Bellingham city council to vote on proposed speed limit reduction today, Lummi longhouse opens at WWU, Collision on Mount Baker Highway claims life of Ferndale man, other driver hospitalized, Collision on Mount Baker Highway claims life of Ferndale man, other driver hospitalized, Man accused of killing Bellingham CPA deemed unfit to stand trial, judge orders civil commitment evaluation, Dept of Transportation moves opening date of North Cascades Highway up to June 25th, Additional bus service for Ski to Sea, Judge dismisses suit against 2025 law concerning parental rights in schooling
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, May, 18. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham city council to vote on proposed speed limit reduction today
The City Council will vote today on a proposal to lower Bellingham’s default speed limit to 20 mph.
City officials say the plan follows years of safety analysis and aligns with updated federal guidance which prioritizes pedestrians and cyclists. Supporters argue slower speeds could save lives, pointing to data showing crash survival rates improve significantly at 20 mph compared with 30 mph.
The proposal follows a move away from speed limits based on how fast most drivers already travel — toward a newer approach that considers roadway design, nearby land use and the presence of pedestrians and cyclists.
Although according to data, total crashes in Bellingham have declined over the past decade, officials say crashes have become more severe. State transportation data show the city recorded 750 crashes in 2025 that resulted in four fatalities and 22 suspected serious injuries. By comparison, Bellingham logged 898 crashes in 2016 but no deaths.
If approved, most of downtown Bellingham would become 20 mph, with new signs expected this summer. Additional speed-limit changes would roll out in phases over the next three years across more than 500 lane miles of roadway.
STORY: Lummi longhouse opens at WWU
A new longhouse is now open at Western Washington University.
The building is the first of its kind in the City of Bellingham and the culmination of nearly a decade of advocacy by Native students and tribal leaders. The project began after three Indigenous students wrote a letter to university leaders in 2016 calling for more support for Native students, including a longhouse on campus.
University officials, elected leaders and tribal representatives gathered Thursday to celebrate the opening of Lhaq ’temish-ew’xw e tse XwLemi — or House of Healing — located near Sehome Hill Arboretum.
The new space includes the tribal liaison’s office, study areas, a kitchen and gathering spaces for Native students and community members. University President Sabah Randhawa called the building a permanent commitment to Indigenous presence and sovereignty at Western.
STORY: Collision on Mount Baker Highway claims life of Ferndale man, other driver hospitalized
Washington State Patrol says one person was killed and another injured in a head-on crash on State Route 542 near Maple Falls.
Troopers say a westbound vehicle crossed the center line and struck an eastbound vehicle head-on, blocking the roadway. Sixty-two-year-old Allen York of Ferndale died at the scene. Twenty-seven-year-old Jayde Laux (JAY-duh LOX) of Maple Falls was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital with injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
STORY: Bellingham woman arrested on suspicion of attempted murder
Bellingham Police arrested a 43-year-old woman Saturday on suspicion of attempted murder.
Police say the woman threatened to kill two people before cutting one victim with a knife and attempting to strangle them. The injured victim was taken to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
A second victim escaped the home in the Whatcom Falls neighborhood unharmed and called 911. Officers arrested the suspect without incident at a residence on Lisa Lane. She was later booked into the Whatcom County Jail on two counts of first-degree attempted murder and is being held without bail.
STORY: Man accused of killing Bellingham CPA deemed unfit to stand trial, judge orders civil commitment evaluation
A Whatcom County Superior Court judge has dismissed a first-degree murder charge against 61-year-old Donald Edward Malone after finding him incompetent to stand trial.
Malone, who lives in Custer, is accused of fatally shooting 70-year old Vaughn S. Hagen. Hagen was the executor of Malone’s mother’s estate. Court records say Malone lacks the capacity to understand the proceedings or assist in his defense because of a mental disease or defect.
The court also found he is unlikely to regain competency within a reasonable period of time. The dismissal is without prejudice, meaning charges could be refiled in the future. Malone has now been ordered to undergo a civil commitment evaluation through the state Department of Social and Health Services.
STORY: Dept of Transportation moves opening date of North Cascades Highway up to June 25th
The North Cascades Highway is expected to fully reopen ten days earlier than planned.
WSDOT now says State Route 20 should be back open in both directions by June 25.
Crews are stabilizing the rock slope near Diablo Lake by clearing loose debris and drilling long steel dowels. Farther east, they’re rebuilding washed‑out embankments and replacing undermined lanes.
The stretch between Colonial Creek Campground and Porcupine Creek has been closed since late April, after winter washouts and a March rockslide left parts of the roadway and embankment collapsed or missing.
The area remains an active work zone with no access for hikers, cyclists or campers.
STORY: Additional bus service for Ski to Sea
More buses will roll this Sunday to get people to the Ski to Sea finish line in Fairhaven.
On May 24th, the Whatcom Transportation Authority will boost buses between Downtown Bellingham and Marine Park. Route 1 will run every 10 minutes from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., then every 15 minutes until 7:55 p.m., with added connections on Routes 14 and 105. Regular service runs outside those peak hours.
Parking is expected to be scarce in Fairhaven, and WTA says the extra transit is meant to ease congestion. Fares are one dollar, and riders 18 and under ride free, with both mobile and cash payment options.
A free bike valet will also be available at Marine Park.
STORY: Judge dismisses suit against 2025 law concerning parental rights in schooling
A Thurston County judge has rejected a challenge to Washington’s rewritten parental‑rights law.
The Washington State Standard reports Judge John Skinder upheld House Bill 1296, the Legislature’s 2025 rewrite of a conservative‑backed parental‑rights initiative approved in 2024.
The lawsuit, filed by parents and several school board members, argued the rewrite gives the state too much authority over local districts and limits parents’ ability to opt their children out of certain instruction. They also said it conflicts with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
State attorneys countered that the law still allows parental notification and opt‑outs, calling the challenge a policy dispute framed as a legal claim. The judge agreed, siding with the state.
The ruling is expected to be appealed, and voters will also weigh in this fall on a separate initiative that would overturn the law.
WX: The Manchurisun Cloudidate
And now for the weather:
Look for a mix of clouds and sunshine, with temperatures remaining at highs around the mid-60s. This evening’s forecast calls for increasing cloud cover, alongside nighttime lows in the upper 40s.
More of the same is in store for us tomorrow.
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), Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), 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 _________… thanks for listening!
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