BPD arrests four men in connection with string of residential burglaries primarily targeting Asian residents, Trial begins for Bellingham man accused of attempted murder, InterUrban trail reopens following completion of fish culvert project, Roundabout coming to Meridian and Birchwood Streets, Whatcom County to host second community engagement workshop for new jail, PeaceHealth to consolidate priority care to their Cordata location, Low-interest loans available for Sumas businesses impacted by flooding, New plan to combat Nooksack floods involves dredging and widening the river, State lawmakers consider bill that would boost WWU funding, Free or cheap, 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 Friday, February 27th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: BPD arrests four men in connection with string of residential burglaries primarily targeting Asian residents
A sophisticated crime ring blamed for a string of high-end home burglaries across Northwest Washington has been collared.
Documents filed in Whatcom County Superior Court indicate that four men were arrested after a multi-agency investigation involving surveillance, GPS tracking, and a K-9 pursuit. Detectives link the group to over $1.4M dollars in losses linked to the so-called “South American Theft Group”.
Police say the suspects targeted primarily Asian business owners.
The four men face multiple felonies, including burglary, conspiracy, and hate crimes. All remain in Whatcom County Jail on bonds ranging from $150,000 to 260,000 dollars.
STORY: Trial begins for Bellingham man accused of attempted murder
A trial is underway for a 25-year-old Bellingham man accused of a violent stabbing last June.
Prosecutors say Bennie Demetrius Washington Jr. attacked his former roommate, Tony Kilbert, at a bus stop on Dupont Street. Court testimony says Washington and an 18-year-old accomplice approached Kilbert and started a fight. Kilbert was later hospitalized. Surveillance video placed both suspects at the scene, and prosecutors say the victim’s blood was allegedly found on the aggressors’ hands. Washington’s attorney argues Kilbert’s testimony is unreliable, and notes no knife was ever recovered.
Washington faces attempted first-degree murder and assault charges. The trial continues in Whatcom County Superior Court.
STORY: InterUrban trail reopens following completion of fish culvert project
The City of Bellingham has reopened part of the Interurban Trail.
According to an update posted on the city’s website, the completed project added two new fish-friendly culverts, trail resurfacing, new railings, fresh topsoil, mulch, and native plants.
Construction was temporarily halted last August after nearly 700 gallons of diesel spilled into Padden Creek. The incident occurred due to a faulty pump at the construction site.
A guided tour of the trail is planned for April 25th at 2 p.m., led by the project’s biologist.
STORY: Roundabout coming to Meridian and Birchwood Streets
A new roundabout is coming to Meridian Street.
The city has posted notices at the intersections of Meridian and Birchwood streets, as well as Meridian and Squalicum Parkway. According to the City website, the plan would merge Squalicum and Birchwood, and build a single multi-modal roundabout that would replace the two signal lights.
An open house is scheduled from 6-to-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Parkview Elementary School, where residents can review plans and provide feedback.
STORY: Whatcom County to host second community engagement workshop for new jail
Whatcom County wants the public to weigh in on plans for the new jail and behavioral health facility.
The county will host its second community engagement workshop for the voter-approved Justice Project next month in Lynden. The initiative, passed in November of 2023, includes construction of a new jail and behavioral care center.
County leaders are expected to decide this spring on the final capacity, scope, and budget before construction begins later this year.
Residents can review project updates and provide feedback at the workshop, which is scheduled for Thursday, March 19th, at the Lynden City Annex Chamber.
STORY: PeaceHealth to consolidate priority care to their Cordata location
PeaceHealth says it will relocate priority care from its main Squalicum Parkway campus, consolidating it at their Cordata clinic.
PeaceHealth’s website classifies priority care as ‘health concerns that are not considered emergencies, but should be addressed within 24 hours’. According to a recent release, the clinic already offers priority care, but it will now be PeaceHealth’s only location for priority care in Bellingham, once the change goes into effect on March 2nd.
The hospital says it plans to expand orthopedic services into the newly vacated space of its main campus.
STORY: Low-interest loans available for Sumas businesses impacted by flooding
Sumas businesses and residents are now eligible to apply for disaster loans.
In a recent Facebook post, the city of Sumas announced that the Small Business Administration has categorized the December flooding as a disaster. This designation means that low interest loans are now available to businesses that were economically effected. Homeowners, renters, and nonprofits will also be eligible to apply for the loans.
A Disaster Loan Outreach Center has opened at the Sumas Advent Christian Church at 125 Front Street, where people can learn more about eligibility and get help filling out applications.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is April 27. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Nov. 24.
STORY: New plan to combat Nooksack floods involves dredging and widening the river
Two major floods just four years apart have renewed debate over how to handle the volatile Nooksack River.
After disasters in 2021 and again last December, some residents see build-up of gravel in the river as the main culprit, and want the river dredged. County flood managers shared their early action plan in a presentation to the county council on Tuesday, saying that simply removing gravel will not solve the problem. Instead, Whatcom County is advancing an ambitious plan known as “Widen the Corridor,” aimed at setting back levees near Everson to restore the river’s natural ability to move sediment.
Leaders say the project could lower floodwaters by up to three feet in key areas, but the project would take years of permitting and cost tens of millions of dollars. State lawmakers have proposed millions in funding, though the full price tag could approach hundreds of millions in the long run.
County officials say design work is underway, with construction on some channels possibly beginning within three years.
STORY: State lawmakers consider bill that would boost WWU funding
State lawmakers are weighing a bill that could bring more funding to Western Washington University as it faces a significant budget shortfall.
House Bill 2070 would require the state to boost Western’s funding so it matches the per-student support of the next-lowest funded regional university.
In the recent 42nd District Town Hall, Representative Joe Timmons — the bill’s sponsor — said that for decades Western has received the lowest per-student funding in the state, a fact that has effected students as well as the local economy. Timmons added that, after talking to budget writers, it’s unclear why Western has been historically underfunded compared to other schools.
A public hearing on the measure was held in Olympia on Wednesday. Where University President Sabah Randhawa told lawmakers Western cut nearly 23 million dollars from its operating budget last year. This involved the elimination of two divisions, as well as reduced administration and student support services.
The legislative session is scheduled to end on March 12th.
STORY: Free or cheap
It’s Friday – you made it! Why not celebrate by doing something fun?
The Whatcom Farm Expo takes place tomorrow. The free event is open to the community, and offers workshops, live animals, and local food from 9am-till-2pm at the Lynden Fairgrounds.
Also tomorrow, the Hundred Acre Wood is hosting a Community Work Party from 9am-till-noon. Come help improve our local parks — tools and gloves are provided. Kids are welcome.
Finally, you might also consider a walk, bike, or run on the newly re-opened Interurban Trail.
WX: Flat champagne
And now weather:
We close the week out with a mix of partial cloud cover, sunshine, and drizzles. Daytime highs should top out in the low 50s. Expect the evening to be calm and partly cloudy, with temperatures falling to the upper 30s.
We may see some sun this weekend, but it’s unlikely to feel warm.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg, Kathi O’Shea, Austin Wright, Tyler Warne, Kai Blais-Schmolke, and Kieran 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, or Substack, or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _David Korb________, 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: Whatcom County to host second community engagement workshop for new jail RUN AGAIN BY/ABOUT MAR 16
Whatcom County wants the public to weigh in on plans for the new jail and behavioral health facility.
The county will host its second community engagement workshop for the voter-approved Justice Project next month in Lynden. The initiative, passed in November 2023, includes construction of a new jail and a behavioral care center.
County leaders are expected to decide this spring on the final capacity, scope and budget before construction begins later this year.
Residents can review project updates and provide feedback at the workshop, scheduled for Thursday, March 19th, at the Lynden City Annex Chamber.
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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