County Council presents Jail Plan, Worker friendly initiatives head to ballot, New Wildfire in Chelan, Blaine awarded over 9 million dollars for Transportation, Baby Orca spotted, Internet for All gets closer, County unemployment decreases, Road to Artist Point officially open, City of Ferndale offers Grant, Expect Ferry delays this holiday week
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, June 28th]. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: COUNTY COUNCIL PRESENTS JAIL PLAN
Last night, Whatcom County leaders outlined their approach to justice ahead of a November 7 ballot measure that will ask voters to approve a sales tax increase in order to pay for it.
The plan includes a new jail, likely to be constructed in Ferndale on LaBounty Road, as well as support services to keep people out of jail. The proposed facility would replace the current downtown Bellingham jail and the Interim Work Center on Division Street.
A new behavioral care center for offenders qualifying for mental health or substance use treatment would be built nearby. However, key questions regarding the number of inmates the jail will hold and its cost remain unanswered.
The proposed size of the jail was influenced by mayors from the county’s seven cities and is expected to exceed 440 beds. A portion of the sales tax collected in the early years will primarily fund jail construction, with more funds allocated to treatment and other services after 2030.
The County Council approved the plan and proposed ballot measure after a lengthy meeting. The final decision on the jail proposal will be made by voters in November.
STORY: WORKER FRIENDLY INITIATIVES HEAD TO BALLOT
Two worker-friendly initiatives have qualified for the November ballot in Bellingham, according to Whatcom County Auditor Diana Bradrick.
The initiatives, proposed by Community First Whatcom, aim to increase the city’s minimum wage and provide protections for renters. The minimum-wage initiative would raise the city’s minimum wage incrementally, while the relocation assistance measure would require landlords to provide assistance to tenants facing significant rent increases. The Bellingham City Council must vote by August 1 to officially place the initiatives on the ballot, but their certification by the auditor’s office ensures that they will be presented to voters.
Community First Whatcom collected over 13,000 signatures for both initiatives, surpassing the required number of signatures.
STORY: NEW WILDFIRE IN CHELAN
State fire assistance has been activated to support local firefighters in containing the Methow (meh-TAO) Fire near Wenatchee. The fire started yesterday, and is currently estimated at 50 acres and growing and poses a threat to homes and natural resources. Level 2 evacuations are in effect and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
STORY:BLAINE AWARDED OVER 9 MILLION DOLLARS FOR TRANSPORTATION
The Department of Transportation has awarded a $9.5 million grant to the City of Blaine to improve the Bell Road-BNSF rail crossing.
The Blaine project involves replacing the existing at-grade crossing with a grade-separated facility, including a new roadway, railway overpass, I-5 ramp realignment, a dedicated multiuse path, and other improvements.
The grant funds will be used for preliminary engineering, environmental compliance, and right-of-way acquisition for the project.
STORY: BABY ORCA SPOTTED
A new baby orca has been spotted in L pod near Tofino, British Columbia.
The Center for Whale Research received photos indicating the presence of a new southern resident orca calf, estimated to be over three weeks old. This would be the first new calf in the pod since 2021. Researchers will need to conduct further observations to determine the calf’s mother, assess its health, and assign it an alphanumeric designation.
The southern resident orcas face numerous challenges, including a lack of sufficient Chinook salmon, pollution, and underwater noise that hampers their hunting abilities. If confirmed, the new calf would bring the total number of southern resident orcas to 74.
In a separate sighting, officials from Bellingham Parks and Recreation captured a video of suspected orcas breaching the waters near Boulevard Park on June 26th.
STORY: INTERNET FOR ALL GETS CLOSER
The Biden administration announced that Washington state will receive over $1.2 billion to expand high-speed internet networks across the state.
With the new funding, Washington aims to accelerate its efforts to bridge the digital divide and connect more residents to advanced, high-speed internet services. In a recent release, Governor Jay Inslee expressed excitement about the federal investment, highlighting the state’s commitment to expanding equitable access to broadband. Although Washington is ranked among the top states in terms of internet connectivity, there are still approximately 230,000 households in the state without broadband services, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
STORY: COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT DECREASES
Whatcom County saw a decrease in unemployment numbers in May.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics, Whatcom County had 824 fewer unemployed individuals in May compared to April and more than 1,500 fewer than in the same month last year. The statewide unemployment rate also dropped from 4.3% in April to 4.1% in May.
STORY: ROAD TO ARTIST POINT OFFICIALLY OPEN
The Road to Artist Point officially opened this morning at 8 a.m.
Travelers should note that there are roadwork and detours in place on SR 542 between Britton and Noon Roads for the Squalicum Creek to Bellingham Bay fish passage project.
STORY: CITY OF FERNDALE OFFERS GRANTS
The City of Ferndale is offering grants to human services and economic development organizations for projects that will help improve the lives of homeless individuals, low-income residents, and seniors, as well as promote economic development.
According to a recent announcement, the city seeks to maximize the impact of limited available funding. Ferndale City Council will approve or deny proposals as part of the budget process. Interested organizations can find forms on the city’s website and submit their applications to Ferndale City Hall.
STORY: EXPECT FERRY DELAYS THIS HOLIDAY WEEK
Travelers planning to use Washington State Ferries during the Fourth of July weekend should be prepared for possible last-minute schedule changes.
Due to a lack of relief crew members, trips may be canceled with short notice. According to information from the Department of Transportation, the ferry system is funded to meet the minimum staffing requirements, and even a single missing crew member can prevent a vessel from sailing. To navigate the busy travel times, passengers should expect long waits and consider early morning or late-night sailings, as well as walking onto the ferry if possible.
Travelers are also encouraged to use online tools, such as checking terminal conditions and utilizing vehicle reservations where available, to help reduce wait times.
Real-time traffic and ferry information can be accessed through the WSDOT (wash-DOT) traffic app or the updated travel map.
WX: Sunny and Warm
Expect dry conditions to continue with possible isolated showers or thunderstorms in the mountains. Temperatures will remain warm in the afternoon, but tomorrow we might see low clouds or patchy fog in some parts of the county. Expect sun from Thursday onward, extending through the weekend, and early next week.
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.
