High avalanche warning in effect as heavy snow falls in the Mount Baker wilderness, More pickleball courts coming to Bellingham park, Bellingham man in custody after committing three robberies in three days, police say, Whatcom school boards oppose curriculum bills, argue state is undermining local control, Puget Sound Energy proposes hefty rate hikes to pay for hydro and wind power, Attorney General’s Office will implement state Hate Crimes Hotline, Low wages, high costs: WA prisoners say they’re being exploited, according to report
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STORY: High avalanche warning in effect as heavy snow falls in the Mount Baker wilderness
A severe snowstorm is affecting the North Cascades east of Bellingham, leading to an avalanche warning and other hazardous conditions in the Mount Baker wilderness.
The National Weather Service has issued alerts for heavy mountain snow, lowland rain, and strong winds through Thursday due to an atmospheric river pattern along the Washington coast. The Northwest Avalanche Center has issued a warning for the west slopes of the North Cascades. Mt. Baker Ski Area remains open but is experiencing significant snowfall, with 31 inches reported in the past 24 hours and another 8 inches expected.
Ski area officials are conducting avalanche control measures, and caution is advised due to variable snow base conditions and the risk of falling into deep snow around trees. Mount Baker Highway is open but has compact snow and ice, with chains required for all vehicles except those with all-wheel drive.
STORY: More pickleball courts coming to Bellingham park
This October, fans of pickleball will have more places to play.
The Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department announced that they will resurface one of the two remaining tennis courts at Cornwall Park and create three pickleball courts. The remaining tennis court will be redesigned into a full sized court and will also include the line markings for Pickleball.
In 2018, the parks department resurfaced two tennis courts into six pickleball courts. Parks department director Nicole Oliver said this was received well by locals, but that some tennis players still wanted a place to play. Oliver characterized the new plan as a compromise for local sports fans.
The project will cost $165,000, and is expected to be complete by October of this year.
Construction begins this summer.
STORY: Bellingham man in custody after committing three robberies in three days, police say
A Bellingham man accused of committing three robberies in three days is now in custody.
Police say Corin Tristan Beauvais (Bow-VAY), aged 29, allegedly took a bag of cannabis worth about $100 from a marijuana shop in the 100 block of East maple street last Thursday.
According to Lt. Claudia Murphy, when store staff attempted to stop him, Beauvais threatened to stab them in the face. Two days later, Beauvais allegedly stole over $100 worth of marijuana from the same store, and later stole around $500 worth of merchandise from another cannabis store.
Officers found Beauvais on North State street and he was subsequently arrested for suspicion of two counts of second-degree robbery and two counts of one-degree robbery.
He remains in custody at Whatcom County jail.
STORY: Whatcom school boards oppose curriculum bills, argue state is undermining local control
Two Whatcom County school boards have voiced their opposition to school curriculum bills working their way through the legislature.
The two bills would promote inclusive curriculum and prohibit school boards from banning instructional materials depicting queer people and minorities. Supporters of the bills say that inclusive curricula improves the mental health, academic performance, and graduation rates of marginalized communities.
In recent letters passed unanimously by both boards, the Lynden and Meridian school boards expressed the opinion that the bills hinder their ability to outline their own curriculum alongside their local communities. Lynden School Board President Tonya Hickman stated separately that their opposition does not center on the intent of the bills, but about the reduction of the board’s ability to exercise local control.
One of the bills has already passed both chambers of the legislature.
STORY: Puget Sound Energy proposes hefty rate hikes to pay for hydro and wind power
Washington’s largest electricity and natural gas provider has proposed a two-year rate hike to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.
Puget Sound Energy announced a plan that includes significant increases for residential customers, with electricity bills rising by almost $8 in 2025, and by over $11 in 2026, while natural gas bills would increase by almost $14 in 2025 and bump up another $1.50 in 2026. The hikes represent about an 18% increase over two years for customers. PSE argues that these increases are necessary for ensuring safe and reliable energy services and to fund various investments, such as upgrades to hydroelectric dams and a wind farm.
The utility says it faces challenges in meeting state climate change laws, including transitioning to carbon-free electricity sources and reducing emissions. PSE hopes to acquire 6,700 megawatts of renewable power by 2030. To help in the transition, PSE is asking for legislative changes, including the possibility of combining gas and electric ratepayers.
In its previous rate proceeding, PSE and the Utility commission agreed to price increases for natural gas and electricity customers, and agreed to a pilot program providing incentives to those who wished to switch from gas to electric heating.
STORY: Attorney General’s Office will implement state Hate Crimes Hotline
A bill has passed that will create a statewide hate crimes hotline.
After failing during last year’s session, Senate Bill 5427 was passed in the House earlier this month along party lines. The legislation creates a hotline that people can contact to provide information and referrals to those targeted by hate crimes. The hotline will be run by the Attorney General’s Office, which will develop and test a pilot to assist Washingtonians in at least three counties by July 1, 2025. By 2027, the hotline will be active statewide.
The bill now heads to Governor Inslee for his signature.
WX: Wind Advisory
Your Whatcom County weather today– there is a slight chance of rain today, with both showers and thunderstorms. Today’s high is around 46 degrees, which will drop to a low of 35 tonight. Expect snow tonight, along with gusts of wind as high as 21 mph. The snow will continue into tomorrow, and into the weekend with little or no accumulation expected.
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. Advocates say the inability to save money while in prison also 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 re-entry 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, which ends tomorrow.
