NWS reports Alaskan tsunami warning should prove no threat to U.S. and Canadian western coasts, Bellingham woman arrested after alleged attempted double arson, Bellingham retail and office vacancies on the rise, PeaceHealth’s three-year outlook projects rising demand and falling financial stability for most needy, WSDOT seeking community feedback on repaving of Guide Meridian, Washington sues Trump administration over disaster preparedness cuts, WA joins multistate lawsuit over $7 billion in withheld formula grants, Free and Cheap, Dept of Health urges kids to get shots before school starts, Shellfish shut down Sandy Point to Canadian border, Bellingham community housing organization intent on purchasing old public school district office, Dirty Dan Harris’ Steakhouse set to reopen this fall, Expansion of Bellingham Port Commission set to appear on November ballot, Bellingham climbing gym / apartment combo building receives design approval
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, July 17th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: NWS reports Alaskan tsunami warning should prove no threat to U.S. and Canadian western coasts
A powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska yesterday afternoon.
According to the National Weather Service’s Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, the quake shook the region around 1:40 p.m. Pacific Time, and triggered a tsunami warning for parts of southern Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula. A tsunami wave was later confirmed — by 2:13 p.m., however, officials said there was no threat to other U.S. or Canadian Pacific coasts.
The quake hit at a depth of about 12 miles beneath the ocean floor. Tsunami activity was expected to begin shortly after in places like Sand Point, Cold Bay, and Kodiak.
Officials say they will continue to monitor the situation.
STORY: Bellingham woman arrested after alleged attempted double arson
A Bellingham woman was arrested in connection with two fires set in the early morning hours of July 12th.
Fifty-four-year-old Nicole Ann Bimrose has been charged with first-degree arson, burglary, and manufacturing incendiary devices. Police say she used Molotov cocktails — made from liquor bottles and napkins — to ignite a fire inside the 7-Eleven on Lakeway Drive.
Officers had first encountered Bimrose at the store just before 12:30 a.m., where she was reportedly drinking from a liquor bottle and acting erratically.
Two hours later, first responders were called to a burning trailer home just blocks away on Lincoln Street. The man who lived there had left the night before, and told investigators that Bimrose — who shared the residence with him — had made a remark just before he left along the lines of, quote, “I’ll get you later.”
Fire crews say the blaze had been burning for some time, suggesting it was likely set before the 7-Eleven incident.
Bimrose is being held in the Whatcom County Jail, and has been ordered to undergo a mental competency evaluation. A hearing to determine her fitness to stand trial is set for July 31st.
STORY: Bellingham retail and office vacancies on the rise
Sunset Square’s getting hammered — and Bellingham’s retail market is showing the bruises.
A new report from Pacific Continental Realty shows Bellingham’s retail vacancy rate jumped to 4.5% last quarter, thanks to major closures like Joann Fabrics and Rite Aid in Sunset Square.
Broker Ryan Martin tells KMRE News that nearly 90,000 square feet of retail space went dark — and more is coming. At Home, a massive 119,000-square-foot store, is shutting down by fall.
Office space is not doing much better. Vacancy rose to 5.2% — the highest in two years — after Dealer Information Systems cleared out its downtown HQ.
However, there are some hopeful signs. After Bed Bath & Beyond’s collapse, part of its former location reopened as a new Trader Joe’s in May — and City of Bellingham permits are in for a proposed Old Navy right next door.
Industrial space held steady at 2.2%, and Bellis Fair Mall is holding the line — for now.
STORY: PeaceHealth’s three-year outlook projects rising demand and falling financial stability for most needy
Local hospital wait times may get even longer in the coming years.
Whatcom County’s only hospital, PeaceHealth’s St. Joseph Medical Center, anticipates an increase in demand due to local financial insecurity and nationwide cuts to health services.
In its Community Health Need Assessment, a report conducted every three years, the hospital outlined trends such as food and housing insecurity in Whatcom County.
Rachel Lucy, PeaceHealth’s director of community health, told the Cascadia Daily News that the hospital’s community was already concerned for PeaceHealth’s future before President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law, which cut the budget of programs like Medicaid.
Now, services that many Whatcom County residents rely on, such as SNAP, are on the chopping block. This may exacerbate existing issues in the area, and lead to an increased need for health services.
In the future, the hospital plans to release an implementation strategy to describe its plan to help improve Whatcom County’s well-being.
STORY: WSDOT seeking community feedback on repaving of Guide Meridian
Guide Meridian is set to be repaved in 2027.
The Washington State Department of Transportation announced that the project will span from the I-5 intersection to Kellogg Road. They encourage
people who use the road to fill out an online survey on their website to gather the needs of all users. The questionnaire will be open until August 7th.
WSDOT says that 35-to-52,000 vehicles use this highway every day.
STORY: Washington sues Trump administration over disaster preparedness cuts
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown announced yesterday that he will lead a 20-state coalition suing the Trump administration for halting FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, or BRIC, program.
For decades, BRIC has funded levees, floodwalls, evacuation shelters, and other vital projects that protect communities before natural disasters strike. In Washington alone, 27 projects totaling $182 million are now at risk — many in small towns like Aberdeen and Hoquiam (HOH-kwee-um), as well as Klickitat (KLIK-i-tat) County.
In a recent announcement, Brown said ending the program violates federal law and puts lives and infrastructure in danger.
The lawsuit seeks to block the move and restore funding nationwide.
STORY: WA joins multistate lawsuit over $7 billion in withheld formula grants
Earlier this week, Attorney General Brown also announced that Washington is joining another multi-state lawsuit against the federal government — this time for withholding $7 billion in education grants.
According to Brown, Washington and 22 other states — plus the District of Columbia — are suing the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget.
The states argue the grants — originally set to go out on July 1st — are legally required, and that they support programs like English learner services, classroom technology, and adult education. Education officials statewide echoed those concerns, noting that Washington’s adult education systems — critical for workforce development — are among the hardest hit.
Washington’s share includes nearly $137 million for K-12 schools, and over $13 million for adult learning.
The lawsuit demands the funding be released immediately.
WX: Bucks vs Heat
And now for the weather:
The heat advisory has been extended once again, now lasting until 5 p.m. tonight as temperatures continue to peak in the 80s.
The skies are expected to stay as sunny and clear as ever, with a max U.V. index rating of 8. Things should remain relatively cloudless and warm as we transition into the evening, with nighttime lows projected right around 60 degrees.
Tomorrow should return us to temperatures in the 70s for the foreseeable future.
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: Free and cheap
Pioneer Old Settlers Grand Parade at 11am on Saturday, July 26th.
STORY: Dept of Health urges kids to get shots before school starts
As students get ready to head back to class, the Washington State Department of Health is urging families to make sure kids are up to date on required vaccinations.
The rules apply to all students—including those in child care or remote learning.
State officials say immunizations protect children, prevent illness outbreaks, and help keep kids in school.
Childhood vaccination rates have been struggling statewide since the pandemic. In 2024, whooping cough cases jumped 25-fold amid a drop in DTaP vaccine coverage.
The Health Department says now is the time to check with your doctor and get caught up.
STORY: Shellfish shut down Sandy Point to Canadian border The Washington State Department of Health has announced the shut down of recreational shellfish harvesting from Sandy Point to the Canadian border after unsafe levels of biotoxin were detected.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning, or PSP, can cause severe illness or death and isn’t destroyed by cooking or freezing. The closure affects all species of molluscan shellfish like clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops. Crab meat remains safe, but internal organs should be discarded. The closure includes all of Drayton Harbor and Point Roberts.
Harvest within Lummi Nation tidelands is closed to non-tribal visitors. Shellfish sold in stores and restaurants is safe, as it’s tested before sale.
Officials warn toxin levels can rise quickly and aren’t visible. Before digging, check the Washington Shellfish Safety Map or call the state biotoxin hotline at 1-800-562-5632.
STORY: Bellingham community housing organization intent on purchasing old public school district office
STORY: Dirty Dan Harris’ Steakhouse set to reopen this fall
STORY: Expansion of Bellingham Port Commission set to appear on November ballot
STORY: Bellingham climbing gym / apartment combo building receives design approval
