Sedro-Woolley man charged with hate crime following downtown Bellingham altercation, Meridian School Board elects not to appoint sole applicant to vacant position, Bellingham Public Schools moves on several major construction projects amid uncertain financial future, Mt. Baker School District creates trades program, FEMA disaster assistance available, deadline 6/10 (edit for dates as needed), Confirmed death toll in Longview explosion rises to two, Community conversation in Van Zandt, Judge rules federal government wrongfully withheld $4 million grant under DOGE
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KMRE brings you local news for Sunday, June, 28. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
UPDATE: Sedro-Woolley man charged with hate crime following downtown Bellingham altercation
A Sedro-Woolley man is facing hate crime charges after an alleged attack in downtown Bellingham.
Prosecutors say 24-year-old Tanner Eugene Smith was arguing politics with a stranger on East Chestnut Street early May 17th. Tanner allegedly used homophobic and transphobic slurs before punching the person in the face. The victim suffered injuries as a result.
Smith told police he acted in self-defense after his hat was knocked off. He pleaded not guilty and was released after posting bail.
A no-contact order remains in place, with a court review hearing set for next Tuesday.
STORY: Meridian School Board elects not to appoint sole applicant to vacant position
The Meridian School Board is still looking for a new board member after it declined to appoint the only applicant yesterday.
The District 4 seat has been vacant since longtime board member Marty Gray resigned in March. District policy requires the vacancy be filled within 90 days, or Northwest Educational Service District 189 will step in to appoint someone.
The new board member will help oversee the search for a permanent superintendent, as current superintendent James Everett prepares to leave for the Anacortes School District at the end of June.
STORY: Bellingham Public Schools moves on several major construction projects amid uncertain financial future
Bellingham Public Schools have announced several construction projects for this summer — even as they face declining enrollment and an ongoing severe budget shortfall.
Plans include upgrades to Squalicum High School’s gym, track, and roof, plus new playgrounds at Northern Heights and Geneva elementary schools. Crews will also continue building the new Community Transitions facility at Whatcom Community College for 18‑to‑22‑year‑old students receiving Special Education Services. The work is funded by voter‑approved bonds and a capital maintenance levy.
The district also expects recommendations soon from its Facilities Planning Task Force, which is weighing long‑term planning against financial pressures. Many anticipate the task force will recommend the closure of Columbia and Carl Cozier elementary schools.
STORY: Mt. Baker School District creates trades program
In more school news, the Mount Baker School District has launched a two-hundred-25-thousand-dollar fundraising campaign to create a new construction trades program.
The project includes a 14-hundred-square-foot covered addition that will give students hands-on experience with framing, flooring, and even tiny home construction. Todd Reitmeyer, the Technical Education Director at Mt. Baker High School explains.
REITMEYER AUDIO 1
District leaders say growing demand for career and technical education now includes more than 230 students, but the project is still looking for support from the community.
REITMEYER AUDIO 2
Reitmeyer says expanding the trades at Mt. Baker just makes sense.
REITMEYER AUDIO 3
Construction is expected to begin this summer. The full construction trades curriculum will launch in the 2027-2028 school year, and it will help connect grads directly to local jobs.
STORY: FEMA disaster assistance available, deadline 6/10 (edit for dates as needed)
As the deadline looms to apply for flood recovery assistance, Whatcom County has added a new Disaster Assistance Center.
The new center at the Ferndale Pavilion Community Center is open next Tuesday and Wednesday, and again from June 3rd through 5th.
The center at Sumas Advent Christian Church on Front Street is open Monday through Friday from nine to five, and Saturdays from eleven to two.
A mobile unit will also be at Nugents Corner in the Ellis Dentistry parking lot tomorrow from ten to six, and Saturday morning from nine to one.
The deadline to apply for disaster assistance is June 10th.
UPDATE: Confirmed death toll in Longview explosion rises to two
Officials now say there’s no hope of survivors in the Longview paper‑mill disaster.
PBS NewsHour reports two workers are confirmed dead and seven others remain missing after a chemical tank at the Nippon Dynawave mill imploded Tuesday, releasing nearly a million gallons of caustic “white liquor.”
Nine people were injured, including a firefighter. Recovery efforts continue during daylight hours only due to safety concerns.
The cause of the implosion is still under investigation.
WX: Golden Hour….s
And now for the weather:
Looks like we’re in for another round of warm sunshine today. Highs today look to reach new peaks in the upper-70s, with a pleasant spring breeze expected to take the edge off the hottest hours of the day. This evening, expect to see increasing cloud cover along with a slight chance of rain. Nighttime lows are projected in the low-50s.
Tomorrow looks to bring us some mild rain and showers, though it will seemingly remain fairly warm as it does so.
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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STORY: Community conversation in Van Zandt
Whatcom County has announced they will host a community conversation with Council members Jessica Rienstra and Jon Scanlon.
Part of the council’s Community Conversations series, the public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10th from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Van Zandt Community Hall. County officials say the event is intended to give residents a chance to connect with council members and discuss local issues.
Officials also noted that a quorum of the County Council will not be present and no formal action will be taken during the event.
STORY: Intercultural Dance Day comes to Bellingham
A new cultural celebration is coming to Bellingham.
Intercultural Dance Day will take place June 14th at Fisherman’s Pavilion at Zuanich Point Park, featuring live music and dance performances, cultural booths, local artists, food trucks, and family activities.
The free event is presented by ANJ Dance Project and aims to bring people together through shared cultural experiences.
Organizers say the event is designed to promote connection and belonging in the community while supporting local artists and intercultural programming.
The celebration runs from noon to 3 p.m.
STORY: Judge rules federal government wrongfully withheld $4 million grant under DOGE
A federal judge in Seattle has ruled the Trump administration illegally cut off four million dollars in migrant aid funding for Washington state.
The FEMA grant was meant to help provide shelter, food, medical care and hygiene services for migrants arriving in places like Seattle and Tukwila. The administration canceled the funding earlier this year, claiming without evidence the money could support illegal activity.
But U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein (ROTH-steen) called the move “arbitrary and capricious,” saying the government failed to justify eliminating the congressionally approved program.
The ruling restores Washington’s ability to seek reimbursement for migrant services, though FEMA still has to approve individual requests.
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