Ferndale house fire leaves one deceased, Bellingham addressing housing shortage by targeting “middle housing”, Governor’s office proposes $4B in cutbacks and furloughs ahead of government shortfall, Governor’s office proposes $4B in cutbacks and furloughs ahead of government shortfall, Volunteers express concern over upcoming summer at Mount Baker in wake of mass government firings, Free and Cheap, Relatives of those who have died in state custody speak in support of oversight bill, Center for Biological Diversity sues for local species of moth to be federally recognized as endangered
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, February 28th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Ferndale house fire leaves one deceased
Firefighters responded to reports of a loud explosion and house fire on Falcon Lane in Ferndale Wednesday morning.
Fire crews arrived to find a single-story home fully engulfed in flames. During a search, firefighters discovered the deceased property owner, identified as a 78-year-old man. Authorities confirmed no criminal activity was involved.
The Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office determined the explosion was caused by multiple propane tanks inside the residence. However, the fire’s origin remains undetermined. The county Medical Examiner’s Office is handling the investigation into the cause of the man’s death.
STORY: Bellingham addressing housing shortage by targeting “middle housing”
To promote diverse and affordable housing, the City of Bellingham says it will consider expanding “middle housing” to nearly all residential zones.
Middle housing includes duplexes, townhouses, and small multiplexes—options smaller than apartment complexes, but denser than single-family homes. The move aligns with Washington state’s 2023 “missing middle” bill, which mandates that cities allow middle housing by June 2026. If Bellingham does not adopt its own regulations, the state code will take effect.
Mayor Kim Lund issued an executive order in November to accelerate housing development. Currently, about 31% of renters in Bellingham pay over half their income on rent. The city issued 534 housing unit permits in 2024, only half of its target.
Community Development Director Blake Lyon told the city council on Monday that expanding the city’s 2009 infill toolkit could boost development. The guidelines support middle housing options like courtyard cottages and four-plexes. Since its adoption, 450 in-fill units have been built, with 136 under construction, and 168 in permitting.
A public hearing on March 24th will discuss an interim ordinance to extend the infill toolkit citywide, except in the Lake Whatcom watershed. The city is also working to streamline the permitting process to support more affordable housing development.
More information about middle housing is available on the city’s website.
STORY: Governor’s office proposes $4B in cutbacks and furloughs ahead of government shortfall
Governor Ferguson has proposed requiring state employees to take one unpaid furlough day per month, for the next two years, as part of a plan to reduce state spending by $4 billion.
While unveiling this proposal on Thursday, Ferguson outlined various cost-cutting measures, including spending delays and reductions in agency budgets, but funding would be maintained for key services like K-12 education and homelessness programs. The furloughs, set to begin in July, if approved, are intended to help address a projected $15 billion budget shortfall for the state, and would save approximately $300 million. Certain workers would be excluded, such as State Patrol and prison staff.
The plan has drawn criticism from the Washington Federation of State Employees, which is urging lawmakers to raise taxes on the state’s wealthiest residents instead. Meanwhile, business groups and Republican lawmakers have expressed support for the governor’s emphasis on cost-cutting over tax hikes.
Democratic legislative leaders are set to release their own budget proposals next month, with some arguing that new taxes will be necessary to fully address the budget gap. Ferguson has not ruled out tax increases but stated they would be a last resort.
STORY: Volunteers express concern over upcoming summer at Mount Baker in wake of mass government firings
Several long-standing volunteer programs in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest are in jeopardy following mass firings in the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service.
Thirty-six probationary employees in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest were terminated by the Trump administration. These cuts follow the Forest Service’s September decision to halt seasonal hiring, except for fire response, amid a $700 million budget shortfall. The Mount Baker Mountain Stewards program, which has operated since 2002, has already seen its scope reduced due to declines in Forest Service staffing. Volunteers worry this summer could be a “free-for-all” without oversight.
The Seattle Times reports that longtime volunteers, who have spent years teaching visitors about wilderness ethics, worry that losing these programs will hurt public safety and environmental protection. The Forest Service says it remains committed to keeping recreation areas open but has not explained how it will handle staffing shortages.
With enforcement and maintenance uncertain, volunteers warn that the increase in outdoor recreation after COVID-19, coupled with fewer resources, could lead to overcrowding and environmental damage.
The recreation.gov website remains functional for campsite reservations, but the future of volunteer-led outdoor education is unclear.
STORY: Free and Cheap
It’s Friday – if you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a bit of what’s going on around the county.
Western’s Outdoor Center will host the No Man’s Land Film Festival today at 5:30 p.m. The Denver-based festival is described as “the premier all-woman + genderqueer adventure film festival”. Previous films from the festival’s decade-long history have approached topics ranging from skateboarding in Morocco to drag queens in Alaska. Tickets for Western’s showing are $8 for students and $14 for general admission; this price includes a raffle ticket, and proceeds will go toward the Outdoor Center’s efforts to foster outdoor access for all.
The WECU Expo Building at the Lynden Fairgrounds will host the Whatcom Farm Expo tomorrow from 9 to 2 p.m. As Cascadia Daily News put it, the event has “brought together community members, businesses, organizations and other agricultural resources every spring for nine years now”. This year’s lineup includes speakers and demonstrations with topics ranging from “Holistic Pasture Management” to “Winter Pruning in the Orchard”, as well as cuddly farm critters from the nonprofit Animals as Natural Therapy. Admission is free, and the event is open to everyone.
Finally, in honor of the recently departed legendary filmmaker David Lynch, the Pickford Film Center will host two screenings of Mulholland Drive tomorrow. The 2001 movie, starring Naomi Watts, is widely considered to be a masterpiece of surrealism. Tickets for the 3:30 p.m. screening are sold out, but tickets starting at $11 for the 6:40 p.m. screening are still available at the Pickford website.
WX: So long, big hot ball
And now weather:
Sunny today, with daytime highs in the mid-50s. Some clouds may accumulate in the evening, as temperatures drop to lows around 40 degrees.
The sun should stick around until tomorrow afternoon, at which point it’s expected to become significantly rainier— so get out there and enjoy the sunshine while you can.
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 your donations. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _David Korb________… thanks for listening.
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STORY: Relatives of those who have died in state custody speak in support of oversight bill
STORY: Center for Biological Diversity sues for local species of moth to be federally recognized as endangered
The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to seek Endangered Species Act protections for the sand-verbena moth, a rare species found only on select beaches of Whidbey Island and Vancouver Island.
The lawsuit, announced on Feb. 26, argues that the moth is at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and rising sea levels caused by climate change. The moth depends entirely on the sand-verbena plant, which itself is threatened by invasive species.
The Trump administration previously denied the moth protection under the Endangered Species Act in 2019. Drew Baloga, a legal fellow with the Center, emphasized the urgency of protecting the species, stating, “These beautiful golden moths are stuck in the path of rising sea levels and will become climate change victims unless we immediately start protecting their unique habitat.”
The lawsuit aims to push federal agencies to base decisions on scientific research rather than political considerations.
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