Man arrested in Bellingham after toddler overdoses on Fentanyl, police say, South Whatcom Fire Authority to renovate Sudden Valley station in December, Portland Loo comes to Bellingham’s Waypoint Park, Whatcom County Health Vaccine Clinics for next week, Tax Help for Seniors, Bill passes House that would create Economic Security program for low-income families (HB 2230), FTC lawsuit against Kroger-Alberton’s merger could affect Washington shoppers, Low wages, high costs: WA prisoners say they’re being exploited, according to report
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STORY: Man arrested in Bellingham after toddler overdoses on Fentanyl, police say
The life of an 18 month old Bellingham toddler was saved after they overdosed on fentanyl last week.
Last Sunday, medics responded to the 2400 block of McKenzie Avenue, where the toddler was revived with Narcan, a commonly-used medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. The child was found to have suffered from a Fentanyl overdose after chewing on a straw used to smoke the synthetic opioid. They were transported to the emergency room for further treatment. According to the Bellingham Police Department, The child pulled the straw from 38 year-old Nicholas Stephen Austin’s pocket without him noticing while he was sitting on a couch in the residence.
Austin was arrested for 3rd degree assault of a child. He was released on bond from Whatcom County Jail.
STORY: South Whatcom Fire Authority to renovate Sudden Valley station in December
The shuttered Sudden Valley fire station is due to be re-opened.
Chief Mitch Nolze (NOLZE) stated that the South Whatcom Fire Authority has signed a contract to renovate the water-damaged station this December. The Sudden Valley station closed in mid-January due to a water leak caused by freezing pipes. Since then, the station’s personnel have been working out of the Geneva fire station.
The project is being fast-tracked to avoid mold and other structural issues. Sudden Valley residents with comments and questions regarding the future of their fire station may contact the South Whatcom Fire Authority by phone or email.
STORY: Portland Loo comes to Bellingham’s Waypoint Park
A Portland Loo has been installed at Waypoint Park, offering 24/7 toilet access year-round.
The Portland Loo, first developed by Madden Fabrication and the City of Portland about ten years ago, is a stand-alone bathroom designed to address common issues with public toilets. It’s free, accessible 24/7, and features graffiti-proof panels and open grating to deter crime. Additionally, the facility is gender-neutral and wheelchair and stroller-friendly.
The Waypoint Park loo will open in March, with plans for two more downtown installations later this year pending plumbing and maintenance finalization.
STORY: Whatcom County Health Vaccine Clinics for next week
Whatcom County Health and Community Services will hold a series of vaccine clinics starting through April.
No-cost vaccines will be available for eligible individuals in Whatcom County. Two clinics, one located at 2030 Division Street, in Bellingham, and the other at East Whatcom Regional Resource Center, Maple Falls, will distribute vaccines to different age groups on a first-come, first-serve basis. The East Whatcom clinic also offers Narcan kits, blood pressure checks, and glucose checks.
The next clinic will be held next Tuesday, March 5th at 2030 Division Street. Pre-registration is available at WhatcomCounty.us.
STORY: Tax Help for Seniors
As tax season continues, the IRS is notifying seniors that they have some free tax filing options.
If you would like in-person help with your taxes, there are two programs available. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly program helps taxpayers aged 60 and older. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program which helps those making less than $60 thousand dollars a year, people with disabilities, and those with limited English. To find a site near you, visit IRS.gov.
Or if you’d prefer to file online, you can use the IRS Free File tool at IRS.gov/FreeFile.
Tax returns or extension requests are due by April 15.
STORY: Bill passes House that would create Economic Security program for low-income families (HB 2230)
A bill that would help low-income families find better financial stability has passed the House and is currently making its way through the Senate.
House Bill 2230 creates the Economic Security for All program which would allocate grants to low-income families and individuals. Low-income is defined as below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, that being around $30 thousand for individuals and $62 thousand for a family of four annually. Representative Strom Peterson of Edmonds, who is a sponsor of the bill, says that the assistance will promote financial stability and help those in need climb out of poverty. According to him, the grants are designed to help families with low incomes become more self-sufficient and focus especially on supporting people of color and rural residents.
The bill has been scheduled for its second reading in the Senate.
STORY: FTC lawsuit against Kroger-Alberton’s merger could affect Washington shoppers
The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit to block the $24.6 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons, alleging that it would create a grocery monopoly.
The lawsuit, supported by a bipartisan group of nine attorneys general, aims to prevent the merger from proceeding. If the grocery store chains merged, the combined entity would oversee more than 5,000 stores, approximately 4,000 pharmacies, and employ nearly 700,000 people. Albertsons currently owns Haggen and Safeway, and Kroger owns Fred Meyer and QFC. The FTC argues that such a merger will lead to fewer choices for consumers, higher prices, and lower quality products. Additionally, they contend it will threaten the ability of grocery store workers to secure higher wages and better benefits.
In a bid to quiet concerns, Kroger proposed to divest 104 Washington stores to New Hampshire-based C&S Wholesale Grocers, however, the FTC says they deem the offering inadequate to mitigate the loss of competition.
Kroger and Albertsons executives acknowledge the anticompetitive nature of the deal, but argue it is necessary for survival in a rapidly changing market and say the merger would lower prices and improve choices for consumers.
WX: Wind Advisory
Your Whatcom County weather today– there is a wind advisory in place until 7 pm, with gusts of winds as high as 39 mph. Today’s high is around 51degrees, which will drop to a low of 36 tonight. Expect rain all day. A mix of rain and snow is predicted for tonight, continuing into tomorrow.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman and Tristan Trudell. 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. If you would like to help keep local news accessible, check out our new Patreon page at patreon.com/kmrenews or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thanks for listening.
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STORY: Low wages, high costs: WA prisoners say they’re being exploited, according to report
A new report characterizes Washington’s incarceration system as akin to modern-day slavery.
The report by advocacy group Columbia Legal Services (CLS), based on surveys and interviews with prisoners, details a system that compels individuals in prison to work for as little as $1 per hour, and at the same time face exorbitant costs to maintain their health and connections to the outside world.
Most incarcerated individuals in Washington prisons hold jobs, with a significant portion involved in correctional industries like food service or furniture construction, which can pay higher wages. However, according to CLS respondents, many are coerced to take those positions as those incarcerated often struggle to afford necessities like food and hygiene products due to inflated prices in prison commissaries. Advocates say the inability to save money while in prison contributes to higher rates of recidivism.
The Department of Corrections disputes some aspects of the report, pointing out that the 13th Amendment’s exception for criminal punishments allows for such labor practices, and highlighting the fact that some prison jobs pay up to $2.85 an hour.
The report calls for legislative action to address these systemic issues and support measures to improve the successful reintegration into society of former-prisoners upon release. Despite recommendations for policy changes, such as higher wages and reduced costs, the state has not addressed these concerns in the current legislative session
