Bellingham man formally charged in child rape case, WSP arrests motorcyclist following high-speed pursuit on I-5, Proposed Mount Baker geothermal plant could potentially power all of Whatcom County, Ferndale detective and business owner announces candidacy for State Representative, Free vaccine clinic for kids next week, Three finalists selected for Anacortes superintendent, community forums to open next week, Local brewery nominated for best brewpub in the U.S., WA’s legal alcohol limit for driving will not be lowered this year, No police hired thus far with WA’s $100 million grant, Invasive Species Awareness Week, No Kings Day March 28th, Long term weather outlook, Lummi Island ferry dry dock scheduled for mid-April, Places to file your taxes for free
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, February, 26. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham man formally charged in child rape case
A Bellingham man is facing multiple felony charges in Whatcom County Superior Court following the alleged rape and assault of a teenage girl.
Kenneth Tyrell Peterson, 30, was arrested last Thursday by the Bellingham Police Department after the assault, which had been reported four days earlier. Court records state Peterson met the teen at the Whatcom Transportation Authority’s Bellingham Station on February 13th and invited her to stay at his encampment where he raped and choked her. Surveillance footage from the transit station and nearby street cameras also showed the two together.
Peterson is a registered sex offender who was recently released from prison. He is charged with first-degree rape inflicting serious injury, second-degree assault, third-degree rape of a child and indecent exposure.
He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail in the Whatcom County Jail.
STORY: WSP arrests motorcyclist following high-speed pursuit on I-5
A 23-year-old man is in custody after leading law enforcement on a high-speed motorcycle pursuit.
According to the Washington State Patrol, around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, a trooper reported chasing a motorcycle northbound on Interstate 5 from the Main Street interchange in Ferndale. The rider allegedly reached speeds of 130 miles per hour, passed vehicles on the shoulder and nearly caused multiple collisions.
The pursuit continued to the Peace Portal Drive exit in Blaine, where the rider attempted to turn back onto southbound I-5 but dropped the motorcycle at low speed. After a brief foot chase, the suspect surrendered.
According to Whatcom County Jail records, the man was booked on charges of second-degree driving while license suspended and attempting to elude a police vehicle.
STORY: Proposed Mount Baker geothermal plant could potentially power all of Whatcom County
A major geothermal power project that could generate nearly enough electricity to power all of Whatcom County is being explored.
According to the Whatcom County Public Utilities District, the Nooksack Indian Tribe signed a memorandum of understanding with them February 17th to study development of a geothermal plant near Mount Baker. A recent ‘prefeasibility’ study by Hotrock Energy Resource Organization found the right conditions could exist for a 250-megawatt facility — roughly equal to the county’s total electric load, not including the BP Cherry Point refinery.
Geothermal energy taps heat beneath the earth’s surface to produce carbon-free electricity. Supporters say advances in drilling technology and growing demand for renewable power make the project more viable than in past decades.
Still, officials say permitting could take up to 15 years, and environmental protections and cultural considerations will guide any next steps.
STORY: Ferndale detective and business owner announces candidacy for State Representative
Ferndale detective and business owner Justin Pike announced he will run as a Republican for state House of Representatives.
The 42nd Legislative District contains most of Whatcom County, apart from south Bellingham and the county’s southeast corner. Pike, a first-time candidate, will challenge the Democratic incumbent Joe Timmons for Position 2, who has held the seat since 2022. Timmons previously won reelection in 2024 against Republican Kamal Bhachu.
Pike made the announcement in a post on Instagram. In it, he emphasized affordability and practical policy decisions. He owns Ferndale Laundry and is a detective with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
STORY: Free vaccine clinic for kids next week
Another vaccine clinic for Whatcom County kids is coming up next week.
Whatcom County Health and Community Services will host a free immunization clinic Tuesday, March 3rd, from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Chestnut Professional Building. Both walk-in and scheduled appointments are available.
Vaccines are free for anyone under 18 and will include COVID-19, hepatitis A and B, polio, chicken pox, flu and MMR shots.
Health officials say the clinic is a convenient way for families to get children caught up on recommended immunizations.
STORY: Three finalists selected for Anacortes superintendent, community forums to open next week
The Anacortes School District has announced three finalists for its next superintendent.
According to the district website, five candidates were interviewed on Monday, and the three finalists were announced on Tuesday evening. They include two Washington school district superintendents, and one from Pennsylvania.
One finalist will be interviewed each day from March 3rd to 5th. The winning candidate will have their contract approved by the school board at its March 19th meeting.
The interviews will be held from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the Anacortes High School Library. Members of the public are welcome to attend or watch on a livestream through the district’s YouTube channel.
STORY: Local brewery nominated for best brewpub in the U.S.
A Bellingham brewery is in the running to be named the best brewpub in the country.
Otherlands Beer, a brewery and café in the Sunnyland neighborhood, is one of 20 nominees in the U.S.A Today contest that serves their own house beers alongside tasty food options. This marks the second year the brewery has been nominated, after ranking seventh in last year’s top 10.
According to their website, it was founded in 2020 by Lobrow and Ben Howe, and aims to create a cozy, inviting space with touches inspired by Lobrow’s Polish heritage.
The top 10 winners will be announced on March 4th. Otherlands Beer is located at 2121 Humboldt St. in Bellingham.
STORY: WA’s legal alcohol limit for driving will not be lowered this year
Efforts to cut the legal blood alcohol limit hit a roadblock in the House Community Safety Committee.
According to the Washington State Standard, supporters of the bill want to drop the limit from 0.08% (point-zero-eight-percent) to 0.05% (point-zero-five-percent), arguing the change is needed as traffic deaths continue to rise. In 2023, nearly one-third of traffic deaths involved alcohol-impaired drivers. Opponents worry about enforcement and business impacts, but lawmakers point to evidence from other states that shows even 0.05% saves lives.
Democratic state Senator John Lovick of Mill Creek called the outcome “disappointing” but said the bill made more progress than in previous sessions. Democrats have pledged to keep pushing, aiming for another vote in 2027.
STORY: No police hired thus far with WA’s $100 million grant
Washington’s new $100 million police hiring program still hasn’t produced a single new officer.
The program was meant to help cities and counties add staff, but according to the Washington State Standard, no grants have gone out and only a few departments statewide have applied. Local officials say the rollout has been slow, with new training and reporting requirements and an online portal that only recently launched.
To qualify, cities and counties must pass a one tenth of a percent public safety sales tax to show they can sustain new officers after the state money expires in 2028. Lynden adopted the tax early, and Bellingham has already approved it. Whatcom County is now considering joining them, which would make the county eligible once grants start flowing.
Even if applications go in this spring, it could take up to two years before any new hires finish training and reach the street. Washington still ranks last in the nation for police staffing per capita, and local leaders say this program alone won’t close that gap.
WX: Muster, bluster, in the summer shluster
And now for the weather:
Look for today’s weather to be overcast and windy once again. Daytime highs should top out right around 50 degrees, with wind gusts predicted at around 29 mph. Expect some mild showers around the county this afternoon. Overnight, we should see fairly continuing cloudy skies and temps dropping into the low 40s.
Tomorrow, we’ll see less wind, though it should remain overcast and drizzly.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRAH-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Austin Wright, Tyler Warne, Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), and Kieran (KEAR-un) Dang. 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, Substack, or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thanks for listening!
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STORY: Invasive Species Awareness Week
This week marks the start of Invasive Species Awareness Week in Washington and across the country. The annual campaign highlights plants and animals that can harm local ecosystems.
Washington Invasive Species Council is hosting several free webinars this week to educate the public on protecting waterways from aquatic invasive species, weeds, and harmful insects.
Residents can learn practical steps to prevent the spread of invasive species and access information about the events on the council’s website.
STORY: No Kings Day March 28th
STORY: Long term weather outlook
Spring in Western Washington is shaping up to be near normal for temperatures and rainfall, according to the National Weather Service’s long-range forecast. Meteorologists say the La Niña pattern, which usually brings cooler, wetter weather to the Northwest, is expected to fade into a neutral phase between March and May. That could bring average highs of 53 degrees in March, 58 in April, and 66 in May.
However, there’s a 60% chance La Niña could linger into April, which would help the Nooksack River watershed recover from an unusually dry January. Snowpack in the Mount Baker area was 87% of normal in January but rose to 116% by Feb. 20, data from the Natural Resource Conservation Service shows. Additionally, if snow levels fall again or melt too quickly in a warm spring, drought conditions could persist, raising the risk of wildfires, smoky skies, and water restrictions.
Officials urge communities to monitor conditions closely as the spring season unfolds.
STORY: Lummi Island ferry dry dock scheduled for mid-April
STORY: Places to file your taxes for free
Even though the Trump Administration has ended the IRS Direct File program, many Americans can still file their taxes for free this season.
Taxpayers earning under eighty-nine thousand dollars a year can use IRS Free File software online, while those making about sixty-seven thousand dollars or less may qualify for free, in-person help through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites at libraries and community centers. Seniors can get no-cost help through AARP Tax-Aide, and military members can file for free through the Defense Department’s MilTax program.
Anyone can also file at no charge using the IRS’s Free File Fillable Forms on IRS dot gov. The tax filing deadline is April fifteenth.
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