Whatcom County air quality on decline as Eastern WA wildfires continue, Bellingham International Airport pursuing larger role in international travel, New population estimates put Bellingham as #12 in state, surpassing Kirkland, Declining number of children statewide, WA facing “alarming surge,” in EBT scams, Three Whatcom County fire districts seeking additional funds from voters
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, July 9th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Whatcom County air quality on decline as Eastern WA wildfires continue
Whatcom County’s air quality will continue to decline this week as the region bakes under a heat wave and wildfires in Eastern Washington send smoke over the state.
Readings taken Monday afternoon by the Northwest Clean Air Agency showed that the air was “moderate” in Bellingham for particulate matter, typically found in smoke. Air in the Custer and Lynden areas was “unhealthy for sensitive groups” due to higher levels of ozone which is a by-product of the reaction between sunlight and chemicals in wildfire smoke.
A “red flag” warning has also been issued because of the unseasonably hot and dry weather, these warnings are used to alert residents of an increase in the risk of wildfire danger.
Whatcom County has banned all burning except for recreational fires, and the National Park Service has banned all campfires in the North Cascades, Ross Lake and Lake Chelan recreation areas.
STORY: Bellingham International Airport pursuing larger role in international travel
At the June 18th Bellingham Port Commission meeting, Bellingham International Director of Aviation Kip Turner announced that the airport is hoping to expand its role in Northwest Washington’s air travel industry by adding flights to Mexico.
The airport has seen a continuing drop in passenger numbers over the past decade – this comes in spite of the multi-million-dollar improvements to its passenger terminal in the early 2010s. While certain outside factors are to blame, including the fluctuating weakness in the Canadian dollar, the lack of actual international flights is also thought to share some responsibility for the decline.
Another factor in the recent announcement may be the upcoming exit of Southwest Airlines, which will stop serving Bellingham on August 4th. In preceding decades, airlines such as Delta, United Express and Frontier also stopped service to Bellingham, while airlines such as Western and USAir (YOU-ess-air) shut down.
Turner stated that the airport was in talks with three potential new carriers – two of which may be able to start service as early as October.
STORY: New population estimates put Bellingham as #12 in state, surpassing Kirkland
Washington’s Office of Financial Management released the annual city-by-city population numbers on June 28th. Bellingham is now the 12th biggest city in the state, bypassing Kirkland and ranking just below Yakima and Federal Way.
Despite more deaths than births for the third year in a row, Whatcom County’s population increased due to a net migration of more than 2,200 people to total 97,270 as of April. This represents a 1.37% increase– higher than the state average of 1.06%, but slower than the 2.18% growth rate seen between 2022-23.
Overall, Whatcom County’s population grew by 2,200 and now totals 238,000– maintaining its position as the ninth most populated county in Washington. The county’s growth rate was 0.93%, down from 1.79% last year.
STORY: Declining number of children statewide
In more population news– according to recent census data, the number of children across Washington State is declining, while the population over 65 is increasing.
Between 2020 and 2023 the under-18 population fell by 3% statewide. The Puget Sound area saw the sharpest decline, but the numbers mirror a nationwide trend. Factors such as later marriages and more adults choosing not to have children are contributing to an overall decline in the number of children being born across America. In addition, families leaving expensive areas for areas with a lower cost of living is also decreasing the youth population in certain cities.
As the number of children declined, the population of adults aged 65 and older grew by 11% from 2020 to 2023.The primary source of this increase is the aging baby boomer generation moving for retirement.
STORY: Whatcom County and state unemployment rates on the rise
Whatcom County unemployment rates have been on the rise recently.
According to recent records from the Washington Employment Security Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the county’s unemployment rate has increased 1.4% since May 2023, which already had an unemployment rate of 3.1%. Other regions in Washington have also spiked– with Ferry county at the highest with 7.7%, and Asotin (uh-SO-tin) county at the lowest with 3.3%.
Washington State as a whole has seen an almost 19% increase since last May, with an estimated 195,793 people receiving unemployment benefits as of this May.
STORY: WA facing “alarming surge,” in EBT scams
The Washington State Department of Social Services has found that residents on food assistance have lost $5.5 million to Electronic Benefit Transfer – or EBT – scams.
These scams happen when a thief places a device on retail card swiping machines, stealing information and benefits from EBT card holders. According to the Seattle Times, roughly 4 of the $5.5 million in benefit losses in the state were from the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps.
The agency is now taking steps to reimburse those with lost benefits by using funds from Spending Legislation signed by Joe Biden, as well as state funding. As of now, the department has replaced $3 million in food benefits and processed 8,000 claims. However, agency spokesperson Norah West said that the agency did not get funding to replace cash benefits stolen before July 1st 2024.
Claims for stolen EBT benefits must be reported to the department within 30 days of discovering a loss. To report a claim online, visit dshs.wa.gov.
STORY: Three Whatcom County fire districts seeking additional funds from voters
Three Whatcom County fire districts are requesting additional tax funds from voters to rebuild their stations and boost their operations.
Fire District 1, which serves Everson, Nooksack, Deming and the Nooksack Indian Tribe is proposing a bond to help them build a new station on Everson Goshen Road. According to Assistant Fire Chief Greg Macy, the current station, located on E. Main St. in Everson, sits on a flood plain, and lacks sleeping quarters as well as space for community activities and meetings. The new station would also serve as an Emergency Operations Center in case of a disaster.
Fire District 17 in Sandy Point is re-running a levy after a measure in the April special election failed by only one vote. The levy money would go towards the rebuilding and relocation of the district’s fire station which has been damaged twice by floods. Co-chair Jeanne Carroll says money to hire paid staff is also essential, as longtime volunteers are getting older.
Fire District 21, known as North Whatcom Fire and Rescue, which serves Lynden, Blaine, Custer, Laurel, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo, is also proposing a levy. According to their website, the levy increase would fund eight emergency personnel, a response unit for medical emergencies, a ladder truck, three fire engines and the replacement of Station 63 in Birch Bay.
WX: Sun
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Another scorcher inbound today, with a high in the upper 80s. Experts say this could be the hottest day of the year, so far. Nighttime temperatures will fall to the low 60s. Expect mild south-southeast winds throughout the day.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman, Carlee Schram (CAR-lee SHR-am), Tristan Trudell, Kyler Cantrell, Ikumi Mashiko, Anna Vickers, and Theron Danielson. 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 thank you for listening.
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