Back-to-back windstorms leave many without power, Gov. Ferguson visits flood-ravaged areas of Whatcom on “sobering,” damage assessment tour of western WA, Port of Bellingham approves new redistricting plan in advance of commissioner board expansion, WIAA to hold advisory vote on multiple amendments to local and state athletics, including restrictions on trans athletes, Officials warn of flood-related scams, Officials warn of flood-related scams, WA delegation pushes back against coal, Canadian visits plummet by 24%
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, December, 18th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Back-to-back windstorms leave many without power
Western Washington continues to feel the impacts of back-to-back storms, with landslide risks rising as saturated ground takes on more rain.
Up to an inch is possible today in the Whatcom County lowlands, with snow falling in the North Cascades — though Mount Baker Ski Area remains closed, and Mount Baker Highway is shut down at milepost 35 due to multiple slides. Strong winds knocked out power to thousands, with PSE reporting widespread outages across Whatcom County and the region.
Officials urge drivers to slow down, watch for debris and downed power lines, and use caution as cleanup and assessments continue.
STORY: Gov. Ferguson visits flood-ravaged areas of Whatcom on “sobering,” damage assessment tour of western WA
Governor Bob Ferguson toured flood-damaged areas of Sumas, Everson and Nooksack on Wednesday and called the destruction “sobering”.
The Nooksack flooding damaged homes, businesses and multiple levees, with millions of dollars in losses reported and hundreds of families now in need of recovery assistance, particularly in Everson. Ferguson said the state is already making $3.5 million available for short-term needs and is preparing a case for additional federal disaster aid, while also emphasizing the need for long-term flood-mitigation infrastructure.
He praised local governments, nonprofits and volunteers for their response, and said the recovery effort shows the strength of the Whatcom County community.
STORY: Multiple roads in Whatcom face another round of closures
Overnight heavy rain is forcing new road closures across Whatcom County, even as some routes had just reopened after days of flooding.
County officials say multiple main arterials in Ferndale, Lynden, Nooksack, Deming, Bellingham and Lummi Nation areas are closed due to standing water and damage. Drivers are urged to avoid closed roads, watch for changing conditions, and use extra caution as additional rain continues to impact already saturated ground.
STORY: Port of Bellingham approves new redistricting plan in advance of commissioner board expansion
The Port of Bellingham has approved a new redistricting plan ahead of an expansion of its board of commissioners.
The updated map aligns Port commissioner districts with the Whatcom County Council’s boundaries, with a minor swap of two district numbers to meet state requirements. The change follows voter approval to expand the commission from three to five members, with the two new commissioners set to be elected in November 2026.
STORY: WIAA to hold advisory vote on multiple amendments to local and state athletics, including restrictions on trans athletes
The Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association says it will consider several proposed rule changes, including a renewed attempt to restrict transgender participation in girls’ high school sports.
The amendment, backed by Lynden, Blaine and other districts, would limit girls sports to students whose biological sex is female, though WIAA officials say the proposal conflicts with current state law and is up for an advisory vote only.
One of the largest amendments proposed is that private schools with an enrollment of 90 or more would be required to opt up to the next classification. This amendment — which was proposed by Meridian’s athletic director Bryant Michaelson, and supported by Blaine, Mount Baker, Nooksack Valley and Lummi Nation — would only affect schools in the 1B, 2B and 1A classifications. Supporters say the aim is to bring competitive equity back to high school sports. All of the proposed changes can be found on the WIAA website.
The WIAA’s Representative Assembly will review the amendments in January, with a final vote scheduled for April.
STORY: Officials warn of flood-related scams
As cleanup continues after recent historic flooding, Washington state officials warn homeowners to watch out for contractor scams.
The Department of Labor and Industries says dishonest contractors often target disaster areas, taking deposits for work they never finish—or never start. Homeowners are urged to use ProtectMyHome dot net to verify that a contractor is properly registered, bonded, and insured before hiring. State officials say unregistered contractors can leave homeowners with unsafe repairs and little financial protection. Suspected contractor fraud can be reported to L&I online or by phone.
STORY: WA delegation pushes back against coal
A group of Washington leaders is pushing back against a last-minute move by the Trump administration to keep a coal power plant active in the state.
In a joint statement, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, and Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller said there is no energy emergency and no reason to keep the TransAlta power plant in Centralia burning coal past the end of the year.
They argue that the shutdown of the plant had been planned for more than a decade, and the federal effort ignores the law, creates uncertainty in Washington’s power market, and could raise costs while it increases pollution.
STORY: Canadian visits plummet by 24%
A new report from Democrats shows passenger vehicle crossings from Canada into Washington dropped 24 percent in the first ten months of this year.
The report, produced by the congressional Joint Economic Committee, shows a steeper decline than the national average. It also links the drop-off to political tensions and tariff policies under the Trump administration. More than half of Bellingham businesses surveyed reported losses, and ridership on the Seattle-to-Vancouver Island Clipper ferry is down 30 percent.
State tourism officials say hotels, restaurants, and shops—especially near the Canadian border—are seeing the biggest hit.
WX: The World’s Fastest Wind-ian
And now for the weather,
The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a wind advisory for the Puget Sound lowlands, starting early Thursday morning. South winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour are expected, with gusts reaching up to 45 miles per hour until 11 p.m tonight. The advisory includes Island County, western Skagit and Whatcom counties, northwestern Snohomish County, and San Juan County. Forecasters warn that saturated soils could increase impacts, with downed tree limbs and possible power outages. Drivers, especially in high-profile vehicles, are urged to use caution and secure outdoor items.
Daytime highs should return to the high 40s, but will drop into the high 30s later this evening. Most of the rain will fall tonight, so be prepared for the weather to turn miserable quickly.
Tomorrow could see the wind ease up a bit, but at the same time, we’re also expecting increased chances of thunderstorms, so overall, the weather is likely to get worse.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), and Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee). 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. To help support what we do, check out our Patreon, Substack, or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thanks for listening!
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