Former longtime WA House Speaker passes away, Skagit County judge declares mistrial in 2021 Big Lake murder case, Birch Bay-Lynden Road closure scheduled for tomorrow, Point Roberts businesses struggling amid U.S.-Canadian trade war, Property owners lead clean-up efforts, Public comment period opening ahead of Treoil site cleanup, WSDOT removes eight-foot stuffed sloth from stretch of I-5 North, City celebrates salmon this week, Projects aimed at reducing carbon footprint of commercial fishing in Bellingham stall as EPA grants freeze
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, March 24th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Former longtime WA House Speaker passes away
Frank Chopp (CHOP), Washington’s longest-serving House Speaker, is dead at the age of 71.
First elected to represent the 43rd Legislative District in 1994, Chopp, a Seattle Democrat, assumed co-Speaker duties in an equally divided House in 1999. He became sole Speaker when Democrats gained majority control of the chamber in 2002, and held that post until 2019.
In a post on X, former Governor Jay Inslee called Chopp quote “one of the most effective and consequential legislative leaders in the whole nation” unquote.
During his long tenure in public life, Chopp co-founded the Low Income Housing Institute and the Seattle Tenants Union. He initiated Apple Health for All Kids, which provides cost-free, single-payer health care to half of all children in Washington state. Chopp also created the first LGBTQ state commission, and oversaw the passage of many other acts devoted to slowing climate change, the support of organized labor, and strengthening the state’s commitment to racial justice and social services.
Republican State Representative Travis Couture (co-TOUR), wrote on X that quote “I’m not sure I ever agreed with him politically, however, he was a towering (and sometimes intimidating) figure in Olympia and I very much respected the man” unquote.
STORY: Skagit County judge declares mistrial in 2021 Big Lake murder case
A Skagit County judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a Big Lake woman accused of second-degree murder in the 2021 shooting death of Kamran Cohee (CAMERON coe-HEE).
Judge Laura Riquelme (ree-KWELM) ruled a mistrial on March 20th when the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict after nearly two weeks of trial. Accused assailant Angela Conijn’s (COE-nine’s) husband, John Conijn, confronted the driver of a vehicle, who he believed was trying to steal a political sign from their house’s front yard. The driver claims that he had intended to let some air out of his tires before John confronted him.
Cohee was a passenger in the vehicle. After Angela exited the house with a firearm, she shot Cohee in the head, who later died of her injury.
Prosecutors argued the shooting was not justified, while Conijn’s defense maintained she acted in self-defense; John claimed that Cohee and the driver chased the Conijns (coe-NINES) back into the house and beat on the door with a wheelbarrow. The Skagit County Prosecutor’s Office will now decide whether to pursue a plea deal or retry the case.
STORY: Birch Bay-Lynden Road closure scheduled for tomorrow
A lane of the Birch Bay-Lynden Road near Ham Road will be closed tomorrow 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: Point Roberts businesses struggling amid U.S.-Canadian trade war
Businesses in Point Roberts and throughout Whatcom County say they now face economic hardship due to escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada.
Recent tariffs imposed by President Trump and retaliatory measures from Canada have led to rising prices, fewer Canadian customers, and a decline in sales.
According to recent reporting by the Cascadia Daily, local store owners report significant revenue drops – some say as much as a 55% decline. Many businesses already struggling to recover from the COVID-19 border closure are now uncertain about their future.
Business owners say they are frustrated by the situation, but hopeful that relations between the two countries will stabilize. With the peak tourist season approaching, they fear prolonged tensions could bring lasting economic damage to the community.
STORY: Property owners lead clean-up efforts
Property owners on West Maplewood and West Bakerview are funding efforts to clean up unauthorized encampments on their land.
Work is already underway, and more is planned for the coming weeks. In a recent announcement, the City of Bellingham says it has provided technical assistance to facilitate waste and vegetation removal to improve site visibility. Outreach providers have also worked to connect displaced individuals with shelter and services.
City officials emphasize that while the cleanup addresses immediate health and safety concerns, it is part of a broader effort to find long-term solutions to homelessness. More information is available on the City’s ‘Resolving Encampments’ webpage.
STORY: Public comment period opening ahead of Treoil site cleanup
A public comment period on a planned cleanup near Ferndale was opened today.
The state Department of Ecology is making documents regarding the Treoil Industries site cleanup available to the public through April 22nd. The site, located on Aldergrove Road, is a three-and-a-half-acre section of property used for the production of paper for decades; records dating back to the late 1980s indicate that numerous spills and other hazards prompted Ecology to label the site as one of its Contaminated Sites.
Two cleanup efforts have already taken place at the site – one in 2017, and the other in 2022. Both cleanups resulted in the removal of nearly 200,000 gallons of oil and cost over $4.3 million combined. The property’s owners were fined $900,000 by Ecology in 2023 due to their failure to comply with Washington’s dangerous waste laws.
WX: Blue Monday
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
We got an inch of rain yesterday, and forecasters say the rainy spring weather is here to stay. Expect to see up to a half-inch of rainfall today, with daytime highs in the mid-50s. For those of you in Ferndale, the Nooksack River is likely to just reach the flooding Action Level this evening, so use caution if you’re traveling on any adjacent roads. Evening lows will be in the high-40s.
Tomorrow should be slightly warmer and drier, with occasional rain and temperatures that could get as high as 65 degrees.
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: 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.
STORY: City celebrates salmon this week
The Bellingham Public Library says it will host two salmon-themed events next week.
This Wednesday at 5 p.m., Sara Brooke Benjamin, Environmental Coordinator for the City of Bellingham, will give a talk at the Central Library Lecture Room about local salmon restoration efforts.
And on Saturday the community is invited to Maritime Heritage Park from 4 to 5 p.m. to release chum salmon that have been raised in the Children’s Library over the past two months. Both events are open to all. More details are available on the Library’s website.
STORY: Projects aimed at reducing carbon footprint of commercial fishing in Bellingham stall as EPA grants freeze
Several projects in Bellingham aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of commercial fishing have stalled after federal grants were frozen.
The Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County reports that five engine replacement projects for three companies are now on hold due to the Environmental Protection Agency grant freeze.
According to Dan Tucker, the coalition’s executive director, the uncertainty has left fishers unable to move forward with planned upgrades. Many rely on grant reimbursements to afford engine replacements, and without guaranteed funding, they risk financial hardship. Some vessels still operate with engines that date back to the 1960s, and the planned upgrades would improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and enhance profitability.
Bellingham’s fishing industry is among many affected nationwide, as fishers and processors face uncertainty over previously promised funding. While there is some hope that diesel-to-diesel engine conversions might still receive support, the future of the projects remains unclear.
