Health officials caution Washington residents after avian flu cases reported within state, Still time to vote, State awards over $2 million in funding for outdoor recreation facilities in Whatcom County, Whatcom County affirms food security as public health priority, outlines plan of action, Federal judge upholds WA ban on over-the-counter sexual assault kits, Free and Cheap, Washington tops list of most energy-efficient states, WWU enrollment rises
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Friday, October 25th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Health officials caution Washington residents after avian flu cases reported within state
Two people have tested positive in Washington for avian flu earlier this week, although this H5N1 strain does not easily infect humans.
An outbreak of the virus affecting over 800,000 chickens was reported at a commercial poultry farm in Franklin County. According to the Washington State Department of Health, two workers had presumptive positive tests soon after. Whatcom County and Washington state officials now urge residents to take steps to prevent the spread of this virus, especially among backyard flocks.
Precautions include: wearing protective gear when handling sick or dead birds, cover your coops to prevent contact with wild birds, use separate clothing and shoes while working with birds, and clean equipment regularly.
Residents should report sick or dead domestic birds to the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and wild birds to the Department of Fish & Wildlife.
STORY: Still time to vote
Election Day is 11 days away, but there’s still time for Washingtonians to make their final voting decisions. Here’s more from reporter Eric Tegethoff.
ELECTION Audio
For more on how the local election process works, tune in today after the 5 o’clock news.
STORY: State awards over $2 million in funding for outdoor recreation facilities in Whatcom County
The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office awarded over $2 million for outdoor recreation in Eastern Whatcom County.
The Nooksack School District will receive over $800,000 to install artificial turf on the high school campus. Meanwhile, nearly $1.2 million will go to the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center to build a multi-sport athletic court, along with a roof for year-round use, enabling both sports and community events.
STORY: Whatcom County affirms food security as public health priority, outlines plan of action
The Whatcom County Council unanimously passed a resolution this Tuesday affirming food security as a public health priority.
Of the $2 million requested by the Whatcom County Food Bank Network in annual funding from the county, only $138,000 was actually allocated to the network. Council member Kaylee Galloway said that she and other council members have asked the executive’s office to see if the allocation can be increased, but it’s unlikely the county will accommodate the food bank’s full ask due to budget constraints.
One step outlined by the resolution requires the county executive to work with state and federal officials, as well as the county’s lobbyists, to identify and advocate for additional food bank funding resources.
According to the network, which consists of 13 food banks across the County, a quarter of county residents patronize our food banks.
STORY: Federal judge upholds WA ban on over-the-counter sexual assault kits
A federal judge upheld Washington’s 2023 law banning the sale and advertising of over-the-counter sexual assault evidence kits.
The Attorney General’s office argued that the kits were inadequate compared to forensic exams carried out by medical professionals. The judge ruled that the ban is economic regulation, not a violation of free speech, while Attorney General Bob Ferguson emphasized that it protects survivors from misleading claims and promotes access to trained forensic care at no cost.
Leda Health faces similar legal battles in other states over its products, and says the ban restricts survivors’ control over their recovery process. The company says it plans to appeal.
STORY: Free and cheap
It’s Friday – if you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a bit of what’s going on around the county.
Three trick-or-treating events are taking place tomorrow. The First Congregational Church will host a free Trunk-or-Treat event from 2-to-4 p.m. Trick-or-treating in downtown Ferndale will also run from 2-to-4 p.m., while Birch Bay’s fourth annual Trick-or-Treat on the Berm will take place from 3-to-5 p.m.
Tomorrow will also see the Pickford Film Center host Bleedingham, a horror short film festival featuring films from the area and all around the world. Tickets start at $11 and can be purchased online.
Finally, in terms of live events, the Blue Room will host the Unique Technique Adult Dance Showcase tomorrow at 8 p.m. Audiences 18 and over will have an opportunity to see a mix of hip hop, pom, chair, heels, jazz, and more. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at the Blue Room’s website.
WX: Cloud ‘n….. actually, no, just clouds
And now weather:
Cloudy skies are in the forecast for today, with daytime highs in the mid-upper 50s. Expect calm east-blowing winds throughout the day, with evening lows in the mid-upper 40s.
Expect rain tonight, which is forecast to stay with us for the weekend. Hope you all picked out your pumpkins already, or do that Northwest thing and dress for 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 your donations. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _David Korb_______________thanks for listening.
##
STORY: Washington tops list of most energy-efficient states
A new WalletHub study ranked Washington as the most energy-efficient state in the contiguous U.S..
According to the consumer financial website, the study analyzed factors like low residential energy use and low average miles driven. Washington scored almost 80 out of 100 for energy efficiency, took second place in home efficiency, and eighth in auto efficiency. Key factors include long-standing state investments in energy conservation, robust utility programs, and building and appliance efficiency standards.
STORY: WWU enrollment rises
Western Washington University announced that its total enrollment is rising for the first time since the pandemic.
According to a recent release from WWU, there are 14,700 students registered for fall 2024. Shelli Soto, WWU’s Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, says spring 2024 was the first time since the pandemic that total enrollment took an upward turn from the previous year. She says the fall 2024 numbers are a confirmation that Western enrollment is back on an upward trajectory.
FAFSA completion rates among new students are up by 3%, which the University says has also played a role in rising student numbers. The university says it has distributed $2 million dollars more in Pell Grant funding for 2024 as opposed to last year.
Leave a Reply