Parking changes in downtown Bellingham, BPD awarded grant for drones, Museum gets new executive director, Next phase of cleanup at former Georgia Pacific site set to begin next week, Lydia Place Opens New Supportive Housing Unit, Gas prices dip slightly in Washington, Skagit County issues moratorium on data center construction in unincorporated regions to protect farmland and water, Gov. Ferguson signs executive order supporting menopausal and perimenopausal women in workplace, State starts investigation into deadly Longview accident, Surviving Summer Traffic Safety Campaign, Two more gray whales stranded, Intercultural Dance Day comes to Bellingham, FREE & CHEAP
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, June, 2. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Parking changes in downtown Bellingham
Effective yesterday, parking in downtown Bellingham is now streamlined.
According to the City’s website, all metered parking in the downtown commercial core has been converted into a single PayByPhone zone. As a result, downtown parking now matches the system already used in Fairhaven.
Under the new setup, a paid parking session follows the vehicle to any valid metered space downtown until the purchased time expires. The new meters take payment through coins, credit cards, and the PayByPhone app.
Officials say roughly 60 percent of visitors already use the PayByPhone app instead of parking kiosks.
STORY: BPD awarded grant for drones
In more city news, Bellingham Police will receive a major funding boost from the state.
The $3.7 million awarded to BPD through Washington’s Public Safety Funding Program will be used to support technology upgrades, staffing, and alternative response services. According to the City’s website, the funding will help launch a new Drone as First Responder program; this program allows drones to reach incident scenes ahead of officers and provide real-time information.
The grant money will help equip all frontline patrol vehicles with dashboard cameras. Additionally, the funds allow the department to fill three previously frozen officer positions, add a warrant officer and support services specialist, and help sustain the city’s Alternative Response Team.
STORY: Museum gets new executive director
The Whatcom Museum has chosen a new executive director.
Following a nationwide search, the museum’s Board of Trustees announced yesterday that Jessica Borusky will take over the role on July 1st. Borusky most recently served as executive director of Seattle’s Pratt Fine Arts Center; they have also held leadership positions with arts organizations in Oklahoma, Florida, and Missouri.
Borusky succeeds longtime director Patricia Leach, who retired in 2025, and Acting Executive Director Maria Coltharp, who led the museum during the transition.
STORY: Next phase of cleanup at former Georgia Pacific site set to begin next week
The Port of Bellingham and Washington’s Department of Ecology say they are trying to come to an agreement on how to clean up a waterfront area.
The Georgia-Pacific West site is the second half of 74 acres contaminated by a pulp and tissue mill that operated there until 2007.
The first half of that site has already been cleaned up and redeveloped into the Millworks Affordable Housing Project. The second half of the work is estimated to cost about $20 million, and should be completed by 2031.
Ecology is asking for the public’s input now through July 1st. Additionally, RE Sources will host a walking tour of the site on June 10th between 3:30 and 5 pm, followed by an open house until 7 p.m. Attendees must sign up at R-E hyphen Sources dot ORG. (re-sources.org)
STORY: Lydia Place Opens New Supportive Housing Unit
Lydia Place has added new supportive housing — the only unit of its size locally.
The nonprofit says the new five‑bedroom apartment fills a critical gap for larger and multigenerational families exiting homelessness. It’s part of Lydia Place’s Campus Housing Program, which now includes 20 units across four properties and is ready to be leased.
The remodeled unit sits inside the original Gladstone House, a longtime transitional residence. Lydia Place says permanent housing, paired with
parent‑support and mental‑health services, is key to breaking the cycle of homelessness for families.
STORY: Gas prices dip slightly in Washington
Gas prices in Washington slipped a bit this week.
GasBuddy says the statewide average is now $5.66 a gallon, down about five cents from last week.
Here in Bellingham, the local average sits at $5.62, also down slightly from last week but still well above last year’s $4.35.
Statewide, the cheapest gas yesterday was $4.49, while the highest hit $6.79.
Nationally, the average price fell sharply to $4.26, dropping nearly 20 cents in a week.
STORY: Another round of overnight I-5 lane closures to begin today More I-5 lane closures are happening tonight and tomorrow.
The left northbound lane of I-5 at Samish River north of Burlington will close between 9:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. tonight and tomorrow night for maintenance work. Additionally, the southbound lane of I-5 at Nulle Road north of Alger will close tomorrow between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., also for maintenance work.
STORY: Skagit County issues moratorium on data center construction in unincorporated regions to protect farmland and water Data centers will not be allowed on unincorporated land in Skagit County for the next six months.
The Skagit Board of County Commissioners passed a moratorium yesterday to refine development regulations in order to protect farmland and water resources.
The Skagit County senior deputy for natural resources, Will Honea (HOE-nee), said during a meeting yesterday that prioritising farmland means intentionally forgoing a lot of wealth and intensive urban development. Honea added, however, that data centers use a lot of water, and farmers in Skagit are already limited on how much irrigation water they may use.
The board president of the Western Washington Agricultural Association, Mikala (mih-KAY-luh) Staples Hughes, pointed out that Skagit is the last functioning agricultural economy in Puget Sound and should be protected, especially its water resources.
According to datacentermap.com, there are currently 103 data centers across Washington. Tech companies want to build more centers because of the development of artificial intelligence; at present, there are no applications for data center development in Skagit.
The commissioners will hold a public hearing on the moratorium at 10:30 a.m. on July 14th in Mount Vernon.
STORY: Gov. Ferguson signs executive order supporting menopausal and perimenopausal women in workplace
Governor Bob Ferguson issued an executive order Monday designed to support workers experiencing menopause (MEN-uh-pawz)-related symptoms.
In announcing the executive order, Ferguson said the U.S. loses as much as $1.8 billion a year due to the effects of menopausal
(MEN-uh-PAW-zuhl) symptoms on workers. As of today, 38% of Washington’s working women are between the ages of 40 and 59, when menopause is most common.
Common symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, lack of sleep, brain fog, and other challenges that may limit productivity and ultimately provide barriers to career progress and stable long-term earnings.
The new order instructs cabinet agencies to partner with the Washington State Women’s Commission to develop and implement appropriate accommodations. Practical recommendations include modifiable dress codes and hybrid or flexible scheduling options, as well as access to ways of regulating body temperature.
STORY: State starts investigation into deadly Longview accident State labor investigators have launched a formal investigation into the accident at the Nippon Dynawave mill in Longview.
Eleven workers died and seven others were injured in a catastrophic chemical tank implosion. Now that all missing workers have been recovered, inspectors say they will examine the site, review safety records, and interview witnesses to determine what caused the incident and whether any workplace safety violations occurred. The investigation could take up to six months.
Labor and Industries officials say they’re also working with injured workers, as well as the families of those killed, to provide workers’ compensation benefits.
WX: Eighty Ain’t Enough
And now for the weather:
Embrace the sun again today and expect highs in the low-80s. As evening turns into night, expect some cloud cover to roll in with lows in the 60s.
Tomorrow, look for the wind to pick up and a possibility of rain. By noon, the rain should disappear, leaving a few clouds and highs into 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, and Jenny Lam. 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: Surviving Summer Traffic Safety Campaign
Washington State Patrol is launching its annual “Surviving Summer” traffic safety campaign.
Agencies statewide will run high‑visibility emphasis patrols June 11th through 13th, timed with graduation season and the start of summer travel.
The campaign focuses on early June through early September — the deadliest stretch on Washington roads. More than 1,500 people have died in summer crashes over the past eight years, with speeding, impairment, distraction, and failure to yield as the top factors.
Officials say simple choices — slowing down, staying focused, and driving sober — can save lives.
STORY: Two more gray whales stranded
Gray whale strandings are rising again in Washington.
KIRO 7 reports 23 gray whales have washed ashore in the state so far this year.
Marine biologists say many of the whales likely died from starvation, continuing a pattern linked to shifting ocean conditions and shrinking food supplies.
One of the latest whales was found along the coast of Olympic National Park, just south of where another had been discovered earlier. The other was located on a beach near Long Beach.
They’re part of 51 total strandings along the West Coast, including Washington, Oregon and California.
Federal wildlife officials are still monitoring the population after declaring an “unusual mortality event” back in 2019.
STORY: Intercultural Dance Day comes to Bellingham A new cultural celebration is coming to Bellingham.
Intercultural Dance Day will take place June 14th at Fisherman’s Pavilion at Zuanich Point Park, featuring live music and dance performances, cultural booths, local artists, food trucks, and family activities.
The free event is presented by ANJ Dance Project and aims to bring people together through shared cultural experiences.
Organizers say the event is designed to promote connection and belonging in the community while supporting local artists and intercultural programming.
The celebration runs from noon to 3 p.m.
FREE & CHEAP
Annual Dachshund Parade and Weenie Walk, Saturday starting at 10am from the train station to Marine park. (don’t know which annual it is yet).
Lynden Airport open house 11am to 4pm.
The Whatcom Museum is inviting the community to enjoy Free First Fridays. On the first Friday of every month, admission is free at both the Lightcatcher and Old City Hall, with extended hours until 9 p.m. Visitors can explore exhibitions, family activities, workshops, and special programs led by local artists and experts. Free First Fridays are open to everyone and supported by the Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.
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