PeaceHealth announces intentions to lay off 17 employees in Bellingham, 150 statewide, Two Bellingham Herald journalists among ninety laid off by subsidiaries of national newspaper chain, Medical episode listed as probable cause of fatal crash outside of Sumas, Whatcom County finalizes federal grant for local ferry, County Council Q&A in Point Roberts tonight, Smoke testing in Ferndale, The Herald building turns 100, Road work scheduled for this week, Missing Sauk Mountain hiker found dead, FTC announces Take It Down Act (undated), Students encounter difficulties when transferring from community college to 4-year schools (undated), Community Conversations District 2 (run at end of Sept), Recycling Event (run between 9/28 – Oct 1), Friends of the Bellingham Public Library September Book Sale, Ferndale Coffee with a Cop (run between 9/28 and 9/2)
Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Monday, September, 21. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: PeaceHealth announces intentions to lay off 17 employees in Bellingham, 150 statewide
PeaceHealth will lay off 17 employees in Bellingham and four in Sedro-Woolley.
In all, about 150 PeaceHealth employees across the state will lose their jobs. The layoffs follow PeaceHealth’s announcement last month of a five-year contract with HCI Group to provide most of the organization’s IT services.
The cuts are scheduled to take effect November 20.
PeaceHealth eliminated 26 positions in Bellingham earlier this year and has made additional cuts since CEO Sarah Ness took over in January.
Some affected IT workers have raised concerns that outsourcing could slow the response to problems involving the hospital’s electronic medical records system, Epic.
PeaceHealth is one of Whatcom County’s largest employers.
STORY: Two Bellingham Herald journalists among ninety laid off by subsidiaries of national newspaper chain
Two reporters at the Bellingham Herald are among at least 90 journalists laid off nationwide by newspaper chain McClatchy.
Reporter Jack Belcher and editor and reporter Rachel Showalter say their positions were eliminated last week. Seven unionized journalists were cut across McClatchy’s four Washington newspapers.
The Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild says the layoffs eliminated about a third of its membership and will leave some Northwest newspapers without reporters covering city hall or the state Capitol.
The cuts come just months after Bellingham Herald journalists joined a one-day strike over wages and the company’s use of artificial intelligence. The union says the layoffs will leave communities with fewer journalists to keep the public informed and hold powerful institutions accountable.
STORY: Medical episode listed as probable cause of fatal crash outside of Sumas
A medical episode led to a fatal crash that killed a Sumas man over the weekend.
Washington State Patrol says the collision happened late Friday night on State Route 547 near milepost 8. Troopers say 48‑year‑old Sebastian Gomez was driving northbound when his vehicle left the roadway, hit a tree, and came to rest off the shoulder.
Gomez died at the scene. Troopers say the cause was a medical episode, and that he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
No other vehicles were involved, and drugs or alcohol were not factors.
STORY: Whatcom County finalizes federal grant for local ferry
The long-planned replacement of the 64-year-old Whatcom Chief ferry is one step closer to reality.
Whatcom County has finalized a $25 million federal grant agreement to help replace the ferry that connects Lummi Island with the mainland. The federal money is expected to cover about half the project cost.
The county also recently created a countywide taxing district to help pay for the new ferry and its ongoing maintenance. That will add about 45 dollars a year in property taxes for the typical Whatcom County homeowner.
The county expects to seek bids for terminal construction in November, with construction beginning next June. Bidding for the new ferry is expected to open in January, with the vessel entering service by March 2029.
STORY: County Council Q&A in Point Roberts tonight
Point Roberts residents will have a chance to speak directly with Whatcom County Council members tonight.
Councilmembers Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas and Jon Scanlon will take part in a community Q-and-A from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Point Roberts Community Center. Members of the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee will also be there.
The meeting comes as Point Roberts continues to deal with issues unique to its status as a U.S. exclave, including cross-border travel.
Residents are urged to bring their questions and concerns to tonight’s meeting.
STORY: Smoke testing in Ferndale
Ferndale residents may see smoke in the sewer system this week.
City public works says crews will use non-toxic, odorless smoke to test the sanitary system near Thornton Road and Vista Drive, and it’s used to find places where groundwater may be getting into the sewer system.
The smoke may appear from vents, yards, gutters or even around foundations. Residents in the affected area will be notified ahead of time. The city recommends pouring water into drains that aren’t used often, which can help keep smoke from entering homes.
STORY: The Herald building turns 100
The historic Herald Building in downtown Bellingham is turning 100, and the public is invited to the party.
The six-story Gothic Revival building at State and Chestnut streets opened in June 1926 as the home of The Bellingham Herald. Its rooftop sign has become a Bellingham landmark, and the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.
Free tours will run every half-hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, and give visitors a look inside the renovated building, including its historic woodwork, terrazzo floors, stained glass and former newspaper spaces.
The Herald moved out of the building in 2019. Today, it’s nearly fully occupied by dozens of businesses.
STORY: Road work scheduled for this week
If you’re hitting the road this week, be prepared for some construction delays around Whatcom and Skagit counties.
On Highway 9 at East Badger Road, crews will repave the roadway today and tomorrow from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Traffic will alternate through the work zone, with delays possible.
Farther south on Highway 9, expect a complete road closure near Hopewell Road from 6 a.m. Wednesday until Saturday for a bridge replacement. Local traffic will be allowed through, but other drivers will need to use detours via the Guide Meridian, East Pole Road and Mount Baker Highway.
And in Skagit County, Highway 9 will close north of Lake McMurray starting Monday for repairs to the Lake Creek Bridge. The closure is expected to continue through September 30. Drivers will need to detour using Highway 534, College Way and I-5.
WSDOT also says lane reductions for two fish-passage projects farther north are expected to continue through at least Thursday.
STORY: Missing Sauk Mountain hiker found dead
The search for a missing Sauk Mountain hiker ended with the discovery of his body.
Skagit County deputies say 78‑year‑old Peter Kalapaca was reported missing September 17th and was found the next evening in steep terrain that ground crews couldn’t reach. A helicopter team recovered his body, and the trail later reopened.
KING 5 reports search‑and‑rescue crews were back on Sauk Mountain just a day later, after a man fell about 100 feet from a switchback Saturday afternoon. Deputies, National Park Service personnel, and rescue teams were working into Saturday night to extract the man. No further updates have been released.
WX: School of hard equiknocks
And now for the weather…
Happy Autumn– it’s finally here and we can expect lots of clouds mixed with sunshine throughout the day. Daytime highs should hit the upper 60s, maybe even 70. Tonight, we’ll end the day about the same way it began— with cloudy skies and cool temps in the low 50s.
More of the same is expected tomorrow.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRAH-guh), Kyler Cantrell (can-TRELL), Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Jenny Lam, Doug Langstrom, and Cheri Cloninger (SHARE-ee CLAWN-in-jer). 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. To help support our work, check out our Patreon, or Substack, or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________… thanks for listening!
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STORY: FTC announces Take It Down Act (undated)
There’s now a way to fight back if intimate photos or videos are posted online without permission.
Under the federal Take It Down Act, online platforms are required to provide an easy way to request that the content be removed — and they have 48 hours to take it down once a request is made.
The FTC says platforms are also violating the law if they don’t have a working removal process.
If a platform doesn’t take down the content within 48 hours, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission at TakeItDown dot FTC dot gov.
The FTC says those reports can help the agency investigate platforms that break the law. Civil penalties can be more than 53-thousand dollars for each violation.
STORY: Students encounter difficulties when transferring from community college to 4-year schools (undated)
A new Washington report finds many community college students face a confusing and largely self-directed path when trying to transfer to a four-year school.
Researchers at the University of Washington found students often had to figure out transfer requirements, financial aid and credit-transfer rules on their own. Many said transferred credits didn’t always count toward their intended major, creating delays and added costs.
Community college transfer is a major pathway to a bachelor’s degree for many first-generation and low-income students. Researchers found success often depended on work schedules, childcare, transportation and finances as much as academics.
The report recommends clearer transfer information, dedicated transfer advisors and better coordination between community colleges and universities.
The findings come as Washington works toward a goal of having 70 percent of adults ages 25 to 44 earn a credential beyond high school.
STORY: Community Conversations District 2 (run at end of Sept)
Whatcom County residents will soon have a chance to meet their council members and ask questions.
Three councilmembers — Elizabeth Boyle, Barry Buchanan, and Jon Scanlon — will take part in a community conversation on Thursday, October 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Round Table Pizza on East Sunset Drive. It’s part of the council’s Community Conversations series, this time held with the Barkley Neighborhood Association.
The event is free and open to the public, with time for updates and a Q&A.
More information on upcoming Community Conversations events is available on the county’s website.
STORY: Another Community Conversations series meeting (run 9/28 – 10/2)
Whatcom County residents will have a chance to ask county councilmembers questions face-to-face next week.
Councilmembers Elizabeth Boyle, Barry Buchanan, and Jon Scanlon will meet with community members Wednesday as part of the County Council’s Community Conversations series.
The event is being held with members of the King Mountain Neighborhood Association, but it’s free and open to everyone.
Councilmembers will provide updates on county government and take questions from residents.
The meeting runs from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bellingham Covenant Church on East Bakerview Road.
STORY: Recycling Event (run between 9/28 – Oct 1)
Whatcom County residents and businesses can get rid of unwanted paint for free at a recycling event in Bellingham.
The Paint Collection and Recycling Event is Saturday, October 3rd, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Barkley Village, on Rimland Drive.
Accepted items include latex and oil-based paints, acrylics, varnishes, shellacs, lacquers and primers. Paint must be in its original container and in containers of five gallons or less. There’s no need to dry out the paint before bringing it in.
Spray paint, marine and automotive paint, paint thinner and other hazardous materials will not be accepted.
People are asked to stay in their vehicles while staff unload the materials. Pre-registration is encouraged.
F&C 9/24-26
Friends of the Bellingham Public Library September Book Sale
Friday, September 25, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, half-price
Saturday, September 26, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, $5/bag
Lecture Room, Central Library
Visit the Lecture Room at the Central Library for the Friends of the Library September Book Sale and browse from a huge selection of books, DVDs, and more. There will be items for all ages and all proceeds benefit your library. Credit card and cash payments will be accepted. Check it out!
STORY: Ferndale Coffee with a Cop (run between 9/28 and 9/2)
Ferndale police are inviting residents to sit down and chat over coffee.
The department is hosting Coffee with a Cop next Wednesday at Woods Coffee on Main Street in Ferndale.
The event runs from 9 to 11 a.m. and is part of National Coffee with a Cop Day, which promotes informal conversations between police and community members.
There’s no agenda or formal presentation. Residents can stop by to meet officers, ask questions, share concerns, or simply have a conversation.
No registration is required.
The event will be held at Woods Coffee on Main Street in Ferndale.
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