The Wandering ‘Hamster

Ferndale man arrested in connection to fatal hit-and-run in Blaine, Over $6 million in grants available for local farmers, WA colleges say Indigenous students need more support post-pandemic, WA maritime leaders eye offshore wind manufacturing jobs, Washington state child care providers are struggling to survive  ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, October 11th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.   STORY: Ferndale man arrested in connection to fatal hit-and-run in Blaine A suspect has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run car crash that occurred on Blaine Road in March.  22-year-old Ferndale resident, Colby Gunderson, was arrested and charged with suspicion of vehicular homicide. The crash involved a motorcycle attempting to pass a Mazda, causing the Mazda to overcorrect and crash into concrete barriers. The driver of the Mazda, 33-year-old Ashleigh Woodward from Blaine, was ejected from the vehicle and later pronounced deceased at Harborview Medical Center.  Forensic evidence, security video from a nearby business, and witness statements led to the arrest of Gunderson, who was identified as the motorcyclist involved in the crash. He claimed not to have made contact with the Mazda and did not believe he was involved in the crash. The investigation is ongoing. STORY: Over $6 million in grants available for local farmers The Washington State Department of Agriculture is offering more than $6 million in grants to support local food supply chains and market access for farms, ranches, food processors, and food distributors. The grants are intended to be used towards planning, equipment, and facilities that support the local food chain through methods such as processing, manufacturing, and distribution. Grant amounts range from $10,000 to $500,000 and are awarded based on how well the project fits the purpose of the grant and its achievability. The grant has two categories: Rapid and Ready, for simple, straightforward purchases or projects that will be expected to finish within 5 months; or Large Projects, that are more complex that may include design and installation. Those projects will be given 17 months to complete. The grant is available to farmers, ranchers, food businesses, or non-profit, tribal, or government organizations. Applications for the Local Food System Infrastructure grants are due November 15, 2023. STORY: WA colleges say Indigenous students need more support post-pandemic A new report by the Washington Student Achievement Council shows American Indian and Alaska Native students experienced the highest college enrollment decline among all racial categories during the pandemic.  The report, which came out in late September, says that Indigenous student numbers declined by 38% at community and technical colleges and 27% at four-year public colleges between 2019 and 2022. In comparison, white student enrollment fell 15%, Hispanic enrollment dropped 6%, and Asian enrollment decreased by 5%. African-American and Pacific Islander student enrollments increased during this period. The pandemic also had a significant impact on higher education in Washington state, resulting in declining enrollment across the board in four-year universities, colleges, and community and technical colleges. The total number of students in the public higher education system decreased by 48,000 over the three-year time period.  The report emphasizes that enrollment declines were less severe among students who received financial aid, and that the ongoing slump poses a threat to educational attainment in the state, especially for low-income students and students of color. STORY: WA maritime leaders eye offshore wind manufacturing jobs On Tuesday, Governor Inslee announced an initiative to support the growing offshore wind industry. Inslee and Washington maritime leaders hope to make the state a key player in the offshore wind industry by developing turbine manufacturing, research and development, and materials transportation capabilities. In turn Washington, with its active shipping ports and manufacturing workforce, will supply Oregon, California, and potentially Asia with the parts to construct turbines. Until recently, offshore wind turbines were built on top of steel structures that extended 100 to 200 feet into the ocean floor, something not possible on the Pacific Coast due to its steep drop offs of more than 600 feet. Now, new technology has made it possible to install wind turbines taller than the Space Needle on floating platforms tethered to the ocean floor. The push to develop offshore wind turbines comes partly from the White House, which has set the goal of developing 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030, enough to power 10 million homes. According to the Department of Energy, achieving that goal will create around 60,000 jobs. STORY: Washington state child care providers are struggling to survive U.S. Senator Patty Murray is advocating for the federal government to renew its support for the child care industry.  The Child Care Stabilization Act, which provided $24 billion to child care providers during the early days of the pandemic, expired on September 30. Child care providers in Washington state fear that they won’t be able to sustain their operations without this funding. According to the Child Care Data Center, many parts of Washington are considered “child care deserts,” with a shortage of child care providers. Even when available, it’s often prohibitively expensive. For example, the average cost of sending a toddler to a child care center in Washington is over $14,000 a year, making it a significant financial burden. The child care industry faces challenges as well, with labor costs accounting for over 80% of expenses. Additionally, the sector struggles to attract and retain teachers and staff due to low and stagnant wages, with Washington child care workers earning an average of about $17 per hour. Senator Murray is pushing for $16 billion in emergency funding for child care in the next White House budget to address these issues and support both families and providers. WX: Possible Storms We’ll have a 50% chance of showers today, decreasing to 20% by the evening. Highs in the low 60s with lows in the upper 40s. Expect the sunshine to come back tomorrow.  OUTRO: Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN) and Carlos Braga. Tune in to local news on KMRE …

October 11, 2023 News TranscriptsRead More

Serial burglar arrested by Bellingham Police, October 11 Service Outage Planned for Lummi Island Ferry, Man arrested for attempted murder after shots fired at Whatcom County Residents, Builder for new WA ferries to be chosen in summer 2024, Costco accused of sharing user’s health data with Meta ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, October 10th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.   STORY: Serial burglar arrested by Bellingham Police 34-year-old Joseph Sanders of Bellingham has been arrested by the Bellingham Police Department for a series of burglaries dating back to June.  According to police reports, video surveillance footage revealed the thief had a distinctive hairline which led to the suspect’s identification.  Sanders is accused of stealing over eighteen thousand dollars worth of bikes, a twelve thousand dollar motorcycle, and may be connected to additional burglaries. He is currently in custody in Whatcom County Jail with bail set at $75,000 . STORY: October 11 Service Outage Planned for Lummi Island Ferry The ferry between Lummi Island and Gooseberry Point will be out of service for part of tomorrow. Inspection and maintenance of both the mainland and island ferry terminal facilities for the Whatcom Chief will occur between 10:10 am and 3:00 pm. The last morning run from Gooseberry Point will be at 9:50 am and at 10 on the Lummi Island side. Going forward, similar inspections and maintenance will be scheduled approximately every two months, depending on the weather. Changes will be posted at WhatcomCounty.us/Ferry. STORY: Man arrested for attempted murder after shots fired at Whatcom County residents A Maple Falls man was arrested on Friday after he allegedly fired several shots at people and their house. At around 4:30 pm, residents near Maple Falls saw 37-year-old Matthew Bentley slashing the tires on one of their vehicles. When confronted, Bentley fired several shots at them, missing but hitting the house. After fleeing on foot, he was tracked down and arrested. After his arrest, Bentley was found to be a convicted felon. Bentley is currently held at Whatcom County Jail for second-degree attempted murder, felon in possession of a firearm, and second-degree malicious mischief. STORY: Juvenile ‘strike’ can count toward life sentence, Washington Supreme Court rules The Washington state Supreme Court has ruled that a “three strikes” criminal offender can be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, even if one of the qualifying felony offenses was committed as a juvenile.  Michael Scott Reynolds Jr., whose first strike occurred when he was 17 years old for attempting to rob a gas station with a BB gun, argued that using his juvenile crime conviction as a predicate for a later mandatory life sentence as an adult, violated constitutional protections against cruel or unusual punishment. The majority opinion, written by Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud, stated that there is no national consensus on the appropriateness of life sentences without parole. They justified Reynolds’ sentence by emphasizing the need to protect society from persistent offenders who continue to commit serious crimes as adults.  In dissent, Justices G. Helen Whitener, Mary Yu, and Raquel Montoya-Lewis suggested that Reynolds’ juvenile strike should be analyzed differently from an adult strike. STORY:  Builder for new WA ferries to be chosen in summer 2024 Choosing a contractor for Washington’s new class of hybrid-electric ferries may have to wait until the summer of 2024. The target delivery date is 2027, but the process is taking longer than expected because out-of-state builders may now bid on contracts. The state had budgeted $1.3 billion to build five new hybrid-electric boats, convert three to hybrid-electric and begin electrifying the terminals. The Legislature originally attempted negotiations with Vigor, the state’s primary partner in ferry construction since the late 1990s, but it fell apart in 2022. During negotiations, Vigor said its price for one boat would be over $400 million, far higher than the roughly $200 million state estimates.  The new electric ferries are part of Governor Inslee’s promised “green revolution”, hoping to eliminate the significant diesel emissions produced by the vessels. In addition to the new e-ferries, the existing ferries need maintenance and upgrades, with just 9 of the 21 in good shape according to the state. Thirteen are due for retirement by 2040, three of them within the next several years. Emergency repairs have become common, such as when the ferry Walla Walla lost a blade on one of its propellers this summer. This happened just months after the ferry lost power due to fuel contamination. Washington State Ferries expects to begin answering contractors’ questions this fall before opening the bidding process in the spring. STORY:  Costco accused of sharing users’ health data with Meta A lawsuit filed against Costco alleges that the company shared users’ private communications and health information with Meta without their consent.  The lawsuit claims that Costco used Meta Pixel, a tracking code, on its website’s health care section, allowing Facebook’s parent company, Meta, access to users’ personal and health data. The suit seeks class-action status and argues that Costco failed to disclose the data-sharing, despite representing its website as secure.  Costco has not yet commented on the pending litigation. WX: Possible Storms Expect rain on and off today, with a high of 59 degrees and winds from the SE at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow, expect more rain, with showers into the evening and clearing through the night. Right now, Thursday looks mainly sunny. OUTRO: Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN) 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. ### Run tomorrow after ruling– The Washington State Supreme Court is set to hear a significant case involving the rights of people sheltering in their vehicles. A growing number of homeless individuals in Washington are living in their vehicles, but they face challenges …

October 10 News TranscriptRead More

Small earthquake felt in Puget Sound region, Bellingham Bay pier environmental permits approved, 1 dead, 1 jailed after Nooksack Road crash, New WA agency will review fatal police shooting of Redmond mother,  Failure of Single component caused Washington seaplane crash near Whidbey, State task force looking at new agency to oversee jails, Juvenile ‘strike’ can count toward life sentence, Washington Supreme Court rules __________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Monday, October 9th, 2023. Good afternoon, I’m ______.   STORY:  Small earthquake felt in Puget Sound region A brief tremor rattled homes in the Puget Sound region last night.  The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network recorded a 4.3 magnitude earthquake shortly after 7pm that originated south of Port Townsend in Scow Bay at a depth of about 35 miles. Although it was detected by the ShakeAlert notification system, its strength was too small to issue a mobile alert. There is no tsunami risk, and no significant reports of damage.  The earthquake was classified as “light shaking” by the U.S. Geological Society and was felt in areas as far north as Victoria, B.C., and as far south as Olympia. This is the first earthquake in Washington state with a magnitude of 4 or higher since 2019.  STORY: 1 dead, 1 jailed after Nooksack Road crash On Friday night, a man was arrested after they killed their passenger in a car crash in Everson. According to the Washington State Patrol, 21 year-old Maximo Najera (nah-HAE-ra) was driving a car on Nooksack Road when it hit and broke a power pole, killing the passenger. Investigators say the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the crash. Around the same time, Puget Sound Energy reported a power outage affecting nearly 250 people in the surrounding area, with the downed power pole cited as the cause of the outage. Najera is being held at the Whatcom County jail and is charged with vehicular homicide. STORY: Bellingham Bay pier environmental permits approved Environmental permits have been obtained for the renovation of the pier at Little Squalicum Park, marking a significant milestone for Bellingham.  The permits pave the way for renovations on the over-100-year-old pier. Originally built in 1912 for loading products onto barges, the pier has been inactive since 1987. After renovations, it will provide 1,200 feet of public access into the Bay. Construction is expected to begin in 2024. STORY:  New WA agency will review fatal police shooting of Redmond mother The newly established Office of Independent Investigations in Washington state is set to review the 2020 shooting death of Andrea Churna by a Redmond police officer.  This marks the first case to undergo formal review by O.I.I., an agency created to address conflicts of interest when the police investigate other police officers. Andrea Churna, an unarmed 39-year-old mother, was shot and killed by Officer Daniel Mendoza while attempting to surrender to the police. Officer Mendoza, a rookie, had previously been fired by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office for poor performance. Mendoza declined to cooperate with the investigation into the shooting and no longer works for the Redmond Police Department. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office declined to charge Mendoza, citing a belief that he may have reasonably thought Churna was armed and posed a threat. Churna’s family requested O.I.I. reexamine the case. Independent Investigations Director Roger Rogoff, a former prosecutor and judge, will determine if there is new evidence that warrants reopening the investigation. The agency, still in development, will eventually investigate all law enforcement-caused deaths in the state. STORY: Failure of single component caused Washington seaplane crash near Whidbey Investigators have confirmed the cause of the seaplane crash that killed ten people near Whidbey Island last year. The National Transportation Safety Board found that a single component of a critical flight control system failed, causing the crash into Mutiny Bay. The actuator, which moves the plane’s horizontal tail and controls the airplane’s pitch, had become disconnected. Evidence showed the failure happened before the crash, not as a result of it. The crash occurred in September of last year during a flight towards Renton from Friday Harbor. The pilot and all nine passengers died in the crash. In its final report, the NTSB recommends that the Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Canada require seaplanes to have a secondary locking feature installed, preventing a failure like this in the future.  Lawsuits have been filed by the family members of the victims against the aircraft’s charter operator–Friday Harbor Seaplanes, the plane’s manufacturer–de Havilland Aircraft of Canada, and the plane’s certificate holder–Viking Air. STORY: State task force looking at new agency to oversee jails A Washington state task force is backing the creation of a new agency to set safeguards and conduct inspections of jails throughout the state. The Joint Legislative Task Force on Jail Standards suggests the formation of an agency that would develop minimum standards for safety and responsibilities such as intake, visitation, discipline, and medical care. It would be able to pursue the closure of facilities where conditions jeopardize the health or safety of workers or incarcerated individuals. The agency would also be able to set minimum staffing levels and maximum capacity for each jail. To ensure compliance, the agency would conduct on-site inspections and produce regular reports on jail conditions. Its oversight powers would only be limited to city, county, and regional jails, not state correctional facilities. The task force will continue with its bimonthly meetings to refine and vote on recommendations regarding the potential new agency. WX: Possible Storms Today will be cloudy with a high chance of rain, and strong winds of up to 30 mph. The high will be 66* during the day. Nighttime will bring more rain and a low near 53*. Expect even more rain in the coming days, with temperatures staying steady. Storms may potentially cause outages in the next few days. OUTRO: Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN) and Carlos Braga. Tune in to local …

October 9th, 2023 News TranscriptRead More

WA Sen. Cantwell wants congress to act on fentanyl crisis in NW tribes, Senior Blaine man charged with suspicion of murder, man arrested after 10 mile pursuit, Fieldwork continues on Bellingham’s waterfront, Fieldwork continues on Bellingham’s waterfront, Deadly bird flu jumps to harbor seals in Salish Sea, first for West Coast, WNS – Report Card ranks WA No. 2 in long-term care, New WA air-quality monitors draw critique ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, October 5th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.   STORY:  WA Sen. Cantwell wants Congress to act on fentanyl crisis in NW tribes After the recent overdose deaths in Lummi Nation, Washington Senator Maria Cantwell is calling for a congressional hearing to examine how the fentanyl crisis has affected Native communities. In a letter to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Cantwell cited the five deaths in Lummi and other tribes as the reason to begin a new discussion on the fentanyl crisis. Washington has seen the biggest increase in overdose deaths in the nation, and Native communities across the country continue to experience disproportionate increases in overdose deaths despite efforts to prevent and treat drug addiction and overdoses. Tribes across the state have built wraparound wellness programs, which include medication-assisted treatment programs, counseling, cultural programming and transitional living. However, fentanyl has strained their providers and treatment options and, in some cases, led to long waitlists for services. Committee Chairman Brian Schatz and Vice Chair Lisa Murkowski have yet to respond to the request. STORY: Senior Blaine man charged with suspicion of murder A 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in Blaine Wednesday afternoon. The man named Wayne Harold Mahar, Sr was arrested after officers responded to a shots fired call on the 4600 block of East Street in Blaine. He is being held without bail at Whatcom County Jail. No more information is available at this time. STORY: Man arrested after 10 mile pursuit A man was arrested after a 10 mile pursuit Wednesday afternoon that traversed Whatcom County. According to unconfirmed radio transmissions, the 34-year-old identified as Sergio Vasquez Garcia was first spotted driving on the sidewalk on Main Street in Lynden. After a failed traffic stop, Vasquez Garcia drove the car with police in pursuit on Main Street, Berthusen Road, Loomis Trail Road, Sunrise Road and Birch Bay-Lynden Road. Before the car could get to I-5, a spike strip was deployed in the area of Birch Bay-Lynden Road and Valley View Road. After hitting the spike strip, Vasquez Garcia drove onto I-5 with increasingly shredded tires. The pursuit ended when Vasquez Garcia pulled over on the southbound side of I-5 near the Custer School Road overpass. He was immediately detained. Aid crews were dispatched to the site of the arrest when someone reportedly had minor injuries. Vasquez Garcia is being charged with suspicion of attempting to elude a police vehicle, reckless driving and resisting arrest. He has one prior felony conviction for first-degree malicious mischief. STORY: Fieldwork continues on Bellingham’s waterfront Cleanup construction in the Central Waterfront site of the Bellingham Bay cleanup is due to begin in 2026.  The cleanup will consist of removing and capping contaminated soil, treating contaminated groundwater, safeguarding indoor air quality, monitoring effectiveness, and restricting certain land use activities. For the past few years, Ecology, the Port of Bellingham and the City of Bellingham have been collecting environmental data to prepare an Engineering Design Report for final cleanup of the site. Both the port and city are eligible for reimbursement of up to half of their cost from Ecology through the state’s Remedial Action Grant Program, which helps pay for cleanup of publicly owned sites. The Legislature funds the program through revenues from a tax on hazardous substances.  STORY: Deadly bird flu jumps to harbor seals in Salish Sea, first for West Coast Bird flu, already killing birds in the Salish Sea, has jumped to harbor seals in the first documented instance of marine mammals dying from the disease on the West Coast. The deaths were confirmed in testing of five stranded seals on Marrowstone Island this summer and suspected in a seal that stranded in August. The flu has already killed tens of thousands of birds around the world, with an outbreak on Rat Island off the coast of Port Townsend killing an estimated 1,700 birds since it began in July. The harbor seal population is still healthy, and the disease is not expected to change that, according to NOAA. But the cross-species contamination has the agency’s attention, and they are continuing to monitor progress of the virus. The disease does have the potential to spread between animals and people and their pets. The risk of infection to the general public is low according to NOAA, but when they do occur, the mortality rate can be 50%. The agency advises staying at least 100 yards from seals, dead or alive.  STORY: WNS – Report card ranks WA No. 2 in long-term care Washington ranks second in AARP’s Long-Term Services and Supports State Scorecard. Still, there are areas where the state can improve. Reporter Eric Tegethoff has more. CARE AUDIO STORY: New WA air-quality monitors draw critique The Washington State Department of Ecology announced Tuesday it will install 50 new air-quality monitors in 16 communities with poor air quality and a vulnerable population. According to a spokesperson for Ecology, Susan Woodward, sensors designed to measure levels of particulate matter in the air will be installed in areas near cities such as Ellensburg, Everett, Puyallup, the Tri-Cities and Wenatchee. Woodward also stated that tribal communities are in talks with state officials for a potential future inclusion. The new monitors have attracted criticism from environmental justice advocates, who argue the monitors aren’t enough. They say that a higher proportion of money collected from the state’s carbon-pricing auctions, which are funding the new monitors, should be spent on communities most vulnerable to climate change.  A recent analysis from the nonprofit Front and Centered …

October 5, 2023 News TranscriptRead More

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 4, 2023 News TranscriptRead More

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 3, 2023 News TranscriptRead More

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 …

October 2, 2023 News TranscriptRead More

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 29, 2023 News TranscriptRead More

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 28, 2023 News TranscriptsRead More

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 26, 2023 News TranscriptRead More