Bellingham receives DHS grant to improve security during World Cup, Court of appeals upholds dismissal of lawsuit challenging City of Bellingham’s COVID-era vaccine mandate, Suspect pleads guilty to gang-related shooting on Guide Meridian, Tourism Economics finds visitors spent over $750 million in Whatcom County across 2025, Changes bound for certain WTA routes on June 14th, Local author chosen to represent the state at the 2026 National Book Festival, SUN Bucks summer food support for Washington children, Owner of disaster-stricken Longview plant announces plans to guarantee pay for all employees through early August, WA Secretary of State decries proposed USPS changes to mail-in voting, Intercultural Dance Day comes to Bellingham (FREE EVENT), FREE & CHEAP
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STORY: Bellingham receives DHS grant to improve security during World Cup
Bellingham is getting federal dollars to help local law enforcement prepare for the World Cup.
The City Council last night approved a $236,000 grant which will support additional staffing during fan zone events, along with the purchase of protective gear and equipment that detects explosive devices.
Officials say the grant will strengthen security and emergency response capabilities during World Cup activities scheduled around Bellingham from June 11th through July 20th.
STORY: Court of appeals upholds dismissal of lawsuit challenging City of Bellingham’s COVID-era vaccine mandate
A federal appeals court has rejected a challenge to Bellingham’s COVID‑era vaccine mandate.
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit against the City of Bellingham by a group of former city employees who argued the COVID-era vaccine mandate was unconstitutional.
Last Tuesday’s ruling said that evidence presented to former mayor Seth Fleetwood showed that the vaccines provided protection against severe illness for 84 percent of recipients. Some of those former employees asked for vaccine exemption on religious or medical grounds before they were fired.
The court, however, said there were no additional facts in the appeal case to show that the review procedures for their request violated their constitutional rights.
STORY: Suspect pleads guilty to gang-related shooting on Guide Meridian
A second person has pleaded guilty in connection with a deadly gang-related shooting in Bellingham.
Twenty-one-year-old Alan Ramos admitted to second-degree manslaughter and third-degree assault after prosecutors say he fired into a vehicle stopped on the Guide last October. 26-year-old Daytin Duronso-Harp was killed in the shooting; another passenger, a 25-year-old man, was injured. Court records show Ramos and teenage co-defendant Royelio Marquez fled the scene and hid the gun at a nearby church before returning to retrieve it.
Marquez received a seven-month jail sentence in April after pleading guilty to rendering criminal assistance. Ramos is scheduled to be sentenced July 9th.
STORY: Tourism Economics finds visitors spent over $750 million in Whatcom County across 2025
Visitor spending in Whatcom County slipped last year.
A study for State of Washington Tourism found nearly three‑and‑a‑half million people visited the county. Although fewer than half stayed overnight, visitors still spent $772 million overall, and the average spent per person was higher than the year before.
In an email, Visit Bellingham president Dylan Deane‑Boyle says the drop in visitor numbers was not surprising, given the decline in cross‑border traffic.
Statewide, overall visitor spending still inched up slightly.
STORY: Changes bound for certain WTA routes on June 14th
Bus schedules are changing to better serve Western Washington University.
Starting June 14th, Route 190 becomes the main frequent line, running every 15 minutes and replacing six overlapping routes. Extra shuttles will run when the 190 is full.
WTA says the changes address heavy loads when classes change, empty buses in summer, and a confusing tangle of routes through campus.
There’s also a weekend update, with Route 9 adjusting its Saturday departures and Route 10 adding Saturday service. More information is available at the WTA website.
STORY: Local author chosen to represent the state at the 2026 National Book Festival
A Whatcom County writer will represent Washington at this year’s National Book Festival.
Former state Poet Laureate Rena Priest, a member of the Lhaq’temish (LAHK-tuh-mish) or Lummi Nation, was selected for her essay collection Positively Uncivilized, which reflects on the region’s environment, salmon decline, and Indigenous history. Priest says she hopes the book encourages readers to care for the Northwest’s lands and waters.
The state’s youth selection is When Tomorrow Burns by Seattle author Tae Keller.
Both books are part of the Great Reads from Great Places program, highlighting authors from every state and U.S. territory.
The National Book Festival takes place August 22nd in Washington, D.C. Many events will be streamed online.
STORY: SUN Bucks summer food support for Washington children
Hundreds of thousands of Washington children will get extra help buying food this summer.
The SUN Bucks program returns this year, offering families a one‑time $120 benefit per eligible child to help cover groceries when school is out.
Children qualify automatically if their families receive SNAP, or if they’re eligible for free or reduced‑price school meals. Others will need to apply.
Cards will start going out in early June. Applications are available online in English and Spanish, with paper forms in several other languages. Families must apply by September 4th to receive benefits for the summer of 2026.
STORY: Owner of disaster-stricken Longview plant announces plans to guarantee pay for all employees through early August
Nippon Dynawave Packaging says it will continue paying employees through August 8th.
A deadly chemical tank implosion at its Longview paper mill last month killed 11 workers and forced parts of the plant to shut down. In a joint announcement with the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Mills, the company says workers unable to report to work because of the incident will continue receiving pay. Employees who are working shifts will receive additional compensation. The announcement comes after Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez urged the company to support workers during the investigation.
A recent House budget bill initially proposed slashing the U.S. Chemical Safety Boards annual funding by more than 40%. This reduction would have severely handicapped its ability to probe major disasters. An 11th hour bipartisan vote restored the funding, due in large part to the Longview explosion.
Safety reviews are expected to continue for months.
STORY: WA Secretary of State decries proposed USPS changes to mail-in voting
Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is criticizing a proposed U.S. Postal Service rule governing ballot mail handling in federal elections.
In an announcement, Hobbs said the proposal represents federal overreach into election administration, while the Postal Service says the rule is intended to create uniform standards for mailing absentee ballots.
Among the proposed changes is the creation of a state-managed Mail-In and Absentee Participation List that would allow election officials to compare the number of ballots mailed and received.
Election officials and voting-rights advocates worry the proposal could slow ballot processing and create new barriers for mail voting. Legal experts also question whether the federal government has the authority to impose such requirements on state-run elections.
Several lawsuits challenging the underlying executive order have already been filed, and some observers say the proposal may face significant court scrutiny before it could take effect.
WX: Clouds with Holes
And now for the weather:
Look for today’s weather to be mostly sunny with highs near 70 degrees. Clouds should roll in tonight with some rain early tomorrow morning. Overnight lows will be in the low-50s.
Tomorrow, look for rain to turn to showers, with highs in the mid-60s and a chance of thunderstorms. Summer, you tease!
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: Intercultural Dance Day comes to Bellingham (FREE EVENT)
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.
The City of Ferndale is excited to announce the 2026 Summer of Fun, a season-long celebration of free recreational programs, family activities, and community events taking place throughout Ferndale this summer. The Summer of Fun kicks off on Friday, June 12, which also happens to be the last day of school. Families are invited to celebrate the start of summer with Community Game Night at Pioneer Pavilion, followed by Flicks in the Park featuring Zootopia 2. (condense this!)
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