BTC receives $600,000 donation from local family to promote financial literacy and stability among students, Man arrested following Bellingham road rage incident, Anacortes woman reported missing last June found dead in Oregon, Whatcom labor agreements under scrutiny as county prepares for several large construction projects, AG’s office announces WA will join lawsuit over Trump administration’s mass federal firings
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, March 6th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: BTC receives $600,000 donation from local family to promote financial literacy and stability among students
Bellingham Technical College has been awarded a $600,000 donation from the Whatcom Community Foundation, thanks to the Follis (FALL-is) Knight family.
The donation aims to enhance financial literacy and stability for BTC students, which aligns with the late Christopher Knight and Kelly Follis’ values of education, access, and financial empowerment.
In a recent announcement, BTC officials say the funds will be used to create a financial wellness hub, expand BTC’s food pantry, provide essential supplies, and bolster student support services. BTC President James Lemerond (leh-meh-RAHND) emphasized that financial security is key to student success, stating that the initiative will help students take full advantage of available financial resources.
The investment is expected to serve as a model for other higher education institutions and benefit the Whatcom County community for years to come.
STORY: Man arrested following Bellingham road rage incident
A 21-year-old man was arrested in Bellingham after he allegedly threatened another driver with what appeared to be a firearm during a road rage incident on Tuesday.
According to Bellingham Police Lieutenant Claudia Murphy, the confrontation began on Samish Way when the suspect nearly cut off the victim’s vehicle. The suspect repeatedly pulled alongside the victim’s car and yelled at them, before he stopped at a traffic light on North State Street and brandished what appeared to be a gun.
Officers later contacted the suspect and searched his vehicle, and discovered that the supposed firearm was actually a foam cutout shaped like a gun.
The suspect was taken into custody and may face harassment and brandishing charges.
STORY: Bellingham man convicted of stalking and assaulting ex-coworker sentenced to nearly four years in prison
A 36-year-old man was sentenced to 47 months in prison after assaulting a former coworker with a crowbar in Bellingham last July.
Jeff Orlando Enriquez pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including first-degree burglary and felony stalking, in the Whatcom County Superior Court. Enriquez had been fired from a local security company after harassing a coworker, but he continued to contact and follow her. On July 23rd, he broke into the workplace using a crowbar, struck the victim’s hand, and trapped her inside by tying the door shut. Police had to break down the door and use a taser to subdue him.
At sentencing, Enriquez expressed remorse and cited mental health struggles, but Judge Jennifer Slattery (SLAT-uh-ree) emphasized that his actions were inexcusable. In addition to his prison term, Enriquez must undergo a mental health evaluation and comply with a 20-year no-contact order with the victim.
STORY: Anacortes woman reported missing last June found dead in Oregon
A 77-year-old Anacortes woman who was reported missing last June has been found dead in Oregon.
Evelyn Smith was last seen at her home on June 23rd, and was later spotted at the Peace Arch border crossing in Blaine attempting to enter Canada. A Silver Alert was issued a week after her disappearance.
Oregon State Police discovered Smith’s car on February 27th — a blue Saturn Aura — down an embankment off Highway 30 in Columbia County. Her body was found inside. Authorities say there are no signs of foul play, but it is unclear how long the vehicle had been there.
Anacortes Police have been notified, and Smith’s family has been contacted. The investigation remains ongoing.
STORY: Whatcom labor agreements under scrutiny as county prepares for several large construction projects
Whatcom County officials say they are exploring ways to prioritize local labor in upcoming large-scale construction projects, but the proposal has sparked debate over potential costs and impacts on businesses.
County council members will consider implementing Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) and Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for projects like the new jail and crisis stabilization center. The ordinance is still being drafted, but an early version is based on an existing Snohomish County policy. Supporters argue these agreements would keep jobs local, ensure fair wages, and support minority- and veteran-owned businesses. However, critics, including the Associated General Contractors of Washington and local business leaders, warn that PLAs could increase project costs and disadvantage non-unionized companies.
Concerns have also been raised by Whatcom County’s small city mayors. In addition, Lummi Nation Chairman Anthony Hillaire (HILLER) wrote in a letter to the County Council that many tribal-owned businesses would be disproportionately impacted by the PLA language. Despite opposition, labor advocates emphasize that similar agreements have successfully managed project timelines and budgets in other counties.
Council discussions will continue in the coming months, with draft ordinance language expected by June and a vote anticipated in September.
STORY: AG’s office announces WA will join lawsuit over Trump administration’s mass federal firings
Attorney General Nick Brown announced yesterday that Washington state will join a lawsuit against the U.S. Office of Personnel Management over the mass federal firings conducted by the Trump administration.
A press release from Brown’s office asserts that the President engaged in quote “in all-out assault on public service since taking office, arbitrarily firing thousands of workers providing critical services to American communities” unquote. The release notes that many of these workers have excellent performance records, and some of them, including those newly promoted to supervisory or management positions, have years or even decades of federal service.
Washington is home to roughly 76,000 federal employees; at least a thousand of them are believed to have lost their jobs due to the federal firing spree. The release states that over 12 million acres of federal land across the state are managed by agencies affected by the latest cuts.
WX: Crank that, Solar Boy
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Today looks to be another consistently sunny one—highs should continue to hover around the low 50s. Some sparse cloud cover will accumulate overnight, as temperatures drop to lows in the mid-high 30s.
Tomorrow looks to be partly sunny, with an infrequent chance of showers.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Paloma Ortiz, and Stevie Sjogren (SHOW-gren). Our news director is Staci Baird. 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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