Bellingham man arrested following reports of baseball bat assault outside casino, Lynden man arrested on suspicion of rape and exploitation of a minor, Central Washington man leads Bellingham police on highway chase following suspected domestic assault, Gas prices in Whatcom and WA closing in on record highs, Public Safety Level of Service Needs Assessment, No Kings Day March 28th, Tax break for WA mortgage lenders slashed in order to recoup funding to combat wildfires, Ribbon cut on new voluntary detox center in Skagit County, set to open in coming weeks, Star Park open house on April 6, Places to file your taxes for free, FREE OR CHEAP
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, March, 24. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham man arrested following reports of baseball bat assault outside casino
A Bellingham man is in custody after a reported assault and hours-long standoff with deputies on Friday morning.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office says the 50-year-old is suspected of second-degree assault after an incident in the parking lot of the Nooksack Northwood Casino near Lynden. Investigators say the man approached the victim with a knife, then struck them with a baseball bat. Surveillance video appears to confirm the attack.
Deputies later located the suspect at his home on Graveline Road, where he refused to come out for more than three hours before eventually being taken into custody.
STORY: Lynden man arrested on suspicion of rape and exploitation of a minor
A 19-year-old Lynden man has been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a minor, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators say the victim reported being assaulted twice by the same suspect, who first contacted them through Instagram about three weeks earlier. Authorities say the man also made threats of violence and coerced the minor into sending explicit photos.
The suspect was taken into custody at his Lynden home Sunday on multiple allegations, including second-degree rape, sexual exploitation of a minor, and harassment. As of Monday morning, formal charges had not yet been filed.
STORY: Central Washington man leads Bellingham police on highway chase following suspected domestic assault
A Soap Lake man is behind bars after a domestic assault call in Bellingham led to a high-speed chase down Interstate 5.
Police say officers responded Saturday afternoon to reports of a man becoming violent after drinking. Victims told investigators he tried to interfere with their driving before assaulting them.
The suspect fled the scene as officers arrived, heading south on I-5 at what police described as reckless speeds. The pursuit ended near Alger after spike strips were deployed and officers used a PIT maneuver, sending the vehicle into a ditch.
The 24-year-old man was arrested on multiple charges, including felony DUI due to prior convictions. He remains in the Whatcom County Jail without bail.
STORY: Gas prices in Whatcom and WA closing in on record highs Gas prices are surging in Whatcom County, nearing record highs.
AAA (TRIPLE A) reports the average price for a gallon of regular is now $5.29 in Washington — up over 40 cents from last week, and almost a dollar compared to a month ago. That puts prices just about 25 cents shy of the county’s all-time high of $5.55 set in the fall of 2022. Diesel is averaging $6.31 a gallon county-wide, matching the county’s record all-time high.
It’s even worse in the Seattle metropolitan area, with drivers there dealing with an average price of $5.50 a gallon, and diesel at $6.65. Nationwide, gas is averaging $3.97.
AAA says Washington now has the second-highest gas prices in the nation, recently surpassing Hawaii.
Analysts point to ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz (hor-MOOZ), along with seasonal demand, as key factors driving the spike.
STORY: Public Safety Level of Service Needs Assessment
A recent City of Bellingham report says the current budget is not big enough to provide proper training and staffing of current public safety workers.
The city’s assessment indicates that the Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, and city Police are all in need of a budget rework to keep Bellingham residents safe. The assessment identified gaps and
resources needed to fill them, as well as proposed potential new funding options. Forrest Longman, the Deputy City Administrator, had this to say.
[Bite 2, Forrest Longman (16 sec)]
At the meeting, the department presented a ten-year projection of costs in order to be fully staffed and fully trained.
To address the funding gap, the assessment recommends combining the Fire, EMS, and Police departments and merging with Fire District 8 to create a Regional Fire Authority — or RFA. An RFA would create its own taxing district and would free up millions of dollars that could be used for Alternative Response methods.
[Bite 3, Forrest Longman (21sec)].
The motion passed 5-to-nothing, and the RFA concept will move forward to the planning committee.
STORY: No Kings Day March 28th
Community members are invited to take part in a No Kings march in Bellingham on Saturday.
Organizers say the March 28th event will feature a peaceful 1.5-mile procession through downtown, aimed at showing solidarity and encouraging civic engagement. The march will include student leaders, live music, and chanting, with participants able to join in a variety of ways or simply walk in quiet support.
The unpermitted event is being framed as an exercise of First Amendment rights, with organizers emphasizing free speech and public assembly. They say volunteer peacekeepers will be on hand to help keep the march safe and orderly.
The procession is expected to last about an hour, and organizers say they hope it will be both meaningful and empowering for the community.
STORY: Salmon send-off on Thursday The Bellingham Public Library is inviting the community to help send off a new generation of salmon this week.
Chum salmon raised at the library are ready to be released into Whatcom Creek, and the public is welcome to take part. The release happens Thursday from 4 to 5 p.m. at Maritime Heritage Park, followed by a salmon-themed storytime for kids and families.
Organizers say it’s a hands-on way to learn about local ecosystems and celebrate the salmon lifecycle.
STORY: Tax break for WA mortgage lenders slashed in order to recoup funding to combat wildfires
Washington just closed a tax break for big mortgage lenders to help restore wildfire‑prevention funding.
Lawmakers approved a new law eliminating what State Representative Shaun Scott of Seattle called a “tax loophole” for large mortgage companies. The Washington State Standard reports the move comes after wildfire‑mitigation dollars were cut nearly in half last session to help plug a budget deficit — cuts the Department of Natural Resources warned would force staff reductions and end grants for fire‑prone communities.
Scott’s bill redirects that money back into prevention efforts. It is now law after Governor Bob Ferguson signed it this week.
State Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove had urged lawmakers to use cap‑and‑trade revenue to bolster wildfire work. This year’s budget does that too, restoring tens of millions of dollars for mitigation projects.
WX: HANG ONTO THE PIZZAAAAAA
And now for the weather:
There’s a wind advisory in effect until 6pm tonight, with gusts reaching as high as 43 miles per hour. Expect up to a half-inch of rain and an above-average chance of thunderstorms, so be prepared for power outages and maybe a flying trash can or two. Highs today are looking to hover around the mid-50s.
We might still see gusts of up to 27 mph this evening, alongside an increased chance of thunder and lightning and lows around 40 degrees.
Be ready for another round of rain tomorrow.
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!
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STORY: Ribbon cut on new voluntary detox center in Skagit County, set to open in coming weeks
STORY: Star Park open house on April 6
The City of Ferndale is inviting the community to celebrate a new addition aimed at making local parks more inclusive.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new communication board at Star Park is set for Monday, April 6th at 11:30 a.m.
The boards use symbols and pictures to help children communicate, especially those with disabilities, making it easier to interact and play.
Following the ceremony, families are invited to stay for a free Spring Break Bubble Playdate featuring games, activities, and community fun through 1 p.m.
STORY: Places to file your taxes for free
Even though the Trump Administration has ended the IRS Direct File program, many Americans can still file their taxes for free this season. Taxpayers earning under eighty-nine thousand dollars a year can use IRS Free File software online, while those making about sixty-seven thousand dollars or less may qualify for free, in-person help through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites at libraries and community centers. Seniors can get no-cost help through AARP Tax-Aide, and military members can file for free through the Defense Department’s MilTax program.
Anyone can also file at no charge using the IRS’s Free File Fillable Forms on IRS dot gov. The tax filing deadline is April fifteenth.
FREE OR CHEAP
38th Annual Fairhaven Neighbors Plant and Tree Sale
Saturday, March 28th, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Hillcrest parking lot – corner of Old Fairhaven Pkwy & 14th St.
Welcome spring with an amazing assortment of plants – veggie starts, flowers, herbs, native and specialty plants, bamboo, trees, berries, ornamentals – from local and regional growers. The sale benefits non-profit Fairhaven Neighbors and a portion of profits are shared with other community non-profits, in the past donating to Bellingham Food Bank, Friends of the Family Resource Center, and the Community Boating Center. Admission is free and all are welcome. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their
own boxes for transporting purchases. Fairhaven Neighbors thanks Hillcrest for sharing its space. Expert gardeners and novices – inspiration and perfect plants await. For more information, see www.Facebook.com/FairhavenPlantAndTreeSale
School District Events
| March 20, 21, 27, 28 | 7:30 PM | Firebrin ger: A Rock Musical | Options Theater | $25 GA / $15 Student | Present ed by Bellingh am Theatre Works in partners hip with Options High School drama; directed by |
| Zachare e Simm. | |||||
| March 26, 27 | 7:00 PM | Vista & Horizon Middle School Play | Ferndal e HS PAC | Not specifie d | Joint producti on by Vista and Horizon Middle Schools in Ferndal e. |
| March 27, 28 | 7:00 PM | Sweene y Todd: School Edition | Bellingh am Arts Academ y for Youth | See website | BAAY student producti on of the Sondhei m musical ; directed |
| by Dylan Cisnero s and Logan Hyer-Lo ng. | |||||
| March 28, 29 | 2:00 PM | Sweene y Todd: School Edition | Bellingh am Arts Academ y for Youth | See website | BAAY student producti on of the Sondhei m musical ; directed by Dylan Cisnero s and Logan Hyer-Lo ng. |
| March 29 | 2:00 PM | Firebrin ger: A Rock Musical | Options Theater | $25 GA / $15 Student | Final perform ance of the partners hip producti on between Bellingh am Theatre Works and Options HS Drama. |
