WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Wednesday, October 19

Department of Natural Resources firefighter and wildland fire crew member measures temperature and relative humidity atop of the Heybrook Lookout

Inside the Bolt Creek fire — and the newly burning forests of the western Cascades
Spring this year in Washington was unusually cool and wet, while summer was hot and dry. Some seasonal weather events may be “flukes” but they build upon conditions destabilized by a warming planet, according to state climatologist Nicholas Bond. “Maybe it’s an early indication of climate change,” Bond said. Ongoing fires burning west of the Cascade crest could be a dress rehearsal for longer fire seasons, and longer periods of incessant smoke in urban or metropolitan areas, he said. “It’s not going to be every summer, by any means, but this is the sort of thing that’s going to be happening more.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)


Smoke from the Nakia Creek Fire and a morning layer of fog

Very unhealthy: Air quality in east Vancouver, Clark County deteriorates
As the Nakia Creek Fire continues to burn in east Clark County, the air in Southwest Washington continues to deteriorate, pushing into the very unhealthy range in most of east Clark County, according to airnow.gov. Air quality readings in Clark County ran the gamut from 48 in Barberton to as high as 492 in areas around Camas — a reading in the hazardous range, according to purpleair.com. Most of the Portland-metro area is in the unhealthy range. Wildfire smoke has affected much of western Oregon and Washington with unhealthy to hazardous air quality readings up and down the Interstate 5 corridor. The National Weather Service in Portland said that the air quality advisory will remain in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Taylor Balkom)


Washington State Department of Natural Resources map shows in pink four sites in Whatcom County being considered to include in phase two

These four Whatcom County forest parcels considered for new state carbon project
Four parcels in Whatcom County are included in the state’s proposal for phase two of a plan to lease forest land for carbon offsets rather than logging. However, the Department of Natural Resources proposal includes 11,726 acres statewide, and needs to be narrowed down to 7,500 acres. To do so, DNR is asking for community input on which forests deserve protection. The carbon project is a way for DNR to protect forests while maintaining school construction funding. Instead of leasing forests for logging, it will lease the lands through a third party that will sell carbon credits to organizations as carbon offsets. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (WA Dept. of Natural Resources)


Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Whale killed by possible ship strike beaches near Ruby Beach

Auburn Reporter
Rain in the forecast for Western Washington

Bellingham Herald
Wildfire smoke blankets Whatcom, air quality plummets. How long will it last? 
These four Whatcom County forest parcels considered for new state carbon project

Capital Press
Washington DNR to sell carbon credits rather than timber

Columbian
Better weather conditions aid Nakia Creek firefighting efforts
Very unhealthy: Air quality in east Vancouver, Clark County deteriorates

Everett Herald
Don’t be alarmed: Tsunami siren in Everett is part of Great ShakeOut
‘Language as an asset’: Multilingual students get credits for fluency

News Tribune
Pierce County e-cigarette chain made illicit vape juice in house, ignored FDA, DOJ says
Interim site picked for popular Pierce County library. When it will open remains unclear

Olympian
Wildfire east of Eatonville weakened by moister weather after dry weekend, officials say
Land in Thurston County may be up for conservation. You can help decide

Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson County eyes extending emergency
Great ShakeOut includes tests on MyShake App, tsunami sirens

Seattle Times
Inside the Bolt Creek fire — and the newly burning forests of the western Cascades
Seattle air quality among worst in world
In Seattle, Kroger-Albertsons merger raises fears of closures, ‘grocery deserts’
Sound Transit train derails, causing disruption in Tacoma

Skagit Valley Herald
State still to decide on PSE rate increase

Snoqualmie Valley Record
North Bend adds water restrictions alongside low-flows in Snoqualmie River
Snoqualmie Tribe releases kokanee salmon, celebrates possible resurgence of threatened species

South Whidbey Record
Conversion of church to homeless shelter approved
Deputy accused of drugging, raping women

Spokesman Review
Spokane County Treasurer’s Office warns of tax scam by mail
Woman arrested while filming Spokane police settles lawsuit with city and county for $57,500

Tri-City Herald
Franklin County sheriff, school officials beg Pasco council to keep ban on cannabis stores

Washington Post
Putin declares martial law in four illegally annexed regions of Ukraine
Biden to announce release of more petroleum from strategic reserve
Bus-riding dog who took herself to park remembered as ‘Seattle icon’
Yes, that letter from the IRS is real. You could be owed $1,400.

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee passes tougher RV tow rules that take effect soon

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima clean air agency names new executive director
Editorial: Paid parking downtown isn’t the answer — not now

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle small businesses can apply for up to $2,000 to repair damaged storefronts
Tacoma motel set to be turned into affordable housing
New trial program asks ships coming into the Puget Sound to slow down for whales
Kent City Council votes unanimously to pass public camping ban

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Skykomish residents look forward to rain as terrible air quality persists from wildfires

KUOW Public Radio
With flu season looming, these tips will help boost your immune system
Seattle weather is set to ‘whipsaw’ after an unusual start to fall
North Bend activates water-saving measures amid ongoing drought

KXLY (ABC)
East Central Neighborhood Council votes to clear Camp Hope by Thanksgiving
‘A matter of weeks’: More services on their way to the Trent Resource Shelter
PNW elections officials amp up defenses against fraud claims ahead of midterms

Q13 TV (FOX)
US warned to prepare as COVID cases rise in Europe
Kent City Council passes ordinance to ban camping on public property

Web

MyNorthwest
UW Medicine nurses reach early contract agreement
Wildfire smoke again pollutes Pacific Northwest air
Bolt Creek Fire crews reach critical turning point

The Stranger
Seattle Could Cover Every Abortion in Town for $3.5 Million
City Leaders Fight over Policing Pirates

West Seattle Blog
VACCINATIONS: West Seattle flu and COVID pop-up clinics this weekend