No charges levied in Saturday’s hate crime arrest, Bellingham recommits police aid to sheriff’s drug task force, Nearly 30 bridges across Whatcom and Skagit county reportedly in poor condition, Bellingham recommits police aid to sheriff’s drug task force, WA to launch program to assist victims of housing discrimination, U.S. Supreme Court ruling derails multi-million dollar opioid settlement for WA Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, July 2nd. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: No charges levied in Saturday’s hate crime arrest A Bellingham man who was arrested Saturday in connection with an assault at Cornwall Park will not face hate crime charges. 51-year-old Timothy Franklin was taken into custody after the altercation where he reportedly punched a man in the face and threatened him with a screwdriver. Court documents indicate that both the victim and his alleged attacker used racially charged language throughout the fight. The documents, filed Monday in Whatcom County Superior Court, state that Franklin called the victim a racial slur first, but after being assaulted the victim began using racial slurs as well. Franklin has been arrested several times for violent crimes and was most recently released from jail in May after serving 45 days for spitting on a man and threatening him with a machete. He will face a single count of second-degree assault for the Cornwall Park attack which was reportedly unprovoked. STORY: Bellingham recommits police aid to sheriff’s drug task force Last night, the Bellingham City Council voted to rejoin the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Gang and Drug Task Force and says it will commit to share police personnel to combat drug trafficking in the region. The Bellingham Police Department withdrew from the task force in 2020 because of critical understaffing–– it continued to assist as a support agency but did not provide personnel. The department says, due to the fact that 25 new officers have been hired since 2022, it now intends to provide one officer and one supervisor to the task force. The agreement follows the city’s declaration of an opioid and synthetic drug crisis last month. In February, Mayor Kim Lund passed an executive order that identified the fight against opioid addiction as one of the city’s highest priorities and committed to increase downtown patrols. The resolution also codified the city’s intention to partner with other agencies to intervene in addiction cycles and help community members with recovery. According to records, 137 people died last year in Whatcom County of a confirmed or probable drug overdose, a 50% increase from 2022. The drug task force also seized seven pounds of heroin, 62 pounds of cocaine, 125 pounds of meth, 154 pounds of fentanyl-laced pills as well as 31 firearms. STORY: Nearly 30 bridges across Whatcom and Skagit county reportedly in poor condition An analysis by Cascadia Daily News revealed 30 out of the 600 plus bridges in Whatcom and Skagit Counties are in poor condition with an average age of 52 years. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers ‘Report on America’s Infrastructure’, most bridges are built with an expected lifespan of 50 years, and Whatcom’s aging bridges are due to be replaced in the next couple decades. However, according to James Lee, bridge and hydraulics manager for Whatcom County Public Works, although many of the counties’ bridges are deemed to be in poor condition some have repairs or replacement plans already funded and underway. Some of the projects have been fully funded by federal money, including the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Within Bellingham, four bridges on the list are under City control––the James Street and Meador Bridges are under construction, with Meador Bridge shut down for repairs. The Central-Chestnut Dock Bridge has been converted into a safe, pedestrian walking path, and funding has yet to be secured for the Electric Avenue Bridge which currently has only one lane open. STORY: WA to launch program to assist victims of housing discrimination A program designed to help low-income first-time homebuyers whose families have been in Washington since 1968 starts this month. In spring of 2023, the Washington State Legislature passed the Covenant Homeownership Act to assist individuals affected by historical housing discrimination. Starting this month, the CHP will provide 0% interest loans for downpayment and closing costs, which are repayable when the house is sold or refinanced. To be eligible, applicants must be first-time homebuyers with household incomes at or below 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and have deep roots in Washington State before April 1968, particularly those from racial or ethnic groups impacted by past discrimination. Applicants work with a Commission-trained lender to prequalify for a mortgage loan and establish eligibility. A $100 document recording assessment fee on real estate transactions is estimated to generate $75 million to $100 million annually for the program and the fund will be managed by the Department of Financial Institutions who will report on the impacts and potentially make recommendations to the legislature. A hotline is available for people who are interested in connecting with a suitable lender or would like to ask questions. Alternatively you can visit wshfc.org for more information. STORY: U.S. Supreme Court ruling derails multi-million dollar opioid settlement for WA The U.S. Supreme Court has invalidated a $183 million payment to Washington as part of a larger bankruptcy plan for Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin. The plan involved the Sackler family, owners of Purdue, contributing up to $6 billion to address opioid epidemic damages, but the court ruled 5-4 against shielding the Sacklers from related lawsuits. Attorney General Bob Ferguson praised the decision, stating it enables his office to hold the Sacklers accountable. Washington’s $183 million settlement is now void, and the state’s case will proceed to mediation. Ferguson says his office is preparing a lawsuit against the Sacklers if mediation does not yield significant resources for Washington. The state attorney general’s office has already secured $1.1 billion from other opioid-related litigations. Purdue Pharma, implicated in the opioid crisis for its marketing …
June 20, 2024 News Transcript
Drive-by shooting in Mount Vernon left two people with multiple gunshot wounds, $14M bond approved for Port of Bellingham Shipping Terminal modernization, Former Bellingham employees file class-action suit against city over COVID-19 vaccine policies, ‘High priority’ to get Sudden Valley Fire Station 22 back operating, City of Bellingham seeks new name for pier on Bellingham Bay, WSDOT plans for $85M fish passage project at I-5, Guide Meridian, Johnson & Johnson pays $123 million to WA following opioid lawsuit, WA plans to use $32 million to help asylum seekers ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, June 20th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Drive-by shooting in Mount Vernon left two people with multiple gunshot wounds Two people were injured after a drive-by shooting took place in Mount Vernon on June 11th. Police were dispatched to the scene on North 1st Street and found two men – a 23-year-old, and an 18-year-old – who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The 18-year-old was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, while the 23-year-old was treated at the nearby Skagit Valley Hospital. Neither of them suffered life-threatening injuries. Mount Vernon Police believe the incident was not a random shooting. Witnesses and people who have information relating to the shooting are being asked to contact Mount Vernon Police. STORY: $14M bond approved for Port of Bellingham Shipping Terminal modernization On Tuesday, the Bellingham Port Commission approved a $14 million bond that will fund a large portion of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal modernization project. The two-year, multi-million dollar project is meant to improve the existing wharf by replacing the dock, which port projections say would encourage more cargo traffic and business in the port. The recently passed bond will fund upgrades and repairs at both the shipping and cruise terminals. At the Tuesday meeting, Port commissioners and employees explained that the approved bonds wouldn’t be paid for by taxpayers. Instead, port revenues will be used for the payback period. Once the bonds are issued, it will take about 15 years for the port to repay the amount borrowed, with an estimated annual payment of up to $1.4 million. In January, the port started dredging the Whatcom Waterway to increase the navigation depth to 35 feet. The work is expected to be completed by February of next year, and port officials say a deeper waterway will create jobs for longshoremen, as well as shipyard and rail workers. Dan Tucker, part of the Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County, added that economic activity at the shipping terminal will ripple into downtown Bellingham and greater Whatcom County. STORY: Former Bellingham employees file class-action suit against city over COVID-19 vaccine policies Eighteen former employees of the City of Bellingham, fired in 2021 for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations, have sued the city and former Mayor Seth Fleetwood. This follows Fleetwood’s September 2021 emergency order mandating vaccinations, which was eventually lifted in February of last year. The lawsuit, filed on June 13th in the U.S. District Court of Western Washington, claims the plaintiffs had the right to refuse the vaccine without penalty. The plaintiffs are seeking punitive damages, attorney’s fees, litigation expenses, and compensation for lost wages and benefits. The case is part of a broader pattern of legal challenges to vaccination mandates in the state. Neither party has commented on the lawsuit. STORY: ‘High priority’ to get Sudden Valley Fire Station 22 back operating Fire Chief Mitch Nolze (NOULz) says that getting Sudden Valley’s Fire Station 22 operational again is the “highest priority” and hopes to have cost estimates ready by July. In January, a burst pipe caused enough water damage to render the station largely inoperable. Currently, the station’s administrative office remains open during business hours, alongside a crew of three to four emergency responders at all times, while the bulk of the South Whatcom Fire Authority’s responders have been relocated to the Geneva Fire Station. Even before the burst pipe, Fire Station 22 had long been slated for a remodel. Now, Nolze says, that conversation has been accelerated. Nolze noted that despite the change in circumstances, the Fire Authority is still hitting their response time goals, typically taking between five and fifteen minutes to reach a call. He also says that he does not anticipate the project to require tax dollars, and will instead draw on existing cash reserves. STORY: City of Bellingham seeks new name for pier on Bellingham Bay The City of Bellingham is seeking public help in renaming the Bellingham Bay pier. The pier, originally built in 1912 in the southwest of Little Squalicum Park, will soon undergo renovations which will provide up to 1,200 ft of public access over the water. The renovations, primarily funded by the Greenway Levy Funds, will start later this year, and will run only between August to February, to protect in-water habitats and wildlife. Name suggestions can be submitted on the City of Bellingham’s website, where they will then be forwarded to the Bellingham Parks & Recreation Board and Bellingham City Council for final approval. Voting for the new pier name closes on July 12th. STORY: WSDOT plans for $85M fish passage project at I-5, Guide Meridian This week, WSDOT (WASH-dot) presented their plan for an 85 million dollar fish passage project spanning I-5 and the Guide Meridian, to begin in 2026. The project will work to fix existing creek culverts that are the wrong size and shape to accommodate fish moving up or downstream. This is one of many projects across the state that are working to comply with a 2013 federal court injunction that enforces tribal treaty fishing rights. The state has until 2030 to repair or replace culverts to open up salmon habitat upstream. The design phase has already begun, and is currently informing businesses of future disruptions and changes. Both I-5 and the Guide are expected to be reduced to a single lane in each direction for periods of time while construction is underway. WSDOT says it should have a clearer …
June 17, 2024 News Transcript
Bellingham police arrest man on suspicion of assault, attempted kidnapping in Fairhaven, Former student causes security scare at Squalicum High School, Bellingham swimmer Gavin Jones becomes first to compete at U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Bellingham Parks and Recreation announces Civic Stadium renovations to begin in June, Bellingham’s Summer Concert Series in the Parks lines up free live music starting June 20, WA carbon auction demand drops, as prices remain lower, WA plans to use $32 million to help asylum seekers ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Monday, June 17. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Bellingham police arrest man on suspicion of assault, attempted kidnapping in Fairhaven Bellingham police arrested a man on Thursday following his alleged attempt to kidnap and assault a woman. The victim reported to police that she had gone to meet up with John Brooks Ferlin at his Fairhaven apartment, only for Ferlin to approach her from behind and place a rag soaked with rubbing alcohol over her mouth. The victim was able to escape as Ferlin made additional threats. Multiple 911 calls were made by bystanders who witnessed the victim running away, screaming for help. The victim later identified Ferlin to police, who was arrested without incident. A search of Ferlin’s apartment yielded illegal drugs and associated paraphernalia. Ferlin was booked into Whatcom County Jail on charges of second-degree assault with a sexual motivation, kidnapping, and possession of a controlled substance. He remains in custody. STORY: Former student causes security scare at Squalicum High School A former Squalicum High School student caused a security scare at the school on Wednesday. Both Squalicum and the nearby Northern Heights Elementary School were placed in Secure protocol for an hour-and-a-half after the former student was spotted on Squalicum’s soccer field. During this time, all doors to the school were locked, and no one was allowed in or out. Police officers, as well as the individual’s family, were initially successful in addressing the issue. However, the individual was later spotted again on Squalicum’s property, which prompted the school to be placed back into the Secure protocol for nearly an hour. Police and the individual’s family were called back to the scene, and the person eventually left the property with assistance. The Bellingham School District later said the individual showed no intent to harm. STORY: Bellingham swimmer Gavin Jones becomes first to compete at U.S. Olympic Team Trials A Bellingham man recently qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, beating the current record by over one second. Gavin Jones swam the 200m breaststroke with a time of just over 2:14.72. Jones attended Bellingham High School and formerly competed with the Bellingham Bay Swim Team at the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center but is now a junior at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. The five-time NCAA Division III All-American will compete in the 200m Breaststroke Trials tomorrow. Jones is the first swimmer to come from Bellingham to compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. STORY: Bellingham Parks and Recreation announces Civic Stadium renovations to begin in June Starting on Monday, June 17th, Bellingham’s Civic Stadium will undergo renovations on its south grandstand. The renovations include concrete and ceiling repair, waterproofing, painting, roofing, and other needed tasks. Bellingham Parks and Recreation says stadium parking will not be affected by the construction. The track and field will be accessible through the stadium’s entrance on Orleans Street. The north grandstand’s restrooms will also remain open. The project is expected to go until mid-October, and no public events are planned to be held at the stadium this summer. STORY: Bellingham’s Summer Concert Series in the Parks lines up free live music starting June 20 Bellingham’s ‘Summer Concerts in the Parks’ series is about to start. The City has announced free concerts will be held on Thursdays at Elizabeth Park and Fridays at Boulevard Park that will feature a variety of music groups. Concerts will run from June 20th through August 23rd and start at 6pm. Funk & rock group North Sound Soul will perform at Elizabeth Park this Thursday, and the first Boulevard Park concert will feature the funk group GrooveBot. You can find the full schedule on the City of Bellingham website. STORY: Skagit County approves controversial gravel mine Skagit County has approved plans for a controversial new gravel mine north of Sedro-Woolley. The Grip Road Gravel Mine was previously approved in February of this year before being successfully appealed. According to Skagit County, the proposal has since been reviewed and certified by a new hearing examiner, and work is set to begin. Concrete Nor’west, the mine’s developer, will log nearly 70 acres of forested land and add 23 loaded gravel trucks to local daily traffic. Despite the review, many in Skagit County still oppose the proposal in its current state. Kyle Loring and John Day, spokespeople for opposition group Central Samish Valley Neighbors, have stated that the decision still fails to address their environmental and safety concerns, and say they feel that the new hearing examiner did not take their counter-arguments into consideration when listening to their testimonials. Concrete Nor’west has agreed to the road maintenance and safety improvements included in the decision. However, Day claims that these conditions still fall far short addressing residents’ concerns. Loring further stated that the project was approved as requested by the company, without vital changes. The deadline for further appeals is June 25th. CSVN is currently evaluating whether or not to submit another. STORY: WA carbon auction demand drops, as prices remain lower Demand for carbon-emission allowances has dropped in Washington state. Data from the Department of Ecology shows that, in addition to the slowing demand by polluters, the prices for allowances have remained low. This time last year, allowances were being sold at around $56 each – and now are going for a little under $30. While the auction on June 5th still managed to raise $189 million in revenue for the state, this was still less than half of the …
May 30, 2024 News Transcript
Blaine police arrest three on allegations of prostitution, sexual assault, Rollover crash closes I-5 lanes south of Bellingham, WWU and pro-Palestine encampment reach agreement, Bellingham City Council hits pause on Silver Beach rezoning, Kona Bicycles co-founders buy company back from private equity firm, Tullwood Apartments requests to join lawsuit against “Walmart encampment” owner, Amtrak Cascades offers free train rides for qualifying youth ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, May 30th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Blaine police arrest three on allegations of prostitution, sexual assault Three arrests have been made at a Blaine massage parlor, after a warrant was granted due to allegations of prostitution and sexual assault. Law enforcement arrived at the shopping center on H Street in Blaine yesterday and arrested two men – Todd Berge, age 57 of Blaine, and Ankhjargal Jargalsaikhan (ANKH-jar-gal jar-gal-SAAH-han), age 38 of Corona, California. The two men were charged with patronizing a prostitute. A woman, Jie Deng (JEE-uh DUNG), age 39 of Renton, was also arrested and charged with 2nd-degree rape. All three were booked into Whatcom County Jail, but the two men were later released. The Blaine Police Department says the investigation is ongoing. STORY: Rollover crash closes I-5 lanes south of Bellingham A single vehicle rollover crash closed the northbound lanes of I-5 yesterday. First responders were dispatched to I-5 between North Lake Samish Way and Nulle (NOO-lee) Road at around 9:40 am, due to a report of a single-vehicle rollover crash. Visible flames were reported coming from the vehicle, and both lanes were closed until around 11 am. According to Washington State Patrol, the person involved in the crash was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No charges or citations resulted from the accident. STORY: WWU and pro-Palestine encampment reach agreement Western Washington University President announced yesterday that pro-Palestine demonstrators camped on Western’s Old Main Lawn have finally reached an agreement with college administration. The student protesters set up tents in front of the Old Main building over two weeks ago, threatening to stay until the college agreed to divest in weapons manufacturers supporting Israel. Yesterday, in a letter to the campus community, University president Sabah Randhawa (sa-BAH ranh-DAHH-wahh) stated that students agreed to pack up their tents by 5 pm today. On their Instagram page, the protesters declared the demonstration a success, stating that they reached a quote “historic agreement” following 10 hours of negotiations. Western says they will release a statement regarding the agreement tomorrow. STORY: Bellingham City Council hits pause on Silver Beach rezoning Bellingham City Council members approved stricter stormwater regulations in the Lake Whatcom watershed this month, but opted not to lower housing density in Silver Beach — at least for now. Lake Whatcom is the drinking water source for the City of Bellingham. It’s also on Washington’s list of most-polluted water bodies because of its high levels of phosphorus and dissolved oxygen. A development moratorium on multi-family homes along the lake within Bellingham city limits has been in place since July 2022– giving planning officials time to create new regulations to better protect the watershed. However, the moratorium is set to expire in July unless the council votes again to extend it. On May 20th, the council held a public hearing to make a final decision on both the updated stormwater regulations and rezoning. After listening to more than an hour of public testimony, council members approved the stricter stormwater rules, but wanted more discussion on the zoning changes before making a final decision. The council says it will hold a public hearing on Monday to hear feedback on extending the moratorium for an additional six months. STORY: Kona Bicycles co-founders buy company back from private equity firm The founders of Kona Bicycles, the oldest and largest bike company in Whatcom County, have announced they will buy the company back from the corporation that has owned them since 2022. Founded in Vancouver, B.C. in 1988 by Dan Gerhard and Jake Heilbron (HILE-brawn), Kona moved its headquarters to Ferndale over 30 years ago. Economic pressures prompted the duo to sell to private-equity-backed Kent Outdoors in 2022. However, according to recent reporting by Cascadia Daily News, since that time, Kona experienced staff losses and strained relationships with dealers and suppliers. Kent Outdoors closed the Kona store in 2023, and on May 20th, Kent Executive Chairman Lee Belitsky announced the company would be sold back to Gerhard and Heilbron. In a letter to the industry published on May 20th, both founders say they are ready for the third chapter of Kona and plan to rebuild its reputation and continue supporting local biking initiatives. STORY: Tullwood Apartments requests to join lawsuit against “Walmart encampment” owner The owner of Tullwood Apartments is seeking to join the ongoing lawsuit between the City of Bellingham and the owner of the property near Walmart that is now the site of a homeless encampment. The City of Bellingham is suing Li-Ching Fang (LEE CHING FAHNG) of Taiwan, the owner of the land on which the encampment is located, for nuisance charges including negatively impacting area businesses, property crimes, and environmental impacts to nearby Spring Creek. The apartment owner claims the lawsuit’s slow progress is now harming Tullwood’s residents’ health and safety, and says tenancy has dropped by 6% due to the encampment. A hearing on Tullwood’s intervention request is set for June 14. STORY: Amtrak Cascades offers free train rides for qualifying youth Amtrak Cascades is now offering free fare for youths on trains and buses. The Washington State Department of Transportation announced on Tuesday that Amtrak Cascades has joined state ferries and transit agencies to provide free fares for people under 18. Funded through the “Move Ahead Washington” transportation package and the state’s Climate Commitment Act, youth can travel on Amtrak Cascades trains and buses within the state free of cost. Minors who are 16 and younger must travel with an adult to be eligible, and tickets must be acquired in advance on …
KMRE Newsletter for May 2024
Spring ON-AIR Pledge Drive THIS MONTH Our ON-AIR Pledge Drive is this month, May 17, 18, and 19! There will be special programming from 10 am-7 pm each day and we will be auctioning off merchandise from local businesses you love. Please consider supporting us through a pledge and enjoy our weekend long broadcast! So, tune in May 17th, 18th, and 19th! Student Interns Hard at Work! Our student interns this quarter are Anna Godin, Blaine Dixon, Draken Leithead, Gwyneth Harrison, Jonathan Murphy, Rhone Oldham, and Serenity Peoples KMRE has been blessed this quarter to have 7 student interns helping out in all facets! From tabling, to project managing, to business outreach, our interns have been hard at work getting the KMRE name out in Bellingham! One of our goals for our Pledge Drive is to be able to create student scholarships to support our student interns. These scholarships would help in creating more opportunities for our students to learn and get the experience they need to enter the world. Spring Tabling KMRE has been tabling at many events this Spring. You might have seen us at the first Farmers Market of the season, the WWU Internship Fair, Dirty Dan Mystery Murder Weekend in Fairhaven, and the WCC Internship Fair. Coming up you an catch us tabling at Ski to Sea on May 26th! Come stop by! Pictured are student interns Gwyneth Harrison, Anna Godin, and Draken Leithead. Producer Spotlight: Liz Darrow and Elias Lopez Pictured are Elias Lopez (left), Ana Sophia Garcia (middle), and Liz Darrow (right). Co-producers of Community Voz. Our spotlight(s) this month are Liz Darrow and Elias Lopez, producers of Community Voz! Liz and Elias both work with the organization Community to Community and record their podcast, Community Voz, to talk about the work C2C is doing. Ana Sophia Garcia is another co producer for Community Voz but was unable to attend the interview. Our student intern, Rhone, sat down with Liz and Elias and asked questions about their show! How did you get involved with the show? Who all is involved? Liz: I joined C2C in 2016 as the media coordinator, I didn’t take over as a co-producer of the podcast until 2019. Everyone involved in the organization takes part in Community Voz, being in episodes or helping produce them. Elias: I moved to Bellingham to attend WWU. I became aware of C2C when I attended a march that they organized. I reached out to Liz because I wanted to be a part of the organization so I offered any assistance I could. I had been working at KUGS, the WWU on campus radio station, so I had experience producing a podcast. What do you want listeners to feel when listening to your show? Liz: I hope people will learn what we do at C2C. Our foundation principle for Community Voz is about accessible conversations regarding events and news. I want listeners to hear reports from people on front line of climate justice and racial justice. Movement work isn’t for everyone so it’s important for people to hear about it and learn about these things from a perspective that isn’t in daily news. Elias: I want listeners to feel curious about the work C2C is doing and feel energized about all the things that people are doing in Bellingham. I think our show provides insight into how to get people involved and make them feel like they can do something. Why do you feel community radio is important? Liz: It is important for its DYI aspect. It doesn’t have to meet standards, it gives a lot of freedom to producers, and it’s not over produced. It reinforces that anyone and have a show and it doesn’t need to be scripted. There’s no judgement in community radio which makes it really authentic. Also, anyone can participate! Elias: It allows for an access to people that isn’t through text. It can’t be gate kept because it’s for the community. Community Voz is special in its uniqueness and accessibility to the community. We share important information that is straightforward and easy to access. It keeps the community inspired to continue work. Local News If you enjoy listening to KMRE’s local news, you can support us for just $5 a month! KMRE News is a daily broadcast of local and regional news reported on by Whatcom County people. Help keep local news accessible to the whole community!
May 6, 2024 News Transcript
Bellingham Police investigating assault in Cordata neighborhood, Former council member Kershner confirms backing Hutchings in recommendation letter, Lummi Nation accuses fire district EMS of inadequate emergency services, Lengthy bridge replacement work set to begin near downtown, Lengthy bridge replacement work set to begin near downtown, One million chinook salmon die in Skagit County hatchery amid activist warnings, PSE may shut off power to prevent wildfires in some areas, Whatcom judge penalizes WWU for withholding sexual assault records ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Monday, May 6. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Bellingham Police investigating assault in Cordata neighborhood Bellingham Police Department are requesting help in connection to an active investigation. On Friday around 9 a.m., near Northwest Drive and Bakerview Road, BPD was called to investigate a man with significant injuries in a wooden encampment. When they arrived, they found Christopher Grasso with live-threatening injuries, and transported him to the hospital. According to police, investigators were able to document the scene, but some possible witnesses left before officers arrived. Anyone with information regarding the assault is asked to contact Whatcom’s non-emergency dispatch line. STORY: Former council member Kershner confirms backing Hutchings in recommendation letter Over Saturday, former Whatcom County Council member Kathy Kershner acknowledged she wrote a positive letter of reference for former-county public works director Jon Hutchings. The letter, along with one signed by County Executive Satpal Sidhu, in support of Hutchings who was accused of sexual harassment by women he worked with, are raising concerns about oversight inside County government. Kershner defended her recommendation, citing her positive experiences with Hutchings. Both have declined to comment on questions raised regarding a reported personal relationship between the two. County policy allows relationships between council members and employees but requires adherence to ethical standards. Deputy Executive Tyler Schroeder has also admitted his role in editing the letter signed by Sidhu, expressing regret for not prioritizing the impacted employees. An ongoing investigation by the County Council into the matter aims to assess compliance with county policies, and identify any failures in the process. The handling of Hutchings’ resignation, including a 225 thousand dollar settlement, came under scrutiny following a Cascade PBS investigative story. STORY: Lummi Nation accuses fire district EMS of inadequate emergency services After the death of a Lummi woman, the Lummi Nation is alleging that the Whatcom County EMS fails to provide adequate services. The allegations stem from ongoing concerns about EMS declining to transport patients, when transportation would have been appropriate. Chairman Tony Hillaire (HILL-air) says that the death of the 36 year old in April was part of a larger pattern in recent years. Hillaire’s concerns were expressed in a letter on April 30th to Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund, Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu, and Whatcom County Fire District 7 and 8 Chiefs Bill Hewett and Larry Hoffman. The letter outlined the incident in April, where the woman called 911 reporting shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. First responders then arrived and requested additional help. They later left after she was later able to gain control of her breathing, deeming it a panic attack and cancelling the request. A few hours later, the patient’s spouse called 911 saying she was unresponsive. When Whatcom EMS arrived, the patient was found dead. Sidhu responded to the letter, saying that he was concerned about the report of a larger trend, and while that the county executive role does not directly supervise fire departments, he acknowledged his responsibility as a member on the EMS Oversight Board. STORY:Lengthy bridge replacement work set to begin near downtown Two Whatcom Creek Bridges are under construction this summer. According to the Public Works Department’s monthly newsletter, both the Meador Avenue and James Street bridges will be under construction beginning this month. According to the Public Works Department, construction will switch between the two bridges to be less impactful on fish in the creek. All businesses will have access points during construction and one bridge will be open to traffic. The project is expected to cost $8.5 million and will be covered by state and federal grants. A public meeting regarding the project will be held today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bellingham High School auditorium. The project is expected to take a few months. STORY: One million chinook salmon die in Skagit County hatchery amid activist warnings About one million young Chinook salmon died due to a mechanical failure at a hatchery in Skagit County. According to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Samish Hatchery, co-managed with the Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Indian Tribe, experienced heavy rain causing floating debris to clog an intake screen. The clog resulted in low water levels and poor water quality in the outdoor pond holding 2 million Chinook fry. Nearly half of the salmon died, affecting release plans into the Samish River. An alarm failure exacerbated the incident. Concerns over hatchery conditions have prompted a lawsuit that alleges violations of the Endangered Species Act. Activists argue that government-funded hatcheries exceed fish production limits, threatening at-risk species. Fish and Wildlife is investigating. STORY: PSE may shut off power to prevent wildfires in some areas Puget Sound Energy, the state’s largest utility, is warning customers it could turn off power in some communities to prevent its power lines from sparking wildfires. According to PSE spokesperson Christina Donegan, the preventive blackouts could happen anywhere if conditions are dangerous, however it would be a, quote, “tool of last resort.” The possible blackouts might pose the greatest harm to vulnerable residents who rely on essential electronic medical equipment — such as dialysis machines, ventilators and infant apnea monitors. PSE says it will give customers a two day notice. Recent catastrophic and fatal wildfires ignited by utility-owned lines have prompted the changes, such as the Labor Day fires of 2020, when five homes were destroyed in Pierce County. Currently, the areas at highest risk for shutoff are Greenwater, Pierce County; Skykomish, King County; Concrete, Skagit County; …
KMRE Newsletter for April 2024
Spring ON-AIR Pledge Drive Mark your calendars for the weekend of May 17th! We will be holding an ON AIR Pledge Drive all weekend long. There will be special programming all day and we will be auctioning off merchandise from local businesses you love. Please consider supporting us through a pledge and enjoy our weekend long broadcast! So, tune in May 17th, 18th, and 19th! Love Your Waterfront Awarded MWNHA Grant of $5,250 Kevin Coleman (left) and Dan Tucker (right) recording KMRE’s Love Your Waterfront, airing every other Thursday at 5:30 pm. The award that KMRE will receive through this grant will further provide us with the tools and ability to bring you more in-depth stories, news and events from around our region that showcase how diverse, and rich in maritime heritage, our shorelines are. Thank you to Maritime Washington National Heritage Area, the Washington Historical Trust Society, and to all our listeners who tune in for our broadcasts! ”On behalf of the Love Your Waterfront team, we are grateful to have our efforts recognized with this grant. Dan, Kevin and Paul have established deep roots in our Salish Sea Maritime community and are doing a great job bringing these great stories to life.” – Producer Susan Lindsey A&E Spotlight Marla Bronstein and Margaret Bikman pictured in a call with Fran Lebowitz talking about their mutual love of books and Fran’s event at the Mount Baker Theater. Want to find out the people behind the best theater, music, dance, visual arts, and literature events taking place in Whatcom County and beyond? Margaret Bikman and Marla Bronstein connect you with movers and shakers in our talented community who entertain and delight you on their Arts & Entertainment Spotlight podcast, broadcast at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays and noon Saturdays at KMRE 88.3. Currently, there are 188 episodes and counting! Margaret was Entertainment News Coordinator at The Bellingham Herald for 27 years and a contributor to Entertainment News NW for four years. She is also a reference and instruction librarian at Whatcom Community College. Magaret enjoys performing and visual art events of all kinds, dancing, hiking, and traveling to exotic places like Cuba, Alaska, the Yucatan, Nova Scotia, and New Orleans. Marla Bronstein has retired from everything work-related that kept her busy for the past three decades since she moved to Bellingham. She currently keeps herself very busy volunteering and doing things that look like they may be fun– like writing and creating videos and podcasts. Here’s what they said when we asked them “Why is local radio important?“: “It’s hard to separate my personal life from my professional life. That’s why it’s important for me to let you, the listeners, know what’s happening in our town and beyond. I don’t review; I enthusiastically promote. I will let you know about some of the shows and events you may know about already (but I will give you some details you may not know); and I will inform you about people who are creative and not necessarily famous in our community. As Michelle Obama said, ‘The arts can enrich all of us in this nation as individuals. The arts can enrich all of our communities and the country. And the arts can connect us to each other like nothing else can.’” –Margaret “Local radio/social media/news is important because it keeps us aware of each other. I like working with KMRE radio because I get to meet so many artists that I might never have communicated with before. Along with producing Margaret’s show and helping her share her guests’ events and stories with my community. I find both of these incredibly fulfilling.” –Marla Local News If you enjoy listening to KMRE’s local news, you can support us for just $5 a month! KMRE News is a daily broadcast of local and regional news reported on by Whatcom County people. Help keep local news accessible to the whole community! Volunteer Spotlight: Carlos Braga KMRE News staff member, Carlos Braga, 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 brought you to KMRE? “Broadcasting, be it radio or television, has always been a fascination of mine.” What gets you out of bed in the morning? “It’s the feeling that I’m contributing to something tangible, contributing to something important and the results can be heard on air. I’m listening to a news item that I wrote for broadcast. Local radio is something that has a very honorable place in our community. It’s an amazing feeling and that’s what gets me out of bed.” What are your thoughts on local radio? What is the value of local radio? “The local radio community gives people an opportunity to become closer to the city by learning more about what’s going on. There’s a lot of things that I learn in terms of news items and the inner workings of city government that I probably would have never found out about if I hadn’t done volunteer work for KMRE.” Carlos Braga, KMRE News staff Carlos has a deep passion for media, writing, and various hobbies such as playing the guitar, watching classic movies, and following sports. Currently studying at WWU, he plans to pursue a communications degree with a minor in journalism, reflecting his love for writing and learning about history. New Shows At 88.3FM Spirit Matters Sundays at 8AM Host: Tessie Mandeville Spirit Matters podcast encompasses all manner of spirit and spirituality, as well as the creative arts. We cast a broad and deep net — vitally important in this complex, multicultural, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world in which we live. Songbird Listening Hour Wednesdays at 9pm Host: DJ DOS Songbird Listening Hour is a show that dives into the nuanced history of country, folk, and Americana music. Showcasing timeless tunes and the diverse voices that formed these authentic genres. Island Time Thursday at 5:30pm Host: Kevin Smith Island Time is the show that discusses artists from the San Juan Islands. We …
November 29, 2023 News Transcripts
Big change’ in weather expected to strike Whatcom County over several days, SR20 will close ahead of potentially snow-laden storms on the horizon, Opportunity Council to launch new rental assistance program Dec. 1, City of Lynden buys last piece for trail extension, $4.8 mil in federal funding to refurbish Wash. state ferries, Methow Wildlife Area units close temporarily to protect wintering mule deer, $4.8 mil in federal funding to refurbish Wash. state ferries, Pac-12 lawsuit: New court ruling keeps conference frozen as WSU, OSU seek full control ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, November 29th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: ‘Big change’ in weather expected to strike Whatcom County over several days Storms heading towards Western Washington from the Pacific Ocean are expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds from today until next week. While the Nooksack River is expected to remain below flood stage, the National Weather Service has stated that this could change, and that Whatcom County is not out of danger. Temperatures will rise and winds tomorrow are expected to be strong enough that power outages are a possibility. The National Weather Service also said that Bellingham could see up to an inch of rain from today until tomorrow, and up to two feet of snow is also expected to fall in the North Cascades. STORY: SR20 will close ahead of potentially snow-laden storms on the horizon The North Cascade Highway will close for the season starting at 6 pm tonight. The Washington Department of Transportation announced the closure of State Route 20 will take place at the Ross Dam trailhead on the west side and the Silver Star gate on the east side. The closure comes in expectation of the two feet of snow later this week, an amount that can cause avalanche danger in the pass. Cayuse Pass and Chinook Pass have already closed for the season. All three passes will remain closed until spring. STORY: Opportunity Council to launch new rental assistance program Dec. 1 The Opportunity Council is launching a new rental assistance program tomorrow. The program, designed to assist low income seniors and families, will provide short-term rental assistance and case management. Those seeking services may complete a screening online at the Opportunity Council’s website, in-person at the Opportunity Council’s offices at Cornwall Avenue, or by calling their Homeless Prevention Screening Line. Households paying more than 50% or their income for rent or making below 50% of the area median income will be randomly selected through a lottery system and contacted to be scheduled with an appointment. Applications may be submitted starting tomorrow at 9 a.m. through the afternoon of December 8th. STORY: City of Lynden buys last piece for trail extension The Lynden City Council has acquired the last piece of land required to complete a trail that’s been in progress for almost 25 years. The land buy will complete the Jim Kaemingk Sr. (KAY-mink) trail that currently ends at City Park. Vander Griend (GRIND) Lumber sold the narrow strip along Fishtrap Creek to the city of Lynden for $380,000. The construction of this trail section is expected to cost about $1.6 million dollars and will be finished in 2024. According to Lynden officials, a state grant will cover approximately 60% of the expenses, including the footbridges over Fishtrap Creek. Eventually, the trail will follow the creek’s path and extend into new Dickinson Park, following the creek’s path. STORY: Methow Wildlife Area units close temporarily to protect wintering mule deer The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is closing five units of the Methow (MEH-tao) Valley Wildlife Area until next March. The closure aims to safeguard crucial winter foraging habitat for the largest migratory mule deer herd in Washington. The Wildlife Area spans over 34,000 acres and the closure is intended to reduce human disturbance during critical winter months. Recreational opportunities for visitors will not be affected, as the popular groomed trail system will remain open. Fish and Wildlife says the Methow area plays a vital role in preserving various habitats, benefiting not only the mule deer but also songbirds, mammals, salmon, and other wildlife. STORY: $4.8 mil in federal funding to refurbish Wash. state ferries Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murry announced yesterday that Washington ferries will receive nearly $5 million in federal funding. Washington State Ferries will be using the money to refurbish passenger areas on six aging boats in its fleet. Those six ships include the Chelan (shuh-LAN), which serves Anacortes and the San Juan Islands. The project will allow for more space between passengers in high-occupancy areas and make cleaning easier for staff. Since 2019, each of these six ferries have been out of operation for three months out of the year on average. The upgrades come as the Washington ferry system continues to struggle with maintenance and funding. A third of the 21 available boats are currently out of service. The state plans to add an additional 16 boats to the fleet and retire many of the aging vessels. However, contracts for new boats have yet to be agreed on, with estimates pointing to 2027, at the earliest. The project expects to extend the life of the aging vessels for another five to ten years. STORY: Pac-12 lawsuit: New court ruling keeps conference frozen as WSU, OSU seek full control The Washington Supreme Court has granted an emergency stay in the legal dispute between Washington State and Oregon State and the Pac-12 conference. The stay– issued by the Supreme Court’s commissioner– delays the attempts of WSU and OSU to take control of the conference’s governing board. WSU and OSU immediately filed an appeal directly to the judges, seeking to remove the stay. A preliminary injunction, granted last month by a lower court, initially gave the two universities control of the Pac-12 board and its financial assets. The court commissioner’s ruling sets a December 12 deadline for motions, after which the judges will decide whether to review the …
November 29th, 2023 News Transcripts
Sewage floods Bellingham apartment grounds; tenants take to social media, State DNR Looking To Acquire Ownership of Sehome Haggen in property swap, Authorities arrest two Whatcom County men with more than half a pound of Fentanyl, State DNR Looking to Acquire Ownership of Sehome Haggen in property swap, Coast Guard partners with local agencies with local agencies to respond to sinking vessel, San Juan County, WSDA wraps up another season of northern giant hornet trapping, Requirement to install electric heat pumps in new houses approved by WA regulatory body, WA lawmakers revive call to let cities have elections in even-numbered years, Student designs wanted for invasive species art contest ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, November 29th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Sewage floods Bellingham apartment grounds; tenants take to social media Residents of the Old Mill Village complex on Electric Avenue took to social media to complain about a sewage leak that took place last Friday. Silver Beach Neighborhood Association president Kerri Burnside, who is also a tenant in the complex, reported that the sewage leaked into a parking lot, the courtyard and at least one apartment unit. Burnside added that the property manager, Peak Management, had failed to protect residents from the spill, which was eventually cleaned up by a plumbing company hired by Peak Management on Saturday. In an email to the residents, Peak Management said the spill had been caused by “a buildup of grease and baby wipes,” which caused a blockage in the line. This is not the first time tenants have filed complaints against Peak Management; in the past, their complaints ranged from leaking roofs to mold. Whatcom County Health and Community Services staff had determined that there was no overflow into Lake Whatcom. STORY: State DNR Looking To Acquire Ownership Of Sehome Haggen in property swap The Washington Department of Natural Resources is considering a property swap that would see their ownership of a vacant office building in Issaquah exchanged for the parcel of land that houses the Sehome (SEE-home) Village Haggen. The purpose of the exchange is to provide revenue for the Common School Trust, which helps fund K-12 school construction projects statewide. DNR states that the office building in Issaquah is underproducing funds, whereas the Sehome Haggen would provide more stable long term income. The exchange would be done with RCO Capital, who is currently in the process of acquiring the Sehome Haggen. The deal is still in the early stages, and a public meeting is set for December 14th at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Bellingham. DNR welcomes public comments on the plan, whether in person or through email. STORY: Authorities arrest two Whatcom County men with more than half a pound of Fentanyl Two men were arrested in Ferndale last weekend with more than half a pound of fentanyl in their vehicle. Deputies responded to a welfare check of a man slumped over in the driver’s seat of the vehicle on Slater Road on Sunday. There they found 2 grams of methamphetamine and about 325 grams of fentanyl, as well as a handgun. The driver, 27-year-old Nicholas Donath, was arrested and booked at Whatcom County Jail on charges related to weapons, obstruction of a law officer and possession with intent to deliver. The passenger, 25-year-old Giovanni Orrantia-Pieper (uh-RAWN-shia PIE-per), was arrested for several outstanding warrants, including second-degree theft, hit and run, and fourth-degree assault. As of this morning, Donath has been released, and Orrantia-Pieper remains in custody at Whatcom County Jail. STORY: Coast Guard partners with local agencies to respond to sinking vessel, San Juan County Earlier this month, a vessel sank off the coast of Orcas Island, causing panic as several groups attempted to aid in the disaster. The 80 foot long vessel, named El Capitan, was found sinking with an oil sheen at the West Sound Marina on November 18th. Divers found no evidence of oil leaking, however, the Islands’ Oil Spill Association deployed booms and absorbents as a precaution, with help from the Washington Department of Ecology. A shoreline assessment determined there was no impact to the shoreline or wildlife in the area. The Coast guard and other groups are monitoring the situation closely and the fate of the vessel is still to be determined . STORY: WSDA wraps up another season of northern giant hornet trapping This month, the Washington State Department of Agriculture will begin removing about 800 northern giant hornet traps placed around Whatcom County. Tomorrow is the end of the season for trapping northern giant hornets, or NGH. No confirmed sightings have taken place to date in either Washington or British Columbia. This would make the second year in a row without any confirmed NGH sightings. The large insects were first found in 2019 in Blaine as well as the Canadian city of Nanaimo (nuh-NAI-moe). Federal guidelines say there must be 3 consecutive years with no confirmed NGH sightings before the hornets can be considered eradicated from the area. STORY: Requirement to install electric heat pumps in new houses approved by WA regulatory body Controversial regulations mandating the installation of electric heat pumps in newly constructed buildings in Washington have been approved by the State Building Code Council. The changes, part of the state’s broader effort to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy efficiency, will take effect on March 15, 2024. The regulations offer builders incentives for choosing electric heat pumps over natural gas furnaces during the permitting process. The council erased language mandating heat pumps for heating water and rooms in homes, and it revised how credits are awarded under the state building code scoring system. The decision follows a pause in May due to legal concerns and a federal appeals court ruling in California. Supporters praise the move for its climate and health benefits, while opponents argue it will raise costs and violate federal regulations. STORY: WA lawmakers revive call to let cities have elections in even-numbered years The November 7 …
November 8, 2023 News Transcript
Early election results, Harcourt Waterfront developer also violated state, federal environmental laws, Bellingham woman dies after car plunges off Mount Baker Highway, Anacortes animal sanctuary may have to close, euthanize animals, 1,300 Providence Everett nurses announce strike, Washington makes its biggest forestland purchase in more than a decade ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, November 8th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Early election results The preliminary results for the election are in: For Bellingham Mayor, incumbent Seth Fleetwood is narrowly leading at one point ahead of Kim Lund. The Whatcom County sheriff’s race is close, with Whatcom County Undersheriff Doug Chadwick leading Blaine Chief of Police Donnell (don-NELL) Tanksley by 2 percent. For Whatcom County executive, incumbent Satpal (sat-paul) Sidhu (see-do) has a comfortable 10 percent lead over challenger Dan Purdy. The Whatcom County Council at large has Jon Scanlon leading with over 55% of the vote. For the Jail tax measure, ‘Yes’ leads at 66 percent of the vote. Initiatives 1 and 2, for an increased minimum wage and for rental relocation assistance, both look likely to pass with around a 10% margin each. Bellingham City Council at large has Jace Cotton at just 34 votes ahead of Russ Whidbee. The results will be updated later this week and certified on Nov. 28. STORY: Harcourt waterfront developer also violated state, federal environmental laws The Port of Bellingham has found Harcourt Developments to be in violation of required environmental standards. Harcourt, which recently defaulted on its contract to build multi-million-dollar residential condo buildings along Bellingham’s waterfront, was found to have improperly moved and stored contaminated soil from its construction site to the Port’s Boardmill Building property. This violated state and federal environmental laws. The Port estimates that the removal and disposal costs of the contaminated soil would cost about $4.8 million. In a letter sent to the Port, Harcourt denied the Port’s findings, stating that the company had been in contact with both the Port and the Department of Ecology regarding a proposal for the treatment and disposal of the soil. STORY: Bellingham woman dies after car plunges off Mount Baker Highway A Bellingham woman died after her car plunged off the Mount Baker Highway on Tuesday morning. According to the Washington State Patrol, 67-year-old Mary Coghlan was driving westbound at milepost 50 when her Toyota Prius left the roadway to the right and rolled to a location approximately 150 feet below the roadway. The vehicle rolled several times before coming to a stop against a tree. Coghlan was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing. STORY: Anacortes animal sanctuary may have to close, euthanize animals An exotic animal sanctuary in Anacortes is facing closure next month, and may have to euthanize more than a hundred animals. The Because We Matter Exotic Animal Sanctuary, which opened in 2001, had their education tours shut down by Skagit County due to a permitting issue. The sanctuary’s main source of income came from providing these tours. Without that money coming in, they’ve had to rely on donations. On top of the permit issue, a neighbor is suing, demanding the wolf dogs be removed. The neighbor claims that they can hear the wolves, and that the sanctuary is bringing the property value down. The rescue says it is costing them $50,000 a month to care for its animals, something they cannot continue to afford. If they close next month, they will have to put down 60 to 85% of their animals. The sanctuary is currently running a fundraising campaign to help them stay open. More information is available on the Because We Matter Animal Sanctuary website and Facebook page. STORY: 1,300 Providence Everett nurses announce strike Another healthcare worker strike is planned, this time at Providence Regional in Everett. About 13 hundred nurses will go on strike from the 14th to the 19th of November, citing increasing concerns with staffing problems and pay. Nurses said this week that chronic staffing shortages have persisted at Providence Everett despite months of contract negotiations. The Everett Herald reported that the hospital lost more than 600 nurses in 2019, and has since hired some back, but are still about 400 short. Concerns around staffing at Providence Everett were also mentioned in a wrongful-death lawsuit filed against the hospital last month. The complaint alleges a 41-year-old mother and wife died, at least in part, due to a lack of immediate medical attention. In response to the strike announcement, Providence said in a statement the hospital “fervently believes that strikes do not settle contracts.” During the strike, the hospital has plans to bring in contract nurses from a staffing agency. If a deal is not reached, this will be the ninth strike to affect the healthcare industry this year alone. STORY: WA hires leader for new investigative unit focused on missing and murdered Indigenous people A member of the Port Gamble S’Klallam (sKLA-lum) Tribe will lead a new state investigative unit devoted to unsolved cases involving missing and Indigenous people. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Monday that he has hired Brian George as the chief investigator for the state’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Cold Case Unit. George, who early in his career was an officer with the Suquamish Tribal Police Department, has worked for more than 25 years for the Washington State Patrol. The new cold case unit was established this year by a law that took effect in April. In Washington, Indigenous people make up 5% of unresolved cases throughout the state, despite making up less than 2% of the population. Data from 2018 showed that Indigenous women went missing at a rate four times that of white women in Washington, and a report from the National Institute of Justice found that four in five Indigenous men and women have experienced violence in their lifetime. The attorney general’s office is currently reviewing applications for investigators to work with the …
November 1, 2023 News Transcript
PeaceHealthy St. Joseph Medical Center penalized $21,000 for dangerous waste violations, Thieves break into the Comics Place in Bellingham, Sheriff’s Office investigating after possible human remains found at Ross Lake, City to buy 114 acres in Lake Whatcom watershed, Whatcom County Council agrees to spend more money on affordable housing projects, Strain continues as WA ferry fleet loses another boat, WA removes advisory votes from ballots, Democracy Block ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, November 1st. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center penalized $21,000 for dangerous waste violations The Washington Department of Ecology has fined St. Joseph Medical Center $21,000 for repeated violations of the state’s dangerous waste laws. An Ecology inspection in 2022 found a lack of preventative measures (like dangerous waste management and emergency procedure training), failure to inspect and document waste storage areas, and failure to submit required annual reports to Ecology. St. Joseph had already received a penalty for similar violations in 2018. PeaceHealth St. Joseph has 30 days to pay the penalty or appeal it to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board. STORY: Thieves break into The Comics Place overnight in Bellingham Thieves burglarized The Comics Place in Bellingham early Tuesday morning. Security camera footage showed two people stealing a variety of comics and cards worth thousands of dollars from behind a glass counter, shoving the items in their backpacks, and leaving. Among the items stolen was an issue of Fantastic Four #48, with a chunk missing from the lower right cover, valued at around $500. Comics Place co-owners Django (JANG-oh) Bohren and Jeff Figley have asked that other comic shops and buyers keep an eye out for identifying marks as it is likely the thieves may try to sell the stolen goods. STORY: Sheriff’s Office investigating after possible human remains found at Ross Lake The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after possible human remains were found in Ross Lake. The Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the National Parks Service earlier in October after a suitcase with the remains was found during a fishing trip. Detectives from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office interviewed the two fishermen, and the remains were given to the Whatcom Medical Examiner. The case is still under investigation. STORY: City to buy 114 acres in Lake Whatcom watershed The Bellingham City Council has approved the purchase of an additional 114 acres on property in the Lake Whatcom watershed. The purchase comes as part of the Lake Whatcom Land Acquisition and Preservation Program. The program aims to purchase land in order to protect it from development, help improve water quality, and reduce flooding risks. Earlier this year, city staff announced plans to remove 1,500 acres in the watershed from potential development. City administration hopes that removing the land from development will help mitigate the high levels of phosphorus pollution in the area’s main drinking water source. The city now owns more than 2,600 acres of property around the lake. STORY: Whatcom County Council agrees to spend more money on affordable housing projects Whatcom County Council unanimously passed a resolution to increase funds for affordable housing projects. The Economic Development Investment Fund Program retains sales tax revenue for essential facilities, and will be used to help fund affordable housing. The EDI Fund is projected to generate over $6 million in 2024. The new resolution prioritizes housing affordability and homelessness with a focus on affordable and workforce housing projects. The county anticipates needing nearly 35,000 new housing units by 2044, with over 60% of them required to be affordable. As of last month, rent in Bellingham for an average one-bedroom apartment was $1500, a 13% increase from the previous year. According to recent statistics, less than 30% of Whatcom County housing is considered affordable for median-income households. The Washington State Department of Commerce reports the need to develop over one million homes state-wide in the next two decades. According to projected numbers, more than half of them need to be affordable for low-income residents in order to accommodate population growth. STORY: Strain continues as WA ferry fleet loses another boat Washington ferries hit a low point this weekend as another boat was taken out of service. The Chimacum (CHIM-ma-kum) ferry was decommissioned for repairs after a rod broke in one of its engines. The boat was the sole vessel operating between Seattle and Bremerton due to previous service cuts. To accommodate riders, a ferry was moved from the Kingston-Edmonds route, making both crossings serviced by only one boat each. The Chimacum was among Washington State Ferries’ newer boats, and there is no estimate of when it will be repaired. A third of the Washington ferry system is currently out of service. The state plans to add an additional 16 boats to the fleet and retire many of the aging vessels. However, contracts for new boats have yet to be agreed on, with estimates pointing to 2027, at the earliest. Washington’s ferry system now has 14 working ships out of a fleet of 21. STORY: WNS – WA removes advisory votes from ballots For the first time in more than a decade, Washington residents won’t see advisory votes on their ballots in this year’s elections. Reporter Eric Tegethoff (TEG-it-off) has more. BALLOT AUDIO STORY: Democracy Block KMRE and Cascadia Daily have collaborated on a series of interviews with some of the 2023 candidates for office. We’ve chosen specific questions from those interviews so that listeners can compare the candidates’ positions on issues that matter most to Whatcom County. Today after the 5pm news, the challengers for Whatcom County Sheriff– Doug Chadwick and Donnell ‘Tank’ Tanksley– share their views on local law and justice. WX: Sunny Today will be mostly cloudy with a high of 57° and calm winds. Tonight has lows around 50 and heavy rain after 8 pm. The rain will continue into tomorrow, with gusts of winds up to 28 mph. OUTRO: Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu …
October 24, 2023 News Transcript
ABC Recycling submits plans for metal shredder one day before hearing, Threat of Snow closes stretch of Whatcom County Pass, San Juan Islands consider annual tourism fee for resident visitors, Everett flight diverted after off-duty pilot accused of trying to shut down engines, Democracy Block, PROMO: BEYOND BARS, 3.1 magnitude earthquake hits Gig Harbor ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, October 24th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: ABC Recycling submits plans for metal shredder one day before hearing Yesterday morning, ABC Recycling submitted application materials for a metal shredder just outside Bellingham, likely avoiding a proposed moratorium on new heavy industries in the area. Located on a 20 acre property north of a former cement plant on Marine Drive, the proposed metal shredding plant has been the target of recent opposition. At a meeting earlier in September, residents of the nearby Alderwood and Birchwood neighborhoods expressed concerns over possible noise from the metal-shredding operations, and heavy-metal pollution from truck tires. On the 26th, Whatcom County Council called for a vote declaring an emergency moratorium on new developments for heavy industry in the Alderwood area, including the ABC Recycling property. The vote failed by one, which gave ABC Recycling four weeks to submit an application before the council was scheduled to reconsider the moratorium. Though the application was submitted just before the reconsideration, Whatcom Permit Center Specialist Nick Smith said in an interview that the county has not yet determined if the project is vested and whether it can avoid the moratorium or not. The reconsideration was scheduled for today at 6 pm. STORY: Threat of snow closes stretch of Whatcom County mountain pass Due to the urgent winter weather message issued yesterday, WSDOT has closed the road to Artist Point on state Route 542 for the season. The warning is effective through tomorrow, and covers the Cascade mountains and passes in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and King counties. In addition to closing the 3 mile stretch of Mount Baker Highway, the gates on milepost 54 are closed due to the forecasted snow. In Whatcom and Skagit counties, up to 15 inches of snow could fall in the Cascades, but snow could also impact those in Maple Falls, Newhalem, Lyman and Concrete. Lowland areas in Whatcom County will more likely see rain. WSDOT is advising those traveling through a mountain pass to follow traction tire requirements, carry an emergency kit, and check travel conditions ahead of time. STORY: San Juan Islands consider annual tourism fee for residents, visitors San Juan County is considering the implementation of an annual fee to address the impacts of increased tourism. Residents and visitors would be required to purchase a pass– similar to a Discover Pass– ranging in price from $10 to $15, for bikes, boats, and cars. The money raised would fund infrastructure projects and management actions to enhance the islands’ resources and accommodate the growing number of tourists. County administration says the proposal aims to strike a balance between residents and visitors while managing the challenges that tourism brings to the islands, such as environmental and housing concerns. The idea received “low to medium” support from residents on the three main islands during the public meeting process in 2022, according to county data with some residents feeling it is offensive. The County says it is continuing to explore various funding options, including a business license system and expanding a lodging tax advisory committee. STORY: Everett flight diverted after off-duty pilot accused of trying to shut down engines mid flight An off-duty Alaska Airlines captain, riding as a passenger, attempted to shut down the engines of a flight from Everett to San Francisco. Horizon Air flight 2059 diverted to Portland, where it landed safely. The pilot, 44-year old Joseph Emerson, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Radio communications revealed the crew subdued Emerson, and removed him from the flight deck after he tried to deploy the engine fire suppression system. Engine power was not lost, and the flight continued safely. Emerson, a commercial pilot since 2001, is expected to be arraigned in Portland. STORY: Democracy Block Election Day is coming up, and to give our listeners more insight into the candidates for office, KMRE will present a series of candidate forums. Starting today, we’ll air a new Bellingham-Whatcom League of Women Voters forum every day at 11AM. Hear the candidates for Whatcom County Sheriff– Doug Chadwick and Donnell (don-NELL) ‘Tank’ Tanksley tomorrow, and the candidates up for election to the Whatcom County Council– on Thursday. PROMO: BEYOND BARS Also– coming up after the 5pm news– join community radio KMRE and Cascadia Daily News in a collaborative exploration of the many aspects of the current Whatcom County jail and the controversy around the push to build a new one. Today’s Beyond Bars interview features Andrew Reding (REDD-ing)—chair of the Whatcom County Democrats. With a long background in policy Redding says taxpayer money should be used to make the best investments to reduce Whatcom County crime, and thanks to a 2017 report, we already know what those investments should look like. REDDING AUDIO— Listen to the interview today right after the 5pm news. WX: Freeze Watch It will be rainy all day, with a high of 51° and winds around 8 mph. Tonight has lows around 40, with winds increasing to more than 10 mph. The rain will slow tomorrow and it may become sunny. There is a freeze watch in place across Whatcom and Skagit as temperatures drop to around freezing later this week. There is also a small craft advisory due to winds ranging from 15 to 25 knots. 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 …
