferguson’s unemployment fraud recovery initiative nets $42 million, Prices skyrocket on WA transportation projects, and fewer contractors want the jobs, Free and Cheap ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Friday, the 22nd. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Lummi health agencies issue emergency alert following overdose deaths, Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut ceremony postponed The Lummi Healing Spirit Clinic and the Lummi Tribal Health Center issued a joint emergency alert warning about a new batch of fentanyl that resulted in four deaths this week. Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut’s (skallie-CHUKH-ten-not) ceremony has been postponed in light of the deaths. The health agencies advise safe practices while using fentanyl, as the new batch in the area is either stronger than usual, or could be a mixture similar to that of “tranq dope.” They released in the emergency alert safe practices, including never using alone, not using at the same time as a friend, always having Kloxxado or Narcan on hand, testing the supply, leaving doors open or unlocked, using slowly, and remembering that a person’s tolerance lessens after a couple days of decreased use, which puts you at risk for overdose. The Lummi Nation also released a statement yesterday announcing the postponement of Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (skallie-CHUKH-ten-not)’s ceremony that was to happen this weekend. In the statement, the Nation does promise to honor her as their ancestors directed. They also wrote in the press release “Our community has been hit hard with an overwhelming amount of grief this week, and we feel at this time we must come together as a Nation to wrap our arms around the families that are mourning the loss of a loved one.” Community members are handing out test strips for fentanyl and “tranq dope” at the clinic, health center, as well as some gas stations and bus stops. STORY: Dry cleaning detective received unauthorized send-off after firing A former Bellingham police detective got an unauthorized hero’s send-off earlier this month after being fired for misuse of public funds. Adam McGinty was fired by the Bellingham Police Department on August 18th after an internal investigation revealed that he circumvented the department’s allotment of dry-cleaning services by using another detective’s name without their knowledge. A memo summarizing the results of the investigation said that McGinty had committed second-degree theft, a felony involving between $750 and $5,000 in goods or services. McGinty’s dismissal was followed by a flag raising and a vehicle escort of up to six vehicles – including police cars with emergency lights flashing. According to Whatcom County’s prosecutor’s office, such events are reserved only for those who retire or otherwise leave the police department in good standing. The celebratory events were made public when McGinty’s wife, Beth McGinty, shared details in several NextDoor posts on September 12th. In those posts, she also described a private going-away party, attended by around 120 people – including prosecutors, city officials, and retired and active-duty officers of all ranks. In a statement to Cascadia Daily News, Bellingham Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig said she is disappointed by the unsanctioned escort and flag raising and that she will be instituting policies to prevent this from happening again. STORY: Washington Education Association establishes $1.5 million Promise Scholarship for WWU’s aspiring teachers The Washington Education Association (WEA) has pledged $1.5 million in scholarship support to the students of Western’s Woodring College of Education. Beginning this fall, the WEA scholarship will be awarded to fifth year students so that the teaching candidates can continue receiving financial support while student teaching. Additionally, those students will receive one-on-one mentoring from WEA members. The $1.5 million scholarship will be awarded over the next five years in hopes to better prepare the next generation of teaching professionals in Washington State. Currently, more than 4,000 educators in the Washington state school systems are graduates of Woodring, and every county in Washington state has a Woodring-trained graduate on its workforce. STORY: Warmer than normal winter for Whatcom Northwest Washington is likely to see a warmer-than-normal winter with less rainfall than average. A report issued last week by the Climate Prediction Center indicates a 71% chance of a strong El Niño, a climate pattern that would steer heavy winter storms south of Washington state. The agency also issued a long-range forecast for the winter, predicting a 60-70% chance of above-normal temperatures and a 40-50% chance of below-normal rainfall. The reports doubled down on what meteorologists were already thinking, though the forecasts do not mean extreme weather events such as lowland snow or flooding won’t happen. Western Washington just endured a rare three-year La Niña pattern, which normally results in colder and wetter winters in Whatcom County. During that period, the Nooksack River flooded three times, killing one person and causing more than $200 million in damages. Because of the El Niño forecast, the U.S. Drought Monitor lists Whatcom County in a period of severe drought, and indicates that dry conditions will continue. STORY: AG Ferguson’s unemployment fraud recovery initiative nets $42 million The Attorney General’s office announced yesterday that their fraud recovery initiative netted a total of $42 million in stolen funds from 26 financial institutions. Using the state asset forfeiture powers, the AG recovered more than two-thirds of stolen unemployment funds of a possible $647 million. The money was recovered from bank accounts where thieves did not withdraw all their stolen funds and will go back into the state unemployment trust fund and to the federal treasury. Beginning in April 2020, Washington’s unemployment insurance program was one of the first to suffer an unprecedented nationwide attack of imposter fraud. Fraud rings used stolen identities to steal as much as $135 billion from 53 government programs that received federal pandemic unemployment benefits. Washington State’s Employment Security Department estimates that during the COVID-19 pandemic, fraudulent claims accounted …
September 21, 2023 News Transcript
PeaceHealth clinicians vote to unionize, Lummi Nation to honor Tokitae with private traditional ceremony, Blaine city layoffs, State collects estimates of economic impact of Sourdough fire, 8-person crash in Everson consisted of 7 Romanian citizens, States agree to install 20 million new heat pumps by 2023, Gov to provide free Covid tests ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, the 21st. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: PeaceHealth clinicians vote to unionize Over 80 mid-level workers at PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s Medical Center voted to unionize Monday. This will be the first bargaining unit for the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, or UAPD, made up of solely advanced practice clinicians, such as nurse midwives, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. This vote comes after months of talks concerning the efficacy of caretaking at PeaceHealth in Bellingham. UAPD first started to push to unionize the hospital in July, with a press release stating concerns over “assembly-line” care taking place at St. Joseph’s. UAPD President Dr. Stuart Bussey finds the union will provide a voice to the workers that have not been able to participate in decisions that affect their workplace. [Sound bite one] Dr. Bussey sees the union as ultimately helping the patients. [Sound bite two] The next steps for the union contract will be bargaining for a new contract, one that will represent the interests of all that participate. STORY: Lummi Nation to honor Tokitae with private traditional ceremony The Lummi (LUH-mie) Nation will have a private, traditional ceremony for Tokitae this weekend. The Southern Resident orca’s ashes arrived in Washington this week after her untimely death in August and subsequent necropsy in Georgia. Tokitae, or Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (skal-luh-CHUKH-ten-not), was captured over fifty years ago during the great orca roundup where multiple animals died in the process. She was the longest surviving orca from that roundup, and the second oldest orca in captivity. Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (skal-luh-CHUKH-ten-not) spent her years in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium, and there was a large grass-roots push to have her returned to her home in the Salish Sea for years. Plans to move her to a private net pen in the Salish Sea were in the works before her death, with some advocates believing she was only months away from release before her death. The ceremony will be held in a private, sacred location in Bellingham Bay with U.S. Coast Guard oversight to prevent any interference according to a press release from the Lummi Nation. Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut will receive a traditional water ceremony, as orcas are considered relatives to the Coast Salish people, which includes the Lummi Nation. STORY: Blaine city layoffs For the first time in a decade, the city of Blaine is planning sweeping layoffs which will eliminate about 10 percent of staff. In a notice last week, city manager Mike Harmon told employees that the city plans to eliminate 6.5 full time employees on November first. In addition, the city will not rehire for 3 of 4 vacant positions. To fill in the gaps, the city plans to shift responsibilities, consolidate work to fewer employees, and hire consultants. By laying off these employees, the city hopes to save up to $900,000 in next year’s $40 million budget. If Blaine wants to keep the positions, Harmon says the city needs to spend less on capital improvement projects in order to balance the budget. The move to save money comes in response to a nearly $1 million deficit in the general fund, with salaries and wages making up over 60 percent of expenses. The budget became unbalanced as inflation increased employees’ salaries while revenue stayed stagnant. STORY: State collects estimates of economic impact from Sourdough fire Washington State is asking businesses and nonprofits affected by the Sourdough fire to submit an Economic Injury Worksheet. The state’s Emergency Management Department is assessing statewide eligibility for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration agency. For statewide eligibility, at least five businesses or nonprofits must meet certain criteria, including being unable to meet their obligations and pay “ordinary and necessary operating expenses.” As of yesterday, three businesses within Skagit and Whatcom counties have submitted Economic Injury Worksheets, with economic damages for the two Skagit County businesses totaling $34,000. Those affected can submit reports by November 9th. STORY: 8-person crash in Everson consisted of 7 Romanian citizens Seven people involved in the Everson car crash during the weekend were Romanian citizens who had illegally crossed the border. In a press release, U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that the Romanian citizens illegally entered the U.S. near Sumas (SUE-mass) by driving across a remote portion of the border and through a berry field. A short while later, the vehicle ran a stop sign in Everson and crashed. According to Washington State Patrol, the second car’s driver was identified as 19-year-old Timothy Garrison of Ferndale. No one in either vehicle was wearing a seatbelt, and all eight people were transported to St. Joseph Medical Center for treatment. Three Romanians remain hospitalized while four were released and transported to the Sumas Station for processing. A criminal investigation is underway by Homeland Security, and the Washington State Police are investigating the car crash. STORY: States agree to install 20 mil new heat pumps by 2030 Twenty-five U.S. governors including Governor Jay Inslee have agreed to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from new buildings by rapidly expanding the installation of heat pumps. The governors, who all belong to a group called the Climate Alliance, agreed to install 20 million new heat pumps across their states by 2030. At least 40% of their efforts in expanding heat pump installation would go toward disadvantaged communities. Electric heat pumps work by taking warmth from outside air and transferring it indoors or, during the summer months, operate in reverse to keep temperatures low. The alliance stated that the push for heat pumps comes as part of a larger goal to decarbonize existing buildings and to prevent emissions with new construction. At present, buildings …
September 20, 2023 News Transcript
Bham lifts recreational fire ban, Stimpson Family Nature Reserve to get dedicated parking area, Ferndale Police, passerby pull occupant from vehicle fire, Concern over shelter preparedness with winter approaching, Washington’s pandemic dashboard upgraded to include flu and RSV, Price of illicit fentanyl in WA drops to as low as 50 cents a pill, WA Supreme Court strikes down restrictions on Sheriffs’ use of tear gas ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, 20th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Bham lifts recreational fire ban Bellingham has lifted its ban on recreational fires as of Monday. To classify as a recreational fire, the fuel must be firewood or charcoal only, no larger than 3 feet wide or 2 feet high and far enough away from structures. Garbage and yard debris burning is still banned in all of Whatcom County. For more information about what is and isn’t allowed, check with the Fire Marshal. STORY: Stimpson Family Nature Reserve to get dedicated parking area A parking lot at the Stimpson Family Nature Reserve was closed earlier today as part of the preparations for a paving project for the park’s gravel parking area. Today’s closure allowed for groundwater infiltration testing for the project which was originally scheduled for this summer, but delayed until 2024. According to an email to the Bellingham Herald from Parks and Recreation Director Bennett Knox earlier this year, the parking lot paving was delayed due to the cost of construction being over budget. The project will help create well-defined parking spaces, allow better stormwater runoff control, and potentially add a few spaces to the approximately 15 spots. The cost of the project will be $92,000. It will be funded through real estate excise taxes. STORY: Ferndale Police, passerby pull occupant from vehicle fire Ferndale Police and other first responders were able to rescue a driver from a vehicle fire yesterday. An officer came upon a vehicle that appeared to have collided with a light pole. With help from a passerby, the officer pulled a male from the vehicle while flames and heavy smoke were visible from the engine compartment. Personnel from Whatcom County Fire District 7 also responded to the fire and treated the man at the scene before transporting him to St. Joseph Medical Center for further treatment. The incident is currently under investigation. STORY: Concern over shelter preparedness with winter approaching Lighthouse Mission officials say they are concerned about space at the Mission’s Base Camp homeless shelter as winter approaches. The shelter, located downtown, has been operating at or near their 200-person capacity for most of 2023. With temperatures getting colder, the mission would normally begin operating emergency overflow shelters. However, due to lack of volunteers, no overflow shelters will be available this winter. According to Whatcom County’s Annual Report on Homelessness, this year has set a record for people experiencing homelessness with a 27% increase from 2022. The Lighthouse Mission recently received $750,000 from the county to build a new shelter to replace the Base Camp location. The new location will provide additional specialized services, but also increase capacity to 300 and double the amount of meals provided to over 1000 a day. Base Camp will close in July, and the Mission hopes to open the new location by Winter of next year. Funding for the project is currently at 21 out of 25 million dollars. STORY: Washington’s pandemic dashboard upgraded to include flu and RSV Washington has updated its online Covid dashboard to now include information on influenza and RSV cases. The new dashboard went live on Monday, showing data on viral activity, hospitalizations, ER visits and deaths from each virus. It will be updated weekly through April of next year, covering the peak season for all three viruses. The dashboard is available for access on the Department of Health website. As of now, cases of all three viruses are low, but health officials–like Dr. Greg Thompson of Whatcom County–are worried about a viral surge overwhelming hospitals and doctors’ offices, like last year. To prevent a so-called “tripledemic” from straining the healthcare system, vaccines for the flu are recommended for people six months and older, and the RSV vaccine is recommended for infants and people older than 60. An updated Covid vaccine will be available in certain areas as soon as this week. STORY: Price of illicit fentanyl in WA drops to as low as 50 cents a pill The price of illicit fentanyl in Washington keeps dropping, now costing anywhere between 50 cents to $5 a pill. According to Seattle Police Department spokesperson, Detective Judinna J. Gulpan, the price of fentanyl in Seattle can go as low as 40 cents a pill in wholesale bulk purchases. The cost has dropped considerably over the past few years due to fentanyl’s increasing presence in the market. Fentanyl is currently the cause of most opioid overdose deaths in Washington, with 90% of fatal opioid overdoses and 65% of all overdose deaths in the state having fentanyl involvement. Opioid deaths in Whatcom County have more than doubled from 44 in 2021 to 90 in 2022. STORY: WA Supreme Court strikes down restrictions on sheriffs’ use of tear gas Last Thursday, the Washington Supreme Court invalidated some of the State Legislature’s restrictions on the use of tear gas for riot control. In a 5 to 4 decision, the ruling overturned part of a 2021 law that requires police to get approval from the highest elected official in the jurisdiction when they plan to use tear gas. The ruling holds that the section of the law is unconstitutional when applied to sheriffs in non-charter counties, which accounts for 32 out of 39 counties in Washington. The court decision will not affect other sections of the law, which require officers to exhaust all alternatives to tear gas, announce that tear gas will be used and allow sufficient time and space for people to disperse before deployment. WX: Sunny/clear weather expected Today will be a mostly sunny …
September 19, 2023 News Transcript
SR 544 reopens after month long closure, Bham Climate Action Week Begins on Friday, New Central WA legislative maps could mean a shakeup in Olympia, State finds fire-prone old BNSF train ignited 500-acre blaze, WA Supreme Court Clears Roadblock for Hearing Some Childhood Sexual Abuse Cases ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, September 19th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: SR 544 reopens after month long closure East Pole Road near Lynden and Everson has been re-opened. It closed a month ago due to fish passage construction on Fourmile Creek below the road. On road closure news, just a reminder that the Guide Meridian between Front and Main streets in Lynden is now closed round-the-clock until 7 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 22. Check with WSDOT (WASH-dot) if you are uncertain about detours. STORY: Bham Climate Action Week begins on Friday The fifth annual Bellingham Climate Action Week starts this Friday. There are over 20 events planned, from film screenings to tours to presentations on local wildlife. This year’s theme is “Leading with Collaborative Solutions,” showcasing how participating organizations work together on climate solutions and events. In addition, Whatcom Transit Authority has partnered with the Whatcom Million Trees Project to plant one tree for every 100 bus rides during the week. They hope to plant 1,000 new trees. A large closing ceremony will be held at the downtown waterfront next Saturday, the 30th, complete with live music, an interactive kids’ play zone, electric bike demos, food trucks, and a chance to get involved with local environmental organizations. STORY: New Central WA legislative maps could mean shakeup in Olympia A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that a legislative district in Central Washington violates the rights of Latino voters and must be redrawn. Judge Robert Lasnik’s ruling states that the 15th Legislative District’s boundaries violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965, agreeing that despite meeting the required percentage of Latino voters, the district was drawn in a way that dilutes their voting power. Democratic leaders in the state legislature have decided to assign the task of redrawing the district to a federal court instead of reconvening a state commission to redraw the boundaries, citing that it would be the quote “most expedient and non-political way” unquote. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed in January of 2022 by the Campaign Legal Center, Washington lawyer Edwardo Morfin, and other groups on behalf of Latino voters in the Yakima Valley. Judge Lasnik’s ruling stated that the slim 51.5% majority held by Latino voters wasn’t enough to “provide equal electoral opportunity where past discrimination, current social/economic conditions, and a sense of hopelessness keep Latino voters from the polls in numbers significantly greater than white voters,” Judge Lasnik also ruled that the plaintiffs provided “ample historical evidence of discriminatory English literacy tests, English-only election materials, and at-large systems of election that prevented or suppressed Latino voting.” The decision comes after decades of efforts on the part of voter rights organizations to boost political representation of Latinos in the Yakima Valley. STORY: State finds fire-prone old BNSF train ignited 500-acre blaze An investigation by the Washington Department of Natural Resources found that the Tunnel 5 fire in the Columbia River Gorge in July was caused by an old Burlington Northern Santa Fe train. The fire, which burned 546 acres and destroyed 10 structures over two weeks, was found to be caused by chunks of hot carbon and lubricant pads spewed from a 1970s-era BNSF locomotive. The department ruled out lighting and other ignition sources after they found 1 to 2 inch chunks of exhaust particles from a diesel engine, and more than 70 scraps of train-wheel lubrication pads in or near the three spots where the fire broke out. The objects were scattered over a 690-foot stretch, north of the track, on the same side and area where the fire began. The morning of the fire, eyewitnesses took a photo of an older green and white BNSF locomotive headed for Tunnel 5. The engine was a model from the 70s, likely with an older, non-turbocharged engine prone to emitting hot globs of carbon in its exhaust. The photos were shared with the DNR investigation. While other rail companies do not use older, more fire-prone engines during the summer, BSNF has not made it their policy at this time. STORY: WA Supreme Court Clears Roadblock for Hearing Some Childhood Sexual Abuse Cases The Washington state Supreme Court has reduced some impediments for bringing childhood sexual abuse cases to court and are considering completely eliminating the statute of limitations for them. Reporter Eric Tegethoff has more. SUPREME COURT AUDIO WX: Expected rain Rain is expected in Bellingham this afternoon and into the night, clearing at some point tomorrow. The high will be 64* today. Overnight lows should dip as low as 48* on Wednesday night. Day temperatures are expected to rise into the low 70s over the next few days. OUTRO: Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Susan Lindsey, 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.###
