July 6, 2026 News Transcript

Hit-and-run by suspected inebriated driver claims life of pedestrian near Sedro-Woolley, Crews successfully battle fire near Luna Camp in North Cascades, Whatcom County deputies get a raise, Apartment building with no parking moves forward, Overnight lane striping to cause intermittent road closures this week, Gas prices drop in Whatcom, Environmentalist groups in WA sound alarm over proposed Canadian oil pipeline, Environmentalist groups in WA sound alarm over proposed Canadian oil pipeline, Holiday weekend sees jump in firework-related incidents, F&C – JULY 25 (not June) from FB post:

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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, July, 6. Good afternoon, I’m ______.

STORY: Hit-and-run by suspected inebriated driver claims life of pedestrian near Sedro-Woolley

A pedestrian was killed by a drunk driver in Sedro Woolley on Saturday.

On July 4th at around two in the afternoon, 19-year-old Anahi Mendoza was hit by a vehicle travelling at excessive speeds near the intersection of Highway 20 and Township Street. According to reports, the driver fled the scene, while several witnesses assisted the victim.

First responders arrived but they were unable to save Mendoza.

Police located the suspect later that day. The driver was booked for DUI, vehicular homicide and driving on a suspended license. He has seventeen previous felony convictions in the state.

STORY: Crews successfully battle fire near Luna Camp in North Cascades

A new wildfire has been discovered in the North Cascades National Park Service Complex after last month’s lightning storm.

The one-acre Luna fire is burning in steep, remote terrain southwest of Luna camp along Big Beaver trail. Firefighters were deployed Friday with helicopter support to continue suppression efforts.

In the meantime, crews have completed suppression work on the three-quarter-acre Rigby Fire and continue to wrap up operations on the one-acre Little Beaver Fire.

There are no closures or evacuations, and campfire restrictions remain in effect throughout the park.

STORY: Whatcom County deputies get a raise
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office now accounts for nearly a quarter of all county payroll.

A review of county payroll data found the sheriff’s office is projected to spend about $28.5 million on employee compensation in 2026, the highest of any county department.

The increase comes after the deputies’ union negotiated a 6% wage increase aimed at improving recruitment and retention— and as officials grapple with budget shortfalls.

The sheriff’s office has grown from 194 full-time employees a decade ago to 225 today, while overtime and other compensation costs have climbed sharply. Nearly $5 million in 2025 compensation is classified as “other pay,” which includes longevity pay, leave payouts and specialty premiums. Overtime has also doubled since 2019 to roughly $2 million, with staffing shortages at the Whatcom County Jail driving much of the increase.

Union officials argue competitive wages are necessary to attract and retain qualified deputies as neighboring counties increase pay. Meanwhile, county leaders continue weighing potential layoffs and service reductions to address projected budget deficits.

STORY: Apartment building with no parking moves forward

An apartment building with no parking lot is proposed for development on Samish Way.

A 54-unit studio apartment building is the latest build planned for the Samish Way Urban Village. A 2019 development plan for the area mentions its central placement within the WTA transit system and describes plans to make it more pedestrian and bike friendly.

The lack of parking is part of recent initiatives in the state that aim to prioritize building affordable housing, and incentivize residents to rely less on cars and reduce their carbon emissions.

A state senate bill passed last year removed mandatory parking for new buildings less than 12-hundred square feet starting in 2027. Last year, Bellingham City Council passed an ordinance in alignment with the state, removing minimum parking requirements in the city.

Legislators say that planned parking adds unnecessary costs to construction and discourages other modes of transportation.

STORY: Overnight lane striping to cause intermittent road closures this week

Public Works crews will carry out overnight lane striping projects on roads throughout Whatcom County this week.

The operation began Sunday evening, and will continue every night through July 9th from 8:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., weather permitting. Other teams will chip seal on county roads during roughly the same hours.

The County is asking motorists to slow down, keep a careful eye out for workers and equipment, and avoid the fresh paint.

Drivers should also prepare for intermittent delays or temporary closures.

STORY: Downtown Ferndale fire station now operating with around-the-clock staffing

A fire station in downtown Ferndale is now fully staffed around-the-clock.

Whatcom Fire District 7 said Station 41 is now staffed 24/7 with at least 3 firefighters. This addition will make response times quicker near downtown and the freeway, which are typically the busiest areas.

District 7 Chief Ben Boyko estimates response times will be 4 to 5 minutes quicker than before.

In 2025, a levy was voted in by Ferndale residents that guaranteed funding to support the staffing increase, add sleeping quarters and update older fire equipment.

Station 41 is now the fifth fully-staffed fire station in District 7.

STORY: Gas prices drop in Whatcom

Gas prices have dropped in our region.

According to AAA, Whatcom County averages 4 dollars and 86 cents per gallon which is lower than the state average of 5 dollars and 3 cents per gallon.

The new price reflects a 65 cent decrease compared to June.

The current average price in Bellingham is 4 dollars and 71 cents per gallon.

STORY: Environmentalist groups in WA sound alarm over proposed Canadian oil pipeline

The province of Alberta has announced plans for a new crude oil pipeline that would carry up to one million barrels of oil per day to Canada’s West Coast.

Environmental groups in Washington say the project would significantly increase the risk of oil spills in the Salish Sea, and increase harm to endangered marine wildlife.

Alberta’s pipeline website states that marine wildlife protection will be a priority in the project’s design and operation, including the use of advanced safety and navigation measures.

British Columbia Premier David Eby (EE-bee) said he has concerns about the pipeline’s environmental impacts, but acknowledged the project falls under Canadian federal authority.

Washington’s Department of Ecology says it’s waiting for more details on the proposal before making an assessment.

STORY: State ends ‘failing schools’ fund
Washington lawmakers have voted to eliminate funding for a program that provided extra support and accountability for the state’s lowest-performing public schools.

For the last 16 years, the Required Action District (RAD) program has provided grants, leadership coaching and intensive monitoring to schools identified as persistently low-achieving. Now, with state funding cut, OSPI plans to phase out the program by next June, which raises concerns about how districts will continue to serve students with the greatest needs.

While no Whatcom County schools currently receive RAD funding, local districts have relied on other state and federal programs, including Title 1 School Improvement Grants and temporary youth mental health funding. Many of those funding sources have also expired or face uncertainty, which leaves local schools with fewer resources to support struggling students.

WX: I was gonna go to class, but then temps got high

And now, the weather!

After a cool overnight low of 48 degrees this morning, expect temperatures to reach the low 80’s by this afternoon.

Along with that, we’ll get plenty of sunshine with some sparse cloud cover. A few more clouds should roll in this evening, and bring lows in the mid-50s.

Look for the clouds to stick around tomorrow with highs in the mid-70s.

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 _________… thank you for listening!

STORY: Holiday weekend sees jump in firework-related incidents

F&C – JULY 25 (not June) from FB post: