Three hospitalized following late-night crash in Burlington, Educators and students advocate for full K-12 funding at Blaine town hall, Anacortes seeks community input in search for new superintendent, WA nears launch of $126 million incentive program for zero-emission trucks, WA nears launch of $126 million incentive program for zero-emission trucks, Microsoft says no major layoffs, U-Haul rental data shows WA among top states for growth, despite high housing prices, U.S. House votes to restore ACA subsidies, Renters rights info session at Ferndale library, Gov. Ferguson Approves 1,300-Acre Solar Farm in Klickitat County, Community Forum on South Fork Nooksack River Scheduled for January 27
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, January, 8. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Three hospitalized following late-night crash in Burlington
A Bellingham man was airlifted to Harborview after a violent crash in Burlington.
Police say an officer first spotted a speeding car on Burlington Boulevard early yesterday morning but was unable to catch up. Moments later, that same vehicle collided with another car at Burlington Boulevard and Fairhaven Avenue.
Four people were hurt. The 27‑year‑old Bellingham man was ejected and flown to Harborview in critical condition. Two passengers from the two vehicles were trapped and had to be rescued, and both were taken to hospitals.
Police say the fleeing driver, a 24‑year‑old Mount Vernon man, had minor injuries and showed signs of intoxication. He was booked into the Skagit County Jail for investigation of DUI, vehicular assault, and eluding. The investigation continues.
STORY: Educators and students advocate for full K-12 funding at Blaine town hall
A push for fully funded public schools took center stage at a town hall meeting in Blaine Tuesday night.
Cascadia Daily News reports about 100 people filled the Blaine Performing Arts Center to hear Whatcom County superintendents and students describe how funding shortages are affecting classrooms. Members of the 42nd District delegation, Representatives Alicia Rule and Joe Timmons, and Senator Sharon Shewmake, laid out what they hope to tackle in Olympia this session to address those concerns.
Students, educators and local lawmakers agreed the state needs to do more for K‑12 education, even as the governor proposes reductions in a difficult budget year. Students from Blaine, Ferndale, Meridian and Mount Baker talked about reduced course offerings, aging facilities and limited mental‑health support.
Superintendents said state dollars fall short in key areas like special education, transportation and basic operating costs, leaving districts with multimillion‑dollar gaps that must be filled with local levy dollars just to meet legal requirements.
Lawmakers at the town hall said they know more work is needed and pledged to keep school funding a priority in Olympia this year.
STORY: Anacortes seeks community input in search for new superintendent
Anacortes School District is seeking community input in its search for a new superintendent.
This week, the district began taking feedback on what community members want in a new superintendent. A Superintendent Search Community & Families Forum was held last night, and the district is welcoming feedback online until 4 p.m. Friday, January 16th.
Candidates have until February 6th to apply, with semi-finalists to be interviewed between February 24th to 27th. Finalists will be interviewed between March 3rd and 5th.
The search comes as former superintendent Justin Irish left the district last summer after five years in the role for Northshore School District in Bothell.
Dr. Carl Bruner is serving as the interim superintendent through June.
STORY: WA nears launch of $126 million incentive program for zero-emission trucks
Washington state is nearing the launch of a major incentive program aimed at helping commercial fleets switch to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles.
The $126 million Washington Zero-Emission Incentive Program, known as WAZIP, is expected to roll out this spring and will offer vouchers to offset the high upfront cost of cleaner trucks and equipment.
Transportation is the state’s largest source of carbon emissions — and advocates say the program could improve air quality while saving businesses money over time.
The program will fund discounts on electric and hydrogen trucks as well as charging infrastructure—-with extra support for small and disadvantaged businesses.
Lawmakers who pushed for WAZIP say it’s overdue. State transportation leaders acknowledge delays, and cite the complexity of building and administering the program.
No official launch date has been announced.
STORY: Microsoft says no major layoffs
Microsoft is pushing back hard against online rumors of mass layoffs this month.
Reports circulating this week claimed the company was set to cut as many as twenty-two thousand jobs across its cloud, gaming, and sales teams. Microsoft has now flatly denied those claims.
Chief Communications Officer Frank X. Shaw called the reports, quote “one hundred percent made up, speculative, and wrong,” and added that it’s unusual for the company to be that direct in responding to rumors.
The speculation follows last year’s wave of tech layoffs, when Microsoft ultimately cut about fifteen thousand jobs, including more than three thousand in Washington state.
While Microsoft says no layoffs are planned, uncertainty remains across the tech industry as companies continue to pour billions into artificial intelligence and look for ways to cut costs elsewhere.
STORY: U-Haul rental data shows WA among top states for growth, despite high housing prices
The latest U-Haul migration data shows Washington is still gaining more do-it-yourself movers than it’s losing.
U-Haul tracked more than two-and-a-half million one-way moves in 2025 and ranked Washington sixth nationwide for net growth — its third straight year in the top seven. Arrivals to the state grew six percent, while departures rose five percent.
Texas topped the in-migration list again, followed by Florida and several other Sun Belt states, but Washington stood out as one of the few non-Sun Belt states in the top ten.
U-Haul officials say jobs and outdoor recreation attract younger movers, with growth spread well beyond Seattle — including cities like Spokane, Anacortes, Bremerton, and Vancouver.
California finished last for the sixth year in a row, while Oregon posted the biggest single-year jump, and climbed from thirty-fourth to eleventh.
STORY: U.S. House votes to restore ACA subsidies
In a rare bipartisan move, the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to advance legislation that would restore Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Lawmakers approved the procedural vote two-twenty-one to two-oh-five, after a small group of Republicans joined Democrats to force the bill to the floor over the objections of House Speaker Mike Johnson.
The subsidies, first expanded during the pandemic, expired last month — which triggered higher premiums for about twenty-two million Americans.
Supporters say extending the tax credits would provide immediate relief, while Republican leaders argue changes are needed, which include income limits and program safeguards.
The bill is expected to pass the House…but the Senate is not required to take it up, which leaves the fate of the subsidies uncertain as negotiations continue.
WX: Stop, hey, what’s that sound, everybody look, rain’s comin’ dowwwwn
And now for the weather,
Gray skies and showers dominate the forecast once again today, with less than a tenth of an inch of rain expected to fall. Temperatures look to hover around the mid-low 40s throughout the entire day and into the night, which looks to be similarly cloudy and wet.
Tomorrow, we do this same song and dance once again, though I’m sure we’ll see the sun again by, let’s say, April.
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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STORY: Renters rights info session at Ferndale library
Ferndale renters are invited to a “Know Your Rights” information session and free legal clinic on Friday, January seventeenth, from one to three p.m. at the Ferndale Library.
The event will cover new tenant protections, including Initiative 25-01, approved by voters last November, which bans so-called junk fees in the rental process.
Snacks will be provided, and legal help will be available.
Learn more at Community First Whatcom dot org.
STORY: Gov. Ferguson Approves 1,300-Acre Solar Farm in Klickitat County
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has approved the 1,300-acre Carriger Solar project in Klickitat County, calling it a win for our state.
The project is expected to generate enough electricity to power more than 30,000 homes and includes a 63-megawatt battery storage system. Construction is planned to start soon to qualify for federal clean energy tax credits, with power delivery expected by summer 2028.
Ferguson worked with the Yakama Nation to address concerns about cultural resource protections. The agreement includes a $100,000 grant to the tribe’s Cultural Resources Program and guarantees access to traditional lands during construction, though the tribe still opposes the project.
Cypress Creek Renewables, the California-based developer, said it’s “moving with urgency” to keep the project on track and help advance Washington’s clean energy goals.
Ferguson said the project balances the need for affordable clean energy with mitigation requirements that protect Washington’s environment, adding that swift action was necessary to secure federal incentives.
STORY: Community Forum on South Fork Nooksack River Scheduled for January 27
The Lummi Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe are inviting local residents, landowners, and partner organizations to a community forum focused on the South Fork Nooksack River. The event will take place Tuesday, January 27, 2026, from 4–7 p.m. at the Rome Grange, 2821 Mt. Baker Highway.
Attendees can learn about salmon recovery efforts, flood management strategies, and ongoing river restoration projects. The forum offers a casual, welcoming environment to meet the people leading these initiatives, ask questions, and join discussions about the river’s future. Refreshments and raffle prizes will be available.
RSVP by January 19 via email at outreach@triangleassociates.com or by phone at (206) 981-2229 ext. 102.
