Judge orders rehiring of thousands of probationary federal employees, WWU disputes wrongful termination lawsuit after former employee awarded over $3 million, Bellingham Cold Storage to be acquired by international corporation, 42nd District Lawmakers to Hold Town Hall in Ferndale, WSDOT to begin clearing snow from North Cascades Highway next week, Free and cheap and only 11.8% Irish but I’m gonna make it everybody’s problem, Reduced USDA funding deals blow to Whatcom food banks, New census report indicates steady population growth in Whatcom County, Reykdal Warns of Federal Education Cuts Impacting Washington Schools
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, March 14th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Judge orders rehiring of thousands of probationary federal employees
A federal judge in California has ordered the Trump administration to immediately reinstate tens of thousands of probationary employees who were fired as part of Elon Musk’s push to reduce the federal workforce.
Judge William Alsup ruled Thursday that the terminations—which affect workers in multiple agencies—were unlawful. The ruling expands a previous emergency order and prohibits the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from advising agencies on employee dismissals. Agencies must now provide compliance documentation to the court.
The Trump administration swiftly appealed, with the White House calling this ruling an unconstitutional overreach. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the administration would “immediately fight back”.
Unions — including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) — sued in February, arguing that OPM lacked the authority to carry out mass firings. AFGE President Everett Kelley praised the ruling, vowing to continue the fight for affected workers.
STORY: WWU disputes wrongful termination lawsuit after former employee awarded over $3 million
Western Washington University says it has contested a jury’s decision that awarded $3 million to a former internal auditor for wrongful termination.
Antonia Allen was fired in 2019 after reporting that faculty in the university’s Woodring College of Education had granted false academic credentials to students. A jury ruled in her favor last year, awarding her nearly $3 million in damages and legal fees, concluding that she was a whistleblower subjected to retaliation.
The state, representing Western, appealed the verdict, and claimed Allen was merely performing her official duties and did not meet the legal definition of a whistleblower. Her attorneys countered that the state’s interpretation of the law could allow agencies to suppress investigations.
The state has until April 14th to file a reply brief.
STORY: Bellingham Cold Storage to be acquired by international corporation
Bellingham Cold Storage is set to be acquired by Michigan-based cold storage giant Lineage Logistics.
According to a letter sent to employees by BCS President and CEO Doug Thomas on March 4th, workers were assured that the acquisition would not alter the core values of BCS, and emphasized Lineage’s alignment with their company culture. Neither Cold Storage nor Lineage has commented on the pending sale.
BCS, a key presence on the Bellingham waterfront since 1946, is one of the West Coast’s largest cold storage and frozen food processing facilities. The acquisition is expected to close this June, pending approval from the Port of Bellingham due to BCS’s long-term lease agreement.
Lineage, the world’s largest temperature-controlled warehouse operator, recently became a publicly traded company and has expanded aggressively, completing 79 acquisitions since 2020. The company reported over $5 billion in revenue last year. If finalized, this will be Lineage’s second public warehouse in Whatcom County, adding to its existing operations in Lynden and Ferndale.
Port commissioners will discuss the deal at a public meeting on Tuesday.
STORY: 42nd District Lawmakers to Hold Town Hall in Ferndale
State Representatives Joe Timmons, Alicia Rule, and State Senator Sharon Shewmake will host an in-person town hall tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Ferndale High School.
Residents from across the 42nd Legislative District—which includes Bellingham, Point Roberts, Lynden, Ferndale, and Blaine—are invited to attend. The event will provide updates from this year’s legislative session, along with an opportunity for community members to ask questions and discuss key issues affecting the district.
STORY: WSDOT to begin clearing snow from North Cascades Highway next week
The State Department of Transportation will begin clearing the North Cascades Highway on Monday.
This marks the start of the annual effort to reopen the scenic mountain pass. Crews will begin at Silver Star Gate near milepost 171, and work west through avalanche-prone areas like Cutthroat and Liberty Bell chutes. On the west side, additional road repairs and maintenance will take place. The process typically takes 4-to-6 weeks but may be delayed due to weather or other hazards.
The stretch between Silver Star Gate and Ross Lake will be an active work zone on weekdays but open for recreation on weekends, though the avalanche risk remains high. WSDOT also reminds snowmobilers to remove their vehicles from Silver Star Gate before work begins.
STORY: Free and cheap and only 11.8% Irish but I’m gonna make it everybody’s problem
It’s Friday – if you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a bit of what’s going on around the county.
The Bellingham Cruise and Ferry Terminal in Fairhaven will host the Whatcom Cultural Arts Festival tomorrow and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The annual event is presented by Allied Arts of Whatcom County and seeks to “celebrate the diverse cultures that make up our beautiful region”. Those performing include flautist Peter Ali, storyteller and performer Megan Markham, and belly dance performer and instructor Rachel Carter. More information is available at Allied Arts’ website.
Tomorrow will also see Ferndale’s Pioneer Park host Whatcom Conservation’s annual plant sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to add more natives to their garden, as well as shopping for garden art and mingling with various conservation organizations. Over 40 species will be up for sale; a full species lineup, as well as how best to care for them, can be found on Whatcom Conservation’s website.
Finally, the Mount Baker Theatre will stage a production of Dragons & Mythical Beasts this Sunday at 3 p.m. Fresh off a run in London’s West End, this puppet show invites audiences to “unveil a myriad of dark secrets and come face to face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth”. Tickets starting at $24.75 can be purchased at MBT’s website.
WX: I Overcast Fireball
And now weather:
Hints of sun today with clouds and scattered showers. Daytime highs right around 50 degrees. More rain coming late tonight, making for a wet, chilly evening, with lows in the upper 30s.
Rain will likely continue through the weekend, with a chance of thunderstorms.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Paloma Ortiz, and Stevie Sjogren (SHOW-gren). Our news director is Staci Baird. 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. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _David Korb________… thanks for listening.
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STORY: Reduced USDA funding deals blow to Whatcom food banks
Recent cuts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are expected to significantly impact Whatcom County food banks.
The USDA has canceled the 2025 Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA), which helped food banks buy from local growers. Whatcom County food banks were anticipating $180,000 from the program this year, but that funding will no longer materialize. Additionally, instability in The Emergency Food Assistance Program could lead to a loss of another $650,000 worth of food annually for local food banks.
In a recent interview, Executive Director of the Bellingham Food Bank Mike Cohen warned that the timing of these cuts is especially harmful, as food insecurity remains high. Local food banks recently requested $2 million in annual funding to meet rising demand, and were given just $750,000.
Local advocates say that the loss of federal funding is a blow, and food banks will now need more assistance from state and local governments to prevent severe shortages.
STORY: New census report indicates steady population growth in Whatcom County
Whatcom County’s population grew by more than 2,200 residents between July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024— the county’s total population is now 234,954.
According to new U.S. Census Bureau data, the nearly 1% increase marks a slightly faster growth rate than in 2023 but remains below the surge of 1.75% recorded from 2021-22.
Elsewhere in Washington, King County saw nearly 2% growth—its fastest since 2016—while Okanogan County led the state with just over a 2% increase.
STORY: Reykdal Warns of Federal Education Cuts Impacting Washington Schools
State Superintendent Chris Reykdal (RIKE-doll) has raised concerns that recent U.S. Department of Education cuts pose an immediate risk to Washington students.
Reykdal also addressed a series of other recent actions the federal government has taken on education in a wide-ranging call with reporters on Thursday. The federal Education Department is responsible for enforcing antidiscrimination laws in education, distributing student financial aid, and providing funding for low-income students and those with disabilities, among other responsibilities. On Tuesday, the department reduced its workforce by nearly 50%— a move the Trump administration argues increases efficiency but that critics say will weaken oversight.
Early yesterday, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown joined 20 states and the District of Columbia, in a lawsuit against the Trump administration to challenge the department’s plans to dismiss half of its workforce. The lawsuit claims that the department has reduced its workforce so much that it won’t be able to perform critical functions. It also argues that the president can neither dismantle the agency nor “incapacitate” it by cutting the staff needed to carry out its duties.
Reykdal said on average, school districts in Washington get 7% of their funding from the federal government, but that share varies widely between districts. Rural areas, tribal communities and high-poverty districts tend to get more federal funding and could be more affected by cuts.
State lawmakers must finalize a budget by April, but any major federal cuts could force adjustments later in the year.
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