Bellingham and surrounding areas to see temperatures as potentially high as low 90s next week, Skagit County Prosecutor’s Office delays charging suspect in last weekend’s Sedro-Woolley shooting, Lummi Nation member accused of assaulting ex-partner arraigned in District Court, $6 million in federal education funding withheld from Whatcom and Skagit schools pending Trump administration review, Washington’s first hybrid-electric ferry sets sail, Larsen announces transportation project funding, Free as a bird, cheap as a bee, Whatcom man sentenced to ten years following conviction for child rape
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, July 11th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham and surrounding areas to see temperatures as potentially high as low 90s next week
A stretch of warm weather is on the way.
Starting this weekend, temperatures will climb into the upper-70s, with a peak expected Wednesday in the 80s to low-90s.
The National Weather Service reports a moderate HeatRisk for Tuesday and Wednesday. The agency warns of rising fire danger due to dry conditions and easterly winds.
Temperatures are expected to ease heading into next weekend.
STORY: Skagit County Prosecutor’s Office delays charging suspect in last weekend’s Sedro-Woolley shooting
The Skagit County Prosecutor’s Office is delaying filing any charges over last weekend’s deadly park shooting in Sedro-Woolley, as the agency continues to review evidence.
The Cascadia Daily News reports a suspect was booked into the Skagit County Jail last Sunday, but was later released without charges.
Gunfire erupted late last Saturday at Memorial Park, killing a 19-year-old man and injuring five others. The shooting happened just before 11:30 p.m., prompting a major response from Sedro-Woolley Police and Skagit County deputies.
Two people were initially detained, and investigators recovered two firearms at the scene. So far, however, no one has been charged.
Authorities believe more than one person may have opened fire, and are still working to determine who was responsible. Police say there is no ongoing threat to the public.
The investigation remains active, with more information expected in the coming days.
STORY: Lummi Nation member accused of assaulting ex-partner arraigned in District Court
A Lummi Nation man accused of violently attacking his former partner now faces federal charges.
48-year-old Marc Cagey Oreiro (oh-RAY-roh) was arraigned Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Seattle for allegedly assaulting and strangling the woman in her Bellingham home on May 23rd. Prosecutors say Oreiro forced his way into the woman’s bedroom and then attacked her; Oreiro also tried to sexually assault the woman, and threatened to kill her. The woman was found hiding in a closet after a roommate called 9-1-1. She was treated at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Oreiro, who resisted arrest, was under a no-contact order from a prior conviction for assaulting the same woman in 2023. He was indicted by a grand jury on June 25th.
His trial is set for August 25th. If convicted, Oreiro could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
STORY: $6 million in federal education funding withheld from Whatcom and Skagit schools pending Trump administration review
A federal freeze is holding up $6 million in school funding for Whatcom and Skagit counties — threatening key programs.
The Cascadia Daily News reports the federal government is delaying $102 million in K–12 funding for Washington, including support for migrant students, English learners, teacher training, and after-school programs. The money, usually sent by July 1st, is now on hold pending a broad federal review.
Mount Vernon could lose up to $2 million, while Bellingham and Burlington-Edison are each facing potential cuts near $700,000. Small districts could see tens of thousands vanish from their budgets.
Bellingham Public Schools say the delay could disrupt staffing and planning for fall. State Superintendent Chris Reykdal (RIKE-doll) called the federal move “reckless,” warning it puts districts under extreme financial stress.
If the money isn’t released soon, programs may be cut before the school year begins.
STORY: Washington’s first hybrid-electric ferry sets sail
Washington’s first plug-in hybrid-electric ferry is set to begin passenger service by the end of next week.
Governor Bob Ferguson marked the milestone yesterday with a celebratory ride aboard the newly retrofitted Wenatchee (weh-NATCH-ee), now the largest hybrid-electric ferry in North America. A $133 million upgrade replaced two massive diesel engines with battery-electric propulsion — part of the state’s push to reduce the carbon footprint of its ferry fleet.
The ferry will begin part-time service on the high-traffic Seattle-to-Bainbridge Island route, with full-time operations by month’s end. Plug-in infrastructure for the ship is expected by 2029.
Washington State Ferries says lessons from the Wenatchee conversion could streamline future upgrades to sister ships. The state has also ordered three new hybrid ferries, set to begin arriving by 2030.
STORY: Larsen announces transportation project funding
U.S. Representative Rick Larsen announced yesterday that over $21 million in federal transportation funding is heading to Northwest Washington.
The funds, released by the U.S. Department of Transportation, will support several key projects, including:
- $18.4 million to Whatcom Transportation Authority to replace aging diesel and hybrid buses with low- or no-emission vehicles;
- $1.2 million to the Nooksack Indian Tribe to remove a culvert under a BNSF rail line in Acme;
- $1.8 million to the Lummi Indian Business Council for a new bus maintenance facility, and;
- $80,000 for the City of Ferndale’s Road Safety Improvement Plan.
Larsen says the funding will help local governments move forward with critical infrastructure and sustainability work.
STORY: Free as a bird, cheap as a bee
It’s Friday – if you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a little of what’s going on around the county.
The Downtown Bellingham waterfront is hosting the Northwest Tune-up Festival today through Sunday. A ‘free-to-attend’ makers market will take place today from 12-to-5 p.m., and both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The market will offer local crafts and art on display — all available for purchase! More information is available at nwtuneup.com.
Bellingham non-profit, Clean Cut Futures, will host a car show on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bellis Fair Mall. The show will feature traditional classics, muscle cars and unique projects, along with a remote control monster truck drag race. Clean Cut Futures fosters the rehabilitation of incarcerated people through haircuts. For more information on the organization and the event, go to cleancutfutures.org
Finally, the third annual Pride in Bellingham will run tomorrow and Sunday. Tomorrow’s proceedings include Boundary Bay Brewing’s all-ages Pride Family Picnic from 12-to-4 p.m, as well as an all-ages dance party at the Hut — Rumors Cabaret’s new event space — from 3-to-8 p.m. The main event kicks off with a pride parade from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. The parade will go down Cornwall and Maple, finally arriving at Depot Market Square just in time for the Pride in Bellingham festival. More information can be found at Pride in Bellingham’s website.
WX: The Carter Administration
And now for the weather:
We’re on track to close out this week with another bright and sunny day, with a max U.V. index rating of 8 and highs in the mid-to-high 70s. The evening forecast should be fairly warm as well, with nighttime lows currently projected right around 60 degrees.
More classic summer weather is in store for us this weekend and beyond. Stay hydrated out there, everybody.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Cody Mills,
Aidan Larson, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Bella Mae (BELL-uh MAY), Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Nate Landi (LAND-ee) and Hailey LeRoy. 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. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thank you for listening!
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STORY: Whatcom man sentenced to ten years following conviction for child rape
A Whatcom County man has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison for assaulting a 13-year-old girl he met online.
24-year-old Steven James Moreau (mor-OH) pleaded guilty to second-degree rape of a child and possession of explicit images of a minor. He was sentenced Tuesday to 119 months in prison, followed by lifetime community custody.
Court records say Moreau, then 20, began exchanging sexual messages with the girl in 2021 after meeting her through a family connection. Her father discovered the two during a sexual encounter in a car on the family’s property. He was arrested weeks later.
At sentencing, the victim and her mother described lasting trauma, fear, and years of emotional distress. The family had to move, fearing Moreau would find them after posting bail.
Judge Robert Olson called Moreau’s actions a “horrific pattern of manipulation and abuse.” His case will go before the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board, which could extend his time behind bars.
