Whatcom 911 down for roughly three hours, cause still unclear, Whatcom County considering moratorium on creation or expansion of ICE facilities, Lighthouse Mission names interim CEO, Burn bans in effect for much of Whatcom and Skagit counties, Gas prices drop slightly, Bellingham mayor issues an executive order growing small businesses downtown, Traffic on Skagit River Bridge likely to experience delays on Wednesday, Road work in Lynden starts Thursday, Nationwide report finds Washington’s performance in education rankings mixed-to-negative, WA’s leading assisted living organizations sue state over spending cuts, 2023 law restricting some gun rights upheld by State Supreme Court, Cantwell sponsored bill directs research into rising lung cancer rates among women, 4th of July fireworks info, Election center tours scheduled,Independent, nonprofit community radio. WA joins multi-state lawsuit against federal government’s addition of contract terms targeting DEI
KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, June, 16. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Whatcom 911 down for roughly three hours, cause still unclear
A major multi-state service disruption in 9-1-1 call services hit multiple locations yesterday — including Whatcom County.
According to the What-Comm 9-1-1 dispatch center, the outage was likely due to problems at a statewide centralized system. People in Whatcom County and other areas in western Washington received an alert on their cell phones just after 2:45 pm.
Normal services resumed about three hours later.
STORY: Whatcom County considering moratorium on creation or expansion of ICE facilities
The Whatcom County Council is considering a moratorium on new immigration enforcement facilities.
The proposal would place a one‑year hold on approving new civil immigration enforcement facilities in unincorporated areas. The moratorium would give the county time to study long‑term community impacts and develop permanent land‑use rules.
A public hearing and possible vote are set for next Tuesday, June 23rd.
The discussion comes as Congress approved adding nearly seventy billion dollars for ICE and Border Protection over three years, on top of last year’s major funding increase.
Bellingham Troublemakers says Whatcom County’s high rate of ICE apprehensions is among the highest per capita in the state, and that many have expressed fears that additional facilities would harm families, local industries, and community health.
Residents can comment in person on June 23rd or by emailing the Council.
STORY: Lighthouse Mission names interim CEO
A new interim CEO has been named at the Lighthouse Mission.
Lighthouse Mission Ministries has selected longtime pastor and nonprofit leader Alvin Helms to serve in the role as CEO Hans Erchinger‑Davis (HANS er-CHING-er DAVIS) prepares to leave June 30th after ten years.
Board chair Sam Mullen says Helms will continue serving as pastor of Northside Community Church while Mission leadership manages daily operations. Mullen calls him a strong pastoral presence and a highly qualified guide during the transition.
Helms previously served as board president and later COO of the Tacoma Rescue Mission. He says it’s a “profound privilege” to support the Mission’s leaders as they shape the organization’s future.
STORY: Burn bans in effect for much of Whatcom and Skagit counties
With at least 20 wildfires burning across Washington, Whatcom and Skagit fire marshals have issued new burn bans.
The open burn ban is for unincorporated areas of both counties and went into effect yesterday.
In Whatcom County, no new yard clearing or burning of debris is permissible, and existing permits have been suspended. In Skagit County, meanwhile, the ban covers all residential and land-clearing fires. Existing permits have been suspended, no new ones will be issued, and the ban remains in effect until further notice.
For now, recreational fires are still allowable under strict and specific guidelines, listed on each Fire Marshal’s website. Residents of any incorporated city or town should check with their fire departments for updated rules and restrictions.
STORY: Gas prices drop slightly
Local drivers are getting a bit of relief at the pump.
GasBuddy reports the average price of gasoline in Washington has dropped nearly 12 cents over the past week to $5.45 a gallon. In Whatcom County, Costco is selling gas for $4.66, while other gas stations charge about $4.69 a gallon.
Prices remain higher in the Puget Sound region, with Seattle averaging $5.71 and Tacoma at $5.53. Nationally, the average gas price has fallen below four dollars a gallon for the first time since April.
According to the website Trading Economics, oil prices are at their lowest levels in three months primarily due to a de-escalation in Middle East tensions and growing optimism for a possible framework agreement between the United States and Iran.
STORY: Bellingham mayor issues an executive order growing small businesses downtown
Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund (LUHND) has issued an executive order to encourage the growth of new businesses downtown.
The order includes new incentives, staffing, and regulations that hope to reduce barriers to entrepreneurship.
The City of Bellingham says the order creates a “concierge-style” position dedicated to helping business owners understand the required city processes, such as acquiring permits. The order also proposes a seven-year business and occupation “tax holiday” for certain businesses downtown.
The order seeks to reinforce the city’s goals of redeveloping and expanding the waterfront economy. In downtown Bellingham, the focus is on filling vacant storefronts, improving traffic circulation, investing in the
Whatcom Museum and Mount Baker Theatre, and searching for opportunities to expand the arts district.
STORY: Traffic on Skagit River Bridge likely to experience delays on Wednesday
Drivers on State Route 9 should plan for delays tomorrow.
WSDOT (wash-DOT) says traffic will alternate with flaggers on the Skagit River Bridge from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. while maintenance crews perform bridge flushing.
The work requires a single-lane closure, and travelers are encouraged to allow extra time.
STORY: Road work in Lynden starts Thursday
In related news, a new roundabout project is set to begin this Thursday at the intersection of State Route 546 and Benson Road in Lynden.
The project is part of ongoing efforts to improve safety along the East Badger Road corridor. WSDOT says most of the construction will take place from June 21st through the 27th, when crews will build the new
compact roundabout. Drivers will be detoured using nearby highways and local roads, while access to nearby businesses and clinics will be maintained.
WSDOT says the project is expected to wrap up in mid-July.
STORY: Nationwide report finds Washington’s performance in education rankings mixed-to-negative
Washington state has slipped again in a national education ranking.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s latest Kids Count reports that Washington has dropped from 27th to 31st overall, citing continued struggles in reading and math proficiency. The report also highlights concerns over early learning access, rising housing costs, and a growing number of uninsured children across the state.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction says state education officials remain skeptical of the Foundation’s national rankings, pointing to localized data that shows “robust” improvement in reading and math since the pandemic.
When asked for comment, the Bellingham School District told KMRE News that the district continually reviews achievement data for students in a variety of forms.
STORY: WA’s leading assisted living organizations sue state over spending cuts
Assisted living organizations are suing Washington state after recent spending cuts.
Two top assisted living providers are suing the state over Medicaid cuts to assisted living facilities. The $80 billion plan signed by Governor Ferguson in April makes cuts to Medicaid to make up for spending in other areas like affordable housing programs and lawsuit payout funds.
The assisted living providers say the budget obscures the lower reimbursement rates for facilities and argue it should have been passed through separate legislation. The providers allege this action is illegal under the state constitution.
The Washington State Standard reports reimbursement rate increases were expected for summer due to the rising cost of running assisted living facilities. Now that increases will not be coming, the reduction in available funds could lead to difficulty retaining caregivers and providing quality care for patients. Residents of facilities who are not covered by Medicaid will likely be charged more to make up for the difference.
The spending cuts come alongside federal Medicaid cuts passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year. It is unclear how the judge’s decision would impact the state’s budget deficit in the coming years.
STORY: 2023 law restricting some gun rights upheld by State Supreme Court
The Washington Supreme Court has upheld a 2023 state law that bars some repeat DUI offenders from possessing firearms.
In a narrow five-to-four decision, the court ruled that people convicted of two DUI-related offenses within seven years may be prohibited from owning guns.
The majority of judges upheld the 2023 law, and found the restriction consistent with the nation’s historical firearm regulations. However, four justices dissented, arguing the state failed to show that repeat DUI convictions justify restricting a constitutional right.
The ruling stems from a challenge by two Spokane-area men denied licenses to carry concealed pistols. The decision has drawn the ire of gun rights advocates in the state and is expected to add to the ongoing debate over firearms and public safety.
WX: Seven-ty Can Wait
And now for the weather:
We got lucky yesterday — temperatures only reached into the mid-70s, not the mid-80s we were expecting. Expect more mid-70s mildness today. Tonight, expect lows in the 50s.
We should have the same kind of weather tomorrow, with the addition of some light breeze and the occasional clouds.
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, and Noelle Reger (REE-ger). 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 _________… thanks for listening!
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STORY: Cantwell sponsored bill directs research into rising lung cancer rates among women
The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed a new bill aimed at improving research and prevention of lung cancer in women.
Co-sponsored by Washington Senator Maria Cantwell,the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act directs health officials to conduct a comprehensive review of why lung cancer rates among women have risen sharply in recent decades— even as overall rates among men have declined. The measure now moves to the House for consideration.
STORY: 4th of July fireworks info
If you’re planning to celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, make sure you know the rules before you light the fuse.
Fire officials remind residents to celebrate safely and know your local fireworks laws. In unincorporated Whatcom County, consumer fireworks may only be discharged July 3rd and 5th from 6 to 11 p.m., and July 4th from 6 p.m. to midnight. Fireworks cannot be discharged on public property, roads, school grounds, or in parks without permission, and users are responsible for keeping fireworks away from people, buildings, and dry vegetation.
In Bellingham, all consumer fireworks are illegal.
Officials urge residents to check local regulations, use fireworks responsibly, and consider attending a professional fireworks display instead.
STORY: Election center tours scheduled
Next month, Whatcom County residents can get a behind-the-scenes look at how local elections are run.
The Auditor’s Office will host public tours of the county Election Center July 28th through the 30th. The tour gives visitors a chance to see how ballots are processed, learn about election security measures, and ask questions about voting procedures.
According to the Auditor’s office, the tour takes less than an hour and advance reservations are encouraged through the Whatcom County Elections Division.
STORY: WA joins multi-state lawsuit against federal government’s addition of contract terms targeting DEI
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has sued the federal administration over new contract requirements tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
The lawsuit challenges a March executive order that directs federal agencies to prohibit what it calls “racially discriminatory DEI activities” in federally funded contracts. Brown says the new rules are vague,
confusing, and could jeopardize billions of dollars in federal contracts, including agreements with Washington state agencies.
The coalition argues federal agencies failed to follow required public notice and comment procedures and have asked a federal court to block enforcement of the new contract terms.
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