Bellingham International sees flight cancellations amid govt shutdown, Three Bellingham locals hope for $100,000 in food bank donations in upcoming fundraiser, Expect delays on Mt. Baker Highway this week, State suspends license of Bellingham acupuncturist accused of sexual assault, didgʷálič Wellness Center adds another vehicle to fleet, New accessible playground now open, Washington sees surge in bird flu cases, WIC funding to remain in place until December
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KMRE brings you local news for Mon, 11 , 10th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham International sees flight cancellations amid govt shutdown
Travelers flying out of Bellingham International Airport are urged to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
The Port of Bellingham says some flights out of BLI have been canceled after a nationwide directive to reduce air traffic that went into effect Friday. According to the Port’s website, at least one Alaska Airlines flight to Seattle has been canceled so far.
Further south, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reports 28 flight cancellations and nearly 60 delays across the region.
Again, the Port advises all passengers to verify their flight information online before traveling.
STORY: Three Bellingham locals hope for $100,000 in food bank donations in upcoming fundraiser
Bellingham locals have come together to fight hunger after the suspension of federal SNAP benefits.
Local musician Veronica North, along with Ethan Hunger of Hunger vs. Hunger and Olivia Statham of Olivia Statham Real Estate, announced last week that they are organizing what they hope will be the largest Bellingham Food Bank fundraiser ever.
The event is set for Saturday, November 22nd from 5 to 10 p.m. at Stemma West, formerly Twin Sisters Brewing, on Carolina Street. It’s free and open to all ages, with live music, games, a silent auction, and a raffle.
All proceeds go directly to the Bellingham Food Bank, and Stemma West will donate 10% of its profits that night.
Food Bank Executive Director Mike Cohen says the fundraiser couldn’t come at a better time — with about 15% of Whatcom County residents relying on SNAP benefits, the need for community support is greater than ever.
Organizers say they hope to raise $100,000 by the end of the event, accepting only money donations to maximize buying power for food.
STORY: Expect delays on Mt. Baker Highway this week
The Washington State Department of Transportation is warning drivers to expect delays on the Mount Baker Highway this week.
Rolling slowdowns are planned daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., tomorrow through Thursday, in both directions between Cornell Creek Road and Swamp Creek. Uniformed law enforcement officers will be on site to manage traffic.
The slowdowns are for event filming, though WSDOT (WASH-dot) has not released details about who is filming.
STORY: State suspends license of Bellingham acupuncturist accused of sexual assault
A Bellingham acupuncturist is under investigation for alleged sex crimes involving patients.
The Washington State Department of Health says Timothy Baglio, owner of Birchwood Acupuncture and Bellingham Chinese Herbs, had his license suspended in September after allegations he made sexual comments and engaged in misconduct with a patient between September 2024 and March 2025.
An amended statement of charges issued in October includes accusations from a second patient, who reported being sexually assaulted “under the premise of providing internal massaging.”
The department says text messages from Baglio show him asking the patient not to report him and apologizing. In suspending his license, officials said allowing him to continue practicing posed an immediate threat to public safety.
Baglio’s license has since expired, and the case is now moving through the state’s disciplinary process.
STORY: didgʷálič Wellness Center adds another vehicle to fleet
A second didgʷálič Wellness Center (DEED-gwah-leech) mobile unit is hitting the streets of Bellingham.
The Swinomish Tribe, in partnership with Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham, launched the program earlier this year to bring essential services directly to residents in need.
According to the City of Bellingham, starting today the new mobile clinic will be stationed at the First Baptist Church parking lot at Flora and Unity Streets.
It joins another didgʷálič mobile unit that’s offers mental and physical health care, dental services, and social support six days a week at the Anne Deacon Center of Hope.
STORY: New accessible playground now open
Bloedel Donovan Park now has Bellingham’s most accessible playground.
According to an announcement from the City of Bellingham, the new play area is designed for fun, safety, and inclusivity, with equipment for all ages — including ramps, ground-level play features, and an accessible swing seat. The previous playground no longer met current safety or ADA standards.
The City Rock Hill Park in the York neighborhood is also scheduled for a playground replacement next summer. The current play area is 26 years old and ready for an upgrade.
STORY: Washington sees surge in bird flu cases
Washington state reported nearly 2 million bird flu cases last month, the second-highest in the U.S.
The H5N1 virus continues to evolve, which raises concerns about potential human transmission and impacts on food prices. As of this month, one report cited a 40% rise in turkey prices this year due to the disease. Another report mentioned wholesale prices surging by 75% since October 2024. Egg prices have also been higher, with estimates predicting a 20% increase for 2025, due in part to bird flu, but also inflation.
State officials say the recent outbreak came from a large commercial facility, and highlights the ongoing threat to poultry statewide. Washington’s high numbers are partly due to its location along major migratory bird routes.
Since 2022, more than 4 million birds in 21 counties have been affected. Nationwide, H5N1 has struck 62 flocks across 17 states in the past month, and impacted an estimated 6.6 million birds.
Experts warn the virus is spreading fast, and federal coordination has slowed due to staffing and shutdown issues.
STORY: WIC funding to remain in place until December
Washington’s WIC program remains open despite the federal shutdown.
Washington’s WIC program for mothers and young children has enough money to operate through early December, even as state staff face temporary layoffs due to the federal shutdown.
Local agencies in Whatcom County, which includes Sea Mar, the Lummi Tribe, and the Nooksack Indian Tribe, continue normal operations, with Sea Mar accepting new clients. Participants say there have been no service interruptions.
WIC serves a specific population, so demand hasn’t spiked despite issues with other nutrition programs like SNAP.
WX: Shower of the Wolf
And now for the weather:
It’s back to clouds and light rain today, with daytime highs once again in the mid-50s. Not much will change as the day wears on— this evening’s forecast calls for cloudy skies and lows in the mid-40s.
The sun should crack through the cloudbank for a little bit of tomorrow, though we’re not expecting it to get any warmer.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THARE-un) Danielson, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Bella Mae, and Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI 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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