First week of Baker Lake murder retrial wraps up, Part of I-5 closed today and tomorrow, Mt. Baker Ski Area expected to reopen tomorrow following avalanche advisory, Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood anticipates heavy financial headwinds, Projects aimed at reducing carbon footprint of commercial fishing in Bellingham stall as EPA grants freeze, WA AG joins lawsuit to block dismantling of Dept of Ed, Construction to begin on Bakerview-James roundabout next week, WCSO warns residents of continuing scam calls, WSDOT removes eight-foot stuffed sloth from stretch of I-5 North, City celebrates salmon this week
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, March 25th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: First week of Baker Lake murder retrial wraps up
The first week of a homicide trial in Whatcom County has wrapped up.
The trial in question concerns 35-year-old Alexander Vanags (vuh-NAGS) of Arlington, who is accused of murdering his friend, 28-year-old Mark Stebakov (stuh-buh-KOV), while the two were camping at Baker Lake in 2019. Prosecutors say Vanags murdered Stebakov with a machete while the two were under the effect of LSD, while defense attorneys say Vanags acted in self-defense after Stebakov attacked him.
Seven witnesses were called during the first week of the trial. These included Peter Knowlton, a policeman with the Stillaguamish (still-a-GUAM-ish) Tribe who responded to a 9-1-1 call placed by Vanags hours after the incident; Dr. Everett De Leon (deh-leh-YON) from the Cascade Valley Hospital, where Vanags was taken for an examination before his booking in jail; the two officers who first responded to the scene, including Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Stanley Streubel (STROO-bow); and former Whatcom County medical examiner Dr. Gary Goldfogel (gold-FOE-go), who performed Stebakov’s autopsy.
Photos of Stebakov’s bloodied body were projected to the court. According to Dr. Goldfogel, Stebakov died after bleeding out from at least 14 “sharp force” injuries made with the machete. Dr. Goldfogel’s testimony was scheduled to continue this morning.
STORY: Part of I-5 closed today and tomorrow
The right lane of northbound I-5 between Iowa Street and Sunset Drive will be closed today and tomorrow from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Crews from the state Department of Transportation will work on a slope that eroded during heavy rains last October. The on- and off-ramps at Iowa and Sunset will remain open.
Drivers should plan for delays.
STORY: Mt. Baker Ski Area expected to reopen tomorrow following avalanche advisory
Officials at Mt. Baker Ski Area announced they will be closed today due to possible avalanche conditions.
The ski area plans to reopen tomorrow, with more snow in the forecast. However, officials warn that facilities will not be maintained during closure, and access is at visitors’ own risk. Warming temperatures and rain are expected to create hazardous avalanche conditions.
Skiers and snowboarders are urged to avoid steep slopes, gullies, and runout zones.
STORY: Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood anticipates heavy financial headwinds
Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood says they are bracing for potential funding challenges amid nationwide uncertainty over federal support for reproductive health care.
According to recent reporting by the Bellingham Herald, services remain unaffected for now; however, Director of Public Affairs and Strategic Initiatives Eowyn Savela (AY-uh-win SAH-vuh-lah) warns that the nonprofit’s funding streams are at risk. One of those includes the possible loss of Title X funding, which previously affected Planned Parenthood under the Trump administration. With Washington now facing a 12 billion dollar budget shortfall, Savela says they are preparing contingency plans should federal funding be reduced.
Additionally, looming Medicaid cuts could significantly impact the organization, as about 30% of its patients rely on Medicaid for health care services.
In 2023, Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood provided 33,500 clinical services, including STI testing, family planning, cancer screenings, and abortions.
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.
STORY: Dems explore tax options to address shortfall
Washington Democrats say they are exploring a range of tax proposals that target wealthy residents and businesses to help close a multibillion-dollar budget gap.
Proposals include a wealth tax on individuals with more than 50 million dollars in financial assets, expected to impact about 4,300 residents and generate up to 4 billion dollars annually for public schools. Lawmakers say they may also lift the property tax cap, which would allow for annual increases tied to inflation and population growth.
Business tax changes are also on the table, with a proposed payroll tax on companies with over 7 million dollars in payroll from Senate Democrats, while House Democrats suggest a tax increase on businesses with taxable income above 250 million dollars.
Governor Bob Ferguson’s stance on the wealth tax remains uncertain, as he previously expressed skepticism about the idea.
STORY: WA AG joins lawsuit to block dismantling of Dept of Ed
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has joined 20 other state attorneys general in an effort to stop the dismantling of the Department of Education.
According to a recent announcement from the AG’s office, the coalition filed a lawsuit on March 13th after the Trump administration announced it would cut half of the Department’s workforce. The attorneys general are now asking the court to block the mass layoffs and service transfers.
The attorneys general argue that Trump’s actions are unconstitutional, as the Department of Education was established by Congress and cannot be dismantled without congressional approval.
WX: FROM THE HEAVENS. COMES A HERO. MIGHTY HOOTSMAN.
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
We’re expected to get a brief reprieve from the spring rain today, with a forecast of partly sunny skies and temperatures shooting up into the mid-60s. Nighttime conditions will remain consistent with recent days, with some moderate cloud cover and lows in the mid-to-high 40s.
Enjoy today’s weather while you can— tomorrow we’ll have more rain, and possibly a warm thunderstorm.
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: Construction to begin on Bakerview-James roundabout next week
Construction on a new roundabout at the intersection of James Street and Bakerview Road will begin next Monday.
According to the City of Bellingham, the 4.25 million dollar project is contracted to Faber (fay-BURR) Construction, and will replace the traffic signal with a roundabout and add sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, streetlights, and stormwater facilities. During construction, James Street will experience temporary single-lane closures and a detour onto Deemer Road, while Bakerview Road will remain open. The Bellingham City Council granted a noise variance to allow 24/7 work in April and May.
This project is expected to be done in 50 days and is part of the broader James and Bakerview multimodal (muhl-tie-MOW-dl) corridor plan.
STORY: WCSO warns residents of continuing scam calls
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.
