A man named Wendell L. Anderson died in a single car crash on Reese Hill Road in Sumas last night at 7 pm. City Council may raise fees on outdoor-dining spaces, New Whatcom County fire, Update on Eagle Bluff fire, Great American Outdoors Day, Latinos lag in college completion, Two supermoons in August
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, July 31st. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY:
A man named Wendell L. Anderson died in a single car crash on Reese Hill Road in Sumas last night at 7 pm.
After missing a curve in the road, he ran off the road and crashed into a tree. Declared dead at the scene, the 63-year-old Maple Falls man was not wearing a seatbelt.
STORY: City Council may raise fees on outdoor-dining spaces
The city is looking to increase fees on permits for outdoor-dining spaces, also known as “streateries”. What now costs 50 dollars a year may increase to thousands of dollars as the city council deliberates changes in the upcoming months.
While some restaurant owners are willing to absorb the increased costs, others are reconsidering. The suggested price for a streatery permit would be 840 dollars per occupied parking spot, as recommended by the Planning and Community Development Department. Along with the price hike come suggestions on increased safety and design regulations of these areas, such as not blocking drains or fire hydrants, keeping the surrounding area clean, and disallowing pallets and sheet plastic in their construction.
The city council will likely begin deliberating on the new fees in August or September. Officials are taking public comment on the proposed changes on the Engage Bellingham website.
STORY: New Whatcom County fire
A lightning strike sparked a wildfire in North Cascades National Park near Diablo Lake on Saturday. Firefighters on the ground are battling the blaze on steep terrain around Sourdough Mountain with assistance from helicopters and airplanes. Latest reports say the fire has covered 30 acres and crews do not yet have it contained.
STORY: Update on Eagle Bluff fire
In other wildfire news, a fire in Okanogan County is prompting residents to evacuate.
The Eagle Bluff fire began on Saturday afternoon southwest of Oroville, and by night had spread into Canada near Osoyoos (uh-SOO-yoos). The fire burns across an estimated ten thousand acres in Okanogan County and is still uncontained. 250 personnel are fighting the fire and bulldozer lines have been established on parts of the perimeter.
As of last night, the Level 3 Immediate Evacuation warning has been reduced to a Level 2, Be Ready to Evacuate. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
STORY: Great American Outdoors Day
Friday is Great American Outdoors Day!
To celebrate the third anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, entrance fees to parks and nature preserves on federal land will be waived. This includes national parks, wildlife refuges, and historic monuments– including the North Cascades, Olympic, and Mt. Rainier National Parks.
The Great American Outdoors Act allocates nearly two billion dollars per year to maintenance projects that support wildlife conservation, recreation, and education programs.
STORY: Latino students lag in college completion
A new report finds latino students lag behind white students in college completion, and the gap is increasing. However, strategies exist to ensure success for these students. Here’s Eric Tegethoff with more on that story.
LATINO COLLEGE AUDIO
STORY: Two supermoons in August
Keep an eye on the night sky tomorrow night. Tuesday is the first of two supermoons in August. We get a supermoon when the moon orbits close to Earth during a full moon, making it appear exceptionally large. On the rare occasion it happens a second time in the same month, we call it a blue moon. The last time we saw two supermoons in one month was in 2018, and the next time won’t be until 2037.
WX: Partly cloudy
The weather today is partly cloudy with a high of 71 in Bellingham. Temperatures will cool to an overnight low of 53. While today is partly cloudy, it will be sunny for the next three days, with temperatures rising to the mid/high 70s by Thursday.
STORY: Ballots due tomorrow at 8pm
Just a reminder that primary ballots are due tomorrow by 8pm. To find the dropbox location nearest to you, go to whatcom county dot U S.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Myles Weber, and Emma Toscani. 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. I’m ________________ and thanks for listening.
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