Missing person reported out of Blaine, Third trial for 2019 Baker Lake murder ends in conviction, Bellingham man arrested following theft of bleachers from Lynden church, Three Whatcom County organizations receive grants to install solar panels on their buildings, WCC embroiled in union dispute following layoff of tenured professor, CHS announces layoffs and sale, Supreme Court strikes down tariffs, Free and Cheap
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Friday, February 20th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Missing person reported out of Blaine
A 27-year-old Blaine man is missing and authorities are asking for your help.
Eric Armstrong was last seen boarding a WTA bus near Birch Bay headed toward Bellingham. He’s described as 6 feet tall, about 217 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. When last seen, he was wearing all black clothing and black Crocs. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately.
STORY: Third trial for 2019 Baker Lake murder ends in conviction
An Arlington man has been convicted in the 2019 killing of his friend at Baker Lake.
After hung juries in both 2022 and 2025, thirty-six-year-old Alexander Vanags (VON-ogs) was found guilty yesterday of manslaughter in Whatcom County Superior Court. Jurors rejected the charge of second-degree murder but did find him guilty of first degree manslaughter by recklessly causing the death of 28-year-old Mark Stebakov (steh-buh-KOFF).
Prosecutors said Vanags killed Stebakov with a machete while the two were camping and using LSD near Bear Lake east of Mount Baker. Prosecutors alleged it was intentional, but Vanags’ attorney argued he acted in self-defense.
Vanags faces up to eight and a half years in prison. Prosecutors say they will seek the maximum sentence, while the defense plans to argue for less than the standard range and says it is considering an appeal. Sentencing is tentatively set for March 17th.
Vanags remains free on bail until then.
STORY: Bellingham man arrested following theft of bleachers from Lynden church
A 26-year-old Bellingham man is in jail after $14,000 worth of bleachers were stolen from a Lynden church.
Lynden Police say two sets of aluminum bleachers disappeared January 23rd from the alley behind North County Christ the King Church.
Investigators determined the bleachers had been cut up and sold for scrap at two local metal recycling businesses. Officers made an arrest Tuesday with the help of surveillance footage and witness statements.
The man was booked on suspicion of theft, malicious mischief, and trafficking in stolen property, along with a separate theft warrant from an unrelated case. He remains in Whatcom County Jail without bail.
STORY: Three Whatcom County organizations receive grants to install solar panels on their buildings
Three Whatcom County organizations have received grants to install solar panels on their buildings.
According to a recent announcement from PSE, around 220,000 dollars in total will go toward RE Sources, Nooksack Valley Food Bank, and YWCA Bellingham. Almost half of this went to the Y.
Nooksack Valley Food Bank received over 63,000 dollars, and says it will be able to purchase more food and other services with the dollars saved on energy once the panels are installed.
RE Sources was awarded over $60,000 in grant money. The non-profit says it hopes to install enough panels to generate half the power used at its RE Store in Bellingham.
STORY: WCC embroiled in union dispute following layoff of tenured professor
For the first time ever, Whatcom Community College recently announced the layoff of a tenured faculty member as part of a larger layoff and program reduction.
Gerald Large teaches drama, film, and literature and according to a recent release, the WCC board has given him the option to continue as an adjunct professor, however the move has sparked controversy across the organization.
According to a press release, insufficient enrollment was listed as the reason for the cuts. College President, Justin Guillory says the costs of the programs and positions on the chopping block are not sustainable.
Cascadia Daily News reports that the Whatcom Community College Federation of Teachers disputes the board’s reasoning and says the move violates Washington state law. According to their reporting, the union has requested that the board reject the proposal. They say records show enrollment in the drama program remains high and the costs are sustainable.
In addition, union president Barry Maxwell says he fears the termination might start a trend of layoffs of tenured positions, which would hamper the college’s ability to attract quality professors.
Students and faculty members have requested that the board reconsider the cuts.
STORY: CHS announces layoffs and sale
Thirty-eight CHS Northwest employees are expected to lose their jobs this spring.
According to a notice filed with the Washington State Employment Security Department, they will sell four locations in Washington — including the one in Bellingham, along with locations in Black Diamond, Chimacum (CHIM-uh-kum) and Poulsbo (PALLS-bo).
The announcement comes after the company said in January it would close the Lynden location and lay off 11 workers there. The company says the layoffs are permanent and are scheduled to begin April 19th.
CHS operates farm and home retail stores in several Whatcom County communities, as well as multiple fuel and express sites across the region. Several of its properties are currently up for sale, according to online commercial real estate listings.
STORY: Supreme Court strikes down tariffs
Governor Bob Ferguson is praising a new ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States which blocks President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.
In a 6-to-3 decision, the court ruled the president cannot use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to unilaterally set tariffs on imports. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said the president must have clear authorization from Congress to exercise that kind of power.
Ferguson said Washington is one of the most trade-dependent states in the country and argued the tariffs are harming families, workers, and businesses. He led a coalition of more than two dozen public and private partners in filing a amicus or “friend of the court” brief that urged the justices to strike the tariffs down.
State officials say Washington companies exported nearly $58 billion in goods last year, with about $120 billion in total trade moving through state ports. A previous analysis estimated the tariffs could cost Washington $2.2 billion in revenue over four years and slow economic growth.
The Supreme Court’s decision upholds earlier rulings by lower courts that also found the tariffs unlawful.
STORY: Free or cheap
It’s Friday, so here are some weekend events you might want to check out.
Today and Saturday, check out the last showing of the Upfront Theater’s ‘Cupid’s Island’— an improvised comedy, spoofing reality dating tv. Tickets are between 13 and 17 dollars.
On Saturday from 10 to 2, if you’ve been missing the Saturday market experience, why not check out the Dockside Market? This market offers local seafood, various arts and crafts, or you can stop by for a hot lunch by the bay.
Later on Saturday from 6:30 to 8:30pm, the Dry Martini quartet play Duke Ellington tunes at the FireHouse Arts & Events Center. Admission by donation.
WX: Positively sweltering
And now weather:
We close the week out with its warmest day, with highs reaching a balmy 43 degrees. We’ll continue with mostly cloudy skies throughout the day, increasing to overcast weather overnight, and lows in the low 30s.
This weekend should bring warmer temperatures, rounded off with persistent showers throughout. Forecasts are reporting chances of snow on Saturday, which should stick around for a few seconds.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg, Kathi O’Shea, Austin Wright, Tyler Warne, and Kai Blais-Schmolke. 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 our work, check out our Patreon, or Substack, or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _David Korb________… thanks for listening!
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