Heat advisory in place for northwestern WA, Housing alternative resources available at City, Library card night at the Bells on Thursday, Collision in North Bellingham results in road closure, two passengers seriously injured, House fire in Ferndale displaces residents, no injuries, Landmark tree protection in Bellingham moves forward, Opposition movement to Let’s Go Washington initiatives launches campaign, : WA unemployment rate remains stagnant even amid solid job growth, Campground closed due to black bears, 4th of July fireworks info, FREE or Cheap for next week, Election center tours scheduled
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, June, 22. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Heat advisory in place for northwestern WA
After a milder-than-expected weekend, it looks like we’re in for a change in the weather.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for large swaths of northwest and west-central Washington, effective until 11 pm tomorrow night.
Areas from the San Juan Islands to the North Cascades Foothills, and from Whatcom and Skagit Counties to the Southern Puget Sound Lowlands could see highs between 85 and 95 degrees. The hottest temps are expected south of Olympia. Nighttime lows should drop into the merciful 55 to 60 degree range.
Still, the NWS warns that heat at this level can greatly increase the risk of illness or adverse effects in individuals sensitive to it, especially if they don’t have access to cooling and hydration. A reminder– never leave children or pets in vehicles unattended, stay out of the sun when possible, and, if you’re working outside, take breaks where it’s cool.
And be alert for signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion which include: heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, dizziness, rapid pulse, and confusion.
STORY: Housing alternative resources available at City Thinking about adding an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, to your property?
The City of Bellingham has launched a new set of online tools designed to help homeowners explore their options and better understand local development rules.
The resources include a new ADU webpage, quick guides for ADU and middle housing development, a step-by-step guide on how to build an ADU in Bellingham, and a virtual tour highlighting middle housing opportunities.
City officials say the tools are intended to help residents make informed decisions and navigate the permitting process more efficiently.
STORY: Library card night at the Bells on Thursday
Looking for a fun summer activity? Bring your library card to the Bellingham Bells home game this Thursday.
For one night only, patrons can flash their library card at Joe Martin field and receive one free general admission ticket per card. The gates open at 5:30 p.m., and the first pitch is thrown at 6:35 p.m.
They team hopes to continue their 7-game win streak against the Port Angeles Lefties.
STORY: Mount Vernon police arrest man in connection with recent shooting
A Mount Vernon man is in custody in connection with last week’s deadly shooting.
Skagit County booking records show 26‑year‑old Francisco Barron Jr. is accused of taking part in the June 11 shooting that killed Arturo Ortiz‑Lopez. Barron is charged with first‑degree murder, second‑degree assault, and drive‑by shooting.
Officers found Ortiz‑Lopez shot when they arrived, and despite efforts by police and paramedics, he died at the scene
Barron is being held on $1 million bail.
STORY: Collision in North Bellingham results in road closure, two passengers seriously injured
Two people were critically injured in a crash north of Bellingham yesterday morning.
Emergency crews responded to the 900 block of West Laurel Road around 8:50 a.m. after reports of multiple injuries. Airlift Northwest was called to the scene, and used a nearby field as a landing zone.
According to Whatcom County Fire District 7, two patients suffered critical injuries. One was airlifted to a trauma center, while the other was transported by ambulance to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center. Two additional people were treated and released at the scene.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what caused the collision.
STORY: House fire in Ferndale displaces residents, no injuries
Also yesterday morning, a house fire in Ferndale displaced the occupants, but no injuries were reported.
First responders were called to the residential fire around 1:25 a.m. Initial reports said much of the front of the single-story home was on fire.
According to Whatcom News, Fire District 7 Assistant Chief Ben Russell said everyone inside the home had already evacuated before crews arrived. Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby structures.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Whatcom County Fire Marshals Office.
STORY: Landmark tree protection in Bellingham moves forward
Bellingham is moving toward permanent protections for some of its largest trees.
The city Planning Commission held a public hearing last Thursday to discuss an updated ordinance for protecting landmark trees. The ordinance prevents any healthy tree with a 36-inch trunk diameter from being removed or damaged.
The ordinance was first approved as a temporary measure in May 2024, and has been extended four times while a permanent version is drafted.
Earlier this year, KMRE reported the newest proposal would allow landmark trees to be removed if they create hazardous conditions or damage private property.
Some housing developers opposed the policy, saying planning around protected trees has delayed housing projects.
The city council is expected to take up the ordinance later this summer after they review feedback from Thursday’s meeting.
STORY: Opposition movement to Let’s Go Washington initiatives launches campaign
Opponents of Let’s Go Washington have launched a campaign to undo legislative changes made to parents’ rights and school sports.
No Hate in WA State kicked off their campaign last week, and are focused on repealing two initiatives around children’s privacy.
The first initiative would guarantee parents full access to their child’s school and medical records, and let them review all classroom curriculum. In 2025, Democratic lawmakers removed parental access to medical records through a lawsuit.
The second initiative would make it mandatory for girls participating in school sports to undergo genital exams to verify their sex. Proponents say this would prevent transgender students from competing in girl’s sports.
LGW says these rules protect fairness in women’s sports and restore parent’s rights to consent to their child’s healthcare, while No Hate argues they endanger victims of child abuse and put all students at risk; especially LGBTQ kids.
No Hate is backed by the ACLU and the Washington branch of the National Education Association.
Both initiatives will be on the ballot in November.
STORY: WA unemployment rate remains stagnant even amid solid job growth
As job numbers grow in the state, the unemployment rate remains unchanged.
Over 10,000 new jobs were added in May, making it the highest one-month gain this year. But the unemployment rate stayed at a steady 5.2%.
This boost in job growth follows two months of decline, where a combined loss of almost 9-thousand jobs were recorded in March and April. From May 2025 to May 2026, the number of jobs in the state has decreased by nearly 8-thousand jobs.
Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist for the Employment Security Department, says the labor market is becoming increasingly challenging for job seekers. Vance-Sherman theorizes the bump in hiring is due to businesses in the state preparing for hosting the World Cup games this summer.
WX: Haute Cuisine
And now for the weather:
Expect plenty of sun today with calm winds and highs in the mid-80’s. The evening should cool down into the high 50’s with a few clouds coming in.
Expect tomorrow to be just as warm, if not warmer. Clouds should burn off in the morning, becoming sunny with a high near 87. High temperatures are expected to be with us for awhile– so keep that water bottle handy.
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, Natalie Jones 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: Campground closed due to black bears
Goodell Creek Campground has been closed due to increased black bear activity.
National Park Service officials say bears have repeatedly entered camping areas and ignored standard deterrents while searching for food, which has prompted an emergency closure of the campground.
Nearby Newhalem Creek Campground remains open, but visitors are being urged to strictly follow food storage rules and use bear boxes or hard-sided vehicles.
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.
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.
FREE or Cheap for next weekend
What: Bellingham Holi Festival 2026 — a city-wide celebration of colors, culture, food, and community (NOTE: It’s pronounced just like “holy”)
When: Sunday, June 28 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Zuanich Point Park) Expected attendance: 500–1,000 people
The day features Bollywood dance performances (noon and 2:00 PM), a special dhol drumming showcase (1:00 PM), remarks from County Executive Satpal Singh Sidhu, coordinated color tosses with countdowns, a cultural tent with henna and samosa samples, food trucks, a photobooth, and more.
• 1 Ticket ($5) — 3 powder packets OR sunglasses and bandana • 4 Tickets ($15) — event shirt
• 8 Tickets – Party Pack ($25) includes an event shirt, sunglasses, bandana + 6 powder packets
Anyone interested in helping to look for green crab shells can join in the annual Salish Sea Molt Blitz on Friday, June 26. The event is an annual
effort to search as many Washington Salish Sea beaches as possible for evidence of green crabs. A virtual training event will be held on June 24 at noon, and participants can register on the Washington Sea Grant Crab Team website.
STORY: Election center tours scheduled
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.
The Auditor’s office says the tour takes less than an hour and advance reservations are encouraged through the Whatcom County Elections Division.
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