Details released surrounding last week’s Ferndale murder, Blaine woman arrested in connection with Zuanich Park assault that left victim hospitalized, Ferndale man arrested following domestic violence incident, DOH judge agrees to review drinking water contaminant risk, Bellingham announces plans for new park east of Bellis Fair, seeking community input on name, Alaska Airlines announces second round-trip flight between Portland and BLI to begin in November, Gas prices are up, up, up (again) (BUMPABLE FOR TIME), Invasive species of hornet enters WA via Port of Vancouver (BUMPABLE FOR TIME), Supreme Court extends access to morning-after pill via telehealth through the 14th (see note), WA voting experts call for change after SCOTUS ruling, Upcoming early dismissals from local schools
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, May 12th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
UPDATE: Details released surrounding last week’s Ferndale murder
Ferndale Police have released new details about last Friday’s fatal shooting.
Investigators say 39-year-old Michael Daniels violated a no-contact order and forced his way into his ex-wife’s home on Ferndale Terrace around 3 a.m.. Police say he assaulted her, took her phone, and displayed a handgun before getting into a fight with her boyfriend, Jordan Cernich. As Daniels walked away, officers say he turned back and fired several shots, killing Cernich.
Daniels was arrested later that morning at his home on Tsata Lane. A police K-9 found a handgun hidden nearby.
He was booked into Whatcom County Jail on charges including first-degree murder, burglary, domestic-violence assault, robbery, unlawful firearm possession, and violating a court order.
STORY: Blaine woman arrested in connection with Zuanich Park assault that left victim hospitalized
A woman is in custody after an unprovoked, early-morning assault that left a victim with serious injuries.
Bellingham PD was called just before 6 a.m. Monday to the 2600 block of North Harbor Loop Drive, where they arrived to find the suspect actively attacking a person who had managed to call 911. An officer pulled the suspect off the victim and detained her.
The victim suffered substantial injuries to the head, face, and body and was taken to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center.
The suspect was booked into Whatcom County Jail on probable-cause charges of second-degree assault and attempted first-degree robbery, along with an outstanding DUI warrant.
STORY: Ferndale man arrested following domestic violence incident
A Ferndale man was arrested early Sunday after deputies responded to a reported domestic violence assault in the 1600 block of Grandview Place.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office says the victim escaped from a trailer and ran to a neighbor’s home after 47-year-old Austin Wagner allegedly assaulted them and prevented them from leaving.
Deputies say Wagner fled before they arrived, but a K9 unit later tracked him down near Dahlberg Road. He was booked into Whatcom County Jail on probable cause for felony harassment, unlawful imprisonment, and fourth-degree assault.
STORY: DOH judge agrees to review drinking water contaminant risk
A Blaine watchdog group says a proposed housing development carries stormwater and water-protection issues.
Water Planning Matters has filed a Remand Brief that outlines what it calls major defects in the city’s review of the Creekside at the Ridge project. The group says the record is missing key stormwater modeling, does not show that wetland protections have been verified, and raises questions about whether state or federal agencies need to weigh in on the water issues.
Water Planning Matters warns that nearby wells and wetlands, as well as Spooner Creek are endangered, and says local approval alone doesn’t guarantee regulatory verification.
The Department of Health says it is still reviewing the drinking-water questions tied to the project, and will hold additional proceedings before deciding whether to issue a formal ruling.
Updates are posted on Water Planning Matters’ website.
STORY: Bellingham announces plans for new park east of Bellis Fair, seeking community input on name
The City of Bellingham wants residents to help name a new 29-acre neighborhood park planned for the King Mountain area.
The site, located off East Bakerview Road between Deemer Road and James Street, includes hayfields, forest, wetlands, and a creek corridor.
According to Bellingham Parks and Rec, the project will also create a trail system and restore stream habitat. About 3.5 acres of the site are expected to be used for affordable housing. City officials say the park is a priority because the King Mountain and Meridian neighborhoods — home to roughly 7,800 residents — currently do not have a neighborhood park within walking distance.
The property was purchased in 2020 using Greenways Levy funding, with additional support from a state recreation grant.
The City encourages community members to help shape the park with input through online surveys.
STORY: Alaska Airlines announces second round-trip flight between Portland and BLI to begin in November
Alaska Airlines will offer a second daily roundtrip flight between Bellingham and Portland, Oregon, starting November 1st.
In March, Alaska re-launched nonstop service between Bellingham and Portland that was halted eight years ago. According to BLI’s Facebook announcement yesterday, strong community demand convinced Alaska to double its offering for the route.
The new flights will arrive in Bellingham every day at 11:55 a.m., and head back to the Rose City at 12:35 p.m.
BLI’s post encourages travelers to keep up the demand for routes leaving Bellingham as officials continue working to rebuild service after the departure of Southwest Airlines two years ago.
STORY: Additional Fencing Planned Along Birch Bay Berm
Whatcom County crews will install new protective fencing along the Birch Bay berm next week.
Public Works says the project will run next Monday through Thursday, May 18th through the 21st, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with help from Conservation Corps and Sheriff’s Office crews.
Fencing will be added from the Beach Cat area north past Harborview Road, with possible extensions near Cottonwood Drive. The project connects existing fenced sections and blocks informal trails that have been damaging vegetation.
The county says protecting vegetation on the berm is critical for preventing erosion and reducing flood risk, and the work helps meet environmental permit requirements.
Visitors should expect some construction noise and reduced parking.
Public Works is asking the community to stay out of fenced areas, keep off the berm crest, avoid fireworks and fires, and not plant vegetation without approval. Damage or concerning activity can be reported to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office
STORY: Gas prices are up, up, up (again) (BUMPABLE FOR TIME)
Gas prices are climbing in Washington.
According to GasBuddy they jumped nearly nine cents in the past week with a statewide average of $5.71 a gallon. Up 34 cents from a month ago and a dollar-fifty higher than this time last year. Yesterday, the cheapest gas in the state was $4.59, and the highest was $6.94.
Here in the Bellingham area, AAA puts the local average at about $5.55 a gallon – about a dollar-fifty higher than last year and still climbing.
GasBuddy says the spread between the cheapest and most expensive stations in Washington is now $2.35 a gallon, one of the widest gaps in the country.
STORY: Invasive species of hornet enters WA via Port of Vancouver (BUMPABLE FOR TIME)
Look out for the invasive yellow-legged hornet.
Agriculture officers recently found one on a vessel at the Port of Vancouver.
The hornet is about an inch long, yellow on the lower part of its legs and has a yellow-orange abdomen.
This invasive species could reduce local honey production by a third.
Georgia and South Carolina are already at war with them.
If you see one, take a photo, collect the insect if it’s safe to do so, freeze it and report it to the Department of Agriculture.
UPDATE: Supreme Court extends access to morning-after pill via telehealth through the 14th (see note)
The US Supreme Court has extended a temporary order that allows telehealth access to the abortion pill mifepristone through Thursday.
The ruling pauses an appeals court decision that would have restored the in-person dispensing requirements for the drug. This case stems from a lawsuit led by Louisiana and other Republican-led states that challenged federal rules around mail-order mifepristone that were expanded under the Biden administration.
Abortion providers say the uncertainty has caused confusion for patients nationwide, especially in states with abortion bans. New data from the Society of Family Planning show telehealth abortions accounted for 28 percent of all abortions last year.
WX: I Like Highke
And now weather:
Today’s forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the 70’s. Expect evening clouds and lows in the low 50s and a bit of rain over night.
More clouds and rain tomorrow, with lower temperatures, and winds up to 20mph.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg, Kathi O’Shea, Kai Blais-Schmolke, 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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STORY: WA voting experts call for change after SCOTUS ruling
Civic engagement leaders in Washington call on the state to adopt rank choice voting as a way to secure voting rights against changes to the federal Voting Rights Act. Washington News Service’s Isobel Charle (shar-LAY) reports:
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STORY: Upcoming early dismissals from local schools
Bellingham Public Schools will have announced early dismissals on Thursday, May 14 and May 21.
According to the release, this is to accommodate scheduled staff and instructional planning. Elementary schools dismiss at 12:20 p.m., middle schools at 1:15, and high schools at 2 p.m. Schools will also be closed Friday, May 15, as a planned weather make-up day is no longer needed, and again Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day. Classes resume Tuesday, May 26. More information, including school calendars, are available on the district’s website.
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