City Council increased Level 3 (DC Fast Charger) fees, Whatcom landowner group commits six acres to construction of new YMCA facility, Whatcom landowner group commits six acres to construction of new YMCA facility, Bellingham’s Way Station reports nearly doubling their projected number of assistees within first year, Budget cuts, transparency in Skagit, WA among states hit by recent parasitic infection outbreak, Applications for limited-entry deer hunting in Okanogan County open today, U.S. House passes bill that would make daylight saving time permanent, FREE & CHEAP for Friday, July 17th:, F&C – JULY 25, FREE & CHEAP, August 9th:
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, July, 15. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: City Council increased Level 3 (DC Fast Charger) fees
The Bellingham City Council voted unanimously to increase fees for electric vehicle fast chargers.
The rates will be increased from 25 cents per kilowatt to 40 cents per kilowatt. The fees will cover the 11-thousand dollar deficit created by the sharp increase in public fast charger use.
For an average mid-size EV, a full 70 kilowatt charge could now cost about 30 dollars. City council member Michael Lilliquist says that amount is less than the market rate.
Starting in January of 2027, the city council will annually adjust the fast charger fees using the Consumer Price Index inflation rates. The city’s finance director will calculate the new rates each year in September and publish them prior to January 1st of the following year.
The standard, non-fast charger rates will remain the same this year, at 25 cents per kilowatt.
STORY: Whatcom landowner group commits six acres to construction of new YMCA facility
A new community YMCA is coming to Barkley Village after the Talbot Group announced they’d be donating six acres to Whatcom Family YMCA.
The site is located near the intersection of Woburn Street, Sunset Drive and Hannegan Road. The new YMCA is still being planned, and Whatcom YMCA is hoping to get community input to determine what amenities will be included in the new building.
The project will be funded through donations, community giving, corporate partnerships, foundation support, and YMCA investment.
Construction timelines and opportunities for public comment will be announced at a later date.
STORY: Bellingham’s Way Station reports nearly doubling their projected number of assistees within first year
Bellingham’s Way Station has assisted nearly 1,400 people since opening in November of 2024 — nearly double the organization’s original projections.
Initially launched by Unity Care NW — and in partnership with multiple private and public organizations — the Way Station provides showers, laundry, and basic health and hygiene services to the area’s growing unhoused population.
In January of last year, the Way Station introduced a substance use disorder counseling program. In May, it partnered with the Opportunity Council and Peace Health to open its Respite Center, which offers short-term overnight stays to recently discharged hospital patients without access to safe and stable places to recuperate.
As Whatcom County continues to face growing housing pressures, demand for integrated support services keeps rising. UnityCare NW says the Way Station is on track to exceed its first‑year numbers again in year two.
STORY: Budget cuts, transparency in Skagit
Skagit County is preparing for more budget cuts in 2027.
Commissioners say the county faces an estimated 10-million-dollar General Fund deficit if spending continues at current levels. Departments have been ordered to submit reduction plans, and officials warn residents could see fewer public service hours, less road maintenance, and cuts to discretionary programs.
The county has already eliminated 94 positions, frozen hiring, and taken other cost-saving steps over the past two years, but leaders say more reductions are needed to balance the budget.
At the same time, Skagit County has launched a new online budget transparency website that gives residents access to county revenues, expenses, and future budget proposals.
STORY: WA among states hit by recent parasitic infection outbreak
Washington is among the 34 states that have reported cases of the parasitic disease, Cyclosporiasis (SYCH-low-spore-EYE-uh-sis).
The Washington Department of Health reports 27 confirmed cases of the parasite in Washington state since May 1st, with just five contracted domestically.
Officials say the disease is caused when food or water comes in contact with human feces. The only effective way to destroy the bug is to cook the food to at least 158 degrees.
While the parasite is not new, the recent outbreak has been difficult to track because of recent cuts to the CDC and Department of Agriculture, complex U.S. supply chains, and the long incubation period of the disease— between 2 and 10 days.
The CDC says there have been over 67-hundred confirmed cases and 141 reported hospitalizations in the US.
STORY: Applications for limited-entry deer hunting in Okanogan County open today
The annual draw for the limited deer-hunting permit in Okanogan County opens today.
This permit allows a limited number of hunters the rare chance to hunt white-tailed and mule deer on a 6,000 acre patch of land in the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area.
There are 18 available permits for the season and the application period is open through July 31st. The draw results will be available the last week of August and the selected hunters will receive their permit and boundary map of the area in the mail.
STORY: U.S. House passes bill that would make daylight saving time permanent
The U.S. House voted to make daylight saving time permanent and end the twice-yearly clock changes.
Permanent daylight saving time would keep clocks shifted forward, pushing sunrise and sunset later. The exact times vary across the U.S., but the sun could rise as late as 9:30 a.m. and set as early as 5:30 p.m in some places.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine endorses permanent standard time for its circadian rhythm benefits. But researchers agree that either time being permanent would be better for health than the current mid-year switches.
In 1974, the U.S. attempted permanent daylight saving time, abandoning it after a year. It was largely unpopular because kids were hit by cars walking to school in the dark.
On Tuesday, Washington senator Patty Murray urged the Senate majority leader to bring the bill for a vote in the Senate.
WX: What’s Heating Gilbert Grape
And now for the weather…
Expect much the same as yesterday– lots of sunshine and highs approaching 80 with clouds rolling in as the evening wears on with temperatures falling to cool lows in the mid-50s.
Tomorrow clouds will continue with the chance of rain headed our way toward evening along with a possibility of a thunderstorm. Highs should be in the mid-70’s. Expect showers to continue until Thursday night.
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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