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 …
October 13, 2023 News Transcript
WA hydrogen production to get boost from share of $1B in funding, potentially in Bellingham, Public Participation Sought for Point Roberts Drainage Study, Lummis move aggressively to combat overdose deaths, WNS – Opponents push back on initiative to build jail, WA agreement would require access to trans health care in prison, Free and Cheap, WWU’s Fall 2023 First-Year Class is its Second Largest Ever, ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Friday, October 13th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____. STORY: WA hydrogen production to get a boost from share of $1B in funding, potentially Bellingham The U.S. Department of Energy has chosen the Pacific Northwest as a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub. These hubs, supported by President Biden’s investment agenda, aim to create a national network for clean hydrogen production, storage, and delivery. According to the Pacific Northwest Clean Hydrogen Association, they will reduce carbon emissions, create jobs, and enhance energy security. The regional Hydrogen Hub hopes to reduce the carbon impacts of heavy transportation, energy storage, ports, agriculture, and industrial operations. It’s expected to generate over 10,000 jobs and strengthen energy security while promoting equitable energy systems. One of the proposed sites for the hub would be here in Bellingham. The hub is eligible to receive up to $1B dollars in federal funding over nine years, with the first phase beginning in early 2024. STORY: Public Participation Sought for Point Roberts Drainage Study Whatcom County is conducting a study in Point Roberts to analyze current and future water drainage patterns. The study aims to identify and understand drainage problems, develop solutions and cost estimates, and seek funding. The results will be used to create the Point Roberts Drainage Management Plan. Residents of Point Roberts are encouraged to provide input on drainage issues via a public survey. STORY: Lummis move aggressively to combat overdose deaths In response to recent overdose deaths in Lummi Nation, the community is acting swiftly to fight against the growing drug trade. After declaring an emergency in September, Lummi Nation has begun utilizing police to search for drugs, with random traffic stops on the reservation. Lummi Chairman Anthony Hillaire (hill-AIR) acknowledged the random stops and searches might conflict with state law, which requires police to have a warrant and probable cause before searching a car without consent and are having policy analysts review it. A Sheriff’s Office statement said the department doesn’t participate in the checkpoints and suggested that they couldn’t book suspects from these stops due to this law. Hillaire said that Lummi Nation may go further and block main thoroughfares through the reservation altogether, including roads that are used to access non-tribal homes and businesses on Lummi Island, via the ferry terminal at Gooseberry Point. Lummi Nation has also received federal assistance, with Senator Maria Cantwell helping the tribe partner with the FBI to address crime within the reservation. STORY: WNS – Opponents push back on initiative to build jail A November ballot initiative would fund building of a jail near Bellingham, but some say it’s the wrong way to address issues in Whatcom County. Eric Tegitoff has more… JAIL AUDIO STORY: WA agreement would require access to trans health care in prison A new proposed settlement agreement with the state for gender-affirming medical care in state prisons may go into effect soon. Disability Rights Washington filed the complaint and the proposed settlement agreement in federal court on Wednesday morning, after an investigation beginning in 2017. The investigation looked into the conditions for transgender people in Washington prisons. DRW alleges the state has denied transgender prisoners gender-affirming care, hormone therapy, and have subjected them to strip searches by guards of opposite gender. The agreement, if accepted, would require that the state prison staff include a mental-health care provider specializing in gender-affirming care, and a gender-affirming medical care specialist approved by both the state and DRW. The agreement would also limit trans women in state prisons being searched by male guards, requiring that enough female guards work at the relevant facilities. The state Department of Corrections has signed off on the agreement. A judge will now need to review and accept the deal. STORY: Free and Cheap Looking for something to do this weekend? Here are some affordable events happening around Whatcom County. Bellingham SeaFeast will take place this weekend at Squalicum Harbor & Fisherman’s Pavilion. The event will have seafood vendors, cooking demos, market, entertainment, and beer garden. Admission is free and the event runs from 10 to 5 on Saturday, and from 11 to 5 on Sunday. Bellingham Farmers Market and Blaine’s Market By The Sea will have their weekly markets on Saturday from 10 to 2. This weekend will be Blaine’s last Market by the Sea until May. For those looking for something a little scarier, the Upfront Theatre will be the Hellingham improv murder mystery. The show takes place every Friday and Saturday night in October at 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm. Tickets are 10 dollars for students and 16 for regular attendees. WX: Sunny Today is going to be partly sunny, with highs in the low 70s. The low will be 54 with winds blowing from 5 to 13 mph throughout the day. Rain will come later tonight, and continue into the weekend. 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 your donations. I’m ___David Korb_____________… thanks for listening. ###
Running and Racing
With Leo Schumaker and Friends About The Host I became involved with running on my High School Track Team in San Jose, CA. running sprints. I then took a few years off until the Olympic Torch went by in Santa Barbara, CA in 1984 and I realized that my weight at 250 pounds I want to run again. After a few weeks of getting my distance up I met Rod Dixon a runner and coach from New Zealand at my first 5k race who inspired us all. After running many races up to marathons I realized I was slowing down and felt the way to keep my hand in running is to start a running show on KCSB in Santa Barbara to inspire others and me interviewing many local runners, sports journalists and eventually expanding to famous runners including Rod Dixon, Dean Karnazes, Mark Allen, Jordan Hasay and more. That radio show became a TV show in Santa Barbara and now in Bellingham on BTV Channel 10 Sunday nights “Adventures with Leo Schumaker”. I still broadcast on KMRE 88.3 FM and look forward to helping our running passion connect with the community on “Running and Racing with Leo Schumaker and Friends”.
September 5, 2023 News Transcript
Lake Whatcom fire 90% contained, The blob to return to PNW, Work begins on Whatcom Falls Park Trestle removal, PeaceHealth to restore palliative care, Avian Flu spreading, Money available for those affected by E WA wildfires, Bainbridge ferry limited to walk ons only, WA traffic deaths trending higher ______________________________ Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, the 5th. Good afternoon, I’m ______. STORY: Lake Whatcom fire 90% contained The Lake Whatcom fire is nearly enclosed as firefighters report that 90 percent of it is contained. The north flank of the fire has been a particularly hard area to reach for ground crews because of steep slopes and cliffs. However over the weekend, helicopters have dropped water on this area and managed to secure it. Now with the more difficult areas taken care of, firefighters are finishing up the effort on foot. The fire broke out last Monday and there was a Level 2 evacuation order in place for much of last week. Now that most of the fire has been taken care of, the evacuation order has been downgraded to Level 1, and state and federal government officials are leaving the mop-up operations to local Department of Natural Resources crews. Blue Canyon Road will remain closed for non-residents until further notice. STORY: The Blob to return to the PNW A mass of warm ocean water known as “The Blob”, is predicted to revisit the Pacific coast for a third time. The return of the Blob could mean less snow for skiers and snowboarders and an extension on the current drought. The increased temperature of the water may also drive away salmon in search of cooler waters to feed in. The Blob was first detected in 2013, where it led to mass seabird die-offs, migrations of fish and plankton, lower oxygen levels, and an increase in toxic algae blooms that affected marine mammals. After its first appearance, the Blob split up into multiple smaller warm water bodies, affecting Alaska, Mexico, as well as the Pacific Northwest. Although forecasters hoped that weather patterns were going to shift back in 2017, the Blob has returned and, in combination with a predicted El Niño, this coming winter looks to be much warmer and drier than usual. STORY: Work begins on Whatcom Falls Park Trestle removal The beloved Whatcom Falls Park Trestle is being removed. According to park officials, the structure is beyond repair and will be removed by the end of September so the work doesn’t interfere with salmon spawning in the creek below the trestle. According to Bellingham Parks and Recreation Project Engineer Gina Austin, the trestle is in a floodway, where structures are no longer permitted and some of the trestle’s pilings have rotted all the way through. Also, the timber used in the trestle was treated with creosote (kree – uh – sowt), which contaminates water bodies. People are asked to stay away from the structure during demolition. STORY: PeaceHealth to restore palliative care The PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation, in partnership with PeaceHealth, has announced its intention to reinstate an outpatient palliative care program or OPPC for the residents of Whatcom County. This decision comes in response to community feedback following PeaceHealth’s earlier announcement to reduce comprehensive palliative care services. In a recent announcement, Dr. Scott Foster, the CEO of PeaceHealth Medical Group, acknowledged that the previous decision regarding OPPC was made hastily without consulting key stakeholders and apologized for any distress it caused. In the release, PeaceHealth said a new model has been developed with a focus on sustainability and improved efficiency to serve both cancer and non-cancer patients. The proposed model was approved by the Foundation Board last week. PeaceHealth plans to launch the program in early 2024. STORY: Avian flu spreading The Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are advising the public to avoid any contact with wild birds, particularly those that appear sick or dead. The outbreak of bird flu affecting birds and seals near Fort Flagler State Park which began in July seems to be spreading. Initial findings suggest that three harbor seals from the same area may also be infected with avian influenza, with confirmation testing pending. WDFW has already removed over 1,700 deceased Caspian terns and gulls from the area and is actively monitoring the situation. Recent detections of infected Caspian terns have also been reported near the Port of Everett, Port of Tacoma, and along the lower Columbia River. Although human infections of avian influenza are rare, they can occur through extended contact with infected animals or surfaces contaminated with their saliva or feces. Dogs and other animals can also become sick from bird flu, so don’t let your pets come in contact with sick or dead animals. WDFW urges the public to report any sick or dead birds promptly using their online form. To learn more, go to the Fish and Wildlife webpage. STORY: Money available for those affected by E WA wildfires Cash relief is available for people affected by the Eastern Washington wildfires. Residents in Spokane, Pend Orielle (POND uh RAY) and Whitman counties – if affected by the fires – can apply for immediate cash relief from Washington’s Disaster Cash Assistance Program. Unlike other cash relief programs, applying as a single person or non-pregnant individual is an option. This money is not available to people already receiving other disaster cash relief however, and the awarded amount is based on income, household size and need. Relief dollars can – at maximum – range from over $400 for a single person to over $1500 for a household of 10 or more. People can apply online at washingtonconnection.org or in person at their local community services office or call the disaster cash assistance hotline at 877-501-2233 to complete the entire application process over the phone. STORY: Bainbridge ferry limited to walk ons only The Bainbridge ferry will reduce crossings to only one boat and only allow walk-on travel …
KMRE Antenna Update: July 27th
KMRE will be moving to King Mountain during the second week of August. We’ll be going through a series of tests first, but expect to hear us throughout Whatcom soon!
Vote for KMRE
KMRE’s October 2022 Raise The Antenna and Pump Up The Volume fundraising event has been nominated for Best Fundraising Event in the Cascadia Daily News 2023 Readers’ Choice. We appreciate the nomination and know we’re in good company with the other nominees.You can vote for KMRE through January 31, 2023. Best Fundraising Event is in the Arts & Entertainment category. Thank you Whatcom County!
Summer Fun
It’s Summer, and that means lots of local events and happenings. KMRE staff and volunteers will be out in the community this summer celebrating our new upgrades and handing out stickers! Come find us and say ‘hi’.
New specialty music show
Travel through time and across space each week to hear music made around the globe on Tesla Meets World. Hosted by Tesla, a local KMRE DJ, Tesla Meets World explores a different theme every Monday at 8pm, bringing music you won’t hear anywhere else on the radio right to your front door. Spend time with the musical histories of the continents, and cross decades and oceans to hear songs written about love, labor, and loss.
Pick Up Your Free Logo Sticker
KMRE logo stickers are back in stock! Pick one up today at these local businesses: Village Books in Fairhaven, Jo Joe’s Doughnuts in downtown Bellingham, Goods Taphouse at 2620 Northwest Avenue in Bellingham, or Greenhouse at the corner of Holly & Cornwall in downtown Bellingham. The sticker will look fabulous on your car, laptop, water bottle, or wherever you’d like to show your support for independent community radio.
