Update: report of assault near Deming leads to SWAT team response, Ferndale woman arrested following multiple accusations of child abuse by ex-partner, Bellingham pet-sitter accused of stealing and selling dog, Bellingham real estate vacancies up in downtown, declining in rest of city, Bellingham releases plans for updates to Civic Athletic Complex, Bellingham extends mature tree preservation ordinance for additional six months, Dept. of Commerce releases five-year plan to combat record-high homelessness, State awards over $2 million in funding for outdoor recreation facilities in Whatcom County
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, October 23rd. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
Yesterday, whilst talking about the budget proposal to the County Council, we referred to “banked capacity” as the difference between what the city could charge and what they are charging. In fact, the difference is between what the county could charge and what they are charging. We apologize for the error.
STORY: Update: report of assault near Deming leads to SWAT team response
More information has been released on a man arrested last week after a domestic dispute near Deming.
During the incident, Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 31-year-old Preston Torres after he allegedly shook an infant, slammed an adult against a wall, and assaulted them. The incident required a SWAT team response. The infant was unharmed, and Torres was arrested without incident. He now faces charges including third-degree assault of a child, two counts of second-degree assault domestic violence, and other related charges.
Torres remains in custody on a $20,000 bond.
STORY: Ferndale woman arrested following multiple accusations of child abuse by ex-partner
A Ferndale woman was arrested for felony malicious prosecution following multiple accusations of child abuse by her ex-partner.
An arrest warrant was issued for 25-year-old Merissa Saenz (SIGNS) of Ferndale on October 11th, after probable cause was developed to charge her with gross misdemeanor, felony malicious prosecution and perjury. The charges stem from accusations of child abuse Saenz made against her estranged husband, the father of her two children, starting in 2022.
Despite repeated investigations, including trips to St. Joseph Medical Center and sexual assault examinations, no evidence of abuse was found. Authorities say they believe Saenz’s accusations were an attempt to wrongfully have her husband arrested.
Saenz was arrested yesterday, and is being held without bail.
STORY: Bellingham pet-sitter accused of stealing and selling dog
Bellingham Police arrested a pet-sitter accused of stealing and selling a dog she had been pet-sitting in August.
20-year-old Katelyn McLean was dog-sitting for an individual who was out of town. According to BPD spokesperson Megan Peters, upon the owner’s return, McLean claimed she had lost the dog. McLean, who dyed the dog’s fur in an attempt to disguise it, allegedly sold it to a third party, who later learned the dog was stolen when they tried to register it. The purchaser and McLean took the dog to a police station to report the incident. At the station, McLean reportedly admitted to stealing the dog, saying she did so after suspecting the original owner had been neglecting the animal.
McLean was arrested on multiple charges, including first-degree trafficking stolen property. She was booked into the Whatcom County Jail on October 14th and released later that same day.
The dog has since been returned to its original owner.
STORY: Bellingham real estate vacancies up in downtown, declining in rest of city
A report from Pacific Continental Realty shows that Bellingham’s commercial real estate market showed a positive decline in vacancy rates in the third quarter of this year.
Office space vacancies dropped slightly from 4.62% to 4.05%, industrial vacancies from almost half a point, and available retail space also dropped slightly. However, downtown Bellingham faced challenges, with office vacancies rising to 8.18% and retail vacancies increasing to 8.39%, well above the city’s average.
Retail rental prices also increased slightly from the previous quarter, with an average increase of 46 cents per square foot.
STORY: Bellingham releases plans for updates to Civic Athletic
Complex
The City of Bellingham has updated its master plan for the Civic Athletic Complex, which outlines a long-term vision for the community’s main recreational area.
Two new ideas are being considered: one that would increase recreational opportunities and improve climate resiliency at the new Carl Cozier Elementary School, and another that would expand facilities for aquatic and indoor recreation, along with community gathering spaces within the complex.
A public open house to discuss the updates will take place on November 6th, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bloedel Donovan Park’s community building.
STORY: Bellingham extends mature tree preservation ordinance for additional six months
Last night, the Bellingham City Council extended an ordinance that protects mature trees as city staff continue working with developers and the community to refine the regulation.
The ordinance, enacted this past May, was a response to an increase in tree removals ahead of the new regulation. It established a ‘Landmark Tree Inventory’ to protect trees with a diameter of 36 inches or greater, and set guidelines for when large trees can be removed. While the ordinance has been effective in preserving trees, it has also caused challenges for developers, leading to construction delays and concerns about housing projects.
During the City Council meeting last night, City staff and council members acknowledged the need for more time to review the ordinance in order to strike a balance between tree preservation, housing development, and other city priorities.
The ordinance has been extended for six more months.
STORY: Dept. of Commerce releases five-year plan to combat record-high homelessness
A new report from the Washington State Department of Commerce reveals a marked increase in homelessness throughout the state, and outlined a new five year plan to ease the problem.
According to the report, over 200,000 residents experienced homelessness or housing instability in July 2023— a 10% increase compared to five years ago, and a record high.
The rise was more pronounced in rural areas, with Yakima, Whatcom, and Stevens counties seeing significant increases. The newly-released state’s Homeless Housing Strategic Plan outlines a five-year approach to address the crisis, and focuses on affordable housing, emergency housing, and support for those most at risk.
Key strategies include securing state and federal funds to build over a million new housing units over the next two decades, and adding 90,000 emergency beds. The plan also emphasizes workforce support for homeless services, better coordination of services, and the prevention of homelessness through proactive measures. The report also highlights the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, including Black, Native American, LGBTQ+, and young populations.
Commerce says it expects local five-year housing instability plans to align with state goals.
WX: Cloud ‘n clear
And now for the weather:
There should be a mixture of clouds and sunshine throughout today. Temperatures will continue to cool, with today’s highs projected in the mid-low 50s. Expect mild south-southwestern winds, and evening lows in the low 40s.
Tomorrow— expect partly sunny skies, and a chance of morning rain.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman (COOL-mun), Tristan Trudell, 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: State awards over $2 million in funding for outdoor recreation facilities in Whatcom County
