Second body found in recent search-and-rescue efforts for missing hikers, Schweinhaus owner pleads not guilty to multiple felony charges, Bellingham City Council to debate waiving business tax as downtown continues to struggle, Voices from the Rock (Natalie), New nonprofit animal rescue launches in Bellingham, with a particular focus on farms, Pair convicted in scheme to defraud ill veterans via medical data theft, Trial of Albertsons Company for alleged role in opioid crisis underway, FREE & CHEAP for Friday, July 17th:, F&C – JULY 25, FREE & CHEAP, August 9th:
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, July, 14. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Second body found in recent search-and-rescue efforts for missing hikers
The body of a missing hiker was found yesterday morning in the Twin Sisters Range.
34-year-old Gursimran (GUR-sim-run) Singh planned on being back home in British Columbia by June 29th. Whatcom County Search and Rescue was alerted of a sighting on Sunday. The Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team and the Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council launched a search and rescue mission yesterday morning. It eventually became a recovery mission.
Singh is the second hiker fatality in Whatcom County in recent weeks. Just last Saturday, the body of 55-year-old Steven Dorsett was found off Highway 20, near the North Cascades National Park.
STORY: Schweinhaus owner pleads not guilty to multiple felony charges
The owner of Schweinhaus Biergarten in Bellingham has pleaded not guilty to felony charges related to allegations of theft and trafficking of stolen alcohol.
The Bellingham Herald reports Brandon Robert Bates entered the plea Monday in King County Superior Court. He faces charges including theft, identity theft, possession of stolen property, and trafficking of stolen property — all in the first degree.
Court records allege that Bates used funds from Issaquah-based Formula Brewing — a brewery he previously co-owned — to make large, unauthorized purchases of expensive alcohol. His former business partner estimates the brewery lost around $125,000.
Bates remains out of custody. His next court hearing is scheduled for August 31st.
STORY: Bellingham City Council to debate waiving business tax as downtown continues to struggle
The Bellingham City Council has expanded its business‑and‑occupation tax incentives and is now considering a new one aimed at downtown vacancies.
Washington’s B&O tax is a tax on gross receipts — meaning businesses are taxed on total revenue, not profit.
Last night, the Council voted 6–1 to broaden the Urban Village Phased Tax Credit to include Fairhaven and Barkley, giving new businesses in any urban village a three‑year phased reduction in their B&O tax.
The measure also includes a proposal for a seven‑year exemption from the city‑collected B&O tax for businesses that open a new location in the downtown pedestrian core. City leaders say the incentive responds to recent studies showing ground‑floor vacancies downtown at unhealthy levels.
The council will take a final vote on the tax‑credit ordinance on July 27.
STORY: Voices from the Rock (Natalie)
Nearly 750 Bellingham Rock enthusiasts showed up to Civic Stadium on Saturday morning to collect their pieces of history.
WASH-DOT gave away free pieces of the rock after it was removed from its old spot along I-5 to improve fish passage near the highway.
The first car in line showed up at 6:15 a.m.; by 9:30, the line was backed up into Lakeway Drive. Every attendee had a story to share about the rock.
Steve Messerer (MESS-er-er), a Western alum from the 1980s, made a 2-hour trip on the ferry to pick up his piece of the rock.
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Kelli Little, a lifelong Bellingham resident, recalled a time in high school when her name was written on the rock.
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The boys’ families found out, and they were forced to repaint it to say “Kelli sorry”.
Alex Gordon has lived in Bellingham for over 25 years. When he drove up I-5 for the first time, he felt at home because there was a similar community-painted rock in his hometown.
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While the rock is gone, the stories will live on through the hundreds of pieces collected on Saturday. Most of the attendees said they planned to put their piece in their garden or display it proudly on a shelf.
STORY: New nonprofit animal rescue launches in Bellingham, with a particular focus on farms
A new farm animal rescue nonprofit has launched in Bellingham.
Mountain Meets Farm Rescue and Sanctuary provides care for animals that have experienced neglect, health issues, trauma, or displacement. The sanctuary has rescued over 100 animals since its founding.
Founder Janie Reopelle (ree-oh-PELL) says becoming a nonprofit will help expand the organization’s rescue efforts and educational outreach.
The sanctuary also offers community programs, including camps and farm experiences.
Reopelle says they are currently recruiting volunteers to assist with animal care and farm operations.
STORY: Pair convicted in scheme to defraud ill veterans via medical data theft
Two people have been convicted in a fraud scheme that targeted seriously ill veterans.
Federal prosecutors say 47-year-old Darryl Young posed as a VA employee while inside the King County Jail to obtain information on hospitalized veterans. He then worked with 29-year-old Aqeelah (uh-KEE-luh) Williams to trick victims into providing debit and credit card information.
Investigators say the pair targeted more than 60 victims and stole about $8,300 through fraudulent transactions.
A federal jury convicted both defendants on multiple counts, including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
STORY: Trial of Albertsons Company for alleged role in opioid crisis underway
Albertsons is on trial in Washington for its alleged role in fueling the opioid crisis.
Attorney General Nick Brown says the case stems from years of ignored red flags — including prescriptions that should have triggered mandatory reviews under state and federal law. The trial opened yesterday in King County Superior Court.
Albertsons, which also owns Safeway and Haggen, operates more than 200 pharmacies statewide. Brown says that between 2006 and 2022, the company filled opioid prescriptions without resolving clear warning signs more than six‑and‑a‑half million times.
His office plans to argue that corporate policies put profits ahead of patient safety, with devastating consequences for families and communities.
WX: My Octogenarian Teacher
And now for the weather…
It’s been a gorgeous, sunny day so far, and you’ll see more of it into the evening. The high today will approach 80 and we’ll have some light winds to take the edge off. Tonight, look for clear skies and lows in the mid-50s.
Tomorrow’s weather will include some light cloud cover and highs near 80 again, with winds picking up toward evening. Tomorrow night we should see clouds start to build up and a possibility of rain.
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), Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Bella Farris, Jenny Lam, Natalie Jones, Noelle Reger (REE-ger), and Sean Lynch. 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, or Substack, or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________… thanks for listening!
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FREE & CHEAP for Friday, July 17th:
Ferndale has some high‑flying fun tonight. The Bellingham Circus Guild puts on a free 45‑minute “Performance in the Park” at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Village, featuring aerial arts, acrobatics, and circus acts for all ages. Bring a chair or blanket, pack a picnic, or grab a Kona Ice treat while you watch.
Ferndale Pride returns to Pioneer Pavilion. The free, all‑ages festival runs from tomorrow from 10 to 4 and features workshops, a resource fair, local
vendors, a drag show, and a Pride costume contest for kids and seniors. Connect Ferndale and LGBTQ+ Western are hosting the event, aimed at supporting LGBTQ+ youth and building community.
F&C – JULY 25
Birch Bay is hosting the Battle of the Badges BBQ. North Whatcom Fire District 21 and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office face off on the grill on Saturday from 11 to 2 in the Birch Bay Waterslides parking lot. Families can enjoy free burgers and hot dogs, games, raffles, music, and a chance to meet local first responders — plus a little friendly rivalry between firefighters and deputies.
The Inclusion Festival brings a full day of accessible, all‑ages activities to Bellingham Sunday. The event runs from 11 to 6 at the Fisherman’s Pavilion and Zuanich Park, with inclusive games, sensory‑friendly areas, craft vendors, food trucks, live music, workshops, and a Walk‑n‑Roll‑athon. Admission is free.
FREE & CHEAP, August 9th:
Ferndale hosts a free Play, Learn & Connect Festival this weekend. The event runs Sunday from 11 to 2 at Pioneer Park, with giant building blocks, arts and crafts, hands‑on learning activities, community booths, and food
trucks. It’s designed to celebrate play while connecting families with local programs and services.
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