Bellingham PD seeking information in search for missing woman, Authorities arrest accused kidnapper after victim escapes near Skagit Speedway, Woman arrested following alleged shoplifting and assault inside Bellingham mall, Low-pressure system set to impact Whatcom County this weekend, Whatcom County flock to be euthanized following confirmed case of avian flu, Defeat of initiative ensures Climate Care Act, Bellingham to construct roundabout connecting James St. and Bakerview Road, Bellingham resident sets world record for women’s ultramarathon
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KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, November 21st. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Bellingham PD seeking information in search for missing woman
Bellingham Police are asking the public for any information on a woman who has been missing for over six months.
39-year-old Margaret “Gracie” King was reported missing on October 17th by a concerned family member who had lost contact with her six months ago.
According to a Facebook post by Bellingham Police, King was last known to be in Bellingham as recently as mid-September, and is suspected to be homeless. King is 5-feet-4 and weighs around 120 pounds. She has hazel eyes and was last known to have long brown hair.
Anyone with information regarding her location is encouraged to submit a tip online at the City of Bellingham’s website.
STORY: Authorities arrest accused kidnapper after victim escapes near Skagit Speedway
Authorities say they have arrested a woman accused of kidnapping an individual in Bellingham and transporting them to Skagit County.
According to Megan Peters with the Bellingham Police Department, the suspect, Janelle Peyton Hill, accompanied by two associates, visited the victim’s workplace in the Irongate Business Park on October 29th to retrieve her belongings. Hill reportedly attempted to take items that weren’t hers; when the victim objected to this, the suspect and her associates allegedly forced the victim into a van, threatened them with a weapon, and drove toward Skagit County.
Peters says the victim managed to escape from the van near Skagit Speedway and sought help from a nearby RV, leading to a call to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. The van was later found in Skagit County, but the suspects were not present. Authorities also reported that the group had stolen another vehicle earlier that day from the same business park, which was later recovered in Tacoma.
On November 11th, Hill, a convicted felon, was located at a storage facility near Bellingham and arrested. She was in possession of a firearm, and is being charged by the county prosecutor’s office with first-degree kidnapping and robbery, as well as motor vehicle theft.
An investigation is underway.
STORY: Woman arrested following alleged shoplifting and assault inside Bellingham mall
A shoplifting suspect was arrested after allegedly assaulting an employee at Macy’s in the Bellis Fair Mall on Sunday afternoon.
The suspect, Preston Richardson, reportedly tried to steal several clothing items and attacked an employee who intervened, punching them multiple times in the face. Police nearby received a description of the suspect and apprehended him in the parking lot. Richardson has been charged by the county prosecutor’s office with first-degree robbery.
STORY: Low-pressure system set to impact Whatcom County this weekend
The impacts from Tuesday’s bomb cyclone may have passed. However, meteorologists say a weaker storm may arrive tomorrow morning.
The National Weather Service forecasts widespread showers and moderate winds for western Washington on Friday and Saturday, but no high wind warnings are anticipated. Temperatures will remain in the mid-40s to low 50s.
While such storms are typical in late fall and winter, Tuesday’s cyclone was unusually strong, though similar storms may occur later this season.
STORY: Whatcom County flock to be euthanized following confirmed case of avian flu
A mixed flock of twenty Whatcom County birds will be euthanized after testing positive for bird flu, according to a news release by Whatcom County Health and Community Services.
Nationally, 53 bird flu cases have been confirmed in humans since April, eleven of which are in Washington state. Bird flu, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, is a virus that primarily infects birds, but can be transmitted to mammals.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, it is extremely rare for poultry to recover from bird flu. Furthermore, the Washington State Department of Agriculture says that if a flock has tested positive for the virus, they must be euthanized in order to prevent the spread.
People who work with poultry, wild animals, cows, or raw, unpasteurized cow’s milk are at higher risk of contracting the virus. Bird flu symptoms in humans are similar to those of the common flu.
According to the CDC, there have been no reported cases of the virus spreading from person to person in the U.S., and risk to the general population is low. However, the health department urges farmers or backyard livestock owners to report sick or dead animals who may have bird flu to Agriculture’s Avian Health Program.
STORY: Defeat of initiative ensures Climate Care Act
Supporters say the defeat of Washington State’s Initiative 2117 will keep the state on track to reach its pollution-reductions goal by 2050 and preserve thousands of clean-energy jobs. Reporter Mark Richardson has more.
Climate AUDIO
WX: And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
As yesterday’s bomb cyclone continues to die down, expect lingering rain and winds, the latter reaching speeds of up to 15 mph. Today’s daytime highs are projected in the low 50s, with evening lows dropping to around 40 degrees.
A similar weather pattern is in the forecast for tomorrow, with gusts expected to increase in speed to around 25 mph.
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, Riley Weeks, Brodey O’Brien, Paloma Ortiz, Anna Hedrick, 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 listener donations. Check out our Patreon page or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thank you for listening.
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STORY: Bellingham to construct roundabout connecting James St. and Bakerview Road
By this time next year, Bellingham will have a new roundabout.
The Bellingham City Council’s Public Works committee voted unanimously to approve a contract bid to install a roundabout at the intersection of James Street and Bakerview Road, with the full council approving the bid on Monday. The contract was awarded by the City Council to Faber Construction for nearly $4.3 million.
Officials expect the project to last about 50 days beginning next April. Roads in and near the intersection will be partially and fully closed during that time.
STORY: Bellingham resident sets world record for women’s ultramarathon
