Bellingham PD searching for suspect in Maple Street burglary, WWU crowd protests state funding cuts to higher education, Longtime County Councilmember dies at 78, Two Whatcom County officials confirm online impersonation, WCC names new president, State Superintendent of Public Instruction tells public schools to resist federal directive to end DEI programs, Audit shows Dept of Commerce improperly gave grants to applicants
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, February 24th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham PD searching for suspect in Maple Street burglary
Bellingham Police are looking for a suspect involved in a burglary last week at an East Maple Street business.
According to BPD Lieutenant Claudia Murphy, the break-in was reported shortly after 6 a.m. on Friday. The suspect entered the business by smashing through the front door, and stole cash before fleeing.
Police attempted to track the suspect using a K9 perimeter, but were unsuccessful. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the burglary to contact BPD.
STORY: WWU crowd protests state funding cuts to higher education
Over a hundred students, faculty, and staff at Western Washington University gathered in the rain Friday to protest proposed funding cuts to higher education.
Student employees who spoke at the rally warned that, without full funding, some of the university’s lowest-paid and most vulnerable workers could face layoffs and financial hardship. The demonstration also highlighted concerns over broader political attacks on education, workers, and diversity initiatives.
Western is facing an $18 million budget shortfall this year, and has already announced plans to cut over 50 positions. The state legislature, which will determine funding allocations, is in session until April.
STORY: Longtime County Councilmember dies at 78
Barbara Brenner, a longtime Whatcom County Council member known for her independent spirit and dedication to local issues, is dead at the age of 78.
According to her son Wesley, she died at home on February 9th of complications from a long-term respiratory illness; she was surrounded by family. Brenner served on the council from 1991 to 2019, never sought higher office and self-funded her campaigns to maintain independence. She was widely respected for her commitment to transparency and accessibility, even listing her home phone number publicly.
Colleagues remembered her for her passionate advocacy, especially her efforts to eliminate “local long-distance” phone charges and regulate medical waste incineration, a battle she waged after suspecting it had caused health issues in her community.
Brenner is survived by her husband, Ed; sons Wes and Collin; and three sisters. A public memorial is planned for May. Contributions in her memory can be made to the Sean Humphrey House or mental health organizations like NAMI (nah-ME) Whatcom.
STORY: Two Whatcom County officials confirm online impersonation
Two elected officials in Whatcom County were impersonated by online trolls who posted inflammatory comments under their names on YouTube.
Bellingham City Council member Michael Lilliquist and Whatcom County Charter Review Commissioner Liz Darrow confirmed the impersonations to The Bellingham Herald.
YouTube disabled the fake account impersonating Lilliquist after an inquiry from KCPQ-TV in Seattle, whose report exposed the scam. A YouTube spokesperson stated that impersonation violates the platform’s community guidelines. Darrow believes her impersonator’s account has also been removed, but YouTube has not confirmed it.
The fake accounts posted a mix of provocative statements, which included remarks about affordable housing and offensive comments targeted at minority groups. Under Washington state law, online impersonators could face criminal prosecution and potential civil lawsuits for defamation or invasion of privacy.
STORY: WCC names new president
Justin Guillory (gill-o-REE), former president of Northwest Indian College, will join Whatcom Community College as its new president May 1st.
He replaces Kathi Hiyane-Brown (CATHY hee-YUN-nee BROWN) as she retires after 18 years of leadership.
WCC’s Board of Trustees selected Guillory for his strong background in higher education leadership and alignment with the college’s vision. Board Chair John Pedlow (PAD-low) praised Guillory’s dedication to student success, academic excellence and community engagement. Pedlow called Guillory’s appointment a “significant milestone” for the institution.
Guillory, a direct descendant of the Nez Perce (NESS PURSE) Tribe of Idaho, also has African-American and Hispanic ancestry. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity, and emphasized his commitment to expanding student opportunities and strengthening community partnerships.
Guillory previously led Northwest Indian College for 12 years before departing last October.
Whatcom Community College, located in Bellingham, had nearly 3,000 full-time students enrolled as of this past fall.
STORY: State Superintendent of Public Instruction tells public schools to resist federal directive to end DEI programs
Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal (rike-DOLL) is advising schools to resist a directive from the Trump administration to dismantle DEI programs.
According to a recent announcement, Reykdal’s office received a “Dear Colleague Letter” from the U.S. Department of Education, which declared DEI initiatives discriminatory and illegal. The letter warned that institutions who failed to comply could lose federal funding, and enforcement will begin at the end of February.
However, Reykdal asserts that such letters do not carry the force of law, and urged schools to maintain their existing DEI policies. He emphasized that DEI has been a fundamental part of Washington’s education system and criticized the political “weaponization” of the term.
Reykdal reassured schools his office is working with Washington Attorney General Nick Brown to address potential funding challenges that could result from federal actions.
STORY: Audit shows Dept of Commerce improperly gave grants to applicants
A recent audit revealed the State Department of Commerce failed to properly distribute grants to qualified applicants under the Behavioral Health Community Capacity Grant program.
The State Auditor’s Office released the report in November as part of its effort to examine programs at high risk of fraud, loss, or abuse. The audit reviewed spending from July 2022 to June 2023 and found that none of the sampled grant recipients met all legislative criteria. Additionally, only a portion of the allocated funds was used in the 2023 fiscal year, with some money spent on unapproved items such as food, snacks, and a phone case.
Commerce Secretary Joe Nguyen (new-WIN), who was not in office at the time of the report, acknowledged the findings, and stated that while most of the department’s programs comply with regulations, there is “always room for improvement.”
The Department of Commerce has pledged to address the audit’s concerns and improve compliance in future grant distributions.
WX: Bob the Tornado
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
A wind advisory is in place until 10 a.m. tomorrow, with gusts expected to reach up to 44 miles per hour later this evening. Consistent rain is expected throughout the day, with highs in the low-50s. Nighttime lows are projected to be in the mid-40s.
The rain and moderate temperatures are expected to continue tomorrow, alongside weaker winds.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Paloma Ortiz, and Stevie Sjogren (SHOW-gren). Our news director is Staci Baird. 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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