I-5 in Bellingham clear after landslide debris blocked traffic, Slater Road posted for water over roadway, Fire heavily damages fishing boat in Squalicum Harbor, WWU enrollment rises, Whatcom sheriff’s office incorrectly reports release of sex offender in Bellingham, Whooping cough on the rise in Whatcom, WTA eyeing purchase of land for new Bellingham downtown bus station, Washington tops list of most energy-efficient states
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, October 28th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: I-5 in Bellingham clear after landslide debris blocked traffic
Interstate 5 in Bellingham was closed for several hours yesterday after a landslide blocked the freeway.
The slide, which was triggered by torrential rain, caused northbound lanes to close for nine hours, while the southbound lane was closed until around noon after the landslide pushed a concrete median into southbound lanes. In a post on X, WSDOT (wash-DOT) said maintenance crews and geotechnical engineers worked with the City of Bellingham, State Patrol officers, and first responders to tow and clear 2,000 cubic yards of debris. Bellingham Fire posted that a crew member removed a portion of carpet padding from a two-and-a-half-foot culvert that caused the water to back up near the slide.
Motorists were diverted from the freeway onto city streets. A passenger car and a semi-truck were trapped by debris; both were eventually dug out, and no injuries were reported.
The National Weather Service office in Seattle noted that Bellingham International Airport accumulated 1.75 inches within two hours yesterday morning, and that yesterday was BLI’s second wettest October day ever.
STORY: Slater Road posted for water over roadway
Officials with Whatcom County Public Works are asking motorists to look out for water over the roadway on Slater Road east of the Nooksack River bridge.
As of this morning, the road is open with speed reduced through the area. While the Nooksack River has not flooded, Whatcom News reports that quote “pastureland in the area has been saturated by rain and recent moderate rainfall has caused surface water flooding in low-lying areas” unquote.
STORY: Fire heavily damages fishing boat in Squalicum Harbor
A 68-foot fishing boat, the Alaskan Girl, was severely damaged by a fire early Sunday while moored in Squalicum Harbor.
No injuries were reported, and Bellingham’s fireboat, Salish Star, responded quickly, and managed to mostly extinguish the blaze. The fire caused extensive damage to the boat’s top deck, cabin, and galley, though it remained afloat. It’s unclear if any fuel or hazardous chemicals leaked and, according to Bellingham Fire Captain Dustin Michaelis (muh-KAY-lis), the fire’s cause and damage estimate have yet to be determined.
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 nearly 15,000 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 more in Pell Grant funding for 2024 as opposed to last year.
STORY: Whatcom sheriff’s office incorrectly reports release of sex offender in Bellingham
An outdated webpage on the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office site mistakenly indicated that convicted sex offender Jake Unick was free in Bellingham.
In reality, Unick remains in custody at McNeil Island following a judge’s order last month. The error caused concern when an email list subscriber noticed Unick’s incorrect location on the registry. Unick was previously imprisoned for attempted abductions in 2013 and is being held pending a June trial that may lead to an indefinite civil commitment. Washington law allows such commitments, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The webpage has since been corrected.
STORY: Whooping cough on the rise in Whatcom
Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) says whooping cough is on the rise in Whatcom County.
Eight cases have been confirmed so far this month, and officials suspect several more. Community Services says they are contact tracing, working with schools and healthcare providers, and sending exposure notifications. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis (pur-TUH-sis), is highly contagious and particularly dangerous for infants, pregnant individuals, and those with lung or immune conditions. It can cause severe coughing fits and, in some cases, serious health issues. Those exposed are advised to stay home if symptomatic and consult a doctor.
Vaccination remains the most effective protection, and DTaP and Tdap vaccines are recommended for children, preteens, adults, and pregnant individuals. Free vaccines are available for children under 18 in Washington, though administration fees may apply.
STORY: WTA eyeing purchase of land for new Bellingham downtown bus station
Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) says it plans to spend $16 million of its cash reserves next year on a new downtown bus station.
According to the WTA, the expenditures will include nearly $6.5 million to buy the former Base Camp property for the new station. They also plan to allocate funds for service expansion, paratransit bus replacements, and nine new positions.
The WTA also received nearly $5 million in grants through the Climate Commitment Act for the past two-and-a-half years, for paratransit service and general operations. Last year, the WTA also spent millions from its reserves, which had been built up with federal COVID-19 relief money.
Despite strong reserves, WTA expects a $7.6 million operating deficit and a $16.5 million net loss due to lower ridership and the gap between operating revenues and expenses. To address this, WTA will form committees to explore revenue expansion and cost-cutting strategies. In a Board of Directors meeting last week, Finance Director Shonda Shipman said WTA is proposing a “robust” budget to invest in the community. Shipman said there is risk in spending reserves, but also risk in not spending the money and potentially missing expansion opportunities.
Public comments on the budget are invited at a meeting on November 7th, with contingency plans if Initiative 2117 affects the Climate Commitment Act grants.
WX: Overcast and stormy
And now for the weather:
We’re expecting a week of clouds and storms, beginning today with winds gusting up to 21 mph and a 35% chance of thunderstorms. Expect daytime highs in the mid-low 50s. The wind and temperature are both expected to drop as the day wears on, with evening lows projected in the low 40s.
There’s a chance we’ll see some partial sunshine tomorrow, but the temperatures and chance of rain are both expected to stay consistent with today.
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: 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.
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