Bellingham PD searching for perpetrators of two shootings early Sunday morning that left one injured, Whatcom woman pleads guilty to fatally shooting man in botched drug deal, Morning residential fire on James Street, Thousands protest in ‘No Kings Day’, WWU budget requires $3 M more cuts, WCC to begin laying off staff to assuage budget deficit, No injuries after car ends up inside Ferndale business, Construction on Meador Avenue bridge set to commence in coming weeks, Library receives funding for renovation, 2024 saw slight increase in tourism spending in Whatcom, Bald eagles in the Pacific Northwest suffering from spike in lead poisonings, Law enforcement training at Ferndale not authorized by district, Bellingham-based hot sauce company wins big at national and European awards ceremonies
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, June 16th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham PD searching for perpetrators of two shootings early Sunday morning that left one injured
Two early morning shootings in downtown Bellingham yesterday ended with two arrests and one man sent to the hospital.
Bellingham Police say the violence began just after 1 a.m., when a group of five men was shot at while walking near East Magnolia and Cornwall Avenue. A 37-year-old was hit in the foot. Minutes later, someone in the group fired back — hitting a rideshare vehicle with an uninvolved driver inside.
Officers spotted the suspects fleeing in a Honda and gave chase. A handgun was thrown from the car and later recovered.
The 20-year-old driver and a 19-year-old suspected of firing at the rideshare were arrested and booked into the Whatcom County Jail. The man who was shot was treated at St. Joseph Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Bellingham Police are still investigating, and ask anyone with information or video to come forward.
STORY: Whatcom woman pleads guilty to fatally shooting man in botched drug deal
A Bellingham woman will serve 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to fatally shooting a man during a botched drug deal.
36-year-old Coleen Clark admitted in Whatcom County Superior Court Wednesday to second-degree manslaughter, unlawful imprisonment, and second-degree assault in connection to the April 15th killing of 30-year-old Zachariah Janusiewicz (yawn-uh-SAY-witch).
Originally charged with first-degree murder, Clark accepted a plea deal that reduced the charges. Prosecutors say Clark and a second suspect, Gale Jefferson, confronted Janusiewicz at a homeless encampment after arranging a drug deal. When Janusiewicz tried to flee, Clark chased him with a gun and fired, striking him.
Janusiewicz later died at the hospital. Clark and Jefferson were arrested two weeks after the shooting. Jefferson remains in custody and is due in court tomorrow.
In emotional statements to the court, friends and family of Janusiewicz said his death has left a painful void — especially for his young son.
STORY: Morning residential fire on James Street
At least two people were sent to the hospital after a fire scorched multiple apartments on James Street in Bellingham on Friday morning.
Flames broke out around 11 a.m. near the I-5 Lakeway exit. Crews from Bellingham Fire and Police quickly responded, and had the fire under control within 30 minutes.
One person was rescued from a second-story balcony before leaving the scene. Another jumped from a second-floor window and was among those taken to the hospital, according to the Bellingham Fire Department.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
STORY: Thousands protest in ‘No Kings Day’
Thousands of people filled downtown Bellingham Saturday in the peaceful “No Kings Day” protest movement aimed at the Trump administration’s policies.
The local demonstration coincided with a $45 million military parade in Washington, D.C., which marked the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. Protesters criticized the spending, saying it comes at the expense of vital programs like Social Security and public education.
Speakers in Bellingham called out federal immigration raids and what they described as scapegoating of immigrant communities. Representative Joe Timmons and local activist Liz Darrow were among those urging solidarity and nonviolence.
Across the state, protests remained largely peaceful. Over 70,000 people marched in Seattle, while police in Bellingham kept a low profile near City Hall. According to an estimate from data journalist G. Elliot Morris and outside analysts, the “No Kings” events that took place across the U.S. the same day as the Trump administration’s military parade drew between four and six million people.
Despite clashes in other cities, including 30 arrests in Spokane earlier this week, Bellingham’s protest ended without incident.
STORY: WWU budget requires $3 M more cuts
Western Washington University is preparing for another round of layoffs this summer, part of ongoing efforts to close a multi-million dollar budget gap.
The university says the cuts will save an additional $2 to $3 million, which will bring the total number of positions eliminated in the past year to more than 70. Officials blame the lingering effects of the pandemic, rising operational costs, and an $8 million drop in state funding.
On Friday, Western’s Board of Trustees approved a 2025–2026 budget that includes $3.3 million in shortfalls, to be covered by reserves or further one-time cuts.
More reductions in instruction and faculty support are expected by next summer, with the steepest cuts coming in the College of Science and Engineering and the College of Humanities and Social Studies.
Administrators say core student services — like enrollment management and academic advising — will be protected, and that students currently enrolled in degree programs will still be able to finish their studies.
A new retirement incentive program is also being rolled out, with hopes of saving $2 million by encouraging eligible faculty to retire early.
STORY: WCC to begin laying off staff to assuage budget deficit
And in related news, Whatcom Community College has begun laying off more staff as they continue to work toward closing a budget deficit of over $3 million.
WCC’s Board of Trustees approved their 2025-2026 budget at a meeting last Wednesday. The new plan calls for $1.5 million in staff reductions during the next fiscal year, which come on top of $500,000 worth of reductions from the current year. Some non-represented staff have already received notice that their positions have been eliminated.
The school also hopes to close the budget gap by eliminating vacant positions, and through a combination of reduced hours and furloughs that will impact employees at all levels. Those furloughs are currently being negotiated with labor groups.
Whatcom Community College has also continued to delete courses with low enrollment counts.
WX: When the cloud breaks, the cradle will fall
And now for the weather:
Some early morning clouds are expected to give way to another afternoon of warm sunshine, with highs right around 70 degrees. The U.V. index rating is set to peak out at 9, so keep some sunscreen and a hat handy. This evening should be fairly textbook, with mostly clear skies and lows around 50 degrees.
Look for more of the same tomorrow, before we potentially take a turn for rainier weather later this week.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Cody Mills, Aidan Larson, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), and Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee). 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. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thank you for listening.
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STORY: No injuries after car ends up inside Ferndale business
STORY: Construction on Meador Avenue bridge set to commence in coming weeks
STORY: Library receives funding for renovation
Bellingham’s Central Library is getting a major upgrade.
The Bellingham Public Library has secured $3 million in state funding for Phase 2 of its upcoming renovation. The project will transform the aging ground floor into a modern, accessible space for children and teens, along with upgrades to staff areas, the help desk, and the HVAC system.
The work is also backed by City funding and private donations. Construction is expected in 2026 or 2027.
Originally built in 1950 and last remodeled in the 1980s, the Central Library now serves nearly 100-thousand residents, and sees more than half a million visits each year.
STORY: 2024 saw slight increase in tourism spending in Whatcom
A new report from Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism shows nearly 3.5 million people visited the region in 2024—roughly the same as 2023.
According to data from Tourism Economics, those tourists spent more money which prompted a spending rise of just over 3%. Retail saw the biggest boost, while tourism-related jobs saw only a slight increase—but remained above pre-pandemic levels.
Tourism CEO Dylan Deane-Boyle says the outlook for 2025 is cautiously optimistic, despite challenges tied to inflation, rising travel costs, and uncertainty around Canadian travel.
STORY: Bald eagles in the Pacific Northwest suffering from spike in lead poisonings
The Wildlife Center of the North Coast in Astoria, Oregon says they are seeing an unusual surge in bald eagle poisonings.
Bald eagles, often seen as majestic symbols, are opportunistic scavengers that feed on carrion (KEH-ree-uhn), including gut piles from hunted animals. The remains often contain lead bullet fragments that can cause fatal neurological damage, even in tiny amounts.
A 2022 study published in Science magazine — and backed by the U.S. Geological Survey — covered 1,210 eagles across 38 states, and found nearly half suffer chronic lead poisoning. Nearly one-third experience acute exposure, especially during hunting seasons. Lead poisoning is estimated to reduce bald eagle population growth by nearly 4% annually.
The wildlife hospital says two of three eagles recently admitted to the wildlife hospital tested positive for lead exposure. Last March, a juvenile bald eagle in Powell Butte (BYOOT) was also found to be suffering from lead poisoning.
In addition to bullet fragments, eagles risk lead exposure from shotgun pellets, lost fishing tackle, contaminated fish, unretrieved waterfowl, and occasionally mining sites.
The Wildlife Center says it seeks public support to fund treatment, including chelation (KEY-lay-shun) therapy, to help the affected eagles recover.
STORY: Law enforcement training at Ferndale not authorized by district
A surprise SWAT training at Ferndale High School last Tuesday sparked concern when it took place during school hours — without proper approval from the school district.
A video of Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies conducting a tactical drill on school grounds involving a school bus began circulating on social media last week. Ferndale School District officials say the request for the training never made it through the proper channels. The sheriff’s office said the training was meant to prepare deputies for potential hostage situations on buses, and emphasized the importance of realistic training environments. Typically, these exercises are not allowed during school hours and require prior community notification.
Superintendent Kristi Dominguez apologized in a message to families, and acknowledged the misstep, promising to improve communication moving forward.
Both agencies say they’re working to schedule a meeting to ensure this type of lapse doesn’t happen again.
STORY: Bellingham-based hot sauce company wins big at national and European awards ceremonies
A Bellingham hot sauce company is turning up the heat on the global stage.
Belllingham-based Funky’s Hot Sauce claimed five international and three national awards for its fiery flavors. At May’s European Hot Sauce Awards in Berlin, the company won four golds and a silver in its first time entering the competition.
Owner Matthew Mini told The Bellingham Herald the gold-winning sauces included Nirvana, Superfuzz, Chili Librae, and Stellar Fuzz. Former world champ Seeing Stars took silver.
Funky’s also won three Fiery Food Challenge Awards last month in Fort Worth, Texas.
The company now makes 21 organic, non-GMO sauces, using local ingredients and no preservatives or extracts.
