BPD clarifies role in immigration, New pavement and street lighting in store for dangerous stretch of Samish Way, State game officials trap and euthanize cougar in Sudden Valley, New rock beach at Boulevard Park set to open to public this week, Scanlon promotes new public hospital district, Big Tech scores win in Olympia, PSE looks to ramp up rates by as much as 30 percent by 2029, B.C. to adopt permanent daylight saving time, Long term weather outlook
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, March 4th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
We would like to begin today’s newscast by noting that we were off the air and off the stream yesterday due to a Comcast service outage. Yesterday’s newscast is available to subscribers on SoundCloud, or on our home page at kmre.org.
STORY: BPD clarifies role in immigration
The Bellingham Police Department has clarified its role in immigration enforcement amid increased federal activity.
In a video posted Monday, Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig said officers do not take part in civil immigration arrests, including deportations or detentions; they also do not ask about immigration status. Mertzig noted that federal agents may wear gear labeled “POLICE,” but BPD officers wear shoulder patches and badges clearly marked “Bellingham Police,” along with their names.
Mertzig and Whatcom County Sheriff Donnell Tanksley say their agencies continue to follow Washington’s Keep Washington Working Act, which limits local involvement in immigration enforcement.
STORY: New pavement and street lighting in store for dangerous stretch of Samish Way
New pavement and street lighting is in store for a dangerous stretch of Samish Way.
On Monday, the Bellingham City Council unanimously approved a 2.3 million dollar grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation, which covers 100 percent of the project.
Councilmember Michael Lilliquist told the council the design for the project will be going ahead this year, with construction set for sometime next year.
Lilliquist also said that a separate sewer project along the same corridor will be completed before any work is done above ground, including lighting and resurfacing.
WSDOT (WASH-DOT) data shows that between 2016 and last year, 10 bicyclists and pedestrians were hit by cars on that part of Samish Way, including two deaths in 2023.
STORY: State game officials trap and euthanize cougar in Sudden Valley
State wildlife officials trapped and killed a 145-pound cougar on Saturday after it attacked a family’s dog in Sudden Valley.
Footage from the family’s doorbell camera shows the big cat carrying the small dog down the driveway before climbing a tree across the street. The dog’s owner chased after the cougar and threw rocks at it, prompting it to drop the pet. The injured dog underwent emergency surgery and is recovering.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says the cougar may be the same one reported in recent months in nearby Geneva.
Residents should report sightings to Fish and Wildlife, and call 9-1-1 in emergencies.
STORY: New rock beach at Boulevard Park set to open to public this week
A new rocky beach at Boulevard Park is set to open to the public this week.
Construction began last fall, with the total approximate funding of one-and-a-half million dollars. The city says on its website they hope the work will improve beach access with improved walkways, while newly planted native plant species will help buffer against sea level rise and coastal erosion.
On the park’s eastern beach, the city said it focused on removing old retaining walls from the intertidal zone. On the western beach, crews added a small retaining wall and rock garden for shoreline protection.
According to the City of Bellingham website, construction barriers will be removed tomorrow. Throughout construction, a temporary trail route was added closer to the parking lot.
STORY: Scanlon promotes new public hospital district
An effort to create a nearly county-wide public hospital district in Whatcom County will move forward.
County Councilmember Jon Scanlon, the chair of the county’s public works & health committee, has been talking about establishing a public hospital district in Whatcom County since he ran for office in 2023. At a recent City Club meeting, Scanlon said he hopes supporters can collect the 17,000 signatures needed to place the measure on the November ballot. If approved, voters would also elect commissioners to oversee the district.
Community First Whatcom is helping explore the campaign. Backers say a district could provide funding and local control to help fill gaps in care, possibly including a clinic in east Whatcom County.
Officials note public hospital districts typically fund clinics — not new hospitals — and rely on partnerships with existing providers.
STORY: PSE looks to ramp up rates by as much as 30 percent by 2029
Energy bills could be on the rise again across the Puget Sound.
Puget Sound Energy has filed a three-year rate increase proposal with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. If approved, residential electric and natural gas rates would increase by about 30 percent and 20 percent respectively by 2029.
PSE says it needs to invest more than $3 billion in its gas and electric systems, with about 70 percent aimed at strengthening and protecting the power grid as demand grows. A 2024 investigation by ProPublica and The Seattle Times found expanding data centers in Central Washington are adding strain to the state’s power supply.
The company says it also plans to boost investments in local renewable energy.
State regulators are expected to review the proposal over the next 11 months.
STORY: Big Tech scores win in Olympia
In related news, big tech companies scored a win in Olympia yesterday as a sweeping data center regulation bill failed to advance in the state Legislature.
House Bill 2515 would have required data centers to pay additional utility charges, meet clean energy standards, and scale back power use during peak demand. Supporters said the measure was aimed at protecting other ratepayers, the power grid, and the environment as these facilities rapidly expand across the state.
The Washington State Standard reports that tech giants such as Microsoft and Amazon opposed the bill, arguing it would impose costly regulations and potentially expose trade secrets as companies race to build infrastructure for artificial intelligence.
The bill was scheduled for a vote in the Senate Ways and Means Committee; however, it was never brought forward before a key deadline. The bill’s lead sponsor, State Representative Beth Doglio of Olympia, criticized industry lobbying efforts, and said the state must ensure the costs of growth are not passed on to working families.
Industry leaders countered that data centers support essential services, create jobs, and generate billions in investment.
Lawmakers say the debate is likely to return next session.
STORY: B.C. to adopt permanent daylight saving time
This weekend’s switch to daylight saving time will be the last in British Columbia.
Global News reports the province is moving to permanent daylight saving time. From March to November, B.C.’s clocks will line up with the American West Coast — however, from November to March, B.C. stays an hour ahead of Washington, Oregon and California.
B.C. Premier David Eby (EE-bee) says ending the clock change means fewer tired kids, confused pets, and groggy drivers.
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Washington approved permanent daylight time in 2019; however, it is held up because federal law bars it. Congress would have to act before Washington can make the switch.
STORY: Long term weather outlook
Spring in Western Washington is shaping up to be near normal for temperatures and rainfall.
According to the National Weather Service’s long-range forecast, the La Niña pattern, which usually brings cooler, wetter weather to the Northwest, is expected to fade into a neutral phase between March and May. The change could bring average highs of 53 degrees in March, 58 degrees in April, and 66 degrees in May.
However, there is a 60 percent chance that La Niña could linger into April, which would help the Nooksack River watershed recover from an unusually dry January. Data from the Natural Resource Conservation Service shows that snowpack in the Mount Baker area was 87 percent of normal in January, but rose to 116 percent by February 20th. Additionally, if snow levels fall again or melt too quickly in a warm spring, drought conditions could persist, raising the risk of wildfires, smoky skies, and water restrictions.
Officials urge communities to monitor conditions closely as spring unfolds.
WX: It’s a terrible day for rain
And now weather:
Expect a stretch of rainy weather here in Whatcom which should last through the end of the week. Today’s forecast calls for up to a quarter-inch of precipitation in some areas, and highs in the mid-50s. The evening expect temperatures in the mid-40s.
Meteorologists say this is our foreseeable future.
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, Tyler Warne, Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), and Kieran (KEAR-un) Dang. 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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