Several suspects arrested following non-fatal shooting in Blaine, Bellingham plans to overhaul local codes, Multi-state AG coalition secures injunction blocking efforts by USPS to restrict mail-in voting, Library’s Democracy Series & Voter Registration 9/9, 9/14 **RUN Tuesday, 9/8**, Bellingham coffee company opens Puyallup location, Statewide support program for children with disabilities sustains funding cut, but escapes elimination, Federal Way man receives 9-year sentence for role in drug ring, Washington ranks 15th in paying the most tariffs, Medicaid cuts will hit 200,000 WA residents, What tariffs are costing WA state, : Are millionaires really moving out of WA due to income tax? Whatcom Water Week runs 9/14-9/19, Library’s Growing Community Through Food Event on 9/17 STORY: Whatcom County Open House (run bet. 9/15-9/28), Community Conversations District 2 (run at end of Sept)
Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, September, 8. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Several suspects arrested following non-fatal shooting in Blaine
The County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting in Birch Bay involving members of two motorcycle gangs.
The shooting happened near the Bay Breeze restaurant around 7:15 last night. One person suffered non-life-threatening injuries and received treatment. Several people have been taken into custody.
Whatcom County Jail records showed 2 males, ages 31 and 54, were booked into the jail shortly after 9pm. The 31-year-old suspect was charged with drive-by shooting and giving a false statement to an officer, while the 54-year-old suspect was charged with first-degree assault and reckless endangerment.
STORY: Bellingham plans to overhaul local codes
Bellingham has announced a major overhaul of its land use code.
The city’s current code has 32 chapters, with regulations spread across multiple sections that can sometimes conflict. Planning officials say the goal is to make it easier for property owners and businesses to understand
what they’re allowed to build and where businesses are allowed to operate.
The overhaul follows Bellingham’s 2025 comprehensive plan update; it will also incorporate changes required by recent state housing legislation.
The new system would replace the current single-family and multifamily designations with low-, medium- and high-density residential zones, plus a watershed zone protecting areas around Lake Whatcom.
The city also plans to retire its 25 neighborhood plans as part of the overhaul.
Planning officials say they are focused primarily on simplifying the code and meeting state requirements — not rewriting its substance.
STORY: Multi-state AG coalition secures injunction blocking efforts by USPS to restrict mail-in voting
Voting by mail remains safe in Washington for November’s midterm elections — at least for now.
Washington is one of 25 states that have secured a preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. Postal Service from requiring states to get federal government approval for voting-related matters.
The requirements include adding details of every mail-in voter into a portal and tracking voters’ information, as well as the design of the return envelope.
STORY: Library’s Democracy Series & Voter Registration 9/9, 9/14 **RUN Tuesday, 9/8**
The Bellingham Public Library will host a series of civic events to help residents understand democracy.
Tomorrow, the library offers a Federal Civics 101 workshop that marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Participants will read the Declaration aloud, explore its legacy, and discuss what it means today. It runs from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Lecture Room, and will be led by Michael Bowman from the Secretary of State’s Office. Pizza is provided; registration is requested.
On Thursday, Bowman leads a discussion on whether Washington rivers should have legal rights, which includes a case that involves the Snohomish River. That session also runs from 4 to 5:30 p.m. with pizza provided; registration is also requested.
Finally, the League of Women Voters will be at the library next Monday — from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — in the SkillShare Space to register voters and answer questions about the upcoming election.
STORY: Bellingham coffee company opens Puyallup location A Bellingham-based coffee chain is opening its first Puyallup location later this month.
Woods Coffee expects to open at East Main Avenue during the last week of September. The company has operated for nearly 25 years and now
has 20 locations across the Northwest, including in Bellevue, Renton, Issaquah, and Bothell.
The location was previously occupied by Taco Time. Plans to turn the building into a Starbucks fell through, and Woods Coffee will now take over the space.
STORY: Statewide support program for children with disabilities sustains funding cut, but escapes elimination
A statewide support program for families with children with developmental disabilities is staying afloat despite funding cuts.
The Department of Social and Health Services has slashed 10% of funding for the Parent To Parent program. It served nearly 1,800 parents and caregivers in Whatcom County last year.
Local leaders say less money may mean they will have to lose support groups for dads, siblings and multicultural outreach, as well as other family services.
STORY: Federal Way man receives 9-year sentence for role in drug ring
A 22-year-old Federal Way man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of fentanyl.
Federal prosecutors say Terrique Milam (tuh-REEK MILL-um) was a trusted associate of Markell (mar-KELL) Jackson, one of the alleged leaders of a family-run drug trafficking organization.
Investigators say Milam discussed traveling to Arizona to pick up 150-thousand fentanyl pills. A search of his Federal Way home later uncovered over 323 grams of fentanyl, drug scales, and nearly five-thousand dollars in suspected drug proceeds.
Over the course of the investigation, authorities seized thousands of fentanyl pills, nearly seven kilograms of fentanyl powder, seven kilograms of cocaine, and 29 firearms.
Members of the Jackson family and other defendants are scheduled to go to trial in July of 2027.
STORY: Washington ranks 15th in paying the most tariffs
Washington ranks 15th among the states in paying the most import tariffs, according to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation.
The state has paid $7.1 billion since January last year. That’s equivalent to $2,257 per household.
Imports that face the highest tariffs are cars and trucks, followed by toys, clothes and household goods.
California pays the most tariffs, while the District of Columbia pays the least.
STORY: Medicaid cuts will hit 200,000 WA residents
Governor Bob Ferguson says he will take steps to protect Medicaid coverage for residents affected by changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Ferguson signed an executive order Thursday that creates a committee to coordinate the state’s response. He says more than 200-thousand Washingtonians could lose Apple Health coverage by the end of 2027.
Two major changes are coming. About 11-thousand lawful immigrants are expected to lose coverage on October 1st, while more than 600-thousand Washington residents will face new Medicaid work requirements beginning January 1st.
Ferguson says the state is working to reduce paperwork and automate eligibility checks, with the goal of helping hundreds of thousands of people keep their coverage. He urges Apple Health recipients to watch for state notices and make sure their information is up to date.
WX: Alright, back to work, puppets
Today’s forecast calls for mostly sunshine — a nice break after yesterday’s thunderstorm — with highs remaining solidly around 70 degrees for Bellingham and Lynden. Blaine should reach a high of 70. Some cloud cover is expected to accumulate throughout the evening as well, but a rerun of thunder and lightning is not expected. Nighttime lows are projected to be in the low-50s.
Increasing cloud cover is on the docket for tomorrow, with temperatures increasing as well.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRAH-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell (can-TRELL), Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Jenny Lam, Natalie Jones, Noelle Reger (no-ELL REE-ger), and Sean Lynch. 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: What tariffs are costing WA state
Washington households are absorbing sharply higher import costs under new tariffs.
New second‑quarter data from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation shows presidentially-imposed tariff increases have added an estimated
$7.1 billion to the state’s import bill since January 2025 — roughly $2,300 per household.
The foundation says these executive tariffs are increases ordered directly by the president, separate from long‑standing statutory rates set by Congress. About 40 percent fall on raw materials, parts, and equipment used by Washington manufacturers.
Cars and trucks saw the biggest jump, with importers paying $1.6 billion in added tariffs and average rates rising to 16.9 percent, compared with 1 percent in 2024. Toys and games averaged 18.5 percent, clothes and shoes hit 31 percent, and household goods rose to 28.4 percent, all several times higher than last year’s levels.
STORY: Are millionaires really moving out of WA due to income tax? STORY: Whatcom Water Week runs 9/14-9/19
STORY: Library’s Growing Community Through Food Event on 9/17 STORY: Whatcom County Open House (run bet. 9/15-9/28)
Whatcom County residents will have a chance to learn more about county government during the second annual Whatcom County Open House.
The event is September 30 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the County Courthouse, with staff from county departments and elected offices available to answer questions and explain how county government works.
Topics will include the new jail and behavioral health care facility, the upcoming county budget process and the county court system. Attendees can also test their knowledge with Whatcom County trivia.
County Executive Satpal Sidhu said the event is intended to make local government more accessible and give residents an opportunity to connect directly with county staff and elected officials.
County Council Chair Kaylee Galloway said the open house is also an opportunity for residents to raise concerns and have direct conversations with the people who serve them.
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.
F&C 9/24-26
Friends of the Bellingham Public Library September Book Sale Thursday, September 24, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
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!
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