Canadian woman facing federal charges after reportedly assaulting border patrol officer during illegal crossing, Bellingham man arrested following alleged stabbing of passerby, Surveys report substantial drop in gas prices in Whatcom and across WA, All Whatcom County Councils to have seven members this legislative season following slim majority vote, Polar Bear Plunge update, Skagit County residents invited to attend interviews with finalists for county commissioner’s office, Former employees say post-DOGE FEMA’s response to WA flooding indicative of significant structural weaknesses, Local and state representatives critical of Trump administration’s capture of Nicolas Maduro
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, January, 5. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Canadian woman facing federal charges after reportedly assaulting border patrol officer during illegal crossing
A Canadian woman faces federal charges after authorities say she illegally crossed the border near Blaine and assaulted a U.S. Border Patrol agent.
Prosecutors allege Lindsay Moffatt was turned away last Tuesday at the Peace Arch port of entry because of a marijuana vape pen, then later tried to enter the U.S. through Peace Arch State Park. She was arrested after kicking an agent in the face, and is now charged with assault on a federal officer and improper entry. Moffatt later told investigators that she tried to cross into the US to meet her fiancé at the park and retrieve their dog, who they split time with.
The case remains pending in federal court.
STORY: Bellingham man arrested following alleged stabbing of passerby
A Bellingham man is in custody after police say he stabbed a passerby last Tuesday night.
Lt. Claudia Murphy says officers were called just before 7 p.m. to a north Bellingham home, where a 25‑year‑old man allegedly sexually harassed and threatened someone he lived with. The victim ran outside and asked two people walking their dog for help.
Police say the man chased them and stabbed one of the passersby in the shoulder, which caused a minor injury. The original victim hid until officers arrived. Investigators believe the suspect was under the influence of drugs. He ran off again, got into his car, and crashed near Cordata and Bakerview.
He was taken to the hospital as a precaution, then booked into the Whatcom County Jail, where he’s being held without bail.
STORY: Surveys report substantial drop in gas prices in Whatcom and across WA
Gas prices are down across Bellingham and Whatcom County.
AAA reports the national average is $2.83 a gallon — a drop of 16 cents from December — while Washington’s average fell 31 cents to $3.85. Washington is now the third-highest in the nation. Locally, gas averages $3.59 in both Whatcom County and Bellingham, with the county’s cheapest price reported at $3.09 a gallon at the ARCO on the Guide Meridian Road in Lynden.
STORY: All Whatcom County Councils to have seven members this legislative season following slim majority vote
Whatcom County Council meetings will get a major shake‑up after members voted to expand all committees to seven seats.
At the December 9th Council meeting, members discussed growing workloads and packed agendas that they said left too little time for real discussion. Committees currently include three council members, but nearly all seven attend anyway. The expansion of the committees eliminates quorum issues and allows two members to talk outside meetings without violating open‑meeting laws.
The council’s four liberal members say larger committees will boost representation and collaboration. The three conservative members argue it undermines the purpose of committees and reduces minority influence, especially after November’s election shifted the council further left.
The new structure takes effect next Monday, when incoming members Jessica Rienstra (REEN-struh) and Elizabeth Boyle are sworn in.
STORY: Polar Bear Plunge update
Organizers are still waiting to learn whether the Birch Bay Polar Plunge set a Guinness World Record.
The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce says turnout for the New Year’s Day event exceeded expectations, but verification could take weeks due to Guinness’ strict participation rules. Officials say they’ll continue to provide updates as the review process moves forward.
STORY: Skagit County residents invited to attend interviews with finalists for county commissioner’s office
Skagit County’s two remaining county commissioners will interview three candidates this afternoon for the now-vacant District 3 position.
Outgoing District 3 commissioner Lisa Janicki announced her retirement last July. During more than ten years of service, Janicki took major roles in the development of North Star, an organization devoted to ending homelessness in Skagit County, and the opening of Martha’s Place, a Permanent Supportive Housing venture, among other notable achievements.
The person eventually seated will serve out the remainder of Janicki’s term, which ends later this year. County residents will select a new District 3 commissioner this November, and the winner will be seated as soon as those results are certified.
STORY: Former employees say post-DOGE FEMA’s response to WA flooding indicative of significant structural weaknesses
Washington is waiting on a major disaster declaration as former FEMA employees warn the agency may no longer be able to respond effectively.
Cascadia Daily News reports that deep staffing cuts under the Trump administration have hollowed out FEMA’s Region 10 office in Bothell, which oversees Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Idaho.
Former employees say thousands of FEMA workers nationwide have been pushed out, including staff serving Western Washington. They say key teams, including mapping, mitigation and permitting, have lost engineers and specialists, leaving the region less prepared for repeated flooding.
FEMA insists its response capabilities haven’t been affected, but employees say the agency can no longer manage multiple disasters at once and fear more cuts are coming.
More than 150 FEMA personnel are already deployed in Washington under an emergency declaration issued in December. Additional federal help depends on whether the White House approves the state’s request for a major disaster declaration.
STORY: Local and state representatives critical of Trump administration’s capture of Nicolas Maduro
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken to a Manhattan courthouse today for an initial appearance, opening what’s expected to be a long legal fight over a U.S. trial.
Closer to home, Washington state leaders and local residents are speaking out after the Trump administration captured Maduro and suggested the U.S. would help “run” the country.
U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, along with Congressman Rick Larsen, questioned the legality and motives of the operation, and warned against another war tied to oil interests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela but is targeting drug trafficking organizations. In Bellingham, dozens protested outside the federal building, holding signs reading “No blood for oil” and “Hands off Venezuela,” calling the Trump administration’s efforts at regime change unstable and unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, President Trump has escalated tensions abroad — with sharp words aimed at Greenland, Colombia, and Cuba. In the U.S., most Republicans are backing Trump, but politicians warn that party divisions could spell trouble in this midterm election year.
WX: Mehdwinter
And now for the weather,
Expect some sunshine this afternoon. Highs are set for the mid-40s, but with winds expected to reach up to 35 miles per hour, expect it to feel a bit colder. This evening’s forecast calls for the standard midwinter fare of overcast skies, occasional showers, and chilly temperatures, with lows in the high 30s.
Whatever rain we get tonight should pick up substantially tomorrow, with up to a half inch expected to fall over the course of the day.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRAH-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Austin Wright, and Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee). 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 what we do, check out our Patreon, Substack, or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thanks for listening!
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