Local Podcast Highlights Crime, Homelessness, and Jail Issues in Whatcom County
A recent episode of The Urban Outcast, hosted by Marc Urban, featured an in-depth interview with Lyle Sorenson, a local realtor, radio personality, and community advocate. Uploaded this week, the podcast delves into pressing issues facing Whatcom County, including rising crime, homelessness, and the longstanding jail crisis.
Fernando Gonzalez
Published: February 23, 2025 | Updated: February 23, 2025 1 minute read
Marc Urban (right) interview Lyle Sorenson (left) on his Podcast "The Urban Outcast".
BELLINGHAM, WA (BellinghamMetroNews.com) – Marc Urban’s latest Urban Outcast podcast, just dropped, features Lyle Sorenson—a realtor, radio guy, and the brains behind the huge Public Safety Matters Facebook page. They dig into Whatcom County’s big headaches: crime spiking, homelessness everywhere, and a jail that’s been a mess since the ‘80s. Sorenson says car thefts hit 23 in November, and petty crimes often go unpunished ‘cause the jail’s too full. Urban blames the same old leadership, while Sorenson pushes for real fixes—like a quick-build jail from Texas.
Fernando Gonzalez founded Bellingham Metro News (BMN) in 2019, leveraging years of experience in digital content creation and grassroots journalism. His journey began in 2013 with a YouTube channel that grew to over 11,000 subscribers, featuring video game commentary and vlog content.
In 2014, Fernando launched intGBN, a news page on Facebook that gained over 2,000 followers. By 2017, he was volunteering for Whatcom Breaking News, where he reported on developing situations using a handheld scanner. The skills he gained from this experience became instrumental in BMN’s early success.
Fernando covers diverse topics, including crime, local news, business developments, and new establishments. He’s recognized as the driving force behind BMN’s online publication, producing bodycam commentaries, retail theft news, and the popular “What’s Coming to Whatcom County” series.
Beyond BMN, Fernando leads other ventures, including Portland Breaking News, Seattle Metro News, BMN Global News, and Fernslist: Washington State, solidifying his role as a key figure in regional journalism.
