I think an election happened or something, Transgender high school student may suffer brain trauma following assault in Bellingham, Whatcom sheriff’s office releases investigation report into recently reinstated undersheriff, Commercial salmon fishers in Western WA and beyond struggle with declining prices, Two Bellingham startups win angel investor grant, Bellingham City Council closes public comment for remainder of the year amid security re-evaluations
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, November 6th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: I think an election happened or something
72% of registered Whatcom County voters turned in ballots for the general election this year, and with 65% of them counted, here are the local results as of today:
Initiative 2017 – the effort to repeal Washington’s Climate Care Act – is being rejected 35% to 64% and it also seems to be defeated state-wide, with 63% voting against the repeal.
Initiative 2066 – the effort to repeal the phasing out of natural gas in Washington – is trailing locally 49.5% to 50.4%, however it looks like it will pass state-wide.
Initiative 2109 – the effort to repeal the Capital Gains Tax – is also failing locally, at about 34% to 65%, and looks like it has been defeated state-wide as well.
Initiative 2124 – the effort to repeal long-term care insurance – is also failing at 39% to 60%, and failing state-wide with 53% voting against it.
Whatcom County Proposition 2024-22– which limits elected officials to one position at any level of government – looks to be approved 84% to 15%.
In the 40th Legislative District, Liz Lovelett is ahead 77% to 22%, Debra Lekanoff (lu-KAN-of) and Alex Ramel are running unopposed.
In the 42nd Legislative District, incumbent Joe Timmons is currently ahead of opponent Kamal Bachu (kuh-MALL BAH-chew), 53% to 46%, and Alicia Rule is leading Raymond Pelleti, 54% to 45%.
In the only State Supreme Court race being contested, Sal Mungia is ahead of Dave Larsen, 52% to 46%.
In the Public Utility District races, Eddy Ury (YURI) is leading Jeremiah Goggins by 19 points, and Atul Deshmane (a-TOOL desh-MAH-nee) is leading Dan Johnson by 15 points.
Whatcom County bond measures seem to be passing this year– Blaine School District levy is passing with 55% approval, 44% rejection. Meridian School District’s bond measure is passing, but just by about 200 votes. Fire protection District 1 levy is also passing by just 200 votes. On the other hand, the Columbia Park and Recreation bond is failing by about 250 votes.
There are still about 12,000 ballots left to count, so expect some movement in these results. The next update will happen tonight at around 5 p.m.
STORY: Transgender high school student may suffer brain trauma following assault in Bellingham
Bellingham Police are investigating an assault on a transgender high school student, and will potentially pursue hate crime and assault charges against the juveniles involved.
According to police reports, the attack took place on October 22nd and was recorded and shared on social media. A group of teens shouted anti-trans slurs as they physically assaulted the 16-year-old victim. The student managed to escape and report the incident at Bellingham High School, though his mother criticized the school’s delayed response in contacting emergency services. The attack left the student with facial injuries, headaches, and memory loss.
School officials confirmed the assault and are cooperating with police. The victim’s mother and the Rainbow Youth Project, an advocacy organization for LGBTQIA+ students, are pressing for stronger protective measures within the district, which has faced similar issues before. Lance Preston, the advocacy group’s founder, emphasized the challenges transgender students face in reporting bullying, citing a need for district accountability.
STORY: Whatcom sheriff’s office releases investigation report into recently reinstated undersheriff
Whatcom County Sheriff Donnell (duh-NELL) Tanksley released a 28-page investigation report on Undersheriff Steve Harris, who returned to full duty last week after a two-month paid administrative leave.
The investigation examined complaints against Harris, which include allegations of hostile work environment, unprofessional conduct, discrimination, and code of conduct violations. In the report, Seattle-based law firm Williams, Kastner and Gibbs say they found no evidence of retaliation or unethical conduct by Harris, though it did note unprofessional behavior that Harris acknowledged.
The report highlighted significant distrust between Harris and employees of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, partly due to changes following last year’s sheriff’s election. Tanksley stated he would take steps to address these concerns. Investigative interviews with 15 people revealed issues such as Harris allegedly making inappropriate comments, quote-unquote “parking spot intimidation,” as well as alleged changes to the sign-in process at the Department of Emergency Management, although some decisions were made by Tanksley or other superiors.
Harris, a 28-year department veteran, was promoted to undersheriff last January by Tanksley. He has prior experience as a detective, field training officer, and guild president, and previously ran for sheriff in 2011. The report noted Harris’s transparency and responsibility during the investigation and acknowledged that his actions could be misinterpreted due to his new role and past interactions with colleagues.
STORY: Commercial salmon fishers in Western WA and beyond struggle with declining prices
The commercial salmon season of 2024 is proving difficult for West Coast fishers, with dock prices for salmon unusually low due to surplus supply, rising costs, and reduced demand.
According to recent reporting by KNKX, Veteran Bellingham fishers say that low prices severely limit income for fishers. Bristol Bay’s sockeye fishers face further complications from record harvests in 2022, leaving a surplus in warehouses that affected market prices, though this year’s yields are lower. The Department of Agriculture recently bought excess fish to help stabilize prices.
The introduction of farmed salmon has also driven prices down since the 1980s, as farmed salmon, primarily from Chile (CHEE-lay), dominates the U.S. market with its lower costs and consistent appearance. Additionally, loopholes allow some wild salmon from Russia to reach the U.S. despite sanctions.
High supply chain costs, such as transport and storage, add further pressure on dock prices, and global demand for seafood has declined due to inflation and economic shifts. To counter these issues, industry advocates suggest measures like adding fishing to the U.S. Farm Bill, and support efforts to increase public awareness of the benefits of wild salmon, contrasting it with farmed fish.
For consumers who want to support local fishers, sustainable choices like frozen filets or dockside purchases can make sure you get high quality seafood while saving on costs.
WX: Partly sunny
And now for the weather:
We’re expecting another day of calm winds and partial sunshine today, with daytime highs projected in the low 50s. Clouds are expected to aggregate as the afternoon wears on, bringing temperatures down to lows in the low 40s and upper 30s.
Tomorrow, expect another day of mildly warm sunshine, before we pivot back to rainy weather.
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.
##
STORY: Two Bellingham startups win angel investor grant
Two Bellingham startups are due to win an angel investor grant.
A competition for entrepreneurs in northwest Washington was hosted by the Bellingham Angel Investors group at WCC on Saturday. The two winners, an ocean data tech startup and a childcare center focused on birth through age 3, were among 45 entrants based in Whatcom and Skagit counties.
The $6,000 first-place prize was taken by Astraeus Ocean Systems. Astraeus is a Bellingham-based startup with plans to send out a fleet of drone ships to gather and analyze information on environmental conditions. Founder and CEO Alex Parker said the prize money will help Astraeus outfit one of the ships with an instrument to conduct searches for derelict fishing gear in Puget Sound.
Meanwhile, the $3,000 second-place prize went to Tiny Steps, Big Leaps. Sheryl Clinton, the center’s founder. The center, which Clinton hopes to open by next March, will be licensed for 52 children, with an opportunity to add 14 more in its rooms, and it will also feature outdoor play spaces and an interactive garden. Clinton added that the early age range will set it apart from other facilities.
STORY: Bellingham City Council closes public comment for remainder of the year amid security re-evaluations
Bellingham City Council has announced they will suspend open public comment at meetings through the end of the year, as officials review City Hall security measures.
According to a recent announcement by the City, the suspension began on Monday, with City Council President Dan Hammill stating public comments are expected to resume in January. Until then, residents can still share their views by emailing city officials.
Mayor Kim Lund highlighted the need for improved security at City Hall, which hosts public meetings and has several accessible entrances but lacks consistent monitoring. Recent incidents have raised safety concerns, that include disruptions such as hate speech, COVID-19 misinformation, and violating comment rules.
Lund said that next year’s budget proposal includes funding for a city security team to reduce reliance on contract security and ensure a safe, welcoming environment at City Hall and nearby public facilities.
Leave a Reply