Election Day, Police warning Bellingham residents to stay away from area near Sunset Drive apartment, Monday windstorm causes road blockages and power outages across Whatcom, Bellingham police arrest suspected perpetrator of April bank robbery, Boeing strike has ended, Lawsuit challenges Washington’s anti-housing discrimination plan, Federal relicensing of Skagit hydroelectric dams draws concern from environmental groups, Commercial salmon fishers in Western WA and beyond struggle with declining prices
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, November 5th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Election Day
It’s Election Day, and there’s still time to have your vote counted.
Here in Whatcom County, you can register and vote at the County Auditor’s office until 8pm tonight. Local results will start being reported at around 8:30. The count will continue until all the votes are tallied, which can take up to four days.
Good government groups around the country are reminding Americans not to expect a result right after the polls close, and to let the system work as designed.
ELECTION DAY Audio
STORY: Police warning Bellingham residents to stay away from area near Sunset Drive apartments
A standoff between police and 33-year-old Jessica Whitis lasted about three hours yesterday.
Whitis was reported for assaulting a man with a baseball bat outside his apartment complex. After Whitis allegedly threatened to get a knife, the man escaped on a bicycle. When police arrived, the woman barricaded herself in her apartment, threatening officers. Crisis negotiators and the SWAT team were called, and officers used chemical munitions when negotiations failed.
The SWAT team entered around 1:30 p.m. and arrested Whitis, who was later booked on charges of second-degree assault and felony harassment.
STORY: Monday windstorm causes road blockages and power outages across Whatcom
Utility crews are working on repairs after yesterday’s strong winds caused power outages that affected hundreds of people in Everson, Goshen, Custer, and Birch Bay.
According to Puget Sound Energy, 98% of power outages have been restored.
STORY: Bellingham police arrest suspected perpetrator of April bank robbery
A suspect has been arrested in connection with an April bank robbery at the People’s Bank inside a Haggen grocery store in Fairhaven.
46-year-old Arvin Edwards of Seattle was taken into custody on Friday by Bellingham police with help from the U.S. Marshals Service. According to Megan Peters with the BPD, Edwards was identified after a thorough investigation by Bellingham detectives. He faces felony charges of first-degree robbery and second-degree theft, but was released from Whatcom County Jail yesterday after posting bail.
STORY: Boeing strike has ended
The Boeing strike has ended.
After 53 days, Machinists union members voted 59% in favor of the company’s latest contract offer. The approved deal enables Boeing to resume operations at idle factories in Puget Sound, where 33,000 workers walked out in September. The contract includes a 38% wage increase over four years, totaling 43% with compounding, along with a $12,000 cash bonus. However, the offer did not reinstate the defined benefit pension, with retirement benefits remaining tied to 401(k) contributions.
The strike’s resolution followed two previously rejected offers, with President Biden and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su aiding negotiations after the second failed vote. The union’s leadership ultimately endorsed the latest offer, though according to reports, some workers still felt it fell short on wage increases, retirement benefits, and work-life balance.
In an announcement to the press, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg voiced hope for improved collaboration going forward.
STORY: Lawsuit challenges Washington’s anti-housing discrimination plan
Washington’s pioneering homebuyer assistance program now faces a legal challenge.
Washington’s Covenant Homeownership Program, which assists homebuyers affected by historic racist housing policies, is being sued by the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, a national nonprofit that has advocated against diversity efforts at universities and other organizations. FAIR filed a lawsuit against the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, claiming the program violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment by excluding homebuyers based on race.
The program, launched this summer, offers down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers from racial groups historically targeted by discriminatory practices, provided they meet certain income and residency criteria. FAIR argues the program should be race-neutral, alleging it excludes eligible buyers, such as one European-American applicant.
In a recent release, the commission defended the program, citing extensive research and the persistent racial homeownership gap in Washington, where Black and Hispanic homeownership rates lag behind white homeownership.
WX: Keep it breezy
And now for the weather:
Yesterday’s partial return to sunshine is expected to continue today, with daytime highs around 50 degrees and a chance of scattered showers throughout the afternoon. Winds are expected to remain calm. Evening lows are currently projected at a nice balmy mid-30s.
Expect partial sunshine and calm winds tomorrow as well.
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 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: Federal relicensing of Skagit hydroelectric dams draws concern from environmental groups
STORY: Commercial salmon fishers in Western WA and beyond struggle with declining prices
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