Whatcom County alerts residents to baby formula recalled due to risk of botulism, Bellingham man pleads guilty to harassment and child molestation, North Cascades Highway reopens, officials say to prepare for changing conditions on short notice, Parts of I-5 closed tomorrow, DeWaard and Bode announce dollar-for-dollar match on donations to local food banks, Man accused of vandalizing Blaine motel may be charged with hate crime, Skagit County budget now ready for public review, Rep Larsen advocates for Glacier post office, : Skagit County budget now ready for public review, New flu on the horizon
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, November 18th. Good afternoon, I’m David Korb______.
STORY: Whatcom County alerts residents to baby formula recalled due to risk of botulism
A nationwide baby-formula recall has now expanded after a botulism outbreak that includes Washington.
Whatcom County Health and Community Services says ByHeart is now recalling all batches of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, including cans and single serve “anywhere sticks.” The recall grew after federal officials linked their products to at least 15 cases of botulism in 12 states since last August.
Infant botulism can be fatal, and several babies remain hospitalized, though no deaths have been reported. Families who purchased the recalled formula should throw it out or return it, and sanitize anything it touched, as botulism spreads through bacterial spores.
Typical symptoms of infant botulism include constipation, lethargy, weakness, difficulty feeding, and an altered cry. Anyone whose infant shows symptoms after using the product should seek emergency care immediately.
STORY: Bellingham man pleads guilty to harassment and child molestation
A Bellingham man has pled guilty to domestic-violence harassment and child molestation in Whatcom County Superior Court.
Thirty-year-old Kenneth Tyrell Peterson was arrested last December after reportedly sending repeated messages and making violent threats against his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend.
A prior warrant also accused Peterson of giving fentanyl to a 13-year-old girl and molesting her behind a Bellingham store.
His sentencing will be set once a pre-sentencing investigation is complete.
STORY: North Cascades Highway reopens, officials say to prepare for changing conditions on short notice
The North Cascades Highway reopened at 11 a.m. Monday after a four-day closure.
WSDOT (WASH-dot) shut down the stretch of road between the Ross Dam Trailhead and Silver Star gate last week due to heavy rain and snow in the forecast. Transportation officials say drivers should be ready for full winter conditions in the high country and be prepared for sudden changes as storms move through.
STORY: Parts of I-5 closed tomorrow
In more highway news, drivers on northbound Interstate 5 near Bellingham should plan for delays this Wednesday and Thursday.
WSDOT crews will close the right lane from the North Lake Samish overpass to just south of Chuckanut Drive from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for rock removal.
Motorists are urged to check real-time traffic updates on the WSDOT app or travel map.
STORY: DeWaard and Bode announce dollar-for-dollar match on donations to local food banks
DeWaard & Bode has announced the company will match community donations to local food banks until November 30th.
The retailer will match up to $100,000 to support food banks in Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, and Island counties. Organizers say it’s an easy way for residents to make their contributions go twice as far and help out families close to home.
STORY: Man accused of vandalizing Blaine motel may be charged with hate crime
A 28-year-old man is in custody after Blaine Police arrested him Saturday on suspicion of a hate crime.
According to police, officers were called to the Northwoods Motel just before midnight for a report of a broken window. Police say the man had been making noise outside before throwing a wooden decoration through the window. When the motel owner confronted him, he allegedly told her to “go back to India.” Officers determined there was probable cause for a hate-crime arrest based on racial comments and property damage.
The suspect is being held at Whatcom County Jail without bail.
STORY: Rep Larsen advocates for Glacier post office
Congressman Rick Larsen is raising concern about mail service in Glacier, Washington.
Residents of the remote mountain community rely on the Glacier Post Office for medications, ballots, and bills, but USPS recently stopped accepting outgoing mail there. In a letter to the United States Postmaster General David Steiner, Larsen urged the postal service to clarify whether the post office will stay open.
Closure could force locals to travel nearly an hour to the nearest post office in Deming along a hazardous mountain route.
STORY: Skagit County budget now ready for public review
Skagit County has released its preliminary 2026 budget for public review.
The proposed budget includes over $84 million in expenses and about $73 million in revenues, which will require almost $11 million from reserves to balance. To address rising costs, the plan includes staff reductions, program changes, and department consolidations. The budget also introduces a 0.1% sales tax to fund public safety programs, including additional deputies, a park ranger, and mental health support for crisis response. The new tax will go into effect next April.
A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for December 1st at 10 a.m., with in-person and Zoom participation available.
STORY: Federal bureau claims supersession over WA’s ban on including medical debt on credit reports
Washington’s new law designed to keep medical debt off credit reports may face challenges after a major shift by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Just months after Governor Bob Ferguson signed the law, the Trump administration says federal rules preempt state policies — reversing the bureau’s Biden-era stance. Supporters, including bill sponsor Senator Marcus Riccelli, sharply criticized the move, and says it threatens protections for people already struggling with rising health care costs. While Washington’s law was not struck down, the new federal interpretation opens the door for legal challenge.
State Attorney General Nick Brown’s office says it’s monitoring the issue.
STORY: New flu on the horizon
Health officials warn a mutated version of H3N2 flu is spreading rapidly in parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
Early data suggest this strain may partially evade this year’s flu vaccine, though some protection remains. Washington labs report a small uptick in flu cases, mostly Type A viruses, but overall activity is still minimal.
Officials urge residents to get vaccinated, practice good hygiene, and stay home if they are sick, especially they’re older and those with health conditions.
WX: FORTY-NINE! FORTY-NINE! FORTY-NINE!
And now weather:
It looks like another mild fall day here in Whatcom, with overcast skies, occasional scattered showers, and highs around 50 degrees. Look for a cooler evening tonight, with lows in the mid-30s.
If skies do clear up where you are tonight, check out the Leonid meteor shower as it streaks across the sky. Caused by debris from comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, the shower is just past its peak but could be visible if there’s a break in the weather. This will be its last big show until the 22nd century.
Some partial sunshine may break through tomorrow!
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron Danielson, Glen Hirshberg, Kathi O’Shea, Bella Mae, and Kai Blais-Schmolke. 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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