Blaine Police are asking residents who had DeWalt hand-held tools stolen before April 23 to come forward after officers recovered a large cache of stolen property while serving a search warrant at a Bellingham storage unit on April 23. Most of the recovered tools have already been returned to their owners, but several remain unclaimed. Anyone in the Blaine or Birch Bay area who believes the tools may belong to them should email evidence@cityofblaine.com with descriptions of the stolen items, serial numbers or other proof of ownership. Unclaimed property will be disposed of after 60 days in accordance with department policy and Washington state law.
A fast-moving wildfire west of Winthrop prompted officials to issue a Level 3 “Go Now!” evacuation order Sunday afternoon for the town’s main streets as strong winds pushed the estimated 50-acre Hamilton Fire toward the community. Highway 20 was briefly closed about five miles east of town before reopening. Residents east of the Spring Creek pedestrian bridge remained under a Level 2 “Get Set” evacuation notice, meaning they should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. The National Weather Service warned that gusty winds and dry conditions could continue to fuel the fire, with little chance of rain in the coming days.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked key portions of President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting mail-in voting, ruling that the president exceeded his constitutional authority over elections. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani halted requirements that states provide the U.S. Postal Service with advance lists of mail voters and stopped the Department of Homeland Security from compiling state-by-state lists of voting-age citizens, finding those powers belong primarily to the states and Congress, not the president. The ruling, which is expected to be appealed, marks the latest legal setback for the administration’s election policies as states continue preparing for the November midterm elections. White House officials said they remain confident the order will ultimately take effect, while supporters of the lawsuit called the decision a victory for voting rights.
