No charges levied in Saturday’s hate crime arrest, Bellingham recommits police aid to sheriff’s drug task force, Nearly 30 bridges across Whatcom and Skagit county reportedly in poor condition, Bellingham recommits police aid to sheriff’s drug task force, WA to launch program to assist victims of housing discrimination, U.S. Supreme Court ruling derails multi-million dollar opioid settlement for WA
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, July 2nd. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: No charges levied in Saturday’s hate crime arrest
A Bellingham man who was arrested Saturday in connection with an assault at Cornwall Park will not face hate crime charges.
51-year-old Timothy Franklin was taken into custody after the altercation where he reportedly punched a man in the face and threatened him with a screwdriver. Court documents indicate that both the victim and his alleged attacker used racially charged language throughout the fight. The documents, filed Monday in Whatcom County Superior Court, state that Franklin called the victim a racial slur first, but after being assaulted the victim began using racial slurs as well.
Franklin has been arrested several times for violent crimes and was most recently released from jail in May after serving 45 days for spitting on a man and threatening him with a machete. He will face a single count of second-degree assault for the Cornwall Park attack which was reportedly unprovoked.
STORY: Bellingham recommits police aid to sheriff’s drug task force
Last night, the Bellingham City Council voted to rejoin the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Gang and Drug Task Force and says it will commit to share police personnel to combat drug trafficking in the region.
The Bellingham Police Department withdrew from the task force in 2020 because of critical understaffing–– it continued to assist as a support agency but did not provide personnel. The department says, due to the fact that 25 new officers have been hired since 2022, it now intends to provide one officer and one supervisor to the task force. The agreement follows the city’s declaration of an opioid and synthetic drug crisis last month.
In February, Mayor Kim Lund passed an executive order that identified the fight against opioid addiction as one of the city’s highest priorities and committed to increase downtown patrols. The resolution also codified the city’s intention to partner with other agencies to intervene in addiction cycles and help community members with recovery.
According to records, 137 people died last year in Whatcom County of a confirmed or probable drug overdose, a 50% increase from 2022. The drug task force also seized seven pounds of heroin, 62 pounds of cocaine, 125 pounds of meth, 154 pounds of fentanyl-laced pills as well as 31 firearms.
STORY: Nearly 30 bridges across Whatcom and Skagit county reportedly in poor condition
An analysis by Cascadia Daily News revealed 30 out of the 600 plus bridges in Whatcom and Skagit Counties are in poor condition with an average age of 52 years.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers ‘Report on America’s Infrastructure’, most bridges are built with an expected lifespan of 50 years, and Whatcom’s aging bridges are due to be replaced in the next couple decades. However, according to James Lee, bridge and hydraulics manager for Whatcom County Public Works, although many of the counties’ bridges are deemed to be in poor condition some have repairs or replacement plans already funded and underway. Some of the projects have been fully funded by federal money, including the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Within Bellingham, four bridges on the list are under City control––the James Street and Meador Bridges are under construction, with Meador Bridge shut down for repairs. The Central-Chestnut Dock Bridge has been converted into a safe, pedestrian walking path, and funding has yet to be secured for the Electric Avenue Bridge which currently has only one lane open.
STORY: WA to launch program to assist victims of housing discrimination
A program designed to help low-income first-time homebuyers whose families have been in Washington since 1968 starts this month.
In spring of 2023, the Washington State Legislature passed the Covenant Homeownership Act to assist individuals affected by historical housing discrimination. Starting this month, the CHP will provide 0% interest loans for downpayment and closing costs, which are repayable when the house is sold or refinanced. To be eligible, applicants must be first-time homebuyers with household incomes at or below 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and have deep roots in Washington State before April 1968, particularly those from racial or ethnic groups impacted by past discrimination.
Applicants work with a Commission-trained lender to prequalify for a mortgage loan and establish eligibility. A $100 document recording assessment fee on real estate transactions is estimated to generate $75 million to $100 million annually for the program and the fund will be managed by the Department of Financial Institutions who will report on the impacts and potentially make recommendations to the legislature.
A hotline is available for people who are interested in connecting with a suitable lender or would like to ask questions. Alternatively you can visit wshfc.org for more information.
STORY: U.S. Supreme Court ruling derails multi-million dollar opioid settlement for WA
The U.S. Supreme Court has invalidated a $183 million payment to Washington as part of a larger bankruptcy plan for Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin.
The plan involved the Sackler family, owners of Purdue, contributing up to $6 billion to address opioid epidemic damages, but the court ruled 5-4 against shielding the Sacklers from related lawsuits.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson praised the decision, stating it enables his office to hold the Sacklers accountable. Washington’s $183 million settlement is now void, and the state’s case will proceed to mediation. Ferguson says his office is preparing a lawsuit against the Sacklers if mediation does not yield significant resources for Washington.
The state attorney general’s office has already secured $1.1 billion from other opioid-related litigations. Purdue Pharma, implicated in the opioid crisis for its marketing of OxyContin since the mid-1990s, faced numerous lawsuits after a 2007 felony guilty plea for misbranding the drug. Washington was one of 48 states that sued Purdue and opposed a 2021 bankruptcy plan where the Sacklers would pay $4.3 billion.
WX: Sun
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Early clouds will burn off leaving mostly sunny skies this afternoon. Today’s high is 67F with light winds from the SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Expect more clouds overnight with a low of 53, and similar weather is expected tomorrow.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman, Carlee Schram (CAR-lee SHR-am), Kyler Cantrell, and Anna Vickers. 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 listener donations. Check out our Patreon page or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thanks for listening.
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