Fatal car crash on Fairhaven Boulevard, 2-alarm residential fire in Ferndale leaves at least one temporarily displaced, Man arrested on suspicion of both robbery and attempted robbery of one bank and three casinos, E. coli outbreak from local creamery effects 10, Nearly 300 WWU students, faculty, and other community members sign open letter criticizing recent budgetary policy, Former voice actress for Lucy van Pelt schedules Bellingham meet ‘n greet, Skagit judge rules license plate reader data is public record, State approves stream buffer rule for logging by narrow margin, Free days at state parks announced for 2026, Whatcom County alerts residents to baby formula recalled due to risk of botulism, Free and cheap
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, November, 17. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Fatal car crash on Fairhaven Boulevard
First responders were called to a car crash in the 300 block of Fairhaven Boulevard shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday.
Officials say the vehicle left the road, ended up on a trail below, and caught fire. The Bellingham Police Department has classified the incident as a fatal collision. Boulevard and the trail below were closed for an extended period.
More news as the story develops.
STORY: 2-alarm residential fire in Ferndale leaves at least one temporarily displaced
First responders rushed to a house fire on Sinclair Drive in Sandy Point Heights Thursday afternoon.
Early radio calls said the single-level home was fully engulfed. The American Red Cross says they’ve been notified and will reach out to the resident to offer help if needed. Officials say the two-alarm fire required multiple support units, medical aid crews, and five engine companies.
STORY: Man arrested on suspicion of both robbery and attempted robbery of one bank and three casinos
Federal prosecutors say a 32-year-old Mexican national has been charged in a string of robberies across Western Washington.
Edgar Oscar Gonzalez Barragan(bare a gain) is accused of targeting three tribal casinos and a Shoreline bank in August, often brandishing a silver handgun. He was arrested August 11th, just hours after the latest bank robbery — wearing the same clothes seen on surveillance video. Investigators say they have also tied him to the theft of a $12,000 “Jaws of Life” tool from a Riverside Fire Authority truck.
According to records, the FBI is leading the case with assistance from multiple local and tribal law enforcement agencies.
STORY: E. coli outbreak from local creamery effects 10
An E. coli outbreak linked to Twin Sisters Creamery in Ferndale has now made 10 sick people across Washington and Oregon.
According to officials, the outbreak was traced to aged and raw milk cheeses. this has caused at least one person to be hospitalized. The creamery recalled its Whatcom Blue, Farmhouse, Peppercorn, and Mustard Seed cheeses on October 24. Health officials are advising anyone who purchased these products to return them for a full refund.
Investigations are ongoing, with multiple state and federal agencies involved.
STORY: Nearly 300 WWU students, faculty, and other community members sign open letter criticizing recent budgetary policy
Nearly 300 Western Washington University students, staff, and community members have signed an open letter criticizing what they call “extreme” budget cuts.
Western recently eliminated its entire student affairs administrative division and nearly 100 positions as it works to close a $23-million deficit. According to the letter, the layoffs gutted key student-support roles and undercut the university’s stated values which has created gaps in crucial services. They also point to recent raises for top administrators, and say that move sends the wrong message.
WWU says the president will respond directly to the letter, and says that current staff are maintaining student services, despite the restructuring.
STORY: Former voice actress for Lucy van Pelt schedules Bellingham meet ‘n greet
A familiar voice from the classic Peanuts cartoons is coming to Bellis Fair Mall.
Melanie Kohn(mel-anie cone) who played the iconic, sassy Lucy van Pelt from 1974 to 1977 will host a meet-and-greet on Friday and Saturday, November 28th and 29th. Kohn voiced Lucy in favorites like “Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown” and “It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown.” Fans can stop by between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. near Crazy Jumpers and the Bellingham Public Library space for autographs, photos, and memorabilia.
Bellis Fair is located on Bellis Fair Parkway in Bellingham.
STORY: Skagit judge rules license plate reader data is public record
Skagit County Superior Court judge Elizabeth Neidzwski(na-JESS-ski) ruled that pictures collected by automated license plate recognition cameras must be considered public records.
ALPR devices are commonly known as Flock cameras after one of the primary companies that makes them. Representatives from Sedro-Woolley and Stanwood argued that some of the images are exempt from disclosure. But according to court records, the judge determined that because the cameras were paid by taxpayer money, and the images are used for governmental purposes, they are subject to the Washington State Public Records Act.
ALPR cameras started to be used across western Washington and in many other areas of the country this year. Flock touts its technology as a way to eliminate crime and protect communities.
However, a number of privacy rights organizations have objected. In August, Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst with the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, pointed out that surveillance data from such cameras has been used in immigration enforcement by ICE, and to hunt for a Texas woman who had taken a morning-after pill.
He warned against what he calls, “the creation of a centralized mass surveillance system of Orwellian scope”.
STORY: State approves stream buffer rule for logging by narrow margin
The state Forest Practices Board has approved new rules that widen no-harvest buffers around many Western Washington mountain streams.
In a 7–5 vote Wednesday, the board expanded riparian(ri-pair-ean) buffers on non–fish-bearing streams from 50 to 75 feet, effective next August. Conservation groups say the change fulfills a long-standing commitment under the 1999 Forests & Fish law. However, a Washington State University report estimates the rule could remove thousands of acres from harvest and cost the industry hundreds of millions of dollars statewide.
The Forest Practices Board says it will consider mitigation options before final adoption.
STORY: Free days at state parks announced for 2026
Washington state parks will allow visitors to skip the Discover Pass with several free-admission days next year.
The first free day is January 1st, with First Day Hikes taking place statewide, including an 11 a.m. hike at Birch Bay State Park. Other free days include national holidays, National Public Lands Day in September, and a Free Fishing Weekend in early June.
WX: Rainy Way Ya Want It
And now for the weather:
Overcast skies and infrequent drizzles continue here in Whatcom. High temperatures for today will once again float around 50 degrees, with minimal fluctuations. Tonight, look for more scattered showers and temperatures in the low 40s.
Were you expecting us to say “be ready for the same thing tomorrow?” Of course you were. Tomorrow should be just as rainy and gray.
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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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 the product to at least 15 cases across 12 states since 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. Anyone whose infant shows symptoms after using the product should seek emergency care immediately.
STORY: Free and cheap:
Sat Nov 22, California Creek Tree Planting, Join NSEA, Whatcom Conservation District, and Whatcom Land Trust to improve habitat near Drayton Harbor! 9am-12pm – Blaine, WA | More information coming soon!
Sat Dec 6, Deer Creek Tree Planting, Support coho salmon by improving riparian habitat along Deer Creek and planting trees and shrubs! 9am-12pm – Bellingham, WA | Click here for more information.
Sat Dec 13, Connelly Creek Tree Planting, Improve wetlands with NSEA and the City of Bellingham in the Connelly Creek Nature Area. 10am-1pm – Bellingham, WA | Click here for more information.
