June 30, 2026 News Transcript

Bellingham man arrested on suspicion of deliberately setting fire to own apartment, Bellingham woman arrested after allegedly pepper-spraying acquaintance and stealing their car, Initiative banning algorithmic rental price fixing reportedly receives more than enough support to proceed to ballot, Officials report minimal fire behavior on four ongoing blazes in North Cascades National Park, State fire mobilization authorized for Lambdin fire, Dept. of Ecology issues postcards reminding visitors to beware of asbestos hazards near Sumas Mountain, U.S. Supreme Court to revisit challenge to WA runaway youth law previously dismissed in 2023, F&C – JULY 25 (not June) from FB post

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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, June, 30. Good afternoon, I’m ______.

STORY: Bellingham man arrested on suspicion of deliberately setting fire to own apartment

A man was arrested on suspicion of setting his Barkley Village apartment on fire.

Bellingham Police Lieutenant Claudia Murphy says officers responded to reports of smoke coming out of the Sunset Drive apartment Friday afternoon. Several items on fire were found inside.

Surveillance cameras showed the tenant, a 53-year-old man, leaving the apartment just before the smoke was noticed. He looked around and then hid behind a nearby garage before running away. He has several outstanding DUI warrants, and has been booked into the Whatcom County Jail for first-degree arson and malicious mischief.

STORY: Bellingham woman arrested after allegedly pepper-spraying acquaintance and stealing their car

In more crime news, a Bellingham woman is in custody after pepper-spraying a man and stealing his car.

Bellingham Police Lieutenant Claudia Murphy says officers were called to Northwest Avenue Friday morning. The victim was allegedly sprayed in the face by a female acquaintance, who then took off in his hatchback.

State Patrol troopers later found the stolen car on Marine Drive. They also learned that the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Grace Cooper, had an active warrant from the Department of Corrections. Law enforcement surrounded a nearby home and took Cooper into custody without incident.

Probable cause was established for first‑degree robbery, second‑degree assault, and motor‑vehicle theft. Cooper was booked into the Whatcom County Jail.

STORY: Initiative banning algorithmic rental price fixing reportedly receives more than enough support to proceed to ballot

A ban on using algorithms to determine rent may proceed to November’s general election ballot.

Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn said her office received nearly 57-hundred signatures — over 2-thousand more than needed for the item to be included.

Organizers say they want to stop landlords from using paid-for algorithms that use data to determine rent and the terms of leases.

The county auditor’s office will start verifying the signatures today. They hope to have that process completed by Thursday.

STORY: Officials report minimal fire behavior on four ongoing blazes in North Cascades National Park

Cool temperatures and traces of airborne moisture have helped keep four active fires in check.

All four broke out in the steep and forested areas north of Little Beaver Creek and west of Ross Lake.

Warmer and drier weather should arrive by the weekend, along with the fire dangers that always come with the July 4th holiday.

Presently, campfires, fire pits and barbecues remain banned throughout the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Campers may use lanterns, grills or stoves fueled by gas or propane, as long as no flammable material is within three feet of the device.

The forest service asks everyone to use common sense, follow the rules, and help the firefighters who are risking their lives to keep us all safe.

STORY: State fire mobilization authorized for Lambdin fire

State fire assistance is supporting local firefighters in their containment of the Lambdin fire in Walla Walla County.

It’s unknown what caused the fire that broke out yesterday morning. The blaze is estimated at 15-hundred acres, and is burning agricultural crops

and parts of the Mid-Columbia Wildlife Refuge. The fire is threatening homes, power infrastructure and standing wheat.

Level 3 evacuations are currently in place for the area.

STORY: Dept. of Ecology issues postcards reminding visitors to beware of asbestos hazards near Sumas Mountain

If you are going to Swift Creek or Sumas River, be aware of asbestos in the sediment.

The state Department of Ecology says material from the Sumas Mountain landslide is washing downstream. In dry weather, the asbestos may become airborne, posing risks of cancer and lung disease.

Ecology advises people to avoid the area entirely.

STORY: Weeklong closure of SR 9 planned for early August Drivers on State Route 9 in Skagit County should prepare for delays this summer.

Work is scheduled along the roadway to replace two culverts blocking salmon migration. Construction begins today on sites east of Mount Vernon and north of Sedro-Woolley, with lane reductions and alternating traffic expected through much of the summer.

A full seven-day closure of Highway 9 near Mount Vernon is currently planned for early August, with drivers detoured via State Route 534, Interstate 5, and College Way.

The nearly 6-million-dollar project will open up about two miles of upstream habitat for salmon and other fish. Work is expected to be completed by mid-October.

STORY: U.S. Supreme Court to revisit challenge to WA runaway youth law previously dismissed in 2023

The U.S. Supreme Court announced it will revisit the legality of a Washington law that protects runaway transgender youth.

A 2023 state senate bill expanded the list of compelling reasons a child could use to justify running away without legal repercussions. Under the law, emergency shelters are not required to notify parents when children run away to seek gender-affirming care or reproductive services.

Conservative group America First Legal challenged the bill; lower courts dismissed their argument. The Supreme Court will revisit the law’s constitutionality and review related runaway laws in the state.

Opponents of the law say it violates their parental constitutional rights, while advocates argue it protects children from abuse or neglect while they pursue gender-affirming care.

Attorney General Nick Brown’s office pointed to lower court rulings upholding the law, and said they are prepared to successfully defend it at the Supreme Court.

WX: Altitude Sadness

And now for the weather:

It’ll be partly sunny today with highs in the low-70s and a few raindrops mixed in. Clouds will increase as evening approaches, with increasing possibility of rain and overnight lows in the mid-50s.

Tomorrow, look for some rain in the morning, turning to partly sunny skies and highs approaching 70 degrees. Clouds will roll in again towards the evening, but no rain is expected then.

As of right now, the prediction is we’ll see clouds for the 4th — but no rain. However, this is Whatcom County and we typically enjoy a bit of the wet stuff on the 4th… so stay tuned. The good news is, warm summer weather starts July 5th.

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, Noelle Reger (REE-ger), and Sean Lynch. 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 _________… thank you for listening!

F&C – JULY 25 (not June) from FB post:

North Whatcom Fire and Rescue – WCFD 21

13h

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