Bellingham police arrest two suspects in April shooting death at homeless camp, Man sentenced for Kickerville Road home invasion, Touch-up project at Bellingham’s iconic ‘rocket ships’ contaminates Container Village grass, Dentists beg Lynden council to continue fluoridation, Fecal pollution threatens 15 popular shellfish harvest areas, Whatcom improves, APIDA Festival next week, WA State Patrol fined $750,000 for failing to disclose public records after crash, Social Security expands rental subsidy
______________________________
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, May 8th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham police arrest two suspects in April shooting death at homeless camp
Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting that occurred at a homeless encampment last month.
Bellingham Police say Coleen Clark, aged 35, and Gale Jefferson, aged 33, are suspects in the murder of 30-year-old Zachariah Janusiewicz (JAN-ooze-wicks).
Jansiewicz was found shot in the woods near the Bellingham Walmart homeless encampment on April 15th and taken to the hospital where he later died.
Police have not commented on what evidence law enforcement found to arrest the two suspects.
STORY: Man sentenced for Kickerville Road home invasion
A Bellingham man will spend three-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty to a home invasion.
In April 2022, 46-year-old Crayton Williams held a Birch Bay homeowner at gunpoint while two women raided the home. The group stole a variety of objects, ranging from $500 in cash to jewelry.
Whatcom County Superior Court judge Robert Olson sentenced Williams to 43 months for second-degree burglary. Williams will also serve time for a charge of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon. A plea deal dropped a handful of the charges, including possession of a stolen vehicle and failure to register as a sex offender.
Williams is currently serving his sentence at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton.
STORY: Touch-up project at Bellingham’s iconic ‘rocket ships’ contaminates Container Village grass
The Port of Bellingham says lawns around the six large digester tanks at Waypoint Park will be ripped up and replaced after lead-based paint chips were found on the ground.
In an email, Mike Hogan, the Port’s public affairs administrator, says that despite controls put into place to contain the lead-based paint, some waste paint chips were found on the lawns next to the tanks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to lead paint, especially over long periods of time, can be a health hazard. However, Port officials say that a short-term visit to the lawns next to the digester tanks does not pose a health risk to the public.
The Trackside Beer Garden will be open this weekend after being cleared for operation by a regulated materials management specialist, but the grass area will be closed off for the next few weeks, according to Kulshan.
Workers from Purcell Painting and Coatings of Tukwila began work on the six iconic digester tanks on March 29. According to the Port, the new lawns should be ready for use on June 1st.
STORY: Dentists beg Lynden council to continue fluoridation
A group of Lynden dentists are rallying in favor of continued fluoridation of the town’s drinking water.
On Monday, the Lynden City Council held the first of two public hearings on the question of whether to end water fluoridation. Local dentists and physicians urged the council to continue the practice, while local residents in opposition to fluoridation cited their own research regarding the alleged dangers of fluoride.
Lynden has been adding fluoride to their water supply since 1959, a move to prevent tooth decay. Local dentists and physicians have noted a difference in oral health between Lynden patients and those from elsewhere in Whatcom County. Anacortes is the only other nearby town that adds fluoride to its drinking water.
The second hearing will take place at 7 p.m. on May 20th, at Lynden City Hall.
STORY: Fecal pollution threatens 15 popular shellfish harvest areas, Whatcom improves
Fifteen of Washington’s 115 commercial shellfish growing areas may face harvest restrictions because of increased fecal bacteria levels in the water.
Every year, the Washington State Department of Health evaluates the state’s commercial shellfish growing areas. DOH analyzes water sample data and assesses potential sources of pollution. Uncontrolled eptic systems, pet waste left on the ground, boats and recreational vehicle dumping, as well as animal waste from farms all contribute to increased bacterial counts which close shellfish harvesting on local beaches.
Some shellfish harvest areas that are currently meeting water quality standards, but are threatened with harvest restrictions due to fecal pollution levels include, but are not limited to: Upright Channel in San Juan County, and Port Susan and Skagit Bay South in Snohomish County.
This year’s sampling shows that water quality improved in five areas, including Portage Bay in Whatcom County. Classifications will be reevaluated throughout the spring and summer and if the trend continues, shellfish harvest restrictions in those areas may be lifted.
STORY: APIDA Festival next week
A festival celebrating The Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) heritage month is hosting a free event for everyone next week.
Hosted by local community and educational organizations, the event features a dinner, panels, performances, local art and more.
The “connected roots, collective futures” festival will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 14 at the Syre Student Center at Whatcom Community College.
STORY: WA State Patrol fined $750,000 for failing to disclose public records after crash
The Washington State Patrol has been fined 750 thousand dollars for failing to disclose public records to a couple requesting information about a crash that killed their son.
The crash, which took place in 2020, killed 23 year old Issac Adler. He was struck from behind at a red light by Patrick Nicholas the Third, crushing Adler’s car. Nicholas was cited for negligent driving and lack of insurance and allowed to leave the scene. Court records show that citation was “voided” by a state trooper without explanation two weeks later, prompting the Adlers to file more than 40 public disclosure requests to try to find out why. When they didn’t get the documents they asked for, they hired an attorney and sued.
Chris Loftis, a spokesman for the State Patrol, said in a statement that the dash-camera video was likely erased due to “miscoding” combined with a “cascading procedural mishandling of the same case in the public disclosure office.” Loftis said an investigation was conducted and that troopers were unable to establish probable cause to file criminal charges.
Pierce County Superior Court Judge Bryan Chushcoff found the State Patrol failed to conduct reasonable searches for records. If upheld, the 750 thousand dollar fine imposed by Chushcoff would be among the largest public-records penalties levied against a public agency.
WX: Sunny
Your Whatcom County weather – Today is sunny and clear with a high of 61 degrees. Temperatures will drop to a low of 44 tonight. The sun will likely continue to shine all week.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman, Kye Salinas (KEY suh-LEE-nus) and Tristan Trudell. 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 listener donations. Check out our Patreon page or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thanks for listening.
##
STORY: Social Security expands rental subsidy
The Social Security Administration announced they will expand the rental subsidy policy for those on Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
SSI provides monthly payments to individuals with disabilities, blindness, or those aged 65 and older with limited income and resources to cover basic needs like rent, food, and medicine. The department says the rule aims to simplify and broaden rental subsidy policies nationwide, improve program equality and reduce administrative burden. The expanded policy will apply nationwide starting September 30th, and will potentially increase payment amounts and eligibility for many.
For more details on SSI eligibility and applications, visit the SSA website.
