Road rage incident on SR20 escalates to a hit-and-run; motorcyclist ends up in hospital, WSP reports over 200 crashes along I-5 in Bellingham in 2024 thus far, Portion of Samish Way to be closed for three nights for asphalt replacement, WSP reports over 200 crashes along I-5 in Bellingham in 2024 thus far, Portion of Samish Way to be closed for three nights for asphalt replacement, Lynden School Board updates gender inclusion policy, Local taproom fighting global water crisis opens new location in Lynden, Whatcom County law enforcement dogs among first in state to receive fentanyl-sniffing certification, State Supreme Court contemplating decision that could heavily reduce public defender caseloads, Cannabis industry leaders in WA mixed on potential federal reclassification, Ramp closures on Slater Road
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, September 23rd. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Road rage incident on SR20 escalates to a hit-and-run; motorcyclist ends up in hospital
State Patrol officers responded to a hit-and-run involving a motorcycle and a car that closed State Route 20 for three hours yesterday.
The motorcyclist, a 37-year-old man from Calgary, was injured and taken to Skagit Valley Hospital after his motorcycle was hit by a hatchback. Both vehicles had been stopped at a traffic light when the drivers got into an altercation, after which the car struck the motorcycle eastbound on Highway 20 and fled. The crash occurred on the day of the annual Oyster Run, a large motorcycle event in Anacortes.
The incident remains under investigation, and WSP is seeking information about the driver of the car.
STORY: WSP reports over 200 crashes along I-5 in Bellingham in 2024 thus far
In more traffic news, the Washington State Patrol released the year-to-date statistics for car accidents on I-5 in Bellingham.
Over 200 crash reports have been filed since January, most of which took place between noon and 6pm. Most of the accidents occurred on the interchanges at Ohio/Iowa/State Streets, as well as Sunset Drive. Most of the incidents involved ‘two vehicles’, and had no associated injuries. There were 13 crashes involving a car versus an obstacle, with an average of 23 accidents per month.
STORY: Portion of Samish Way to be closed for three nights for asphalt replacement
Nighttime roadwork on Samish Way between Bill McDonald Parkway and Lincoln Street will take place from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. starting today through Thursday.
Asphalt will be replaced, and some intersections will be re-striped and re-channelized. To minimize traffic disruption, work is scheduled at night, with road closures and detours in place, including closures of Exit 252 and 36th Street from Samish to Fielding.
Access to businesses will remain open via detours.
STORY: Lynden School Board updates gender inclusion policy
The Lynden School Board has updated its gender-inclusive schools policy.
According to the Cascadia Daily News, the revisions state the school district will generally not withhold a student’s gender identity from their parents or guardians, except in cases where there’s an investigation, child abuse, or neglect. In addition, teachers and school staff will not require students to disclose their preferred pronouns. Board Chair Tonya Hickman said the revisions express quote “parental rights.” Supporters of the new rules say that the state’s gender-inclusive policy required district staff to lie to parents, and the updated policy removes that issue.
The move comes as other school districts around Washington have adjusted their gender-inclusive policies. One of them, the La Center School District, changed their policy to state that parents or guardians will be contacted regarding name or pronoun changes, adding that asking students for their pronouns facilitates quote “gender transitioning.”
The policy changes in La Center have led a group of local educators, parents and students to file a complaint with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
STORY: Local taproom fighting global water crisis opens new location in Lynden
Overflow Taps has opened a third location in West Lynden.
According to their website, their mission is focused on raising awareness for the global water crisis. The business donates 1% of all sales to building water projects in developing countries. In an email to the Bellingham Herald, co-owner Jesse Nelson wrote that, since the taproom opened in 2016, just over a thousand people gained access to clean water.
STORY: Whatcom County law enforcement dogs among first in state to receive fentanyl-sniffing certification
Bellingham Police and Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies now have fentanyl-detection dogs.
Six K9 teams going to four different agencies are the first in Washington state to be certified under the Criminal Justice Training Commission, and completed training in Marysville on September 15th. The initiative, praised by local officials, aims to curb drug issues, especially in the Whatcom County Jail, and is expected to save lives.
The announcement coincides with a nationwide decline in overdose deaths, though local overdose numbers, particularly from opioids, have fluctuated. After peaking in May, overdoses in Bellingham and Whatcom County decreased during the summer, but have recently begun to rise again.
Despite the decline in deaths, officials stress that overdoses remain high, with local agencies increasing efforts to connect people to treatment services. County Executive Satpal Sidhu emphasized that while the situation is improving, more work is needed to address the crisis.
STORY: State Supreme Court contemplating decision that could heavily reduce public defender caseloads
Those involved in criminal justice in Whatcom County say they are preparing for a court-ordered reduction in caseload limits, which could drastically affect the entire system.
The Washington Supreme Court is considering reducing the caseload limits for public defenders by 70%. Currently, public defenders can handle up to 150 felony or 300 misdemeanor cases annually, but the proposed reduction would force the county’s Public Defender’s Office to triple in size. This possible increase would also triple the office’s budget. Prosecutors, too, would need to expand their teams, further straining resources.
The decision follows a study that recommended reduced caseloads to prevent attorney burnout and ensure quality defense. However, the challenge is finding enough qualified lawyers to meet the new standards, which could create delays in representation and prosecution.
Public hearings on the issue are set to begin, and the final decision could have a statewide financial impact, with costs potentially rising by $150 million annually.
STORY: Cannabis industry leaders in WA mixed on potential federal reclassification
Washington state’s cannabis industry is evaluating the impact the drug’s potential federal reclassification would have on researchers and local consumers.
Back in May, President Biden announced the Department of Justice announced it would consider moving cannabis from a Schedule 1 to a less serious Schedule III drug, with moderate to low potential for addiction. The proposal aimed to recognize the medical uses of cannabis and acknowledge the reduced likelihood for abuse than those on some of the nation’s most dangerous drugs.
Dr. Susan Ferguson from the University of Washington and others have been researching cannabis to discover more non-addictive medications. However, researchers have felt hamstrung over the years by what they consider outdated federal regulations that limit both the quality and supply of cannabis they can research.
Meanwhile, there is some skepticism within the industry coming from a few dispensary owners, who fear that reclassification would be the beginning of the end for small dispensaries, as large retailers could also begin selling cannabis.
The DEA will take public comment on the plan, but there is still no timeline on when it will make the final decision. According to the Department, the reclassification – if it goes through – would be the largest policy shift in 50 years.
WX: There’s something very familiar about this (PS: !!)
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
The morning’s clouds are expected to give way to some afternoon sunshine, with calm southwestern winds throughout. Daytime highs are projected in the upper 60s, nighttime lows in the mid-50s.
Tomorrow, expect some patchy fog in the early A.M., before the sun emerges for the remainder of the day.
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, 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: Ramp closures on Slater Road
