Bellingham PD seeking information on missing indigenous teen last seen near Ellis Street, Whatcom DUI suspect arrested on New Year’s Eve formally charged, Bellingham abolishes parking minimums for new developments built in the next year, Bellingham among nine designated “fan zone,” cities for Seattle’s 2026 FIFA World Cup games, Nooksack Tribe begins demolition of long-defunct Deming casino, State AG’s office orders medical equipment company to reimburse hundreds of residents, Bellingham dog-friendly bar burglarized a second time in two months
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, January 15th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham PD seeking information on missing indigenous teen last seen near Ellis Street
The Washington State Patrol (WSP) issued a Missing Indigenous Person Alert (MIPA) for 15-year-old Ariel Feliciano, last seen on Monday in the 1700 block of Ellis Street.
Ariel is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing 130 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt, gray Adidas pants, red-and-gray Air Jordan shoes, and carrying a black and gray camouflage backpack. She left the area as a passenger in an early 2000s dark blue Honda Civic or Accord.
Anyone with information regarding Ariel’s whereabouts is urged to call 911, or submit a tip online at cob.org/tips.
STORY: Whatcom DUI suspect arrested on New Year’s Eve formally charged
24-year-old Ivan Leo Matthew Edwards II has been charged with a felony and multiple misdemeanors after a reckless driving incident on Mount Baker Highway on New Year’s Eve.
According to police reports, witnesses saw Edwards drive at high speeds and rear-end a vehicle at Nugents Corner before fleeing to Smith Road, where his car broke down and caught fire. When bystanders tried to help, Edwards allegedly punched one person and elbowed another. He was restrained by emergency responders and taken to St. Joseph Medical Center, where he reportedly threatened hospital staff.
Edwards now faces a felony charge for third-degree assault of a health care worker, along with gross misdemeanor charges for fourth-degree assault, hit-and-run, driving under the influence, minor in possession of alcohol, and driving with a suspended license. He was initially booked into Whatcom County jail, but has since been released.
STORY: Bellingham abolishes parking minimums for new developments built in the next year
The City of Bellingham passed an interim ordinance that eliminates parking minimums for new developments for at least one year.
City staff say that the goal is to boost housing production, reduce costs, and align building codes with the city’s climate goals. Starting on January 28th, developers will no longer be required to build a set number of parking spaces, though the ordinance does maintain standards for bike parking.
The move received broad public support at a lively public hearing held on Monday from developers, climate advocates, and housing advocates. However, some community members and council members raised concerns about equity and accessibility. Council members Lisa Anderson and Michael Lilliquist voted against the ordinance, arguing that parking reform should be focused on areas with robust public transit and that the removal of requirements could lead to a “pay-to-play” system.
Accessibility advocates highlighted concerns that reduced parking could negatively impact disabled residents. In response, the ordinance requires ADA parking only when developers build parking; an earlier requirement for a mandatory ADA stall regardless of parking plans was removed. Council member Jace Cotton supported this change, but said he will push for higher accessible parking percentages in future regulations.
The ordinance is part of a broader housing reform effort by Mayor Kim Lund, with two more interim ordinances planned to promote middle housing and streamline design review. State lawmakers say they may also consider statewide caps on parking mandates through proposed legislation by Sen. Jessica Bateman.
STORY: Bellingham among nine designated “fan zone,” cities for Seattle’s 2026 FIFA World Cup games
The City of Bellingham has been selected as one of nine official fan zones in Washington state for the 2026 FIFA (FEE-fuh) World Cup.
As a fan zone, Bellingham will host watch parties for the matches at local venues, which includes a Team USA game on June 19th, 2026. Bellingham will also receive state and federal funding for security, small business readiness, and fan engagement activities. City organizers say they plan to hold additional events, arts, cultural programs, and tie-ins with existing local events to maximize community involvement.
Officials say they see this as a chance to boost the local economy, support small businesses, and leave a lasting legacy for the city. Partnerships with organizations like the Port of Bellingham and Visit Bellingham will help promote tourism and economic growth. Over the next year and a half, local stakeholders will help plan transportation, business support, and city projects to ensure the event’s success.
STORY: Nooksack Tribe begins demolition of long-defunct Deming casino
The Nooksack River Casino building in Deming is being demolished after sitting vacant for nearly a decade.
The Nooksack Tribal Council announced the demolition last Wednesday, and stated that finalized plans for the site will be shared with the community once they are available. The casino closed in December 2015 after defaulting on $15 million in renovation loans. The Tribe had been involved in a prolonged legal dispute with lenders over the unpaid debts. The site of the former casino is now an active construction zone.
Community members expressed sadness over the demolition, sharing memories of the casino on social media. The Nooksack Northwood Casino near Lynden remains operational.
STORY: State AG’s office orders medical equipment company to reimburse hundreds of residents
Florida-based medical equipment company Lincare has been ordered to reimburse a little over a million dollars to hundreds of Washington residents after overbilling Medicaid customers for oxygen equipment rentals.
The overcharges occurred over 15,000 times between 2017 and March 2023, when Lincare continued to bill patients after the state’s three-year rental limit expired.
A medical fraud lawsuit was filed against Lincare in 2023 by Governor Bob Ferguson, Washington’s then-Attorney General; this took place after the company settled a $29 million lawsuit with the Eastern District of Washington.
WX: Sunshine’s a cool movie, you guys should check it out
And now for your Whatcom County weather,
Today— expect to continue our recent trend of partial sunshine, with daytime highs projected in the mid-high 40s. Clouds will increase after sunset, resulting in a chilly, overcast evening, with lows just below freezing.
We can expect continuing cloudy sunshine tomorrow, alongside a chance of scattered showers.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Paloma Ortiz, Stevie Sjogren (SHOW-gren), and Miguel Garduño (MEE-gel gar-DOO-ño). 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 listener donations. Check out our Patreon page or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thank you for listening.
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STORY: Bellingham dog-friendly bar burglarized a second time in two months
