Inmate dies in Whatcom County jail following medical episode, WSDOT announces new spring ferry schedule, Bellingham Public Schools seeking public comment on proposed changes, WA lawmakers seek to relieve strained youth justice system, Free and cheap, Birch Bay-Lynden Road closure scheduled for next Tuesday, WSDOT removes eight-foot stuffed sloth from stretch of I-5 North
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, March 21st. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Inmate dies in Whatcom County jail following medical episode
An inmate at the Whatcom County Jail is dead after being found in medical distress during a routine security check early yesterday morning.
According to Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deb Slater, corrections deputies discovered the man — 28-year-old Austin Lawrence — around 2:40 a.m., and immediately provided aid before calling 9-1-1. Personnel from the Bellingham Fire Department arrived and took over medical assistance, but Lawrence was pronounced dead at the jail.
Sheriff Donnell Tanksley expressed sorrow over the incident. The Sheriff’s Office has requested that Bellingham Police investigate the death. The Whatcom County Medical Examiner will determine the official cause.
STORY: WSDOT announces new spring ferry schedule
A new spring sailing schedule for the Anacortes-to-San Juan ferry route will take effect this Sunday.
The state Department of Transportation implemented seasonal schedule updates last year, the first in over a decade, to address frequent delays and other reliability issues. The recent winter schedule showed an improvement in on-time arrivals with a jump from 68-to-91%.
The updated spring schedule will remain in effect through June 14th. Travelers can view the new sailing times on the WSDOT (wash-DOT) website.
STORY: Bellingham Public Schools seeking public comment on proposed changes
Faced with an estimated fifteen million-dollar deficit, Bellingham Public Schools Superintendent Greg Baker has asked for public input on a proposed budget that includes significant cuts.
The cost-cutting measures include leaving vacant positions unfilled and an increase in class sizes in grades four through twelve. The proposal would also limit professional development opportunities, as well as reduce the purchase of new materials. Baker added that an optional $100 fee for participation in high school sports and drivers’ education programs is also under consideration, but would only be applied to families who are able to pay.
The fee would help support the Project Free Education initiative, launched by Bellingham Public Schools in 2011. The program’s stated goal is to keep participation in some activities – as well as essential supplies – free for low-income students.
Another proposed action involves moving the start date for the school year to the Tuesday after Labor Day, rather than the traditional Thursday before the holiday. Additionally, schools would close earlier – on Friday, June 12th, rather than Monday, June 15th – which would reduce the total number of school days to 179.
Bellingham Public Schools wants feedback from community members, and comments will be accepted through next Friday at 4 p.m. Detailed information about the new proposal, as well as a link to the Feedback Form, can be found on the District’s website.
STORY: WA lawmakers seek to relieve strained youth justice system
With overcrowding reaching crisis levels at Washington’s youth prisons, state lawmakers have proposed two dozen bills to address issues in the system.
Key legislative efforts focus on incarceration limits, an expansion of rehabilitation alternatives, and greater oversight. Several proposals aim to adjust the “Juvenile Rehabilitation to 25” law, which has contributed to increased population levels in juvenile rehabilitation – particularly at Green Hill School, a Chehalis (shuh-HAY-luhs)-based facility operating beyond capacity.
Included among the bills moving forward are:
- Senate Bill 5296, which mandates courts independently verify that juvenile imprisonment is necessary for public safety before incarceration;
- Senate Bill 5278, which would establish a framework for reducing overcrowding by prioritizing community-based alternatives;
- House Bill 1815, which allows youth convicted of prison riot offenses within juvenile institutions to have their convictions vacated, and;
- House Bill 1391, which would standardize diversion programs and prohibit juvenile diversion agreements for offenses committed after the age of 18.
As legislators navigate a challenging budget year, at least three reform-related bills have not moved forward, and the fate of several measures remains uncertain. However, lawmakers on both sides say continued debate underscores the commitment to address the complex challenges that face Washington’s juvenile justice system.
STORY: Free and cheap
It’s Friday – if you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a little of what’s going on around the county.
The Bellingham TheatreWorks will begin staging its production of Working at the Options High School on Franklin Street tonight at 7:30. The musical, based on the Studs Terkel (TUR-coal) book from 1974, tells the stories of working people’s lives and their jobs: migrant worker, stonemason, schoolteacher and more. Working is part of Options’ community-based learning mentorship program; nine student actors-slash-singers from the high school will be joined by seventeen adult actors from Bellingham TheatreWorks. The show will run through March 30th; more information on showtimes, as well as tickets starting at $10, can be found on the TheatreWorks website.
The Depot Market Square at Railroad Avenue will host the Spring Makers Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow. The spring-themed market will have ninety-plus vendors from the Bellingham Makers Market collective in attendance, including Cascadia Jewelry, Northwest Sparks and Mae Botanicals. The public is invited to quote “support local makers as we welcome the season of renewal” unquote; additionally, 10% of the proceeds will go to the Bellingham Food Bank. More information can be found on the Bellingham Makers Market’s website.
Finally, the Cloud Mountain Farm Center in Everson will host its Winter Propagation and Winter Grafting event tomorrow from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. A workshop will teach attendees how to quote “propagate fruit trees and other woody plants during the dormant season” unquote; those looking for custom grafted trees can stick around afterwards for a winter grafting event, where professionals will be available to graft apples and pears. Pre-registration is required; tickets are going for $10, and can be purchased on Cloud Mountain’s website.
WX: You guys ever seen Weathering with You? Love that movie.
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Our streak of mildly stormy weather will stay with us through the weekend— expect today’s highs in the upper-40s, a slight chance of thunderstorms, and wind gusts of up to 25 miles per hour. Be prepared for precipitation of up to a quarter inch during the day and overnight lows in the upper-30s.
We’ll see rain on-and-off all weekend here in Whatcom, with Sunday’s forecast in particular calling for up to half an inch of precipitation.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Paloma Ortiz, Stevie Sjogren (SHOW-gren) and Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg). 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 go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thank you for listening.
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STORY: Birch Bay-Lynden Road closure scheduled for next Tuesday
A lane of the Birch Bay-Lynden Road near Ham Road will be closed next Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
According to the Whatcom County Public Works, the work is part of ongoing efforts to make permanent repairs after the 2021 floods washed out a 40-foot section of the road.
Emergency repairs were completed in 2022; this project will also support the upcoming California Creek Culvert Replacement. The timeline for full construction is yet to be determined.
STORY: WSDOT removes eight-foot stuffed sloth from stretch of I-5 North
A giant stuffed sloth that had been hanging 70 feet in the air near I-5 North for over a year was safely removed this past Tuesday.
Nicknamed “Slothy,” the plush toy became a quirky roadside attraction, but the Washington State Department of Transportation decided to take it down due to safety concerns. According to WSDOT (WASH-dot) spokesperson Madison Sehlke (SELL-key), drivers had started slowing down to look, which increased the risk of accidents.
During a break in the weather, Crews used a 125-foot bucket truck to retrieve Slothy, and shared the removal on social media with a humorous reminder: “Trees are not for toys.”
As for how Slothy got there in the first place? That remains a mystery—one that has sparked plenty of online speculation.
