Names of Ferndale apartment fire victims released, Commuters should expect backups on southbound I-5 for tree project near Lake Samish, Portion of South Bay Trail to close as city continues train noise reduction project, Claim forms for water rights lawsuit finalized, City Council approves $235k in funding for three art projects in downtown Bellingham, Skagit school districts say they are underfunded by millions of dollars, Boeing to lay off nearly 400 workers in Washington, Crime victim advocates in WA protest in face of funding “cliff”
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, December 10th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Names of Ferndale apartment fire victims released The names of two women killed in a Ferndale apartment fire on Thursday have been released.
The victims were 43-year-old Kristine Gregory and 26-year-old Sierra Johnson. According to the Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office, Gregory died at the scene of smoke inhalation, and her death was ruled accidental.
Johnson was still alive when she was rescued from the fire, but she died a day later in Seattle. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office says Johnson died of smoke inhalation and burns, and her death was also ruled accidental.
The fire took place in a second-floor apartment at 2145 Eastview Place. Its cause and origin are still under investigation.
STORY: Commuters should expect backups on southbound I-5 for tree project near Lake Samish
Commuters heading south on Interstate 5 from Bellingham should expect delays this week from a tree-removal project near Lake Samish.
According to Washington Department of Transportation Madison Sehlke (sel-KEY), southbound I-5 will be reduced to one lane between mileposts 246 and 244 – that’s between North Lake Samish and Nulle Road – for hazardous tree removal and maintenance from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and tomorrow.
Work in the area caused a seven-mile backup yesterday, with Sehlke blaming drivers who failed to use the “zipper” maneuver at the closure point for the traffic jam.
STORY: Portion of South Bay Trail to close as city continues train noise reduction project
As part of the City of Bellingham’s efforts to reduce train noise by establishing a quiet zone, the South Bay Trail will close temporarily at the Boulevard Park railroad tracks starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
The initiative requires safety upgrades at 11 railroad crossings in both Fairhaven and the waterfront. Five crossings, including Boulevard Park, still need improvements. During the closure, detour signs will guide pedestrians to State Street and Bayview Drive.
STORY: Claim forms for water rights lawsuit finalized The Whatcom County Superior Court has approved claim forms for a water rights lawsuit that could impact up to 30,000 people in the region.
The state Department of Ecology, which filed the lawsuit in May, will likely mail summons and claim forms to affected water users in February. The deadline to submit completed forms is May 1st, 2026.
Residential well users with low water use can fill out a simplified form, while those using more water must provide additional documentation. The lawsuit will establish the legality, usage limits, and priority of water rights during shortages. The decision on the priority of water rights is bound to affect farmers, local governments, tribes, and others; groundwater, surface water, and instream flow rights, vital for salmon habitat, are included as part of that decision. Ecology urges users to submit accurate forms to avoid exclusion or follow-ups.
Those who do not submit forms risk exclusion from future water rights considerations.
STORY: City Council approves $235k in funding for three art projects in downtown Bellingham
The Bellingham City Council has approved $235,000 in grants for three downtown art projects aimed at enhancing the area’s appeal and safety.
Funded by the city’s lodging tax, the grants include: Make.Shift and KZAX for $50,000, the Pickford Film Center and Bellingham Symphony
Orchestra for $25,000, and Children of the Setting Sun Productions for $160,000.
The grants follow a competitive process where 27 proposals were evaluated by both the Tourism and Arts commissions. Council members praised the creativity of the submissions, expressing enthusiasm for the projects’ potential to showcase local talent and revitalize downtown.
STORY: Skagit school districts say they are underfunded by millions of dollars
A recent virtual town hall meeting that included superintendents and school board members from all seven Skagit County school districts highlighted severe underfunding, totaling $90 million over four years.
Key deficits include $47 million for special education, $8 million for transportation, and $22 million for supplies—- which have led to budget cuts, limited student access to resources and reductions in staff, as well as school closures.
During the meeting, state legislators acknowledged the crisis but pointed to a $12 billion state budget shortfall. They said that, while special education is a priority, cuts are necessary and will need to come from somewhere. Officials emphasized that education remains the state’s “paramount duty,” but the Skagit school superintendents stressed that fiscal responsibility alone cannot resolve the funding gaps, which continue to harm schools and students.
STORY: Boeing to lay off nearly 400 workers in Washington Boeing is laying off roughly 400 workers in Washington state.
A filing with the state’s Employment Security Department from yesterday indicates that the company plans to lay off 396 workers by late February. This past October, Boeing announced it would cut 10% of its workforce to align with its quote-unquote “financial reality”; this most recent round of layoffs comes in addition to the 2,300 workers already laid off last month.
Back in October, Boeing reported a $6 billion quarterly loss, its largest since 2020; the company’s 2024 has included a mid-flight door plug blowout, a Machinists strike and a potential lawsuit over two plane crashes.
WX: This town burns through my clouds jokes too quickly And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Expect persistent cloud cover throughout the rest of today, with occasional bursts of sunshine to remind us here in the PNW that it’s not actually due to implode for another couple billion years. Daytime highs will stay in the upper 40s, alongside calm northern winds. Evening lows are projected in the upper 30s.
Continuing cloud cover is in the forecast for tomorrow, with a progressively increasing chance of rain beginning in the late afternoon.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Riley Weeks, Brodey O’Brien, Paloma Ortiz, Anna Hedrick and Miguel Garduño (MEE-gel gar-DOO-ño). 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. Check out our Patreon page or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thank you for listening.
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STORY: Crime victim advocates in WA protest in face of funding “cliff”
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