INTRO
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for [Wednesday], [May 17th]. Good afternoon,
I’m __.
STORY: SPECIAL SESSION ENDS IN ONE DAY
State lawmakers came together on a plan yesterday to make drug use and
drug possession a gross misdemeanor in the state.
KUOW reports that the special session ended in just one day, with Governor
Jay Inslee signing the bill not long after it was passed. Under the new law,
first and second time offenses would be given a maximum penalty of 180
days in jail and up to a thousand dollar fine. On the third offense, it would go
up to 364 days in jail.
A State Supreme Court decision had effectively decriminalized drug
possession and public use in 2021 when it struck down the state’s felony
statute as unconstitutional. A temporary law was set to expire in July.
STORY: SETH FLEETWOOD TO RUN FOR REELECTION
Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood has announced he will run for reelection.
Fleetwood is an attorney who served on the Whatcom County Council and
the Bellingham City Council before he was elected as mayor in 2020 and
began his position not long before the pandemic.
He says his work while in office to maintain essential public services,
address the housing affordability and homelessness crisis, and promote
business growth has improved livability in the city.
Among his challengers for the position are Kim Lund, former director of the
Bellingham Public Schools Foundation; Mike McAuley, a former port
commissioner; and Chris McCoy, who founded Kombucha Town.
STORY: ALICIA RULE ANNOUNCES RUN FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Washington State Representative Alicia Rule has announced her run for
county executive. Alicia Rule has been elected twice to represent the 42nd
legislative district, which covers most of Whatcom County, and has been
serving since 2020.
Rule previously worked as a mental health worker and owns a small
therapy practice. She served as a city councilmember in Blaine and as
president of the Blaine Downtown Development Association.
She says she wants to address homelessness and increase behavioral
health support in the county.
Rule joins incumbent Satpal Sidhu and county councilmember Barry
Buchanan in the race for county executive.
STORY: SKAGIT DIALYSIS CLINIC MANAGER CONVICTED OF FRAUD
The manager of two dialysis centers in Skagit county was sentenced to 30
months in prison today.
U.S. Attorney Nick Brown announced that Jeanne Ang Rather, 51, a former
Washington resident, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison. Rather is
charged with Aggravated Identity Theft and Bank Fraud.
In May 2021 Rather was indicted for stealing personal information from at
least 10 people who worked under her between September 2019 and March
- Using client information she opened credit accounts in their names.
She also stole 20 checks written to one of the clinics she managed, and
deposited all of them into her personal accounts.
All told, Rather stole over two hundred and four thousand dollars. In her plea
deal, she agreed to make full restitution to both the clinic and the bank.
STORY: B.C. SENDS CANCER PATIENTS TO BELLINGHAM
Starting May 29th, BC Cancer will temporarily refer eligible patients to clinics
in Bellingham.
The initiative is aimed at reducing wait times and increasing capacity for
radiation treatments. The program hopes to support up to 50 additional
patients per week and benefit approximately 4,800 people over two years.
British Columbia is also expanding cancer care by through adding more
cancer centers, upgrading existing facilities, and hiring more healthcare
staff. The goal is to meet growing demand and improve outcomes for
patients by providing vital radiation therapy. Eligible patients will have all
costs covered by Canadian health, including travel and accommodation.
STORY: “High Court Examines Domestic Violence Survivors Right to Shield
Records”
Yesterday, the Washington state Supreme Court heard a case that involves
the rights of employees to shield public records if they are survivors of
domestic violence or sexual assault.
Eric Tegethoff has the story.
[WNS Audio: 1:48]
WX:
And now, here’s today’s forecast. We’ll reach a high of 76 degrees in
Bellingham this afternoon with clear skies expected all day. Plan on warm
weather TO CONTINUE as temperatures should only reach a low of 60
degrees tonight.
More heat is on the way, tomorrow afternoon we’ll see a high of 74, and as
we approach the weekend more sunshine is anticipated.
