Striking WWU student workers announce hard deadline on return to the picket line, Over 50 youth facing homelessness after federal shutdown of Cascades Job Corps, Port of Bellingham parts ways with longtime executive director, Two stranded mountaineers rescued from Mount Baker, WTA and Port of Bellingham considering installing public bike lockers at key travel location, Birch Bay Waterslides still set to reopen this month, despite lack of operating permit and not requesting re-inspection, Whatcom County Council votes to create subcommittee to handle hiring of independent legal counsel
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, June 5th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Striking WWU student workers announce hard deadline on return to the picket line
Student workers at Western Washington University have set a hard deadline before potentially heading back to the picket line.
In an announcement online, the Operational Student Employees union says the university has two days to make meaningful progress in contract negotiations—or the strike resumes next Monday, June 9th.
The union calls its June 2nd meeting with Western quote “the most productive yet,” but says the university still refuses to voluntarily recognize the student worker union.
President Sabah Randhawa has previously said state law doesn’t grant collective bargaining rights to student employees.
The OSEs will meet Wednesday to decide whether negotiations have moved far enough forward. So far, the university has not responded to the deadline announcement.
STORY: Over 50 youth facing homelessness after federal shutdown of Cascades Job Corps
Over 50 students are facing homelessness due to the impending federal shutdown of the Cascades Job Corps by the Trump administration.
The Sedro-Woolley site houses 270 students — low-income youth ages 16-to-24 — and provides them with free educational and vocational training. All of the students will now have to leave, however, as the Department of Labor announced the phasing out of Job Corps centers across the U.S. starting last Thursday. The students were originally given until tomorrow to leave the center; after much public criticism, that deadline has been extended to next Friday.
According to Cascades Job Corps director Kendra Watson, while many of the students will return home or stay with friends, about 55 of them have nowhere to go, with some of them having previously left dangerous domestic situations. Ever since the stop-work order came down, Watson has been working to find shelter for those students. She has also secured vouchers so they can take their GED tests, and worked with Sedro-Woolley Mayor Julia Johnson to connect with organizations throughout the community.
The Trump administration says the pause is taking place due to, quote, “significant financial challenges”; the program’s deficit is expected to reach $213 million this year. The Job Corps Transparency Report — released by the administration in April — says the average graduation rate is 38.6%. Watson, however, disputes these numbers, and says the Job Corps aligns
with the administration’s supposed goal of training skilled youth in the trades. While she says that changes and improvements could be made to the program, she has decried its stoppage as “inhumane” and “cruel.”
STORY: Port of Bellingham parts ways with longtime executive director
After 13 years at the helm, Rob Fix is out as Executive Director of the Port of Bellingham.
Port officials announced Wednesday that Fix and the Port have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately. The decision followed a 2-to-1 vote by Port Commissioners during their Tuesday meeting.
Commissioners Ken Bell and Michael Shepard voted in favor of the separation, calling it an opportunity to move the Port in a new direction — while still praising Fix’s leadership through challenges like the pandemic. Commissioner Bobby Briscoe voted against the move, crediting Fix with much of the Port’s progress over the years.
Tiffany DeSimone, the Port’s Director of Maritime, has been appointed interim executive director. She’ll step into the role while continuing her oversight of shipping terminals, harbor operations, and major capital projects.
Her temporary salary has been set at $220,000 annually, as she leads the Port through this transition.
STORY: Two stranded mountaineers rescued from Mount Baker
Two mountaineers were rescued from the north face of Mount Baker on Tuesday.
A search and rescue team from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island was dispatched to assist the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office around 11:30 a.m. The search and rescue team, which happened to be doing a training exercise at the time, reached the mountaineers in 20 minutes.
The mountaineers had become stranded when one of them, a 62-year-old man, lost a boot and crampon as they tried to summit the mountain that morning. Both were taken to St. Joseph Medical Center; their condition is unknown.
STORY: WTA and Port of Bellingham considering installing public bike lockers at key travel location
And in more Port of Bellingham news, travelers in Bellingham may soon have a safer place to store their bikes and gear.
The Port says it is moving forward with plans to install bike lockers at Bellingham International Airport and Fairhaven Station. The Port Commission authorized outgoing Executive Director Rob Fix to finalize an agreement during its Tuesday meeting.
The project will be funded mostly through a Whatcom Transportation Authority grant, which will cover 90% of the cost. The Port will contribute the remaining 10%.
Each locker will include space for both bikes and travel materials — part of an effort to expand transportation options and respond to public demand.
STORY: Birch Bay Waterslides still set to reopen this month, despite lack of operating permit and not requesting re-inspection
Birch Bay Waterslides says it plans to reopen in less than two weeks — despite not yet having a permit to operate.
The water park has been closed for nearly two years, after a visitor was seriously injured on a slide, prompting a lawsuit that is still ongoing. As of Tuesday, the park’s operating permit remains suspended. Officials say a reinspection must be requested and passed before reopening is allowed.
The business has not responded to media inquiries, but has been promoting its 40th anniversary season online, touting major upgrades, a new ride, and improved safety measures.
County health officials say they’ve been in contact with the park, but no inspection has been scheduled.
STORY: Whatcom County Council votes to create subcommittee to handle hiring of independent legal counsel
The Whatcom County Council is exploring whether to secure its own legal advice — separate from the county prosecutor’s office.
In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, councilmembers agreed to form a subcommittee to study the idea. The move follows rising tensions and a breakdown of trust between the council and Prosecutor Eric Richey’s office, which came to a head last month.
The subcommittee will examine if the prosecutor’s office can meet the council’s legal needs, or if outside counsel is warranted — and how it might be funded. Some members cited past incidents, including a $225,000 settlement over sexual harassment claims that was approved without notifying the council.
While Washington counties typically rely on their prosecutor’s offices for legal advice, council members say they want more tailored support, especially in cases of potential conflicts of interest.
WX: You tellin’ me a sun dried these tomatoes?
And now for the weather:
Another day of sunshine and warm weather is set to grace us today, with temperatures set to peak in the low 70s. Some light cloud cover is
expected to persist throughout the day, increasing in the evening. Nighttime lows are projected in the mid-50s.
Sunny and warm weather is expected again tomorrow.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Cody Mills, Aidan Larson, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), and Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee). 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. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thank you for listening.
##
Leave a Reply