Meridian School District goes into lockdown after phone-in threat, New suspect arrested in connection to Whatcom County drug trafficking operation, Bellingham announces cleanup of encampment, North Cascades Hwy to close temporarily ahead of forecasted snowstorm, Birch Bay Waterslides to reopen next summer, Boeing announces sweeping layoffs, Free and Cheap, New health care backfill plan now available for some, Child Care fund could subsidize parents, WTA announces plan to purchase acreage
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, November 15th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Meridian School District goes into lockdown after phone-in threat
The Meridian School District went into lockdown yesterday after a 911 call about a potential active shooter threat.
A statement issued by the district said that law enforcement officials arrived at Meridian High School around 8 a.m. and asked the school to go into lockdown. As a precautionary measure, the School District Office and the Meridian Parent Partnership Program also went into lockdown, while Meridian Middle School and Irene Reither Elementary went into secure mode.
Deputies searched the high school and found no evidence of a threat, and the lockdown was lifted at 8:24 a.m. Later, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office discovered the call was made from the Seattle area.
The lockdown comes just weeks after a Canadian teen was arrested in connection to an unfounded bomb threat at Ferndale High School.
STORY: New suspect arrested in connection to Whatcom County drug trafficking operation
Another arrest was made in connection to a drug trafficking operation in Whatcom County.
A search warrant was served by the Gang and Drug Task Force at a home in Edmonds on Wednesday. 28-year-old Miguel Lopez-Ortiz refused to come out for over an hour before he was finally taken into custody. Drug packaging items and a bag of fentanyl were located inside the home.
Lopez-Ortiz’s arrest is connected to four others made last week in Bellingham, Ferndale and Oak Harbor. He is currently being held at Whatcom County Jail.
STORY: Bellingham announces cleanup of encampment
The city of Bellingham announced plans to begin the clean-up of the long-standing homeless encampment behind Walmart on East Stuart Road.
The site, home to dozens for over a decade, has expanded significantly, and drawn community complaints about health, safety, and crime. In a recent announcement, Mayor Kim Lund emphasized a compassionate yet firm approach that combines enforcement, outreach, and cleanup.
Cleanup is estimated to cost over $2 million due to a ton or more of waste and environmental damage, with wetlands restoration projected at an additional $2-to-4 million. The effort will involve collaboration with nearby property owners, including Tullwood Apartments, to clean and secure areas adjacent to the encampment. Outreach providers will offer support to unhoused individuals, though past actions faced criticism for inadequate services.
According to the announcement, the cleanup is part of a broader, multi-year effort to address homelessness, public safety, and environmental concerns. Similar actions are being planned for another encampment on West Bakerview Road. The city says it’s coordinating with property owners, law enforcement, and the community to balance public safety and the well-being of vulnerable populations.
STORY: North Cascades Hwy to close temporarily ahead of forecasted snowstorm
The North Cascades Highway will close this evening due to heavy snow forecast through the weekend.
According to a statement by WSDOT (wash-DOT), the closure will be between Ross Dam Trailhead at milepost 134 and the Silver Star gate at milepost 171.
Accumulations of up to 2 feet are possible, with more expected at higher elevations. A winter storm watch will be in effect for the west slopes of the north and central Cascades and passes from late tonight through 10pm on Monday.
Avalanche and maintenance teams will reassess conditions on Monday with the potential for reopening. However, there is no estimated reopen time and WSDOT warns drivers this could be the beginning of the highway’s closure for the entire winter season.
In the meantime, drivers can use U.S. Highway 2 east of Everett or Interstate 90 east of Seattle to cross the North Cascades.
STORY: Birch Bay Waterslides to reopen next summer
The Birch Bay Waterslides will reopen for the 2025 summer season.
In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the waterpark announced its reopening in a social media post yesterday. The post states the waterpark took a “quick pause” for renovation, and that season passes for next summer will be available soon. No official opening date has been announced.
Birch Bay Waterslides closed early for the season in 2023 after a visitor was severely injured when his legs went through the side of the Hairpin, one of the park’s four main slides. The waterpark has remained closed since then, and the visitor filed a lawsuit against the waterpark’s owners in May. The owners deny any wrongdoing.
STORY: Boeing announces sweeping layoffs
Boeing said it plans to cut 17,000 jobs, or 10% of its global workforce, and began issuing layoff notices this week.
The cuts, initially expected to spare front-line workers, will impact engineers and production staff, with a focus on trimming overhead and “nonessential” roles. Engineering teams on military programs like the F-15 and P-8 are expected to see reductions. Additionally, remote white-collar staff are at high risk, with some teams expecting cuts as deep as 30%.
The company says it’s pushing to increase production rates, especially for the 737 MAX, but it faces delays due to safety oversight from the FAA and lingering effects of the recent strike.
STORY: Free or cheap
It’s Friday – if you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a bit of what’s going on around the county.
This evening from 6-to-9 p.m., and tomorrow from 10-to-4 p.m., the Northwest Washington fairgrounds in Lynden will host the Red Barn Holiday Market, a Christmas market featuring over a hundred vendors. Visitors can buy anything from home decor to vintage items, clothing and gifts for the little ones. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5, and kids under 12 enter free.
It’s About Time Cultural Arts Center will hold its grand opening at 2013 Main Street in Ferndale tomorrow. Its inaugural show will feature works from six local artists, including Rock Morris and Sasch (SAW-sh) Stephens. Stephens is known for creating sundials, like the one on Unity Street in Downtown Bellingham.
Finally, the Church of the Assumption on Cornwall Avenue will host Sacrum Mysterium, a program organized by the Bellingham Chamber Chorale. The program will feature the work of renowned composers as they seek to explore the “profound mysteries of human existence”. The show will take place twice: tomorrow at noon, and 5 p.m. on Sunday.
WX: Partial sunshine
And now weather:
Expect partly sunny skies later. Temperatures are expected to cool, with daytime highs forecast in the mid 40s, with evening lows in the upper 30s.
Expecting a rainy, blustery weekend here in Whatcom, with a slight chance of thunderstorms Sunday night.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman (COOL-mun), Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Brodey O’Brien, Paloma Ortiz, Anna Hedrick, and Miguel Garduño (MEE-gel gar-DOO-ño). 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 _David Korb_______________… thanks for listening.
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STORY: New health care backfill plan now available for some
People who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid can sign up for Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) to get more comprehensive health coverage. The deadline to enroll is December 7th. With more on this, we go to Erick Tegethoff.
DSNP AUDIO
STORY: Child Care fund could subsidize parents
The Whatcom County Health Department announced that it will advance the Healthy Children’s Fund by developing subsidies to make child care more affordable.
The fund, approved by voters in 2022, generates nearly $10 million annually and focuses on early childhood care and support for vulnerable children.
In a recent presentation to County Council, Child and Family Programs Supervisor Sarah Simpson and project consultant Casey Osborn explained that the proposed subsidies are intended to help local households pay less for child care while making the business of child care more sustainable for providers. Families who earn up to 85% of the state median income would be eligible to apply. Subsidies for families and providers are expected to consume nearly one-third of the fund each year.
Whatcom County hopes to increase payments to providers caring for infants and toddlers, whose care is particularly expensive. The county faces a significant shortage of child care slots, with waitlists at most centers.
The Health Department also says efforts to boost enrollment in the state’s underutilized Working Connections Child Care program will also be made. The program offers full subsidies to low-income families, however, only 8–15% of eligible families in Whatcom County have enrolled.
The final subsidy plan is expected to be approved on Nov. 19.
STORY: WTA announces plan to purchase acreage
The WTA announced that they have partnered with Whatcom Land Trust and Whatcom Million Trees Project to purchase 31 acres near Ferndale.
The initiative aims to offset carbon emissions by preserving trees, with the 13,000 trees capturing an amount of carbon equivalent to the annual emissions of four hybrid-electric buses. The move would also expand the Kelsey Nature Reserve to 51 acres and connect Butler Creek to the Lake Terrell Wildlife Management Area.
The WTA Board approved the $300,000 purchase, funded through Washington State’s Climate Commitment Act, emphasizing the effort as part of broader environmental goals. WTA Board Chair Ali Hawkinson highlighted the partnership’s benefits for air quality, water, salmon, and wildlife in Whatcom County.
