Bellingham Target draws particular attention from weekend ICE protesters, Bellingham Public Library’s mall branch to see temporary expansions as main branch closes for renovations, Whatcom County removed from list of defendants in ongoing Birch Bay Waterslides suit, Skagit County to install temporary bridge on flood-devastated section of Rockport Cascade Road, Two more state Supreme Court seats to be vacant going into this year’s election, House bill would impose restrictions on cities’ ability to sweep homeless encampments from public spaces, Fed cutbacks affect UW, WSU research, Amazon announces more cuts, Millionaires Tax details emerge, Seattle’s children grow more ethnically diverse, Amazon announces more cuts, Places to free file your taxes, Bham kid demo shrinking, Free or Cheap, 2/6 Free/Cheap: Salish Seed swap, Menace Brewing Puppy Bowl
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, January 3rd. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Bellingham Target draws particular attention from weekend ICE protesters
More than 50 protesters rallied at the Bellingham Target store this past weekend.
Members of the Bellingham Troublemakers marched through the store, handed out flyers, and delivered demands to management. They accused the retailer of cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The protesters called on Target to block ICE agents access to its stores, and publicly oppose federal immigration enforcement practices.
Target has not yet responded to the allegations.
STORY: Bellingham Public Library’s mall branch to see temporary expansions as main branch closes for renovations
Bellingham Public Library’s branch in the Bellis Fair Mall will be expanding hours and events to make up for renovations at the main branch.
The addition at the library’s Bellis Fair location will provide expanded hours and events like storytimes and youth programming, according to a news release on the library’s website.
The Central Library’s expansion will focus on improving spaces for children and teens, as well as better staff work areas. It will close for renovation once construction begins later this year or early next.
STORY: Whatcom County removed from list of defendants in ongoing Birch Bay Waterslides suit
Whatcom County has been found not liable in court for a serious leg injury at Birch Bay Waterslides in 2023.
The Bellingham Herald first reported that a summary judgment was issued last Monday, where the county was then removed from the list of defendants.
The county successfully argued that state law prevents health jurisdictions from being held responsible for damages when a waterpark fails to comply with regulations.
The plaintiff, whose legs went through a faulty panel on a slide, is still suing the park, in addition to Safe Slide Restoration, and Kingworks Consulting Engineers.
A jury trial is scheduled for August 26th.
STORY: Skagit County to install temporary bridge on flood-devastated section of Rockport Cascade Road
Skagit County plans to use a World War 2-era Bailey bridge, or temporary bridge, on Rockport Cascade Road.
According to Skagit County Public Works, last December’s flooding washed out a 70 foot piece of road at Jordan Creek. The road is an essential alternative route to Highway 20, and serves logging trucks and fire crews.
The temporary bridge will be in place for at least 4 months at the cost of $500,000. It does, however, have the potential to remain in place for decades. County commissioners will wait to see if federal funding comes through before deciding to buy the current bridge or construct a new concrete bridge, which could take 4 years to build.
The county estimates flood-related road and bridge repairs will cost around $3.15 million.
STORY: Two more state Supreme Court seats to be vacant going into this year’s election
A longtime member of Washington’s Supreme Court is stepping down.
Justice Barbara Madsen, the first woman elected to the state’s high court, will retire on April 3rd after 33 years on the bench.
Governor Bob Ferguson says Madsen’s tenure helped to shape modern state law, including two terms as chief justice and thousands of decisions across more than three decades.
Her retirement follows other recent changes. Justice Colleen Melody joined the court last month, replacing Justice Mary Yu, who retired in the fall.
The Washington State Standard reports Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis will not seek reelection after one term. She’s backing Appeals Court Judge J. Michael Diaz, who also has Attorney General Nick Brown’s support.
Finally, Justice Charles Johnson, the court’s longest-serving member, must retire at year’s end when he turns 75.
With Madsen’s departure and other upcoming changes, one third of the court will have turned over by next year.
STORY: House bill would impose restrictions on cities’ ability to sweep homeless encampments from public spaces
Washington lawmakers are weighing new limits on unhoused encampment sweeps.
House Bill 2489, known as the Shelter, Not Penalties Act, would block cities and counties from penalizing people for life-sustaining activities on public property unless adequate shelter is available. Supporters say it prioritizes dignity and consistency statewide, while critics warn it could expose cities to lawsuits and limit local control.
STORY: Fed cutbacks affect UW, WSU research
Federal funding uncertainty is hitting Washington’s research pipeline.
University of Washington President Robert J. Jones says faculty are now wary of recruiting new PhD students because they can not guarantee support through graduation.
[CLIP Jones-1.wav :14 out: their training ]
Jones also says U-dub and Wazzu may compete in sports — but collaboration is critical when it comes to research and statewide problem-solving.
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Jones told TVW’s Inside Olympia that stable funding and stronger partnerships are both essential to keep Washington at the forefront of innovation.
STORY: Seattle’s children grow more ethnically diverse
New Census data show that in 2024— for the first time— Seattle’s under-18 population had no racial or ethnic majority group.
White children remained the largest single group at about 49 percent, but no longer make up a majority — down from nearly 53 percent last year. By contrast, white residents still account for roughly 56 percent of Seattle’s total population.
The city’s youngest residents are also far more multiracial and Hispanic than adults. About 18 percent of Seattle kids identified as multiracial, compared with just 7 percent of adults, and roughly 15 percent are Hispanic, nearly double the adult share.
Asians make up nearly one-fifth of Seattle’s adult population but only about 9 percent of children — a gap likely tied to tech-driven immigration of young singles rather than families.
STORY: Amazon announces more cuts
Amazon will lay off more than 2,100 workers in Washington state later this spring, according to state employment records.
The cuts will begin April 28th and continue through June, affecting dozens of offices in Seattle and Bellevue, along with more than 100 remote employees across the state. About one-third of the impacted workers are software engineers. The layoffs are part of Amazon’s broader plan to eliminate about 16,000 jobs companywide amid a wider wave of tech layoffs across the region.
STORY: Millionaires Tax details emerge
Democratic leaders in Olympia are rolling out a long-anticipated proposal to create a new income tax on Washington’s highest earners.
The so-called “millionaires tax” would impose a 9-point-9 percent tax on annual income over one million dollars, This would affect an estimated 20-thousand households statewide. Supporters say the tax would generate more than three billion dollars a year, with most of the revenue going to the state’s general fund and a portion dedicated to rising public defender costs.
In exchange, the proposal includes several tax cuts, including eliminating the sales tax on personal hygiene products, expanding the Working Families Tax Credit, and doubling tax relief for small businesses.
Democratic leaders say the plan would make Washington’s tax system more equitable, while Republicans argue it could open the door to broader income taxes in the future.
The bill is expected to spark legal challenges and ballot fights, as Washington remains one of the few states without an income tax.
WX: King Drear
And now weather:
Today’s forecast calls for cloudy skies and surprisingly warm weather, with highs rising into the upper 50s with little-to-no wind. Forecasts for tonight predict continued overcast and lows hovering in the mid-40s.
Expect clouds to persist through tomorrow, with highs hitting 60 degrees.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg, Kathi O’Shea, Austin Wright, Tyler Warne, and Kai Blais-Schmolke. 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 _David Korb________, and thanks for listening!
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STORY: Places to free file your taxes
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.
STORY: Gates Foundation stays the course
The Gates Foundation says it will stay the course despite global cuts to foreign aid.
Foundation CEO Mark Suzman says the organization will direct at least 70% of its funding over the next two decades toward preventing maternal and child deaths and fighting infectious diseases. It also announced it will to press donor nations — including the U.S. — to re-engage in global health funding. The foundation plans to spend about nine billion dollars a year in the near term and has increased investment in artificial intelligence tools for health, education, and agriculture.
In May, Bill Gates, who started the foundation with his ex-wife Melinda French Gates in 2000, announced it would close in 20 years, which is earlier than originally planned.
STORY: Bham kid demo shrinking
Local school leaders say recent voter-approved levies helped ease budget pressure — but didn’t close the gap. State law caps how much districts can raise locally, while lawmakers in Olympia have yet to fully fund K-12 education. More than two-thirds of district revenue comes from the state, and officials won’t know next year’s funding levels until the legislative session wraps up in mid-March.
Rising costs for utilities and insurance, combined with inflation and flat state funding, are forcing cuts. District leaders have approved a shift from an eight-period to a seven-period high school schedule to save money while preserving course options.
At the same time, declining birth rates are driving lower enrollment projections, even as Bellingham continues to grow — largely due to housing that’s unaffordable for families. District officials say they’re working with a demographer to plan for possible school consolidations or site repurposing and are urging residents to press state lawmakers to fully fund public education.
STORY: Free or Cheap
STORY for 2/6 Free/Cheap: Salish Seed swap
- Menace Brewing Puppy Bowl
