Bellingham man convicted of attempted second-degree murder in case of bus stop stabbing, BLI soon to begin direct service to Portland, DOT releases $17.5 million grant for Skagit Transit, Beleaguered vacation rental property in Glacier granted new life as AirBnB under new ownership, Coalition of sheriffs petition Gov. Ferguson for partial veto of new eligibility bill
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, March, 17. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham man convicted of attempted second-degree murder in case of bus stop stabbing
A jury has convicted a Bellingham man of attempted second-degree murder in a stabbing at a city bus stop.
According to court documents, twenty-five-year-old Bennie Demetrius Washington Jr. was found guilty of attacking his former roommate last June on Dupont Street. The victim suffered serious injuries, including a fractured vertebra and punctured diaphragm.
Jurors acquitted Washington of attempted first-degree murder but found him guilty of the lesser charge, along with first-degree assault and use of a deadly weapon.
A second suspect in the case has already pleaded guilty and is serving a three-year sentence.
Washington is being held without bail and could face up to life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for April 16.
STORY: BLI soon to begin direct service to Portland
A new nonstop flight is taking off this Thursday from Bellingham.
According to a recent announcement, Alaska Airlines will begin daily direct service between Bellingham and Portland, which will cut travel time to about an hour.
Airport officials say the route is part of a broader effort to expand direct flights and improve connections through major regional hubs.
Flights will depart Bellingham each morning, with multiple return options later in the day.
Introductory one-way fares start around $59, with service running year-round.
STORY: Bellingham tree ordinance extended another six months
In a unanimous vote, Bellingham City Council has extended its Emergency Landmark Tree Ordinance for another six months.
Initially enacted in May of 2024, the Ordinance prohibits the damage or removal of specifically designated ‘significant’ trees. Violators can face fines of up to $5000 for each offense.
According to the current version of the Ordinance, any healthy tree with a trunk diameter of at least 36 inches at breast height automatically qualifies as protected, excepting black cottonwoods. The Council also considers nominations for other landmark trees. Criteria for approval may include species, distinctive features or age, historical associations, and value as habitat for wildlife.
This week’s vote marks the fourth extension of the Ordinance in the past two years, and buys the Council additional time to complete the formal process of formulating and approving permanent safeguards.
STORY: Wrong-way collision near Birch Bay-Lynden road results in DUI arrest
A man is in custody after a wrong-way crash on Interstate 5 near Birch Bay.
Washington State Patrol says the collision happened just after 6 p.m. in the southbound lanes near the Birch Bay-Lynden Road exit, damaging two vehicles. Despite the impact, only minor injuries were reported.
Troopers arrested the 35-year-old driver on suspicion of DUI. He’s now being held in the Whatcom County Jail on one-thousand dollars bail.
STORY: DOT releases $17.5 million grant for Skagit Transit
Skagit Transit will get a major boost to build its new operations facility in Burlington.
Federal transportation officials have released $17.5 million for the project. The money had been awarded last year but was held up until this week.
The funding will help Skagit Transit move forward on a long‑planned maintenance, operations and administration center — a key upgrade meant to support growing transit needs across the region.
The grant is part of a broader package of federal transportation awards totaling more than $183 million statewide, including money for zero‑emission truck infrastructure, rail improvements, rural rail rehabilitation and safe‑streets projects.
STORY: Beleaguered vacation rental property in Glacier granted new life as AirBnB under new ownership
Glacier’s Oculis dome has reopened as an Airbnb.
The dome sits on a two‑acre parcel once planned for a 27‑unit “luxury lodging” resort that raised more than $1.2 million on Indiegogo before the project collapsed. Construction stalled, backers demanded refunds, and the property was sold at auction last fall.
The Bellingham Herald reports new owner Anna Van Ry, who grew up in Whatcom County, says she and her husband are keeping things small. They’ve renovated the dome, reduced guest capacity and met with neighbors to rebuild trust after years of controversy.
Van Ry says they’re not reviving the resort plan or adding more domes — just running a quiet, transparent Airbnb that fits the neighborhood. She says more outdoor updates are planned this summer; the dome already features a sauna, covered fireplace, seating area and hot tub.
STORY: Coalition of sheriffs petition Gov. Ferguson for partial veto of new eligibility bill
Washington sheriffs are urging Governor Bob Ferguson to veto parts of a controversial police accountability bill.
In a letter this week, several county sheriffs said Senate Bill 5974 would give the state too much power over elected officials and could override voters’ choices.
The legislation would require sheriffs to meet stricter qualifications, including law enforcement experience and certification standards, and could allow them to be removed from office if they fall short.
Critics argue the measure shifts authority away from voters, while supporters say it ensures law enforcement leaders meet the same standards as rank-and-file officers.
Ferguson says he plans to meet with sheriffs before deciding whether to sign the bill.
WX: I’ve got sunshiiiiine…. on a different day
And now weather:
The pineapple express is visiting us this week, so expect a deluge today here in Whatcom— the weather will shift between mild showers and heavier downpours. Total precipitation should fall somewhere between a quarter to half of an inch, with gusts up to 20-mph. Expect temperatures to reach highs in the mid-50s, and don’t expect it to change much as we head into evening— nighttime forecasts call for another half-inch of rain and lows right around 50 degrees.
Be ready for the skies to dump on us again tomorrow and the rest of the week, which has officials concerned that high snow levels and heavy rainfall mean snowmelt runoff will lead to rising rivers. The National Weather Service has Whatcom and Skagit on another flood warning tomorrow night through most of Friday
Stay tuned for more information as the week goes on— especially if you live in a flood prone area.
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), Austin Wright, Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Kieran (KEAR-un) Dang, and Bella Farris. 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!
