President Donald Trump has imposed new 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, a move that could have significant impacts on Blaine and other border communities that rely on cross-border trade, tourism and shopping. The tariffs, which take effect in 30 days, exempt energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals but apply to many other Canadian imports after the expiration of key U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement protections. NPR reported Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government remains committed to negotiating, while business leaders on both sides of the border warned the tariffs could raise prices, reduce cross-border commerce and further strain economic ties between neighboring communities.
Whatcom County's unemployment rate dropped to 4.1% in June, reflecting a local labor market strengthened by seasonal, summer hiring. The county outperformed the statewide unemployment rate of 5.2% and neighboring Skagit County’s 4.4% rate. The improvement comes as Washington employers added jobs in June, led by gains in leisure and hospitality, education and health services, and other service industries that are especially important to the county’s tourism, restaurant and recreation economy. Economists with the Washington State Employment Security Department described the state’s overall job market as largely flat over the past year. Whatcom County’s lower unemployment rate suggests seasonal hiring and a diverse mix of industries continue to support employment across the Bellingham metropolitan area and beyond.
All open fires have been banned in unincorporated Whatcom County because dry conditions and low moisture in vegetation are increasing fire danger, the Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office said. The stage 2 burn ban began at 8 a.m. Friday, July 17. The prohibition includes fires for recreation, land clearing and yard debris. Still allowed are propane fire pits without solid wood burning material, along with propane and charcoal barbecues. People who live in cities or tribal land should contact fire departments in those jurisdictions for details about restrictions.
Lightning-sparked wildfires continued burning across Washington and British Columbia this week, prompting evacuations on both sides of the border. In Washington, the Kaiser Canyon Fire near Nespelem has grown to nearly 64,000 acres, destroying at least 24 structures and forcing more than 1,000 people to evacuate, while the Modrite Fire near Inchelium has burned about 6,400 acres and triggered Level 3 "Go Now!" evacuations. The Little Giant Fire near Leavenworth has grown to 245 acres in steep, inaccessible terrain, and the Lyons Ferry Fire in Whitman County has burned more than 32,000 acres. In British Columbia, nearly 34,000 lightning strikes last week ignited dozens of new fires, leaving 85 active wildfires, evacuation orders for about 600 properties and alerts for another 5,700. Officials on both sides of the border warned that ongoing heat and drought are fueling dangerous fire conditions, though smoke drifting into Western Washington is expected to remain mostly aloft and is not forecast to significantly affect local air quality.
The Bureau of Land Management is using AI-powered camera networks via ALERTWest to scan landscapes for smoke, saying in a news release that its use of public-facing cameras will allow emergency crews and the community to “monitor active fire behavior and smoke plumes in real time” as the region continues to face increasing fire danger. BLM has placed fire restrictions on its public lands in Washington and Oregon that include a ban on fireworks and sky lanterns, exploding or metallic targets, tracer or incendiary devices, and steel component ammunition (core or jacket). Local fire danger, weather and fuel moisture also could mean additional restrictions, so check before you go.
A former Bellingham man and his son are facing federal kidnapping charges after authorities say they held two U.S. Forest Service frog biologists hostage for about 15 hours at gunpoint in Northern California, according to multiple news reports. According to federal prosecutors, Joseph Henrichsen, 49, allegedly approached the biologists with an AR-15-style rifle on July 16 while they were studying frog habitats in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, zip-tied their hands and forced them into a camping trailer, where they were held until early the next morning. During a lengthy standoff, Henrichsen allegedly threatened to use a grenade before releasing the hostages around 1 a.m. July 17. He and his son, Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, surrendered peacefully about 90 minutes later. Both men were charged Monday in federal court and face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.
