Fugitive in State Patrol’s Most Wanted list apprehended after 14 years, Above-Normal Warmth Builds Across Western Washington, Skagit County announces departure of coroner, I-5 to see northbound lane reduction this weekend, Winter damage delays full reopening of North Cascades Highway, Portal Container Village opens FRI, 5/1, Gov Ferguson agrees to ethics probe settlement, Survey finds teens in WA more academically connected and have better mental health, FREE/CHEAP
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, May 1st. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Fugitive in State Patrol’s Most Wanted list apprehended after 14 years
A fugitive in the Washington State Patrol’s Most Wanted list has been captured after 14 years on the run.
19-year-old Manuel Cortez-Vargas was placed on that list in March of 2012 after he failed to appear in court on a hit-and-run fatality charge. The charge stems from a rollover collision which killed 19-year-old — Cameron Sheridan of Sedro-Woolley.
Yesterday, fourteen years after that crash, the now-33-year-old Cortez-Vargas was arrested by State Patrol detectives in Madera, California.
According to a press release, the detectives developed credible information regarding Cortez-Vargas’ whereabouts and worked in close coordination with detectives from the Madera Police Department to safely apprehend him.
Cortez-Vargas was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Madera County Jail, where he will face extradition to Skagit County to continue court proceedings related to the original charge.
“This arrest shows our commitment to public safety and justice. After 14 years on WSP’s Most Wanted list, this individual is now in custody. We do not forget, and we do not stop. Our troopers will continue to find and hold offenders accountable,” said Chief John R. Batiste of the Washington State Patrol.
The Patrol thanks the Madera Police Department for their assistance in apprehending Cortez-Vargas and helping bring a measure of justice to the Sheridan family.
STORY: Above-Normal Warmth Builds Across Western Washington
Whatcom County is celebrating May Day with a stretch of warmer-than-normal weather from today until early next week.
The warm, dry pattern will affect much of the region — including the Seattle metro area, South Sound, and the inland valleys — where low humidity levels also raise concerns about the fire danger. Whatcom County may expect temperatures into the 80s on Sunday. While the air may be warm, the water in lakes and rivers is still very cold, raising the risk of experiencing cold-water shock for those who jump in.
A minor HeatRisk will be in place through Saturday for western Washington, which means groups sensitive to higher temperatures need to be alert. Meteorologists say there’s the possibility of a moderate HeatRisk Sunday and Monday — especially in areas south of Seattle and along the Cascade foothills and valleys, where heat will be most noticeable.
Remember to stay hydrated and use caution outdoors as conditions heat up.
STORY: Skagit County announces departure of coroner
The Skagit County coroner is stepping down.
Hayley Thompson says she’ll resign before the end of her term, closing out a decade leading the office she first joined in 2016.
Thompson modernized the Coroner’s Office, built a full-time professional staff, and secured national accreditation in 2024. She also helped move Skagit County from hospital-based autopsies to the Coroner’s own facility, now considered a leader in death investigations.
Thompson says she is stepping down to spend more time with family. Her departure date has not been set.
STORY: I-5 to see northbound lane reduction this weekend
Heads up for weekend travelers on I-5 in Bellingham.
WSDOT says the right lane of northbound I-5 near Samish Way will shut down from 6 a.m. Saturday until 8 a.m. Sunday while crews swap out aging concrete panels. The northbound Lakeway Drive off-ramp will also be closed, with the ramp expected to reopen around 3 p.m. Saturday.
Crews need the full closure window to give new concrete time to cure. WSDOT also notes the schedule could shift if weather slows that process.
STORY: Winter damage delays full reopening of North Cascades Highway
Extensive damage from a winter storm — and a spring rockslide — is closing a major stretch of the North Cascades Highway indefinitely.
WSDOT has announced a partial reopening of the highway, effective yesterday. The stretch between Porcupine Creek and Diablo Lake, however, will stay off-limits to vehicles and recreation while crews address multiple and significant safety issues. These issues include washed-away embankments and pavement, damaged culverts and drainage systems, unstable slopes, and debris.
A timeline for the highway’s full reopening will require a more thorough assessment.
STORY: Portal Container Village opens FRI, 5/1
The Portal Container Village on Bellingham’s waterfront is now open for the season.
The Port says the site will host some notable summer events, including the Shoestring Circus, Northwest Tune-Up, and the Noisy Waters Mural Festival. The season kicks off next Friday with a free Party on the Pier next to the Granary Building, featuring DJ Selector Joel Ricci and food from Mercato delle Bontà.
Port Interim Executive Director Tiffany DeSimone says the opening celebrates local creativity, maritime heritage, and a welcoming waterfront.
STORY: Gov Ferguson agrees to ethics probe settlement
Governor Bob Ferguson has agreed to a $4,000 settlement to resolve an ethics probe.
The Seattle Times reports the settlement stems from an investigation into a trip to the Tri-Cities last June, where Ferguson invited former staffer Mike Webb — who was no longer employed by the Governor’s Office — to fly with him on a Washington State Patrol aircraft used for official travel.
Board investigators concluded that allowing a non-state employee on the aircraft amounted to using state resources for someone’s private benefit and granting a special privilege — both prohibited under state ethics rules.
According to the investigative report, Ferguson told staff the decision was, ‘pretty stupid,’ and said it would not happen again.
STORY: Judge partially blocks law establishing statewide review board for sheriffs
A federal judge has put Washington’s new sheriff-oversight law on hold.
A U.S. District Court judge issued the ruling yesterday in Spokane, which halted the law while a challenge from several Eastern Washington sheriffs moves forward. The sheriffs argue the measure is unconstitutional and undermines voters’ authority to remove an elected sheriff.
The Seattle Times reports the law would have allowed the state to oust an elected sheriff who was decertified as a peace officer — a process that normally requires a recall election. For now, the judge’s order means decertified sheriffs cannot be forced from office based on the new rules while the case moves forward.
STORY: Survey finds teens in WA more academically connected and have better mental health
More teens in Washington say what they learn in school may be relevant to life — and they have hope for the future.
A recently-released Healthy Youth Survey indicates that, in 2025, 79 percent of the tenth-grade respondents said they tried their best in school, compared with 74 percent in 2023.
29 percent of these respondents said they felt anxious — a two-percent drop from 2023 — and 75 percent said they had hope of setting goals for the future.
The study was conducted by state authorities, including the Department of Health.
STORY: FREE/CHEAP
It’s Friday – if you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a bit of what’s going on around the county.
Looking for a way to dispose of old or leftover household paint? You’re in luck — Whatcom County residents can bring it to the Free Paint Collection and Recycling Event tomorrow in Lynden. More information is available on the county’s website.
Tomorrow will also see Ferndale High School’s FFA Plant Sale at the high school greenhouse from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors will find a large selection of flowers and plants grown by FFA students, as well as handcrafted yard art produced by the advanced metals students.
Speaking of plant sales, the Birchwood Garden Club will hold its 33rd Annual Plant Sale tomorrow, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Bellingham Central Library. Only cash and checks will be accepted, and visitors are encouraged to arrive early for the best selection.
Also on Saturday, it’s Free Comic Book Day at The Comics Place, where local creators will be giving away their works from 10am to 7pm. Located at 107 W Holly St.
And, this weekend comes with the your last chance to catch the Tulip Festival in Skagit Valley. RoozenGaarde and Tulip Town are remaining open through Sunday, and Tulip Town is offering discounted tickets this weekend.
WX: *muffled sounds of distant acid rock*
And now weather:
We are closing out the week with another day of warm sunshine. The skies should be bright with temperatures expected in the 70s. Evening forecasts call for light cloud cover, as well as lows around 50 degrees.
This weekend, expect sunshine and high temperatures possibly breaking into the 80s Sunday and Monday.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg, Kathi O’Shea, Kai Blais-Schmolke, Kieran Dang, Bella Farris, and Jenny Lam. 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 _David Korb________… thanks for listening!
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