Port of Bellingham votes to end contract with ABC Recycling, Arson suspect arrested in connection with trash fires, Bellingham seafood processing company announces closure, Blaine School District anticipates $2.5M in budget cuts, Fire training downtown Bellingham, Judge orders Providence debt collector Optimum Outcomes to pay $827,000 penalty for violating patients’ medical debt collection rights, New Covid Guidelines
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, March 26. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Port of Bellingham votes to end contract with ABC Recycling
Yesterday, the Port of Bellingham and Canada-based ABC recycling announced a mutually-agreed upon termination of their bulk-shipping lease.
The Port says the decision was made due to ongoing concerns about ABC’s ability to comply with lease terms, particularly regarding environmental standards. Port Executive Director Rob Fix expressed regret over losing an employer supporting Union labor and family-wage jobs, but emphasized the importance of prioritizing environmental protection. In a recent release, Andy Anthony, Vice President of US Operations for ABC Recycling, said ABC is working to reassess its approach to export bulk shipping strategy now that they will not have a facility in Bellingham, but says he thinks the lease termination is the right decision for the company as well.
ABC has plans to build a metal shredder facility in collaboration with Whatcom County, but the termination of port operations leaves the future of that project uncertain. Both the metal handling at the waterfront and a proposed metal shredder facility have faced significant citizen complaints due to noise concerns.
ABC Recycling has until June 30th to remove all scrap metal from the waterfront, which will be loaded onto cargo vessels under enhanced environmental measures.
STORY: Arson suspect arrested in connection with trash fires
A man was arrested yesterday in connection with a series of trash fires in Bellingham.
The first fire was started next to a dumpster at an apartment complex on Woodstock Way. As Bellingham fire crews responded to the emergency, a second fire was lit not far away – in a dumpster behind the Goodwill store on Sunset. Finally, a third fire was started in a recycling can on Grant Street, which was extinguished by a witness. Bellingham Police arrested the suspect in a vacant lot along Alabama Street at around 7:30pm.
Fire Chief Bill Hewitt stated that the fires are still under investigation, and the suspect remains in custody.
STORY: Bellingham seafood processing company announces closure
Seafood processing plant Bornstein (born-STEEN) Seafoods is closing its Bellingham headquarters.
The company filed its intentions with Washington State officials on March 22nd. About 70 local workers will be laid off and the last day for Bellingham operations will be near the end of June.
The Bornstein plant in Newport, Oregon will also be shuttered. A company news release announced operations from the Bellingham and Newport facilities will be consolidated in Astoria, Oregon.
Vice President Andrew Bornstein said the company remains committed to its employees and will provide job fair opportunities as well as access to other resources to help them find alternative employment.
STORY: Blaine School District anticipates $2.5M in budget cuts
The Blaine school board has directed the superintendent to reduce its educational plan as the district faces two-and-a-half million dollars in budget cuts.
Superintendent Christopher Granger says a notice will be sent this Thursday to staff whose jobs may be impacted as a result of the cuts. The final plan will come during the April school board meeting.
According to recent reporting by the Cascadia Daily, board member Ben Lazarus introduced a resolution that would have the school district negotiate with the two existing staff unions in order to avoid pay raises for the upcoming year. Lazarus argued this move would curb the budget loss, as pay raises this year would cost the school $1.6 million. He also claimed that hiring more staff should get priority over pay raises for current staff.
Board members tabled the motion until a future meeting.
STORY: Fire training downtown Bellingham
The Bellingham Fire Department is holding training exercises downtown throughout the week.
From today till Friday, the Railroad Parking Garage will be the scene of emergency practice scenarios. Expect to see fire engines around the area and hoses laying on the sidewalks, with an occasional fog machine for added realism.
The garage will be open for business as usual.
STORY: Judge orders Providence debt collector Optimum Outcomes to pay $827,000 penalty for violating patients’ medical debt collection rights
Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced another legal victory against a debt collection agency in a trial related to an ongoing charity care lawsuit.
King County Superior Court judge Sean O’Donnell ruled that Illinois-based Optimum Outcomes violated the Consumer Protection Act when it failed to provide information about financial assistance, and inform patients of their rights. Court documents say internal practices included pressuring patients for payment and sending Medicaid patients to collection despite their eligibility for assistance. The court ordered Optimum to pay over $820,000 in penalties and also mandated reforms to comply with state law. Optimum is the debt collector for Providence Health and Services, one of the nation’s largest healthcare systems.
As part of a previous resolution with Providence last month, nearly 100,000 patients will receive refunds or debt forgiveness totaling nearly $158 million. The lawsuit highlighted over 100,000 violations of the state Consumer Protection Act due to Providence’s unfair practices. The legal action is part of Attorney General Ferguson’s Health Care Initiative, which has led to over $205 million in debt forgiveness and refunds for Washington residents. Other resolved cases include similar agreements with PeaceHealth, CHI (C-H-I) Franciscan, and Capital Medical Center.
Ferguson encourages individuals who believe they are not receiving entitled financial assistance to file complaints with the Attorney General’s Office.
WX: Sun
Your Whatcom County weather – today will be mostly cloudy, with a high of 53 degrees and moderate winds. The clouds will give way to the sun later today, while tonight will bring more rain and a low of 43. Showers and thunderstorms are projected for tomorrow.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman and Tristan Trudell. 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. If you would like to help keep local news accessible, check out our new Patreon page at patreon.com/kmrenews or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thanks for listening.
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STORY: New Covid Guidelines
The CDC and Washington State Department of Health announced an update to their guidance on COVID-19.
Individuals can resume normal activities when symptoms improve and they have been fever-free without medication for 24 hours. Additional precautions like wearing masks, improving ventilation, and testing before indoor gatherings are encouraged, especially around vulnerable individuals.
According to the CDC, patients can remain contagious even after symptoms improve: COVID-19 for 5-10 days, flu for 5-7 days, and RSV for 3-8 days.
