Snow updates, power outages, school closures, Half of barn destroyed in fire near Lynden, Maple Falls man allegedly sets fire to own home, Proposal for free meals for school kids, Washington had sixth-highest U.S. homelessness rate in 2023, WA judge denies effort to remove Trump from ballot, Free and Cheap ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Friday, January 19th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Snow updates, power outages, school closures Bellingham schools remain closed as the snowfall from this week gets cleaned up. Since Wednesday, a winter storm blanketed Bellingham with over 8 inches of snow. Around 1,000 Puget Sound Energy customers went without power yesterday, including those in Geneva, Lummi Island, Guemes Island, Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish, and South Bellingham. School District closures today include Bellingham, Blaine, Lynden, Ferndale, Lummi, Mount Baker and Nooksack Valley. Northwest Indian College, Whatcom Community College, and Bellingham Technical are also closed. Western Washington University opened at 10 a.m. today, but canceled earlier classes. Sanitary Service is shutting down garbage pickup today, but says if today is your service day, they will pick up extra garbage next Friday at no cost. As temperatures begin to rise today, the snow will turn to rain. Experts for the city suggest melting snow may lead to flood risk, and slush and black ice on the roadways will remain a problem. The Department of Transportation cautions drivers to stay at home if possible. STORY: Half of barn destroyed in fire near Lynden A Lynden barn was partially destroyed in a fire on Wednesday afternoon. The fire started in the 2600 block of Pangborn Road around 2:30 p.m. Units from two fire districts spent over two hours trying to contain the fire, which destroyed half the barn and killed several pigs and chickens. No people were hurt. Damages are estimated to be around $50,000. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office. STORY: Maple Falls man allegedly sets fire to own home Another fire occurred on Wednesday, when a Maple Falls man allegedly started a fire that destroyed his own home. Firefighters responded to the fully engulfed mobile home on Golden Valley Boulevard just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday. One person was hospitalized for smoke inhalation, and four others were displaced. The Fire Marshal’s investigation suggested Christopher Lewis started the fire by burning sage and incense. The hospitalized victim reported seeing a smoldering bundle in Lewis’s room and put it out, but Lewis re-lit it, which started the fire. The home is a total loss, with estimated damage at $30,000. Lewis faces a 1st Degree Reckless Burning charge and is in jail without bail. STORY: Proposal for free meals for school kids A House bill requiring all public schools to provide free breakfast and lunch for students who request meals was unanimously approved by the House Education Committee yesterday. House Bill 2058, proposed by U.S. Representative Marcus Riccelli of Spokane and other representatives, allows for state funding of the meals, and does not require additional money from individual schools or districts. Riccelli stated that, quote “students are not going to thrive if they don’t have access to nutritious meals,” and that without universal school meals the state would fall behind the academic progress made in other states. The bill now heads to the Appropriations Committee for consideration. STORY: Washington had sixth-highest U.S. homelessness rate in 2023 According to a federally reported release, Washington had the sixth highest rate of homelessness in the country last year. According to Housing and Urban development, the homelessness rate in Washington increased 27 percent since 2019. These statistics indicate that 36 people per 10,0000 residents are living without a home. Governor Jay Inslee stated that the primary goal of this legislative season is to get more people housing. To learn more about how to help local homelessness and volunteer, visit whatcomvolunteer.org STORY: WA judge denies effort to remove Trump from ballot A judge in Thurston County ruled that Donald Trump will remain on the state’s presidential primary ballot. The decision came after eight Kitsap County residents sought to remove Trump, arguing that his actions related to overturning the 2020 election and his role in the January 6th Capitol attack make him ineligible. The judge declined to address Trump’s place on the general election ballot, considering it premature. Judge Mary Sue Wilson stated that Washington’s process for ballot challenges does not involve a trial or intensive debate, and emphasized that challenges must be filed within two days of the general election candidate list finalization. Similar challenges under the 14th Amendment have occurred in 35 states, with decisions in Colorado and Maine on hold pending appeals. The issue may reach the U.S. Supreme Court, but a decision there is unlikely before Washington’s March 12 primary. STORY: Free and Cheap Looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend? Here are some events happening around the county. Fire and Story began yesterday, and will continue today and tomorrow from 5 to 8pm. Several fire pits have been placed along Bellingham’s Waterfront, located at West Laurel St and Granary Avenue, and will have over 30 performances by storytellers, comedians, and dancers. For something more indoors, the Whatcom Wind Ensemble is hosting a free winter concert this Sunday at the WWU Performing Arts Center. The ensemble will be playing works by Bernstein (BURN-stine), Grainger, Orff and more. The concert runs from 2 to 3:30 pm. Also on Sunday, the Central Library is hosting a Spin Your Own Yarn class. Spinners from the Spindrifters Guild will provide basic spinning tools, fiber, and guidance to those who want to try making their own yarn. The class will run from 1 pm to 3 pm. WX: Rain With the winter storm over, today will be rainy all day and have a high near 43 degrees. The rain should stop before 10 pm, with a low of 40 tonight. And it looks like the rain is here …
January 18, 2024 News Transcript
Snow impacts much of city services, Power outages leave over 1,500 in the dark during snow event, Immigration board resists Bellingham council’s effort to suspend meetings, Ferndale Police ask public’s help in locating hit-and-run suspect, Cross-state travel in WA hindered as winter storm hammers passes, AG Ferguson: Insurance company must repay every penny to Washingtonians it denied due to mental health discrimination, Washington state considers innovative approach: allowing food benefits eligibility as proxy for free college tuition ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, January 18th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Snow impacts much of city services With more than a foot of snow falling yesterday, City and County crews continue to work to clear priority snow routes. Pole Road in the vicinity of Everson is closed in both directions today (between Hannegan Road at milepost 2 and Noon Road at milepost 4) due to multiple collisions and spinouts caused by winter weather conditions. Snowplows have been deployed to clear the roadway, but the duration of the closure is unknown. State, county and municipal plows were at work overnight but authorities warn that, even where the snow has been cleared, a layer of ice may remain. First responders and tow companies across the County were busy this morning as vehicles slid off roadways as a result of the slick conditions. Travelers in the area are advised to use alternate routes and exercise caution in winter weather conditions. Local schools, along with Whatcom Community College, Bellingham Technical College, Western Washington University, and Northwest Indian College all closed again today due to weather. WTA buses are running, although there are detours on some routes. The daytime warming shelter will be open, and the City Hall, including the Finance Department and Permit Center, will remain open but online resources are encouraged. Many City services, including the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center, Bellingham Public Library locations, Whatcom Museum, and Civic Field, will remain closed. Residents are urged to limit travel to essential trips, give snow plows space, clear their cars of snow, allow extra time for travel, and drive according to road conditions. Traction tires are advised on Mt. Baker highway. Residents are advised to report snow and ice removal needs, downed trees, and other hazardous conditions through phone or online reporting. STORY: Power outages leave over 1,500 in the dark during snow event The snow event was also responsible for more than a thousand people losing power yesterday. Puget Sound Energy reported that over 1,500 addresses in the Glacier area lost power shortly before 10 a.m. Hundreds more were impacted by localized outages in the Geneva and Chuckanut neighborhoods, with both outages reported to have begun about noon. Power has since been reestablished to all affected areas. STORY: Immigration board resists Bellingham council’s effort to suspend meetings Members of the City’s Immigration Advisory Board are pushing back on a proposal from Bellingham officials to temporarily suspend their activities. The proposal, presented earlier this month by Council Member Hannah Stone, suggested halting board meetings, alleging that IAB members lacked mandatory training and were not fulfilling their policy recommendation role. IAB members refuted these claims on Tuesday, presenting a spreadsheet of past recommendations and proposals. The board voted to send a letter asking the council not to suspend but to form a workgroup for better communication and resource support. Stone clarified that her intention is not to end the IAB but to address differences in how the board and city perceive its work. Board members emphasized the need for the IAB, claiming that it is the only government body that the immigrant community can turn to for help. The board further expressed concern that a suspension would hinder their work and should continue, despite existing tensions. STORY: Ferndale Police ask public’s help in locating hit-and-run suspect Ferndale Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a hit-and-run suspect and their vehicle. According to a press release, the collision occurred on Main Street in the early hours of New Year’s Day. The driver struck and severely injured a pedestrian before fleeing the scene. The suspect’s vehicle was last seen driving westward near I-5. From debris left at the scene, investigators believe the vehicle is a darker-colored 2015 Ford F-150. They believe the passenger side was damaged in the accident. Anyone with information as to the identity of the driver or the vehicle is asked to contact Ferndale Police by either phone or email. STORY: Cross-state travel in WA hindered as winter storm hammers passes On Wednesday, roads in the Cascades were closed due to the brutal winter storm. According to the Washington Department of Transportation, travel across the passes was limited as cars spun out amid snow and ice. Eastbound Interstate-90 between North Bend and Snoqualmie pass, along with Highway 2 between Scenic and Coles Corner were eventually closed in the afternoon. The passes re-opened for vehicles with chains at 6 p.m. Stevens pass Ski area also closed due to extreme weather, but opened this morning with normal operations. STORY: AG Ferguson: Insurance company must repay every penny to Washingtonians it denied due to mental health discrimination Attorney General Bob Ferguson has announced that Allianz (ALL-ee-ahnz), the world’s largest insurance company, will pay $1.5 million dollars for discriminating against Washingtonians with mental health disorders. Allianz, known for selling travel insurance to millions in Washington, denied claims related to mental health events, citing a discriminatory exclusion in its policies. The denials were challenged in a civil rights lawsuit by Ferguson’s office, leading to a resolution that requires Allianz to reimburse affected individuals for travel losses and premiums. Allianz will also pay around $700,000 for restitution distribution and investigation costs. The investigation revealed that Allianz did not perform statistical analysis before implementing the exclusion, and only attempted to justify it after the investigation began. Allianz changed its policy in 2023, following an order by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to remove discriminatory mental health exclusions. STORY: Washington state considers innovative …
January 17, 2024 News Transcript
Snow impacts much of city services, Multiple burst pipes cause damage across Whatcom, Multiple burst pipes cause damage across Whatcom, Blaine landlord arrested after allegation he pointed firearm at a tenant’s mother, Fire and Story begins tomorrow, Rent-cap bill gets second chance in Olympia, Initiative 2117 to repeal WA climate act takes key step toward ballot, Alaska Airlines, Boeing named in second lawsuit brought by passengers over 737 Max 9 blowout ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, January 17th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY:Snow impacts much of city services It’s a winter wonderland out there today, and crews are working to clear priority travel routes for essential services, including police, fire, and bus lines. Whatcom County school districts have closed for the day and slick roads due to snowfall are being reported. Whatcom Community College, Western Washington University, Bellingham Technical College, and NW Indian College are all closed. Some flights are delayed as well. The City of Bellingham is advising the public to limit unnecessary travel. Several City facilities, such as Bellingham Public Library locations, Whatcom Museum, and Arne Hanna Aquatic Center, are all closed. Continued snow in the forecast means that neighborhood and side streets will be tricky to navigate today and tomorrow. Drivers are urged to give snow plows space, allow extra time for travel, and consider public transportation. The Bellingham Municipal Court, and City Hall have varying levels of service disruption. Emergency severe weather shelter information is available from the County’s website. Residents are encouraged to report snow-related issues, and updates on weather-related impacts will be provided on the City’s social media channels throughout the day. STORY: Multiple burst pipes cause damage across Whatcom Record cold temperatures in Whatcom County have caused extensive damage to homes, businesses, and public buildings. The extreme cold resulted in frozen pipes, sprinkler activations, water problems, electrical hazards, and public service requests. Firefighters responded to an increased number of emergencies, with almost 550 alarms answered during the recent weather event. Although no deaths related to cold exposure were reported, various facilities experienced damage, including restrooms at city parks, Bellingham Public Schools district offices, the Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher galleries, and fire stations. The full extent of required repairs is unknown, but preliminary estimates suggest the cost of damages could be tens of thousands of dollars or more. STORY: Blaine landlord arrested after allegation he pointed firearm at a tenant’s mother 45-year-old Westlee Adam Brock from Whatcom County has been arrested for first-degree assault. According to county records, the arrest comes after an alleged incident on Sunday evening when Brock, a landlord in Blaine, reportedly pulled a gun during a dispute with a tenant and the tenant’s mother. The confrontation occurred when the woman was helping her son move out of Brock’s rental property and Brock pulled out a gun and held it to her head. The motive behind the incident was not specified. He is currently being held at Whatcom County Jail. STORY: Fire and Story begins tomorrow Fire and Story, a free event in which artists and songwriters gather around a fire to share their work, will begin tomorrow night. Several fire pits will be placed along Bellingham’s Waterfront, located at West Laurel St and Granary Avenue. Performances by storytellers, comedians, and dancers will be open to the public. Tents have been set up to protect from rain and snow. The family-friendly event will start at 5pm tomorrow night, and continue every evening through Saturday. STORY: Rent-cap bill gets second chance in Olympia Despite failed attempts in the previous legislative session to limit annual rent increases for tenants, Washington officials are considering new restrictions. A report from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and the Department of Commerce identifies challenges in affordable housing, citing a lack of available affordable homes, a growing income-rent gap, and the delicate balance between stabilizing renters and housing providers. The report also suggests measures such as limits on rent hikes, incentives for housing providers, reviewing policies contributing to rent burdens, and developing equitable rent increase practices be explored in order to ease the crisis. A final version of the report is expected in December, and the Commerce department hopes it will inform future policies in ways that will address both tenants’ and landlords’ needs. STORY: Initiative 2117 to repeal WA climate act takes key step toward ballot The initiative to repeal the 2021 Climate Commitment Act has collected enough signatures to appear on the ballot. The repeal effort, Initiative 2117, will go to the state Legislature where the Democratic majority will be unlikely to adopt it into law, so it will then be placed on the November ballot. The initiative looks to repeal a state policy, which began last year, that requires the state’s top polluters to pay for their greenhouse gas emissions by buying allowances at quarterly auctions. Supporters of the repeal say the carbon markets cause extra fees on things like gasoline or home heating to be pushed on to consumers. Supporters say that the auctions are effective ways of cutting emissions and raising money for green initiatives. Let’s Go Washington, the organization behind the initiative, submitted more than 400,000 signatures for the repeal initiative in November, with the Secretary of State certifying the results on Tuesday. The measure is one of six the group is trying to add to the ballot this year– most are efforts to roll back policies passed by Democrats. STORY: Alaska Airlines, Boeing named in second lawsuit brought by passengers over 737 Max 9 blowout Four passengers of the Alaska Airlines flight that experienced a fuselage panel loss are suing Alaska Airlines and Boeing. According to King County superior court documents, the lawsuit alleges negligence by both companies, leading to physical and emotional distress for the passengers. The plaintiffs, two from California and two from Washington, claim malfunctioning oxygen masks added to their fear during the incident. The complaint points to a pattern of negligent actions by Boeing, referencing the Boeing 737 …
January 16, 2024 News Transcripts
Staffing challenges limit capacity at shelters across Whatcom County, WWU students go without heat amid single digit temps, winds, Port of Bellingham accepting final comments on public access plan, Family whose son was hit by vehicle in Bellingham crosswalk sues city, federal agency, Family whose son was hit by vehicle in Bellingham crosswalk sues city, federal agency, WA AG sues to block Kroger, Albertsons merger, WA AG sues to block Kroger, Albertsons merger, Biden announces plan to cancel some student loan balances under $12,000 _____________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, January 16th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Staffing challenges limit capacity at shelters across Whatcom County The City of Bellingham recently opened a new warming shelter as severe County weather shelters reached capacity last Thursday. However, the city is scrambling to find enough trained volunteer staff to keep it functioning. The shelter is located at 1013 Holly Street, the former Lighthouse mission drop-in center, and is open 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM on weekdays. In a recent release, Mayor Kim Lund stated that they are working actively to see if the shelter could function overnight. According to Assistant communications director Mellissa Morin, the shelter had capacity for 60 people last Friday. All four overnight winter shelters have been reaching their cap, and are stretched to capacity. Lund stated that they first looked to Bellingham public schools in order to staff the shelters with individuals trained in de-escalation. 26 principals and administrators agreed to support them over the weekends. The Lighthouse mission is also currently working on preparing a 400-bed shelter for next year, in an effort to account for everyone that needs a warm place to stay out of below-freezing temperatures. STORY: WWU students go without heat amid single digit temps, winds People living at the Elevate apartments in Bellingham, faced challenges Thursday night, as power and water went out amid sub-freezing temperatures. With temperatures feeling like negative 16 degrees, residents had to find ways to stay warm. Despite difficulties, power and water were restored by Saturday afternoon. According to reporting by KIRO News 7, homeless individuals were able to enter the building during the outage, prompting complaints to the police. The outage was attributed to a block-wide power loss and a broken pipe near the parking garage. In a recent letter to residents, management promised reimbursements and assured ongoing efforts to address issues. Although populated primarily by students, the building is not university-owned, and investigations into the incident are ongoing. STORY: Port of Bellingham accepting final comments on public access plan The Port of Bellingham is seeking public input until Monday on its draft recreation, conservation, and public access plan. This plan is updated every six years and guides the development of open spaces, parks, and recreation facilities on port property. Projects are ranked from 1 to 3 based on funding status. Notable projects include Waypoint Park, Plover Park, and the development of trails around the airport. The draft plan is open for review on the port’s website, and public comments can be submitted until the end of January. Port commissioners are expected to vote on the draft at the end of January. STORY: Family whose son was hit by vehicle in Bellingham crosswalk sues city, federal agency The family whose son was struck while riding his bike across a non-functioning crosswalk in the Barkley area, is suing the city of Bellingham and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The incident occurred in February of 2022, when the teenager was riding his bike on a trail in the Barkley area and crossed a crosswalk equipped with a flashing beacon system. The system, which lights up when a person presses the crosswalk button, failed to flash on the south side of the crosswalk, and the teenager was allegedly struck by Matthew Murphy. Murphy was driving an ICE vehicle at the time. The Stodolas filed a federal personal injury lawsuit on January 2nd against the city of Bellingham, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Murphy. The Stodolas’ lawsuit states that their son has suffered emotional distress, humiliation, mental anguish, physical and mental pain, and a decrease in his ability to enjoy life. The lawsuit alleges that city employees knew the rapid flash beacon system at this crosswalk was not working, and that the city did not provide signage to warn people that it was not functioning properly. The lawsuit further accuses Murphy of failing to have his vehicle under control, failing to keep a lookout for people using the crosswalk, and failing to yield the right of way to people who were using the crosswalk. STORY: WA AG sues to block Kroger, Albertsons merger Washington state has filed a lawsuit seeking to block the proposed $25 billion dollar merger between Kroger and Albertsons. The state argues that the deal would harm consumers and raise prices, as the two retailers account for over half of all grocery sales in Washington. Albertsons currently owns Haggen and Safeway, and Kroger owns Fred Meyer and QFC. Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who is running for governor, claims that the merger would severely limit competition, leading to higher prices, lower quality, and less variety in local markets. The Federal Trade Commission is also considering legal action, and California is reportedly contemplating a similar lawsuit. In a statement released on Thursday, Kroger contends that the merger would result in lower prices, more choices for consumers, and a strong unionized workforce. The lawsuit against the merger was endorsed by United Food & Commercial Workers, Local 3000, which represents Kroger and Albertsons employees in Washington, northeast Oregon and northern Idaho. STORY: Biden announces plan to cancel some student loan balances under $12,000 On Friday, President Biden announced that students with federal student loans under $12,000 who have been repaying for 10 years will get the remaining balance canceled. The cancellation of debt is contingent on enrollment in the administration’s new repayment plan, called Saving on a Valuable Education Plan, or SAVE. The announcement …
January 12, 2024 News Transcript
Thousands without power in Bellingham; county-run severe-weather shelter full, Car crashes into gas line outside Village Books in Fairhaven Wednesday, Significant coastal flooding reported in Sandy Point this morning, Significant coastal flooding reported in Sandy Point this morning, Pipeline spill update – both lanes reopened, cleanup suspended due to weather, Inslee’s final State of the State address, Alaska says it will continue to cancel flights through Saturday, Free and Cheap ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, January 12. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Thousands without power in Bellingham; county-run severe-weather shelter full The winter weather surge last night has caused thousands to lose power and winter severe weather shelters to reach capacity. According to Puget Sound Energy, over 4,300 Bellingham residents lost power. People in Blaine, Custer, Laurel, neighborhoods east of Lynden, and west of Ferndale also lost electricity. Whatcom County’s Severe Weather shelter reached its cap of 45 beds ninety minutes after opening its doors. The city is working to find alternative warming sources to help more people find warmth amid the bitter weather. A windchill advisory is now in effect, and experts predict that overnight lows could reach 20 degrees below zero, which can give exposed skin frostbite within 30 minutes. STORY: Car crashes into gas line outside Village Books in Fairhaven Wednesday A car crashed into a gas line outside Village Books in Fairhaven on Wednesday. According to Sarah Hutton, co-owner of the business, the entire building, including the residences above, was evacuated around 3 p.m. when the incident occurred. However, Bellingham PD, Fire, and Cascade Natural Gas arrived promptly. Cascade turned off the gas and once the building was cleared of gas fumes, people were allowed back inside and service was eventually restored. STORY: Significant coastal flooding reported in Sandy Point this morning Severe flooding was reported in the Sandy Point area this morning. Fire Chief Jim Petrie stated that he headed out around 5am to assess conditions during high tide. To his surprise, Petrie found that a westerly wind was pushing a 10-ft high tide across the peninsula, which resulted in the flooding of nearby residences and roads. Impacts are reportedly most severe around the south end of the point at the intersection of Sucia Drive and Patos Drive. Petrie says he deployed a flood boom to help protect the fire station but warns that the use of the precautionary measure takes firefighting and emergency aid equipment out of service. Winds are expected to shift to the northeast sometime today and ease the flooding danger. STORY: Pipeline spill update – both lanes reopened, cleanup suspended due to weather The monitoring of the pipeline gasoline spill cleanup in Conway will pause today due to inclement weather, but should resume operations on Tuesday. According to the Department of Ecology, while field operations are suspended, boom maintenance will continue through this period and critical personnel will monitor the area 24/7. To date, air quality reads show that the area is not dangerous to public health. As of January 10th, approximately 8,300 gallons of gasoline have been recovered from the leak. The Unified Command estimates the entire spill to be over 21,000 gallons. STORY: Inslee’s final State of the State address Washington Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his final State of the State address on Tuesday night. Despite terming it not a quote “farewell speech,” it marked his final address before the upcoming elections. He highlighted policy successes, including climate initiatives, education funding, prescription drug costs, and gun law changes. Democrats praised Inslee’s priorities, while Republicans criticized challenges under his administration, particularly regarding crime, education, and housing affordability. Inslee also renewed calls for a constitutional amendment securing abortion rights– a divisive issue heading into the 2024 elections– and urged legislators to continue their efforts and quote “finish strong”. STORY: Alaska says it will continue to cancel flights through Saturday In the aftermath of another emergency landing, Alaska Airlines announced it will continue to cancel flights through Saturday. The cancellation of hundreds of flights comes as a Hawaii-bound Alaska flight on a Boeing 737 was diverted to Portland on Wednesday afternoon due to “communications issues.” Just a few days earlier, a hole blew out of a 737 MAX 9 after it took off – an incident that prompted the grounding of the MAX 9 by the Federal Aviation Administration until further notice. The agency is currently investigating both cases. Alaska says they are working with passengers to make sure they can get alternate flights. STORY: Free and Cheap Looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend? Here are some events happening around the county. A storytime is being held by Whatcom County Dairy Ambassadors at the Lyden Heritage Museum. Hear stories about dairy farms, dairy products, and agriculture while enjoying some snacks! The event begins at 3 on Saturday. Young author Sana Vinoth will be reading her newest book Sana and Clara, Protectors of Pandas at Village Books and Paper Dreams. The event will run from 2 to 3 pm on Saturday, with the young author reading excerpts from her book about protecting endangered species. Finally, the Upfront Theatre is hosting the Winter Laughter Games today and tomorrow at 9:30 pm. Improvisers will compete in comedy improv games in made-up categories and do their best to win points awarded by the audience. General admission is 14 dollars or 10 dollars for students. WX: Snow, Wind Advisories There is both a Wind and Wind Chill Advisory in place today. Overnight temperatures will drop to a low of 8 degrees. Winds are expected to have gusts as high as 25 mph tonight, causing wind chills to dip as low as 20 degrees below zero. The cold winds can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Tomorrow will be warmer and less windy, but still below freezing. Bundle up and stay warm! OUTRO: Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, and Tristan Trudell. …
January 11, 2024 News Transcript
Fraser Valley outflow expected to deliver cold temps and high winds across Whatcom County, Winter shelters open, MLK Day Community Events, Covid in Whatcom, Brant geese hunts continue in Clallam, Pacific, Whatcom counties; limited three-day hunt in Skagit County, Burlington waste disposal company penalized $25,000 for improperly managing dangerous waste, Pipeline spill update – both lanes reopened, cleanup suspended due to weather ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, January 11th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Fraser Valley outflow expected to deliver cold temps and high winds across Whatcom County, Winter shelters open Northeasterly winds from the Fraser Valley are anticipated to cause a sudden temperature drop today. Fraser River outflow winds reaching up to 50mph, are expected tonight, bringing a chance of light snow and temperatures below freezing. Wind chill values may drop below 0°. In Whatcom County, three severe weather shelters will be open this evening– the Bellingham Overnight Severe Weather Shelter on State Street, Lighthouse Mission Base Camp on Cornwall Avenue, Road2Home Civic Field Winter Shelter, and the Ferndale Severe Weather Shelter on Washington Street in Ferndale. More information on opening times is available at whatcomcounty.us. There are wind and wind chill advisories, with lowland snow accumulations of 0 to 2 inches anticipated through Saturday in Whatcom County with continuing low temperatures. STORY: MLK Day Community Events Martin Luther King Jr. Day is this Monday, January 15th, and many community events will be held throughout the weekend. On Saturday, January 13th, the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association is joining the City of Bellingham to host a Volunteer Work Party in honor of MLK Day of Service. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is located at the Squalicum Creek Re-route site, at the corner of Birchwood Avenue and Squalicum Parkway. Volunteers will plant native trees and shrubs. All ages are welcome, but those under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. If you are interested, please register in advance by visiting cob-dot-org. On Monday, January 15th, there’s an MLK community event at Sehome High School, from 10 a.m. to noon. The event will begin with a free breakfast, followed by presentations honoring MLK’s legacy of service and activism. Volunteers are invited to participate in service projects after the event, both at Sehome High School and throughout the community. For a full schedule, and to register for events, go to wwu.edu-slash-mlk. STORY: Covid in Whatcom As cases of Covid and other respiratory illnesses increase in Whatcom County, health experts are again recommending that people take precautions. KMRE reporter Tristan Trudell has more. WHATCOM COVID AUDIO STORY: Brant geese hunts continue in Clallam, Pacific, Whatcom counties; limited three-day hunt in Skagit County The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced open season hunt dates for brant geese. Stable winter brant counts have led to scheduled hunting opportunities in Clallam and Whatcom counties on January 20th, 24th, and 27th, and in Pacific County on various dates in January. After the brant population surveys conducted in Skagit County revealed a count of more than 3,000 birds, a limited three-day hunting period was announced. It will open during the Youth, Veteran, and Active Military waterfowl hunting opportunity on February 3rd. Hunters need a valid migratory bird authorization, a harvest report card, and are reminded to be aware of local regulations and boundaries in Whatcom County. STORY: Burlington waste disposal company penalized $25,000 for improperly managing dangerous waste The Department of Ecology says a Burlington waste disposal company was penalized $25,000 for repeated violations. Burlington Environmental, a subsidiary of Clean Earth Services (owned by Harsco Corporation), was found to be in violation of dangerous waste regulations. Ecology inspectors found that the company improperly stored pharmaceuticals, pesticides, aerosols and flammable materials on site for several months, and failed to train its employees on managing that waste. Burlington Environmental has 30 days to pay the penalty or appeal the fine to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board. STORY: Pipeline spill update – both lanes reopened, cleanup suspended due to weather The pipeline gasoline spill in Conway will have its cleanup and air monitoring paused due to inclement weather starting on Friday, and should resume operations on Tuesday. According to the Department of Ecology, while field operations are suspended, boom maintenance will continue through this period and critical personnel will monitor the area 24/7. To date, air quality reads show that the area is not dangerous to public health. State Route 534 also reopened to two-way traffic on Monday. Temporary closures may occur as flaggers help trucks navigate through the response area. A temporary shuttle service is also available to reduce congestion. As of January 10th, approximately 8,300 gallons of gasoline have been recovered from the leak. The Unified Command estimates the entire spill to be around 21,200 gallons. WX: Snow, Wind Advisories There is both a Wind and Wind Chill Advisory in place today, from 4 pm to 7 am. Overnight temperatures will drop to a low of 7 degrees. Winds are expected to have gusts as high as 36 mph tonight, causing wind chills to dip as low as 20 degrees below zero. The cold winds can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Tomorrow will be even colder and similarly windy, but you can expect a little bit of sunshine. Bundle up and stay warm! OUTRO: Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, and Tristan Trudell. 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. If you would like to help keep local news accessible, check out our new Patreon page at patreon.com/kmrenews or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thanks for listening. ##
KMRE Newsletter: January 2024
Bellingham Elks Support KMRE! Thank you to the Bellingham Elks Lodge #194 for their generous donation of $2500! Thanks to David and Francine Kincaid, Janet Garmback-Barber, Bill Case. Representing KMRE are Leo Schumaker, Karla Newson, and Robert B. Clark. Bellingham Elks Lodge #194 was first established in 1891, and has been dedicated to giving back to Bellingham ever since. More people are coming to KMRE with an interest in creating local programming, but we need more recording spaces! We plan to create two additional professional recording spaces by the end of the year– and this donation is a GREAT way to start that project! Thank you, to all the Bellingham Elks! Whatcom County Executive Visits Studio County Executive Satpal Sidhu is the first guest on the new KMRE show: Speak Out. This new monthly show gives KMRE listeners an opportunity to ask questions to local electeds and Executive Sidhu was our inaugural guest! Listen to our interview with him below Speak Out: County Executive Satpal Sidhu Volunteer Spotlight: Connor O’Boyle KMRE News staff member, Connor O’Boyle, is interested in using his skills, and helping the community. He sat down with Connor Willis to talk more about what drives him to be a volunteer. What makes you interested in journalism? “I think some of my primary concerns right now are the development of AI, news about the climate, and what’s going on with Palestine. There’s a lot of misery lately, But there’s a lot of hope, and a lot of advancement and a lot of creativity. I love to follow the news involving entertainment. The Different ideas being expressed in video games and how video game movies are becoming a lot higher quality. I like to try to balance it with the good and the bad.” How has this effected your daily life? “I’ve never done radio before. This has been a really fun opportunity. I’m about to graduate. So, I’m preparing for that and Just kind of trying to make the most of my last week in Bellingham.” What are some goals in your future? Connor O’Boyle, KMRE News staff “I guess a goal of mine would be to work in journalism to some capacity. Continuing my volunteer work with KMRE would be a good start towards that.”Why did you choose to become an anchor with KMRE? “I’ve always been told I have a pretty good voice and I didn’t really think about it until recently. I mainly sang and did songwriting. Never done actual radio type anchoring. it’s fun and it’s nice to hear your voice is getting out there.” Connor O’ Boyle would like to let the members of the newsletter know that he’d like support in KMRE. If you’d like to support us. The KMRE News Patreon is linked here. New Shows At 88.3FM Capitol Beat Tuesdays at 5:30pm Host: Riley Sweeney State politics through a local lens! Slice and dice the legislative action each week with the Capitol Beat. To Whom It May Concern Sundays at 8:30PM Host: Jayne Entwistle To Whom It May Concern where folks read their letters on stage. This monthly show is recorded live for KMRE at the New Prospect Theatre. Third Eye Jazz Tuesdays at 3:00pm Host: DJ L-Cat A fun, driven dive into the world of Jazz and what the genre has sparked.
KMRE Newsletter December 2023
Transmitter Finally Arrives! After waiting a year, KMRE gets its signal boost. Our main fundraising goal last year was to help us upgrade our equipment so that we could expand our broadcast reach. We raised $50,000 and in December of 2022 we ordered our new transmitter. Soon we got the news that supply chains and staff shortages would delay delivery. We finally received the new transmitter last week, almost one year to the date of ordering it. But delivery was just the beginning of the adventure, as it arrived without all of the necessary parts to install it, including an installation manual. Our Chief Engineer, Mike Gilbert, and our Operations Manager, Robert Clark, had to make the cables we needed and spent three days installing it– here’s a few pics of the process. Now we’re broadcasting at almost full capacity, and expect our signal to get even stronger over the next few months as we install boosters in various spots in Whatcom County. It’s been a long slog, but we’re proud of the people who helped make it real. Community radio isn’t always easy, but maintaining public access to the public airwaves is always worth it. New shows, new volunteers Meet Kevin Coleman and Dan Tucker, hosts of the new KMRE show, Love Your Waterfront, airing once a month on Thursday at 5:30pm. Love Your Waterfront is your gateway to all the wonderful aspects of Whatcom County’s waterfronts: the history, the thriving businesses and the unique art and culture of the Salish Sea that make this an extraordinary place to live. Other New Shows Starting In December On KMRE 88.3FM Third Eye Jazz with DJ L-Cat, Tuesdays at 3pm Running and Racing with Leo Schumaker and Friends, Mondays at 5:30pm Bliss is Ordinary with Yam and Jessi, Saturdays at 11AM Open To Debate, Fridays at 6pm Progressive Rock Psychedelic Beatles Pop Show with Erik The Prog King, Tuesdays at 9PM Training sessions start in January Already on the air at KMRE? Sign up for the On Air Refresher– offered Jan 5th from 4-6pm, or Jan 6th from 10-12pm. Mandatory information for all current KMRE show hosts/producers. Sign up here: On Air Refresher Interested in being a DJ or producer at KMRE? The first of our 3-part training session on January 12th from 4-6pm. Sign up here: On Air Training Part One
January 10, 2024 News Transcript
High winds knock out power in Whatcom, Skagit counties, Gas leak likely caused Ferndale garage explosion, subsequent fire, Whatcom County Council approves two resolutions requesting Gov and Pres declare emergency for opioid and fentanyl crisis, 300-bed Bellingham homeless shelter slated for November opening ‘at the latest’, Truck fuel leak disrupts WA ferries in Anacortes, Seattle I-5 protest surprised WA State Patrol; arrests possible, Covid in Whatcom ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, January 10th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: High winds knock out power in Whatcom, Skagit counties The harsh weather seen in both Whatcom and Skagit counties has started taking its toll. High winds knocked down power lines yesterday morning. Nearly 2,000 PSE customers were without power as of 11 a.m. Tuesday, including over 250 in downtown Sedro-Woolley and about 1,500 near Alger (OW-jer). Temperatures are expected to plummet around noon tomorrow and an arctic blast blowing in from the Fraser Valley is to blame. Lows on Friday morning are expected to dip to 14 degrees in Bellingham with an increasing chance of snow at low elevations, although the National Weather Service is unsure of how much snow will fall across western Whatcom and Skagit counties. The Mt. Baker Ski Area has already experienced severe snowfall, recording 13 inches of snow yesterday morning and another 32-to-35 inches predicted over the next three days. STORY: Gas leak likely caused Ferndale garage explosion, subsequent fire Ferndale Police have confirmed the cause of Sunday’s garage explosion as a gas leak. Fire crews arrived at the home on Apollo Drive around noon to find the garage door had been blown into the driveway, as well as garage walls moved off the foundation by the explosion. No one was home with the exception of some pets, who were safely evacuated. After a similar explosion in Bothell a month ago, experts are urging anyone living in a house with gas appliances to recognize the sulfur-like smell of a gas leak, and say residents should get out of the house and call 911 immediately if they notice the smell. They also advise homeowners to ensure carbon monoxide detectors work and get regular maintenance done on gas appliances. STORY: Whatcom County Council approves two resolutions requesting Gov and Pres declare emergency for opioid and fentanyl crisis Whatcom County Council members approved resolutions requesting emergency declarations on the opioid crisis from both the governor and president. The county has seen a significant increase in suspected and confirmed overdose deaths with 132 cases in 2023 compared to 91 in all of 2022. At a meeting last night, County councilors discussed the merits of requesting state and federal help. A state-level emergency declaration would allow the county to seek state resources, while a federal declaration could make $50 million available nationwide. The two resolutions called on the federal and state governments to work with their legislatures as well as provide additional resources and to better address the ongoing crisis. Both resolutions passed unanimously. STORY: 300-bed Bellingham homeless shelter slated for November opening ‘at the latest’ Construction of the Lighthouse Mission Ministries’ new shelter in Bellingham’s Old Town is reaching a minor milestone this week, as construction crews are framing up the fifth floor and completing the new shelter’s roof. So far, Lighthouse says it has raised $23 million dollars for the project, which includes anticipated proceeds from the sale of the Willows Inn property on Lummi Island that was gifted to the organization last year. The new facility at Holly Street will include a low-barrier shelter with space for 200 people, plus a specialized shelter for a hundred more homeless individuals. Another one-hundred beds will be made available during weather emergencies or natural disasters. The nonprofit expects to leave Base Camp and move into the new shelter by November. STORY: Truck fuel leak disrupts WA ferries in Anacortes A ferry trip was canceled Tuesday morning after a vehicle leaked fuel on its dock. The leak occurred after the underside of a truck scraped the vehicle ramp when leaving the Anacortes ferry. Staff said the driver wasn’t aware of the damage and kept on driving. An eyewitness notes that there was, quote “a rainbow sheen, from where the boat was, all the way up to the road.” A Washington State Ferry rider alert was sent out and called it a “safety issue.” The spill was cleaned up an hour and a half later, and regular operations resumed. Spokesperson Ian Sterling said that it is common for cars and trucks to drip puddles of petroleum on a boat or dock and for crews to clean the mess. No information was given about how the truck was damaged, nor how much fuel leaked into the water. STORY: Seattle I-5 protest surprised WA State Patrol; arrests possible The Washington State Patrol was caught off-guard by a protest on Saturday that shut down Interstate 5 through Seattle for nearly five hours. The protest, calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, led to the closure of northbound I-5, causing significant traffic disruption. State Patrol Chief Jon Batiste (bah-TEEST) says WSP received a single unverifiable report about the plan to take over the freeway but couldn’t substantiate it. Despite preparing a contingency plan, Batiste says there wasn’t enough reliable information to deploy additional officers or teams to specific locations. Mass arrests were considered, but the lack of capacity at the King County Jail and a miscommunication regarding dispersal orders contributed to delays. Ultimately, protesters left voluntarily before a dispersal order was issued. The abandoned vehicles were inspected with bomb-sniffing dogs before being towed away. The event drew criticism from some Republican officials who questioned the state government’s preparedness. Protest organizers celebrated its success, reiterating demands related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The State Patrol says they are still investigating and have not ruled out arrests. WX: Rainy, Snow There is a chance of rain today, with a high of 43 degrees and light winds. Snow may come tonight, with a …
January 9 2024 News Transcript
Armed robbery near Wendy’s, Crash closes southbound 1-5 lanes through Bellingham during evening commute, City settles accident-related lawsuit involving fired Bellingham Police detective, Birch Bay Vogt Library Express reaches funding goal, WWU faculty reel in $1.4 million NSF grant to help boost science teaching in local elementary schools, First day of legislature, Washington House passes bill to allow splitting of residential lots ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, January 9th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Armed robbery near Wendy’s An armed robbery took place at 9am this morning behind the Wendy’s restaurant building at 140 Samish Way. The suspect, described as a white male wearing a brown hoodie and blue jeans, held up a passerby at knifepoint and demanded money. The suspect then fled towards the Sehome Arboretum. Bellingham Police were called to the scene by the victim, and ended their search about an hour later. Neither the suspect nor the victim were found by the police. Western Washington University has stated that no one was injured in the incident. STORY: Crash closes southbound I-5 lanes through Bellingham during evening commute Another crash closed down I-5 for several hours yesterday. First responders were dispatched to the southbound lanes of I-5 between Meridian Street and Sunset Drive around 4:15 on Monday after reports of a crash involving a jackknifed semi-truck. Images posted online showed the semi-truck with its front folded in, blocking both southbound lanes impeding all traffic. As of 5:25pm, traffic backups extended over 3 miles in both directions. According to the PulsePoint EMS dispatch log, at least 1 patient was transported from the scene via a medic unit. Users online report being stuck in traffic for around 3 hours, with the lanes only being opened up around 7 pm. A similar crash happened on the same interchange just a few days earlier on Thursday— blocking both northbound lanes. That blockage lasted around an hour. STORY: City settles accident-related lawsuit involving fired Bellingham Police detective The City of Bellingham settled a lawsuit involving a former Bellingham Police detective yesterday. Back in 2018, a Bellingham woman filed a lawsuit in County Superior Court against both the City and former detective Adam McGinty. The lawsuit accused McGinty of rear-ending the woman’s vehicle in July 2015. She claimed she used her brakes to avoid hitting two dogs who had run into the road and that McGinty, who was driving the patrol car behind her, failed to stop and hit her vehicle resulting in injury and economic loss. The Bellingham City Council approved a $40,000 settlement and dismissal of the lawsuit and all related claims. McGinty was fired last year after an internal affairs investigation revealed misuse of public funds. He is currently facing charges of misappropriation or falsification of accounts by a public officer, official misconduct, and third-degree theft. McGinty pleaded not guilty to all charges back in December. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison. STORY: Birch Bay Vogt Library Express reaches funding goal After years of effort, the Whatcom County Council has allocated $315,000 in county funds to the Whatcom County Library System for the construction of the Birch Bay Vogt (VOTE) Library Express. Originally planned as a full-service library to replace a bookmobile, the project faced multiple setbacks, including two failed elections. The currently-proposed 1,700 square-foot library express is smaller than initially envisioned and will be renovated in the existing Vogt home on Birch Bay Drive. The money, combined with a $2 million dollar state grant and private donations will fund the renovations, which will begin in 2025. The new Express is expected to bring comprehensive library services to the community. STORY: WWU faculty reel in $1.4 million NSF grant to help boost science teaching in local elementary schools A project led by three Western Washington University faculty members has received $1.4 million dollars from the National Science Foundation. The project, called Science Education for Equity in K-6, aims to build a community of teacher-leaders to integrate science into K-12 education. The initiative is a collaboration between Western’s College of Science and Engineering and Woodring College of Education and according to the proposal, would establish long-term science leadership programs within sixteen Whatcom and Skagit schools. The project includes professional development, collaborative planning, and integration of science education with literacy. According to project leaders, the goal is to foster collaboration among elementary educators and produce equitable and high-quality science education. STORY: Wildfire smoke is poisoning killer whales, study finds A study from the University of British Columbia has shown that toxic smoke is poisoning killer whales off the west coast of North America. Researchers found that fossil fuels, oil spills, and forest fires are all contributors to muscle and liver damage in two types of endangered killer whale species. The pollutants have been found in the critically endangered Southern Resident orca population, a group that lives off the coast of Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. There are 75 southern resident orcas today, among them is L25, the world’s oldest living orca at around 95 years old. These whales live directly along the coast, making them more at-risk for pollution from these sources. The study also showed that the whales are transferring the toxic chemicals to their unborn calves. Lead researcher Kiah (KEYE-uh) Lee hopes that the study will influence policymakers in charge of developing oil pipelines. STORY: First day of legislature, Washington House passes bill to allow splitting of residential lots The Washington state House of Representatives passed a bill which would allow residential property owners to split their lots into smaller parcels. The same bill passed the House last year but failed to make it through the Senate. Yesterday, it passed the House 94-4. Under the proposal, most large cities could no longer prohibit property owners from splitting lots. The new lots would need to be no smaller than 2,000 square feet, be at least 40% of the size of the original lot, and could not …
January 8, 2024 News Transcript
Explosion at Ferndale residence being investigated, Whatcom County man accused of stabbing relative several times at Ferndale residence, Seattle man who distributed thousands of fentanyl pills in Whatcom County sentenced to six years in prison, Authorities say suitcase found by fishermen in Oct contained remains of Canadian resident, WA ferry system scraps timeline for resuming normal service, Boeing 737 MAX 9s grounded after Alaska Airlines in-flight blowout ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Monday, January 8th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Explosion at Ferndale residence being investigated Authorities are scrambling to find the cause of an explosion in a Ferndale residence yesterday. Fire crews arrived at the 6100 block of Apollo Drive to find the garage door had been blown into the driveway, as well as garage walls moved off the foundation by the explosion. No one was home with the exception of some pets, who were safely evacuated. The rest of the residence suffered no damage. STORY: Whatcom County man accused of stabbing relative several times at Ferndale residence An 18 year-old Whatcom resident was arrested Thursday after allegedly stabbing a relative. According to Public Information Officer Deb Slater, the suspect, Chief Harold Saluskin Pitt, entered the Ferndalel residence at 3 am without permission. When asked to leave by a relative, he stabbed the man with a knife. The relative managed to escape and call for help. He is currently at St. Joseph’s Medical Center with a punctured lung. Saluskin Pitt was detained and booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of first-degree assault and burglary. STORY: Seattle man who distributed thousands of fentanyl pills in Whatcom County sentenced to six years in prison A 33-year-old Seattle man, Abdurman Ahmed, was sentenced to six years in prison for distributing fentanyl in Whatcom County. According to Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman, Ahmed was part of a conspiracy involving six individuals indicted last April. Despite suffering a near-fatal fentanyl overdose, Ahmed continued selling the drug. Law enforcement officers observed drug transactions, seized fentanyl pills from Ahmed twice, and also found illegal firearms. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation, with DEA and local law enforcement leading the investigation. Other defendants in the case face charges related to fentanyl distribution and firearm possession. The prosecution highlighted Ahmed’s willingness to profit from distributing a dangerous substance that had lethal impacts on the Lummi Nation and the rest of Whatcom County. In handing down the sentence, Judge Richard Jones emphasized the need to protect the public, citing Ahmed’s endangerment of others, including children. The investigation is part of efforts designed to combat high-level criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking. STORY: Authorities say suitcase found by fishermen in Oct contained remains of Canadian resident The remains found in a suitcase pulled from Ross Lake in October have been identified. Staff Sergeant Kris Clark, a senior media relations officer for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, confirmed that the body is that of a Canadian resident. The investigation, originally headed by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, has been handed over to the RCMP. The body was found in Ross Lake by two people fishing in October, who were interviewed after handing the remains over to the Sheriff’s Office. No additional information on either the identity of the victim or when the RCMP took over the investigation is available at this time. STORY: WA ferry system scraps timeline for resuming normal service On Thursday, Washington State Ferries released a new Service Contingency Plan, explaining that normal service will not return for at least four years, when new boats are expected to come online. The plan marks a change from last year, where WSF estimated it could resume full service to at least the Southworth and Bremerton routes by the fall. The timeline was extended to 2024 and many routes will now be operating indefinitely with one fewer boat. According to Washington Ferries, the goal this year is to deliver 95% of its scheduled trips, as opposed to its historical goal of 99%. The ferry system continues to struggle with staffing shortages and an aging fleet. Staffing minimum requirements are just barely being met, which means when someone calls out sick, trips are disrupted. WSF is launching a recruitment campaign next week and in his proposed budget, Governor Jay Inslee is suggesting $20 million dollars to aid hiring efforts. The fleet currently has just 21 boats operating, 5 shy of its estimated need. Many of these are over 30 years old and need regular maintenance and repairs. The state hopes to award a contract to build its new electric ferries this summer, with the expectation that one be delivered by February 2028. STORY: Boeing 737 MAX 9s grounded after Alaska Airlines in-flight blowout All Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft have been grounded after part of an Alaska Airlines plane fuselage blew out at 16,000 feet. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the grounding of the entire series of planes after a section of the Alaska plane’s fuselage, designed to plug an emergency exit gap, fell away, leaving a hole in the cabin and causing depressurization. Pictures taken by passengers revealed no damage to the frame around the hole, leaving some to conjecture that the problem may lie with one of the four bolts that secured the plug. The incident involved an almost-new MAX 9 delivered by Boeing to Alaska Airlines less than 10 weeks earlier. In the days before the incident, pilots reported intermittent warning lights indicating cabin pressure loss, which were addressed according to approved maintenance procedures. Alaska and United are the biggest operators of this model in the U.S. The plug, installed for production efficiency, is not specific to the MAX and has been present since 2006 on previous 737 models. The entire fuselage, including the door plug, is assembled by Spirit AeroSystems in Kansas and then transported to Boeing’s Renton plant. The incident poses a setback for Boeing as it was recovering from previous …
January 5, 2024 News Transcript
Memorial bench for Henry King installed at Boulevard Park, Evening crash stalled I-5 for 3 miles, ‘Fire & Story’ Set To Illuminate Bellingham’s Waterfront, Financially troubled Mount Baker School District appoints interim superintendent, Washington seeks options to curb rent pressure for tenants of state-financed housing, AG Ferguson calls for increase to penalty for price-fixing, collusion, Free and Cheap ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Friday, January 5th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____. STORY: Memorial bench for Henry King installed at Boulevard Park A memorial bench honoring Henry King has been installed in Boulevard Park. The bench, which is located along South Bay Trail between the park’s boardwalks, was donated by community member Fernando Gonzalez. Gonzalez had organized a campaign with the hope of raising $1,500 for the bench. In the end, the campaign raised $2,200, with the extra $700 being donated towards another fund for Mr. King’s funeral expenses. Gonzalez stated that, while he did not know King personally, he personally felt it was the “Bellingham thing to do.” STORY: Evening crash stalled I-5 for 3 miles I-5 was stalled for over an hour yesterday as a crash closed the northbound lanes. First responders were dispatched to I-5 north of the Sunset Drive interchange about 5:15pm due to reports of a crash. The northbound on-ramp was subsequently closed and the DOT advised motorists to use alternative routes. The left lane was reopened around 5:40, but stalled traffic remained for at least 3 miles past the Samish Way interchange. STORY: ‘Fire & Story’ Set To Illuminate Bellingham’s Waterfront Bellingham’s waterfront is set to be lit up when a new event takes place later this month. From the 18th to the 20th, over 30 unique performances will take place around the Waterfront Pump Track as part of “Fire and Story”. The winter event will host evenings with acoustic songwriters, poets, dance troupes, cirque, live blacksmithing, and more. Paper Whale is organizing the event, open to all ages and attendance is free. An event schedule and map is available at Paper-Whale.com. STORY: Financially troubled Mount Baker School District appoints interim superintendent The Mount Baker School Board appointed Phil Brockman as interim superintendent in a special meeting last night. He will be succeeding Mary Sewright, who retired in December. Brockman, a retired superintendent from Sedro-Woolley School District, will serve in the interim role for at least a year. The school board says it plans to hire a permanent superintendent by spring 2025. The district currently faces binding conditions with the state’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction due to ongoing financial challenges. Brockman, known for his financial experience, said in his December 19th interview with the school board that he emphasized a collaborative approach to rebuild trust and plans a listening tour to address concerns within the school district. The school board says it will engage the community in spring to outline expectations for a permanent superintendent, with interviews and hiring anticipated in early 2025. STORY: Washington seeks options to curb rent pressure for tenants of state-financed housing In the new legislative session, Washington officials will consider new restrictions on rent increases for affordable housing supported by taxpayer funds. Despite failed attempts last year to limit annual rent increases for all tenants, lawmakers plan to reintroduce similar proposals in the upcoming session informed by an interim report published by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and the Department of Commerce. The report cites a lack of available affordable homes, a growing income-rent gap, and the delicate balance between stabilizing renters and housing providers and attempts to address challenges in affordable housing. It also suggests measures such as limits on rent hikes, incentives for housing providers, a review of policies that contribute to rent burdens, and suggests equitable rent increase practices. According to the report, many people are only one rent increase away from housing instability. The departments say more research and analysis is required, which they plan to work on throughout the year. A final version of the report is expected next December. In the meantime, many of the lead sponsors of last year’s rent stabilization bills– including Representative Lekanoff (luh-KAN-off) and Ramel (RAM-ull)– have already introduced similar proposals in the state House. STORY: AG Ferguson calls for increase to penalty for price-fixing, collusion Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is proposing legislation to increase penalties for antitrust violations. In a media release, Ferguson stated he is joining forces with State Senator Yasmin Trudeau and State Representative Darya Farivar in calling for an increase in penalties for anti-competitive behavior like price-fixing and collusion. Currently, the maximum penalty for such violations in Washington state is $900,000 for corporations, regardless of whether the illegal activity results in a profit many times that amount. By comparison, Texas has penalties that can reach up to $30 million. The proposed legislation would increase the maximum penalty up to three times the illegal gains or losses avoided. By law, paid penalties would go to the state general fund. Ferguson expects the legislation would increase revenues to the state. STORY: Free and Cheap Looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend? Here are some events going on around the county. The Central Branch of Bellingham Public Library will be hosting Little Looms this Saturday. Members of the Whatcom Weavers Guild will be there to guide patrons through different kinds of weaving projects. Materials will be provided, and no registration is required. The event runs from noon to 3 pm. Also on Saturday is the Makerspace open Craft Time at Bellis Fair. The Bellingham Makerspace will feature a project demonstration, provide materials, and is open to those of all skill levels. This free event runs from 2 to 5pm, and registration is available online at the Bellingham Makerspace website. And, on Sunday, the Salsa Collective is hosting a salsa class at The Majestic Ballroom. The class starts at 5:30 pm, with open dancing from 7 to 8. No experience, partner, special clothes, or …
