House passes bill to cut vehicle pollution, increase number of electric cars
Washington motorists would use fuel that emits fewer greenhouse gases – and likely pay more for it – over the next 15 years under a proposal to reduce those pollutants that the House approved Wednesday. After more than three hours of contentious debate, Democrats pushed through a bill that tells the state Department of Ecology to set up a Clean Fuels Program limiting the amount of carbon dioxide and related greenhouse gases released by transportation fuels. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Jim Camden / The Spokesman-Review)
New ‘head tax’? Proposed law would let King County tax large businesses to tackle homelessness
A new measure introduced in the Washington state Legislature Wednesday would allow King County to impose a tax of 0.1 to 0.2 percent on businesses on the total payroll of employees who earn $150,000 per year or more. The money would have to be used to pay for homelessness services, affordable housing, public safety, and behavioral health services. If passed, House Bill 2907 could allow the county to raise approximately $121 million per year, according to the King County Executive’s office. Continue reading at KUOW. (Flickr photo/amishrobot)
Mega was the only adult male orca left in his immediate family and is now feared dead
Another southern resident orca, L41, is feared dead, according to the Center for Whale Research. The whale, born in 1977, was not seen during an encounter with its family by the center’s researchers on Friday. Because of his age, and the fact that he was thin when he was seen a year ago, ”we fear he may be gone and will consider him missing unless he shows up unexpectedly in an upcoming encounter,” the center reported. If L41 remains missing, that would bring the population of southern resident orcas to only 72, the second-lowest since the center first began its population census 45 years ago. Continue reading at The Olympian. (David Ellifrit/Center for Whale Research AP)
Associated Press
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Crosscut
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