Your questions about WA Cares, answered
WA Cares, a first in the nation program of its kind to provide state insurance coverage for nursing care and other services to help people as they age. Here are some of the most common questions we received and the answers: Can I still opt out? What if I’m close to retirement? Will the tax rate go up? Is the program still solvent? How does WA Cares compare to private insurance plans? What can the benefit be used for? Continue reading at Axios. (Sarah Grillo)
At State Parks, revenue is up and staffing levels are down
Washington State Parks took in more money than expected during the past two years as the pandemic drove a boom in outdoor recreation. State Parks collected almost $123 million between July 2021 and April of this year, $12 million more than anticipated. That’s according to a financial report delivered at a State Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on Wednesday. Almost 70% of the income was from camping fees and the sale of Discover Passes, which are needed to access state recreation sites. Despite rising revenue, the agency is struggling to hire and keep staff, with the eastern Washington region staffed at only 60% of target levels. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty Images)
Lummi Nation says new Port of Vancouver terminal violates agreement, hurts fisheries
The Lummi Nation says the recently approved expansion of the marine terminal at the Port of Vancouver violates a Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in 2021 and would have a devastating impact on fisheries restoration. By claiming Aboriginal rights, the Lummi Nation is saying Canada and British Columbia need to consider how projects will impact Lummi treaty rights in the United States as well as the Aboriginal rights in Canada. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority was required by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to consult with 47 indigenous groups as part of the environmental assessment process. Of these groups, the port authority signed mutual benefit agreements with 26 of them. However, the Lummi Nation was not one of the groups consulted. Continue reading at Bellingham Herald. (Paul Conrad)
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Your questions about WA Cares, answered
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