The Bellingham Herald from Bellingham, Washington • A1

KEN THOMAS AND PHILIP ELLIOTT ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON, D.C. President Barack Obama plans to propose Tuesday the first national emission limits for cars and trucks as well as average mileage requirements of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 all costing consumers an extra $1,300 per vehicle. plan couples for the first time pollution reduction from vehicle tailpipes with increased efficiency on the road. It would save 1.8 billion bar- rels of oil through 2016 and would be the environmen- tal equivalent to taking 177 million cars off the road, senior administration offi- cials said Monday night. The plan also would effectively end a feud between automakers and statehouses over emission standards with the states coming out on top but the automakers getting a single national standard and more time to make the changes.

The plan still must clear regulatory hurdles at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Transporta- tion Department. ISABELLE DILLS THE BELLINGHAM HERALD Traffic flowed smoothly through the new roundabout on Guide Meridian at Ten Mile Road on Monday, May 18. The roundabout officially opened Sat- urday, May 16, but Monday was its first day dealing with business traffic. No col- lisions were reported in the roundabout during the weekend, said Washington State Patrol Trooper Keith Leary. This is the first roundabout on a state highway in Whatcom County, and the first of four roundabouts planned on Guide Meridian between Ten Mile Road and Lynden.

going to be a two- to three- week adjustment state Depart- ment of Transportation spokesman Dustin Terpening said. different. a change. I think if people give it a chance going to see it moves traf- fic efficiently, and pretty Some concerns people have brought to the attention of the DOT include that the roundabout forces drivers to slow from 50 mph to 15 mph. Terpening said slowing down for the roundabout much different from having to go from 50 mph to zero at a traffic signal.

People blow through a round- about like they can a traffic signal, and studies have shown roundabouts pre- vent deadly T-bone crashes, he said. If someone makes a mistake in a round- about, such as turning the wrong direc- tion, people are already driving so slow- ly that easier to avoid that car and prevent a collision, he said. Problems occur in the roundabout when people disobey speed limit signs and try to beat other traffic, Leary said. When approaching a roundabout, drivers need to obey the posted speed and yield signs and wait their turn, he said. The roundabout at Ten Mile Road is part of a larger $173 million project to convert Guide Meridian into a four-lane highway from Bellingham to Lynden.

A roundabout was chosen for the intersection at Ten Mile Road to increase safety, Terpening said. For about five miles north of Ten Mile Road, the north- and southbound lanes of the Guide will be divided by a median and cable barrier, which will restrict left turns from side roads. safer for the people coming from the side roads to make a right onto Guide Meridian, drive to a roundabout and make a U-turn rather than risk tak- ing a left onto the Guide where traffic moves at 50 mph, he said. Reach Isabelle Dills at isabelle.dills@ bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2276. ZOE FRALEY THE BELLINGHAM HERALD The cities of Nooksack and Everson could com- bine to become the city of Nooksack Valley if res- idents approve of consolidating the two.

A committee comprising both mayors and some city council members just released its report on the pos- sible consolida- tion. The report to both city councils highlights the sav- ings and better services that would be possible if the cities com- bined resources, allowing overlap- ping employees to do work in other areas such as grant writing. Everson already provides Nook- sack with police and court servic- es, and operates the water treat- ment plant used by both cities. The proposed new city name is a suggestion in the report. The consolidation would cost $100,000 in one- time costs, such as legal expenses, elections and staff relocations, according to the report.

It would save an estimated $125,000 per year in planning, equipment, legal and other expenses. think we should consider it just to save money, said Andy Rowlson, committee member and Everson city councilman. want it to strengthen the community, not have people feel like gotten lost in the The next step in the process is for residents of each city to provide their input on the idea. BIG CHALLENGE Lynden kids head to national problem-solving competition. A3 CLUTCH HIT FOR MARINERSSehome girls win tournament play-in.

B1 SOUNDING OUT A NEW NAME Salish Sea suggested for local waters. A3 TheBellinghamHerald.com Tuesday, May 19, 2009 50 cents Business Classifieds Horoscope Lottery Movie times Police log TV listings Whatcom INDEX WEATHER HIGH 57 LOW 44 Full report inside on A4. ONLINE bellinghamherald.com/pets added pet-related videos to our site, so you can view grooming tips, learn about holistic pet food or watch the Lipiz- zaner stallions in action. Vote for your favorite in our weekly Pet Source Poll. Showers likely.

NEWS TIPS Send news and event information to ham herald.com Customer Service: 676-2660 Southbound traffic flows along the new roundabout at Guide Meridian and Ten Mile Road on Monday morning, May 18. Philip A. Dwyer The Bellingham Herald HOW TO DRIVE ROUNDABOUTS Get in the correct lane before entering it and change lanes in the roundabout. Use the left lane to go straight, turn left or make a U- turn. Use the right lane to turn right or go straight.

stop in the roundabout. Traf- fic entering must yield to traffic already in the roundabout. enter it next to a semi-truck or a bus. Drivers of longer buses will take both lanes coming into the roundabout. Inside or outside the roundabout, yield to pedestrians trying to cross at the crosswalks on each leg of the roundabout.

Everson and Nooksack consider consolidation No incidents reported as first drivers negotiate highway traffic circle Obama sees fuel savings to offset higher car prices Tough auto-emissions limits sought Report favors merger Roundabout opens on Guide RICHARD ROESLER THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW (SPOKANE) SEATTLE In a victory for same-sex partners and a starting gun for social conservatives intent on a repeal Gov. Chris Gre- goire on Monday signed into law a bill granting domestic partners most of the rights of spouses. will make for stronger families, and when we have stronger families, we have a stronger Wash- ington Gregoire said. Proponents, crowded into a Seattle community center, called it the right thing to do. The change offers more protection, such as public pension ben- efits, for domestic partners and their children.

Church groups and con- servative lawmakers are vowing to overturn the law. filed a statewide referendum on it. If they can gather the more than 120,000 signatures required by late July, voters will decide the fate of the law at the ballot in November. the founding of our country, we made a con- scious decision to promote marriage above all other legal unions, because of the inherent value of raising children in a home with a mom and a said state Gregoire signs measure into law; opponents press repeal effort Same-sex rights expanded READ THE STUDY To read the entire con- solidation study report, see this story online at TheBellinghamHerald HAVE YOUR SAY Residents who would like to share their opin- ions with an elected offi- cial can call the city of Nooksack at 966-2531 or e-mail cityofnooksack.com. The city of Everson can be reached at 966-3411.

See MERGER, A7 See PARTNERSHIPS, A7 EPA URGED TO ACT NOW ON CLIMATE CHANGE The Environmental Protection Agency should not wait for Congress before tak- ing steps to control the gases blamed for global warming, supporters of federal greenhouse-gas regulation said Monday. The EPA hearing is the first of two public forums on the April find- ing that concentrations of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere pose dangers to human health and welfare and that emis- sions from new motor vehicles and engines are contributing to the problem. The proposal could lead to regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, starting with emissions stan- dards for motor vehicles. The House Energy and Commerce Committee began work on that legisla- tion Monday afternoon. The bill the American Clean Energy and Security Act would for the first time limit the emis- sions blamed for global warming from large industrial sources.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Actor Pierce Brosnan and his wife Keely Shaye Smith listen during hearings on greenhouse gases. Manuel Balce Ceneta Associated Press.