Whatcom County Health and Community Services operating final no-cost vaccination clinic of the year today, Nooksack River to projected to reach “action stage” tomorrow night amid heavy rains, Custer rest areas to be closed throughout the week, Bellingham moves to eliminate parking minimums, Whatcom County seeking applicants for advisory board positions, Bellingham Public Schools shares progress on sustainability goals through 2028, Whatcom and Skagit to see increased health insurance rates, decreased tax credits in 2025
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, December 17th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Whatcom County Health and Community Services operating final no-cost vaccination clinic of the year today
Whatcom County Health and Community Services is hosting a free vaccination clinic today from 3-till-6 p.m. at 2030 Division Street in Bellingham.
Vaccines are available for everyone 6 months and older, regardless of insurance. Children under 19 can receive the COVID-19, flu and childhood vaccines, while adults can get COVID-19, Mpox, and flu shots. Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments can be scheduled online.
STORY: Nooksack River to projected to reach “action stage” tomorrow night amid heavy rains
An atmospheric river expected to bring up to 5 inches of rain to the North Cascades has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a hydrologic outlook for northwest Washington from tomorrow till Thursday.
The Nooksack River in Ferndale is projected to reach action stage— 15 feet—late tomorrow night, though it will remain below minor flooding
levels. Whatcom County officials are monitoring the situation, though no major concerns have been reported.
The Skagit River in Mount Vernon is also expected to rise above action stage, but flooding is not currently forecast.
STORY: Custer rest areas to be closed throughout the week
The rest areas in Custer along Interstate 5 will see some closures throughout the week.
The state Department of Transportation says that the northbound rest areas will be closed today from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the southbound rest area will be closed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow and Thursday.
No reason for the closures was announced. In the meantime, WSDOT is encouraging people to use the Bow Hill rest areas instead.
STORY: Bellingham moves to eliminate parking minimums
In an effort to boost housing development, the Bellingham City Council voted yesterday in favor of an interim ordinance to eliminate parking minimums.
The change is part of Mayor Kim Lund’s housing initiative, and is expected to reduce costs and enable more housing projects. The ordinance requires one accessible parking stall for all developments, includes bicycle parking
guidelines, and will remain in effect for one year starting in January, pending a final vote on the 13th.
Supporters believe removing parking mandates will increase housing supply, including affordable units, as seen in other cities. However, council members Lisa Anderson and Michael Lilliquist voiced concerns about the ordinance lacking affordability requirements. Anderson voted against the measure; Lilliquist ultimately supported the ordinance, but called the current parking mandates “broken” and unsuccessfully proposed targeting the change to affordable housing areas.
City staff emphasized that increasing overall housing supply helps reduce costs, with future initiatives planned to further support affordable housing development.
STORY: Whatcom County seeking applicants for advisory board positions
Whatcom County is seeking applicants for multiple advisory board positions.
Nearly 120 positions on over 30 advisory boards will be opening up next year. Board and committee members will advise the county council on various topics, including justice issues, food production, flood control and the environment.
These positions hold 2-year, 3-year and 4-year terms on these boards, with members being appointed by either the council or the county
executive. All applicants must reside in Whatcom County, and some credentials are needed for certain positions.
Applications are due on January 7th. The full list of available positions is available at the Whatcom County website.
STORY: Bellingham Public Schools shares progress on sustainability goals through 2028
Bellingham Public Schools has shared its progress on their 2023-to-2028 Climate Action Plan, with a focus on solar energy, air quality, transportation, and facility improvements.
A nearly $3 million state grant will fund solar panel installations at five schools, generating a megawatt of energy. The district has also added three propane buses to reduce emissions, and is improving bus routes to decrease idling and car usage.
In addition, with a $364,000 EPA grant, all schools will receive air-quality monitors to track pollutants and improve HVAC systems. Upgrades include high-efficiency boilers, LED lighting, and 85% green cleaning products. EV charging stations are operational at two locations, and more are planned.
The district tracks energy and carbon usage publicly, and says it is committed to sustainability and cost savings.
STORY: Whatcom and Skagit to see increased health insurance rates, decreased tax credits in 2025
Local residents using the state marketplace will see 8-to-22.8% health insurance premium hikes with Lifewise, Kaiser, and Regence BlueShield.
The addition of Ambetter, which offers lower-cost plans, reduces the benchmark used to calculate tax credits, which impacts affordability for existing enrollees. Ambetter’s network includes providers like PeaceHealth, but lacks key options such as Family Care Network and some specialists. This raises concerns for patients with specific health needs.
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner noted ongoing complaints about Ambetter’s network adequacy but approved its expansion statewide. Open enrollment for next year ends on January 15th, with resources available to help residents compare options and tax credits.
STORY: Bill introduced to state senate that would exempt those over 75 from all property tax
A new bill introduced in the Washington State Senate proposes exempting all residents over 75 from paying property taxes, regardless of income.
Filed by Republican Senator Phil Fortunato (four-two-NAH-dough), Senate Bill 5020 also includes protections for seniors in hospitals, nursing homes, or assisted living facilities. Washington’s 2025 legislative session begins on January 13th and runs through April 27th.
WX: Goodness. It’s raining again. Stop the presses.
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Continued rain is forecasted for the remainder of today, with daytime highs expected around 50 degrees. Expect calm eastward winds throughout the day, as well as evening lows in the mid-40s.
Wind speeds are expected to pick up tonight and carry on into tomorrow, with gusts as high as 23 miles per hour, and rain throughout the region. But you probably knew that.
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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