Motorcycle Driver Dies After Accident, Teen Arrested With Gun At Commencement, Bellingham REI Unionizes, KMRE Signal Change, Pride Crosswalk Going Forward, Farm Advocacy Group Sends Letters, Centennial Mural Coming Down, Smoke Ready Week Starts
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KMRE brings you local news for [Monday], [June 12]. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: MOTORCYCLE DRIVER DIES AFTER ACCIDENT
58-year-old William Fleischer of Blaine passed away from injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash.
According to State Patrol records, the incident occurred last week when Fleischer collided with a car that ran a stop sign on Anderson Road. He was transported to Peacehealth St Joseph Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries over the weekend. The driver of the car and their passenger were unharmed.
STORY: TEEN ARRESTED WITH GUN AT COMMENCEMENT
A teenager was arrested by Bellingham Police over the weekend for brandishing a weapon following a high school graduation ceremony.
The incident took place outside Civic Field after the Options High School ceremony on Saturday. Two officers present at the event responded to a fight involving two teenagers and an adult near the stadium. The adult informed one of the officers that the teen had previously threatened his son with a gun, leading to the confrontation. The other officer attempted to communicate with the threatening teenager who refused to cooperate. Eventually, the teenager was taken down to the ground, and officers discovered a loaded handgun in his possession. The teen was subsequently booked into the Whatcom County Juvenile Detention Center.
STORY: BELLINGHAM REI UNIONIZES
Workers at the REI store in Bellingham voted 40 to 12 in favor of unionization on Friday.
According to reporting by Cascadia Daily News, workers in Bellingham who had pushed for the vote are pleased with the outcome. REI released a statement acknowledging the results but emphasized that the elections need to be certified before they become final. However, the outdoor co-op reaffirmed its support for workers’ right to organize.
A second union vote at an REI store in Maple Grove, Minnesota was approved on the same day.
STORY: KMRE SIGNAL CHANGE
KMRE changed its call sign yesterday, and technical issues have resulted in a temporarily-lowered signal.
A problem with the antenna is forcing the station to run on low power until a new one arrives. We appreciate your patience as we get this resolved. Listeners can find us streaming at kmre.org or on the TuneIn app.
STORY: PRIDE CROSSWALK GOING FORWARD
A proposal to paint a Pride rainbow on a downtown crosswalk as a symbol of support for the LGBTQ+ community has been approved.
The city council voted unanimously last week to accept Mayor Seth Fleetwood’s proposal to paint a rainbow over a crosswalk on Cornwall Avenue. However, City of Bellingham attorneys raised concerns about the legal implications and potential precedent. A community member proposed the idea to the mayor, who then brought the proposal to the council. Attorney James Erb told the city that the rainbow crosswalk might be seen as creating a public forum for free speech, citing a recent precedent in Boston that might lead to future requests for different artwork on other crosswalks.
Some council members said they believe the city has the right to take value positions in the public spaces it controls.
City officials plan to establish a formal policy on streetscape designs in the coming months.
STORY: FARM ADVOCACY GROUP SENDS LETTERS
A local farm advocacy group has expressed growing concern about water pollution in local streams, caused by contamination from Canada.
The Whatcom Family Farmers sent letters last week to state, tribal, and Canadian officials highlighting the issue. The Department of Agriculture and Whatcom County government regularly test water quality in streams entering the US from British Columbia, and the results have shown bacterial pollution levels in Canadian water up to 260 times higher than the allowable limit.
The group emphasizes that state and local officials have been aware of this problem for some time and urges prompt action to address the issue.
On the same day, a separate group of local, state, and US officials known as the “Whatcom Clean Water Program Partners” also expressed similar concerns in a memo to the Washington State Department of Ecology and the Puget Sound Partnership, providing water sampling data from 2022.
STORY: CENTENNIAL MURAL COMING DOWN
A prominent artwork in Bellingham’s Arts District for over three decades, is being removed.
The Centennial Mural, located near the Whatcom Museum, portrays a salmon,scenes of the Coast Salish Peoples, and Bellingham settlers. Created by East Los Streetscapers in 1990, the mural was part of the city’s Whatcom Creek Salmon Art Trail. According to reporting by Cascadia Daily, building owner Sonja (SEWN-yuh) Max decided to remove the mural to preserve the underlying wall. The paint had deteriorated, causing water damage, cracks, and spalling in the concrete.
Some paint has already been removed, and the work will continue for several weeks. Max hopes to repurpose the wall creatively.
STORY: SMOKE READY WEEK STARTS
The Washington State Department of Health wants the public to prepare for summer wildfires and the smoke that can pose health risks.
Smoke Ready Week which starts today, is an opportunity for people to take proactive measures to protect themselves and their families. The DOH expects an above-average fire season in Washington due to a lack of rain and urges the public to stay informed about air quality conditions. Wildfire smoke contains fine particles and gasses, including carbon monoxide, which can cause a range of health issues. Those with pre-existing conditions, infants, children, the elderly, and pregnant individuals are particularly sensitive to wildfire smoke
The Department of Health is encouraging the public to prepare now by purchasing MERV 13 filters for h-vac systems, HEPA portable air cleaners, or DIY box fan filters to clean indoor air.
You can stay updated on wildfires, air quality, forecasts, and health information through resources such as the WA Smoke Blog and the DOH’s Smoke From Fires webpage.
WX: CLEAR AND SUNNY
Your weather in Whatcom today is clear and sunny. Partly cloudy skies will roll in this afternoon with a low of 56 degrees. Tomorrow expect a partly cloudy day with a high of 66 in Bellingham.
OUTRO:Today’s newscast was produced by volunteer Myles Weber. 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.
