18-year-old arrested in connection with Bellingham shooting, Marysville man pleads guilty to 2023 Boulevard Park murder, Whatcom-Skagit Housing program facing federal cuts, Bellingham Intl Airport receives $2 million for runway reconstruction project, Second Bellingham Trader Joe’s set to open next week, Ferndale announces new Chief of Police, Over half-a-million WA kids to receive SUN Bucks, New data shows Whatcom unemployment continued to decline throughout April
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, May 22nd. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: 18-year-old arrested in connection with Bellingham shooting
A Ferndale teen is not expected to survive after being shot in the head in what appears to be an accidental shooting.
Bellingham Police Lieutenant Claudia Murphy told the Cascadia Daily News the incident happened last Sunday on Creston Way, where an 18-year-old suspect called 911 and told police he did not know there was a bullet in the chamber.
Officers arrived to find another 18-year-old, later identified as Alejandro Pallares, unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the head.
According to court documents, a juvenile witness said the two teens had been playing with the gun when he briefly left the room. He said when he returned, Pallares had been shot and the suspect said he — quote — “messed up.”
Pallares was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in critical condition. His mother says he’s on life support with no chance of recovery.
Family members wrote on GoFundMe that Pallares was a kind, bright young man full of life, and that the devastating news has left the family heartbroken.
STORY: Marysville man pleads guilty to 2023 Boulevard Park murder
A Marysville man has pleaded guilty to the 2023 murder of a well-known homeless man in Bellingham.
24-year-old Elijah Belmont admitted in court this Monday to killing 48-year-old Henry “Hank” King on March 12th of last year. King was found dead near the boardwalk between Taylor Dock and Boulevard Park, with gunshot and stab wounds.
Belmont wasn’t arrested until nine months later, after Bellingham Police tracked him down using cell phone location data. He was charged with first-degree premeditated murder.
King was a familiar face in the community, known for his kindness and love of sports trading cards. Belmont will be sentenced today, and faces life in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.
STORY: Whatcom-Skagit Housing program facing federal cuts A critical housing lifeline in Northwest Washington is under threat.
The nonprofit Whatcom-Skagit Housing has helped over 700 low-income families in Northwest Washington build homes through USDA’s Rural Development programs. However, President Trump’s proposed budget would eliminate key funding — including Section 502 home loans and Section 523 Self-Help Housing grants.
Families in the program buy land, secure a construction loan, and put in 35 hours a week building their homes alongside others — often while working full-time jobs. 400 homes in Ferndale have been built this way — 7% of the city’s housing. However, after last year’s funding cuts, the waitlist has grown, with some families waiting five years.
Local leaders and board members are urging Congress to preserve about $1.25 billion in funding nationally. Without that money, the nonprofit says it may turn to private sources to help keep families building — and dreaming.
STORY: Bellingham Intl Airport receives $2 million for runway reconstruction project
Runway improvements are set to take off at Bellingham International Airport.
In a recent press release, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell announced the airport will receive 2-million dollars from the Federal Aviation Administration as part of a national Airport Infrastructure Grant program.
Cantwell said the funding will cover the design phase of a major runway rehabilitation project. The project targets 67-hundred feet of the paved runway, and it aims to improve the runway’s structural integrity and lifespan.
This marks the first phase of a long-term improvement plan at the airport.
STORY: Second Bellingham Trader Joe’s set to open next week Bellingham’s second Trader Joe’s is finally opening its doors next week.
The new store, located at the former Bed, Bath and Beyond location in the Cordata Center, will open on Thursday, May 29th.
Store Captain Brian Casey and his team will kick things off with a short ribbon-cutting ceremony before officially welcoming customers at 8am.
The nearly 10,000-square-foot space marks the city’s second Trader Joe’s location. Once open, the store will operate daily from 8am to 9pm.
STORY: Ferndale announces new Chief of Police
Ferndale has named its new permanent Chief of Police.
In a press release from Tuesday, the City announced that Matt Huffman has officially stepped into the role after serving as interim chief since December. An offer of employment had initially been made to Sean O’Laughlin, pending a background check. However, according to the release, it was later decided by both parties that O’Laughlin was not the right fit for Ferndale.
Huffman previously retired in 2023 after a 26-year career with the Ferndale Police Department, where he last served as a lieutenant. He’s a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and played a key role in helping the department earn recognition for high professional standards.
Mayor Greg Hansen praised Huffman’s calm and collaborative leadership style, and called him a steady presence with deep roots in the Ferndale community.
STORY: Over half-a-million WA kids to receive SUN Bucks
This summer, over 600,000 children in Washington are set to receive SUN Bucks.
The one-time payment of $120 per eligible child aims to help cover food costs while school is out. The SUN Bucks program is part of the USDA’s new, permanent Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer — or Summer EBT
— initiative. Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services is partnering with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to distribute the benefits beginning in early June.
Families who receive SNAP or TANF, or whose children qualify for free or reduced-price meals, may get SUN Bucks automatically. Others can apply online through August 29th.
Visit textsunbucks.dshs.wa.gov to sign up for updates.
STORY: New data shows Whatcom unemployment continued to decline throughout April
Monthly unemployment rates for Bellingham and Whatcom County showed a steep decline from March to April.
According to data provided by the Washington State Employment Security Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bellingham’s unemployment rate stood at 3.4% in April, down from 4% in March. Meanwhile, Whatcom County had a 3.7% unemployment rate in April, a decrease of 0.6% compared to March. The county’s unemployment rate is also down compared to the same period last year — in April of 2024, the unemployment rate stood at 4.5%.
The unemployment rate for Washington state, however, increased slightly from March to April — in April of 2024, the state’s unemployment rate stood at 4.6%, with about 6,400 more unemployed people than April of this year.
Washington had the 13th-highest unemployment rate in the U.S. for both March and April of this year.
WX: The IncanDescent
And now for the weather:
Some early-morning clouds will give way to a consistently sunny afternoon, with highs in the mid-60s. The overcast skies are expected to return by this evening, and temperatures will likewise drop to lows in the high 40s.
Look for more of the same tomorrow.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Cody Mills, Aidan Larson, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), and Kai Blais-Schmolke (KEYE BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee). 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. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thank you for listening.
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