County severe weather shelter extends season to March 13, Police reports: Scam callers pretending to be official Whatcom County law enforcement, Results of Bellingham Plan survey released, moving into Phase 2, WA lawmakers approve out-of-state option for long-term care benefit, Older U.S. adults should get another COVID-19 shot, health officials recommend, Free and Cheap
______________________________
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Friday, March 1st. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: County severe weather shelter extends season to March 13
Whatcom County’s severe weather shelters have decided to extend their season for another two weeks.
It is possible that the county will see wintery weather into the first half of March. So, the Bellingham Severe Weather Shelter has decided to move their closing date and remain available until March 13th. The North State Street shelter is open whenever forecasts and staff availability meet opening criteria.
The Bellingham shelter is not the only one open to the public. Ferndale’s Severe Weather Shelter is also available through March 31st, while the Lighthouse Ministries’ Base Camp is open year-round.
STORY: Police reports: Scam callers pretending to be official Whatcom County law enforcement
The Bellingham Police Department is warning residents that scam callers are pretending to be law enforcement asking for money.
According to BPD, scammers with thick southern accents claim to be local law enforcement officers and accuse the citizen of missing jury duty or being guilty of outstanding warrants. They may ask the target to buy gift cards or share other information over the phone. Scammers also claim to be loved ones who are under arrest and need bail money.
Those who have received calls like this should report them to the BPD website.
STORY: Results of Bellingham Plan survey released, moving into Phase 2
The results of the Bellingham Plan survey have been released.
Phase 1 of the plan was finished last week. The in-person and online survey identified a few clear priorities for people living in Bellingham. According to survey results, the primary issues are housing types, rental protections, and affordability. Other concerns were the creation of pedestrian-centric gathering and community spaces, as well as creating a locally scaled economy to generate more local jobs that pay a living-wage. Bellingham respondents rated recreational opportunities, healthy environment, and public open spaces as its top three strengths.
Phase 2 of the survey will take place in the first half of 2024, and engage with the previously identified issues, as well as explore approaches to growth moving forward.
STORY: WA lawmakers approve out-of-state option for long-term care benefit
The Washington state legislature passed a bill allowing retirees to access their long-term care benefits even if they move out of state.
House Bill 2467 addresses the portability of the Washington Cares Fund, which imposes a tax on workers’ paychecks to fund long-term care benefits. Supporters of the program argue it helps the aging population and would allow retirees to access their $36,500 lifetime benefit Cares money, even if they move out of Washington. Opponents of the program criticize its mandatory nature and limited benefit size.
In discussion on the house floor, Republicans criticized the bureaucratic nature of the portability solution, while concerns arose about potential confusion with an upcoming ballot initiative on the program’s opt-in/opt-out status. However, sponsors of the new bill argue that the portability option adds flexibility and addresses the needs of retirees who move out of state.
Washington is the first state in the nation to offer long term care benefits to its residents. The bill now heads to Governor Jay Inslee’s desk.
STORY: Older U.S. adults should get another COVID-19 shot, health officials recommend
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending that adults aged 65 and above, should receive another COVID-19 vaccine shot, even if they had a booster in the fall.
Older adults face higher risk of severe illness and death from the virus, and the CDC says the decision was based on the understanding that vaccine-induced immunity tends to diminish over time, particularly in seniors. However, experts continue to weigh the necessity of additional booster shots against the likelihood of vaccine fatigue as current vaccination rates, especially among children, remain low.
The CDC says regular boosters reduce illness severity and transmission rates and encourages higher risk individuals to get additional dosages.
STORY: Free and Cheap
Now for some free or cheap events happening around the county this Saturday.
The 8th annual Whatcom Farm Expo is being held from 9am to 2 pm at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds in Lynden. This event will include interactive exhibits, hands-on demonstrations, and seminars by local farmers and experts. Designed to be an informal meet-and-greet and networking event, visitors will find opportunities to engage with exhibitors and other farmers.
The Garden Spot Nursery is hosting a plant swap starting at 10am. Bring houseplants and cuttings to trade with other members of the community. There is a ticket system so no awkward direct deals between people, just fun finds. There will be houseplant experts on hand to answer questions in a houseplant clinic as well as a repotting table.
From noon to 3pm, the second Fix-it Fair will be held at the Ohio Street Workstudios. There will be small businesses to help mend clothing, repair small appliances, sharpen knives, repair bikes, repair jewelry, and do minor shoe repairs. All repairs are done free or by donation.
WX: Rain
Your Whatcom County weather today: there is a slight chance of rain today, and gusts of wind as high as 25 mph. Today’s high is around 46 degrees, which will drop to a low of 33 tonight. Expect rain and snow tonight, with calmer winds. The rain-snow mix will continue into tomorrow and the rest of the weekend with little or no accumulation expected.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman and Tristan Trudell. 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. If you would like to help keep local news accessible, check out our new Patreon page at patreon.com/kmrenews or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _David Korb_______________… thanks for listening.
