Blaine City Council Approves text amendment allowing large manufactured home parks, Whatcom County Council approves Winter 2023-24 Severe Weather Shelter, Emergency blood supply is dangerously low in WA, U.S. Supreme Court asked to review Washington’s new tax, Democracy Block, PROMO: BEYOND BARS, Arroyo Park bridge open after 3 years
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Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, October 26th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Blaine City Council approves text amendment allowing large manufactured home parks
On Monday, Blaine City Council voted to approve a text that will allow large manufactured home parks in east Blaine.
The vote comes after over a year of debate in council meetings. The dispute surrounding the parks began after developers Skip and Katie Jansen submitted a planned unit development amendment. While the zoning code allows for manufactured home parks, the PUD code needed for larger developments, doesn’t. After the request, Blaine residents began voicing concerns about affordability, environmental impacts, and traffic.
The planning commission recommended in September that manufactured home parks be constricted to a smaller development area. However on Monday, the city council ended up approving the amendment without a size restriction. The council held the vote with four out of seven members present.
Councilmember Mike Hill said that this amendment fixes an inconsistency between zoning and PUD codes, a mistake on the part of the city. However, many residents are unhappy with the decision, not believing that the council listened to the voices of the residents.
The Jansens plan to move forward with the manufactured home park development, and asked that people keep an open mind until they see what is being presented.
STORY: Whatcom County Council approves Winter 2023-24 Severe Weather Shelter
Two new severe winter shelters have been funded thanks to the Whatcom County Council and City of Bellingham.
These shelters will alleviate some stress from the Lighthouse Mission Ministries Base Camp, which reports to be at or near capacity most nights. The two shelters will provide a total of 95 additional beds during the winter. The first shelter will be open nightly and run by Road2Home and located at Civic Field. The second shelter will be run by the Whatcom County Health and Community Services Department. It will be located at the State Street Creamery Complex and will open on nights when forecasts meet severe weather thresholds. The United Church of Ferndale will also host a shelter that will only be open during severe weather events.
The mission would normally begin operating emergency overflow shelters. However, due to lack of volunteers, no overflow shelters will be provided this winter.
The county is still looking for volunteers to get the new shelters fully staffed.
STORY: Emergency blood supply is dangerously low in WA
Blood banks are facing critical shortages of life-saving blood and blood products, particularly type O and Rh negative blood and platelets.
According to a recent release by Washington State Department of Health, the shortage is a result of decreased donations during the COVID-19 pandemic and are concerning because they may hinder the ability to meet emergency needs such as trauma cases. To find out more about donating blood, go to the Northwest Blood Coalition website.
STORY: U.S. Supreme Court asked to review Washington’s new tax
Residents in Washington are challenging the state’s capital gains tax, claiming it violates the U.S. Constitution.
A new petition delivered to the U.S. Supreme Court asserts that the court should clarify that out-of-state transactions should not be a source of taxable revenue for the state. The Washington Supreme Court had previously ruled that the capital gains tax was a tax on transactions, namely selling assets. However, according to the petition, the ruling now creates a conflict with the federal Constitution.
Washington’s tax, passed in 2021, applies to capital gains over $250,000 but exempts farmland, timber, and livestock. However, it does apply to capital gains from selling shares in businesses.The Department of Revenue estimates it will raise $833 million in its first year with proceeds being earmarked for education.
The U.S. Supreme Court has not yet decided whether to hear the case, with the Washington attorney general’s office given until November 3 to respond to the petition.
STORY: Democracy Block
Election Day is coming up, and to give our listeners more insight into the candidates for office, KMRE is airing a series of candidate forums every day at 11AM.
Today, we feature a vigorous debate on the most recent Jail funding proposition. On the pro side are Peter Frazier and Stephen Gockley, and on the con side are Josh Ceretti (suh-REH-dee) and Jason McGill.
Tomorrow’s Democracy Block will feature the candidates for Ferndale Mayor, incumbent Greg Hansen and challenger Jon Mutchler.
PROMO: BEYOND BARS
Also– coming up after the 5pm news– a decision on whether or not to fund a new jail. KMRE, in collaboration with Cascadia Daily News, produced a series of interviews with people who have experience and opinions on the subject. This week, we are re-airing those interviews.
Today’s Beyond Bars interview features Steven Simmons, the Outreach Programs Manager at Community Action of Skagit County. A formerly incarcerated person, Simmons is working on his Master’s degree through the University of Washington, as well as working with the unhoused in Skagit County. He has a unique perspective on the work.
STEVEN AUDIO
Listen to the whole interview tonight after the 5pm newscast.
WX: Freeze Watch
Today will be mostly sunny with a high of 51°. Tonight has lows around 34 and winds of up to 9 mph. There will be frost in some areas overnight, with the temperatures being much of the same tomorrow. There is a freeze watch in place tomorrow night across Whatcom and Skagit as temperatures drop to around 32 during the weekend.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, and Connor O’Boyle. 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. I’m ________________ and thanks for listening.
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