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Friday, October 3

Trump administration yanks funding for Northwest green hydrogen project
The Trump administration on Wednesday nixed funding for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub and several hundred other federally-subsidized clean energy projects in Democratic-led states. Democratic politicians from Oregon and Washington state immediately cried foul and vowed to challenge what they called an “illegal” clawback of Congressionally-directed spending. The tri-state Northwest hydrogen hub launched last year to funnel up to $1 billion in federal taxpayer funding to the region to kickstart production and use of zero-emissions hydrogen fuel. Private industry, truckmakers, transit and seaport partners were to bring large sums to the table in matching funds over the next eight to ten years. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Atlas Agro)

FDA okays new generic abortion drug, outraging conservatives
The Food and Drug Administration has approved another generic version of the abortion drug mifepristone, drawing outrage from anti-abortion groups and lawmakers. Why it matters: The decision adds to conservative scrutiny of the agency and Commissioner Marty Makary amid a push to impose new limits on dispensing the abortion pill. Driving the news: The FDA last month approved a generic version of mifepristone made by Evita Solutions, which promoted it on the company’s website this week. Continue reading at Axios. (Getty)

‘There will be job loss’ — Spokane mayor says city workers to be laid off after city budget comes up $13M short
What caused this year’s budget deficit? Brown lays the blame on several factors relating to costs being greater than expected and revenue lower. A Republican administration in Washington, D.C., means fewer federal dollars flowing to local governments, and rising inflation, weak consumer confidence and a slowing national economy undermined expected revenue from sales tax. The biennial budget passed by city leaders last year predicted none of that, and while national macroeconomic trends are outside the control of city government, Brown points to local factors behind the deficit, too — factors the city can address. Continue reading at Inlander. (Inlander)

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Axios
Monorail station at Seattle Center getting a $23M upgrade
FDA okays new generic abortion drug, outraging conservatives
Trump charts path to total control amid government shutdown
Trump administration axes $1.1B in Washington clean energy funding

Capital Press
Northwest growers happy with sugar beet crop
Water running out in Yakima River basin for senior water rights

Everett Herald
Snohomish County Council pass two awareness resolutions

Indian Country Today
Feds greenlight killing more sea lions to protect endangered salmon as controversy fades

The Inlander
‘There will be job loss’ — Spokane mayor says city workers to be laid off after city budget comes up $13M short

News Tribune
Is ‘rat running’ legal in Washington traffic? Here’s what state law says
Fascism? Authoritarianism? Nazi Germany expert assesses Trump’s actions
‘Unsustainable path.’ Parks Tacoma cuts jobs, mulls fee increases, program cuts
Should Pierce County approve a new natural gas pipeline? Here’s what we know
Is mail still delivered during a government shutdown? What to know in Washington
Democrats sound off after Trump ends $1.1B for WA energy, manufacturing projects

Northwest Asian Weekly
Kin On 40th anniversary gala (Santos)

Olympian
Democrats sound off after Trump ends $1.1B for WA energy, manufacturing projects

Puget Sound Business Journal
What the government shutdown means for SBA lending

Seattle Times
Seattle drug prosecutions rarely lead to treatment under 2023 law

Spokesman Review
Washington’s active wildfires offer warning, state lands chief says
Trump and allies claim Democrats demand health care for ‘illegal aliens’ in shutdown fight. Here are the facts.
Getting there: A Spokane group argues STA should install bus benches, so volunteers made and installed them over the weekend
Trump administration defunds Northwest hydrogen hub, Spokane grid project, WSU research in cuts targeting ‘the Left’s climate agenda’

Washington Post
Shutdown delays jobs report, obscuring potential economic problems
Colleges weigh whether to sign onto Trump plan or forgo federal benefits
CBS News to name Bari Weiss, a critic of mainstream media, as its top editor

WA State Standard
Trump administration yanks funding for Northwest green hydrogen project
What the federal government shutdown means for Washington’s K-12 schools
Wildland firefighters risk dangerous smoke exposure even with new mask guidance

Yakima Herald-Republic
Destructive sunflower root parasite confirmed in Yakima. It is the first detection in North America

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Man known as the ‘South Hill Rapist’ will reside in Federal Way
UW students confront man who disrupted lecture with Nazi salute
Trump no longer distancing himself from Project 2025 as he uses shutdown to further pursue its goals

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
WA sues DOJ to protect funding for crime victims
WA WIC program could run out of funding in two weeks
October arrives, but Washington’s wildfire season continues
Trump admin. cancels more than $1B in funding for WA energy projects
Labor Mountain Fire hits nearly 38,000 acres as winds threaten firelines

KNKX Public Radio
Tacoma disabilities center looks to the future as it faces relocation

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Washington law protects voters in Whatcom County
‘Doing less with less people’ — local governments brace for cutbacks

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Friday + weekend info

Thursday, October 2

FACT FOCUS: Democrats did not shut down the government to give health care to ‘illegal immigrants’
President Donald Trump and other high-ranking Republicans claim Democrats forced the government shutdown fight because they want to give free health care to immigrants in the U.S. illegally. Democrats are trying to extend tax credits that make health insurance premiums more affordable on marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, and reverse Medicaid cuts in Trump’s big bill passed this summer. But immigrants who entered the country illegally are not eligible for either program. Continue reading at King 5. (AP)

Government shutdown puts hospital funding in peril
Hospitals in rural and underserved areas could lose out on billions of dollars in federal funding if the government shutdown drags on. Why it matters: Many hospitals already run on tight margins and are bracing for fallout from Medicaid cuts and other changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The big picture: The immediate concern is health policies that expired when government funding lapsed at midnight Tuesday. Health providers and their lobbyists expect Congress will make providers whole in an eventual funding deal and reimburse claims made during the shutdown. Continue reading at Axios. (Brendan Lynch)

Trump admin looks at deep cuts to homeless housing program
The Trump administration is expected to dramatically cut funding for a permanent housing program — a move that could potentially reexpose tens of thousands of people to homelessness. More than half of the 2026 funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s homelessness program designated for permanent housing projects will be cut and moved to transitional housing assistance with some work or service requirements, according to three HUD employees and a person with inside knowledge of the Continuum of Care program as well as internal HUD documents obtained by POLITICO confirming the cuts. All the people were granted anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Continue reading at Politico. (Mark Wilson)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Debris piles to be burned within Olympic National Park

Axios
Southern resident orcas welcome new calf
Government shutdown puts hospital funding in peril
Kash Patel cuts FBI ties with Anti-Defamation League
How the federal shutdown is affecting Washington state
Trump admin uses government sites to blame Democrats for shutdown
Trump, Vought to decide which “Democrat Agencies” to cut during shutdown “opportunity”

Capital Press
Research shows fall cover crop grazing viable at higher altitudes

Courier-Herald
Buckley secures grant funds for Miller Park court construction

Everett Herald
Edmonds mayor presents mid-biennium budget proposal
Everett school bus drivers could strike amid contract fight
Western Washington University to guarantee admission to EvCC grads
Comment: Access to health care for millions hangs on shutdown
Comment: Those with autism need support, not blame, judgment

New York Times
New Tariffs Could Worsen America’s Housing Crisis
Here Are the Dueling Plans Behind the Shutdown Impasse
Trump Fired a U.S. Attorney Who Insisted on Following a Court Order
Trump Calls Shutdown an ‘Unprecedented Opportunity,’ and Eyes Deep Cuts
Government Shutdown Live Updates: Trump Promises Cuts to ‘Democrat Agencies’

Peninsula Daily News
Community Ridge forest is now open (Tharinger)
Shutdown may impact park, service members
Housing costs outpacing Clallam median incomes

Puget Sound Business Journal
AI’s rise sparks a new challenge for managers: Fighting ‘workslop’
What to expect at Sea-Tac Airport during the government shutdown
University endowments won’t be much help if research funding is cut

Seattle Times
WA’s active wildfires offer warning, state lands chief says
Shutdown could bring end of WA food program for mothers, babies
Tough Tacoma immigration judge named new U.S. attorney in Western WA

South Whidbey Record
Veterans share concerns with congressman

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Vashon health systems brace for federal cuts

Washington Post
Houses of worship tighten security amid rising number of attacks
U.S. used a transnational crime unit to secretly target campus protesters
Senior government officials privately warn against firings during shutdown

WA State Standard
Suicide claims more Gen Z lives than previous generation
Washington’s congressional lawmakers react to federal government shutdown
WA’s nutrition program for babies and mothers is at risk during federal shutdown
One eastern Oregon clinic is a health care ‘lifeline.’ Medicaid cuts threaten its existence
More money needed for fight against two invasive bugs, WA agriculture department says

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Ex-AG sees compromise possible amid federal worker concerns in WA
‘Mega’ property investors snap up Seattle homes, bucking national trend
Federal workers in Washington state brace for financial strain amid shutdown
‘It’s not a war zone’: Portlanders refute Trump claims as National Guard readies for deployment
FACT FOCUS: Democrats did not shut down the government to give health care to ‘illegal immigrants’

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
King County sees an increase in police chases this year
Bridge closure hurting business? Disaster funds are available
11 Pierce County deputies move to police department for better pay
$3.1 million awarded to combat youth homelessness in Pierce County
‘Not what the VA is for,’ Veterans frustrated by email blaming Democrats
King County prosecutor’s office expands efforts to prevent school violence
Lawsuit filed against immigration authorities after U.S. citizen’s arrests in raids
Five states file lawsuit against Zillow, Redfin, alleging they worked to eliminate competition

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane leaders form task force to tackle drugs, homelessness and crime
Federal shutdown threatens nutrition program for 212,000 Washington families

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Extending health care tax credits top Rep. Larsen’s government shutdown concerns
Opinion: How the First Amendment protects Americans’ speech — and how it does not

Politico
Trump admin looks at deep cuts to homeless housing program

The Urbanist
Op-Ed: Link Light Rail’s Success Depends on Second Downtown Seattle Tunnel

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: SDOT’s Highland Park sidewalk/walkway plan
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Thursday watch

Wednesday, October 1

How the government shutdown could disrupt daily life
The government shutdown is underway — and it could disrupt your daily life. The big picture: Millions of people won’t get paid during the shutdown, and federal agencies may slow down, disrupting daily life. The first shutdown since 2019 could be unusually disruptive if President Trump and budget director Russ Vought use it to reshape the federal workforce. Generally, federal functions deemed “essential” — including health programs, new Social Security and Medicare actions, SNAP benefits, FDA inspections and small business support — don’t pause during a shutdown. Continue reading at Axios. (Win McNamee)

Trump calls for using US cities as a ‘training ground’ for military in unusual speech to generals
President Donald Trump on Tuesday proposed using American cities as training grounds for the armed forces and spoke of needing U.S. military might to combat what he called the “invasion from within.” Addressing an audience of military brass abruptly summoned to Virginia, Trump outlined a muscular and at times norm-shattering view of the military’s role in domestic affairs. He was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who declared an end to “woke” culture and announced new directives for troops that include “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for physical fitness. Continue reading at KIRO. (AP)

Lawmakers revisit WA’s plastic bag restrictions
Washington shoppers will pay 4 cents more per plastic grocery bag starting in January. But the bags themselves won’t get any thicker for at least another two years as lawmakers fine-tune the state’s single-use plastic bag restrictions. The price increase is a part of a law passed in 2020 banning some thinner, single-use plastic bags statewide and creating regulations for retailers offering carryout bags to customers. Approximately 80,000 Washington businesses are affected by the law, according to the state Department of Commerce. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Emily Fitzgerald)

Print

Axios
How the government shutdown could disrupt daily life
Trump’s MAGA-fied military prepares for “war from within”

Bellingham Herald
WA Discover Pass price to increase 50% Oct. 1. Here’s what else is rising
Bellingham summit explores intersection of addiction, mental health, justice

Capital Press
Land use ruling approves home sites in Oregon big game habitat

The Daily News
Nearly 4K without power in Cowlitz County as rain, wind cause outages
Faulty bay doors, unreliable alert system at Longview Fire. Will $100K PR plan help?
Trump suggests military use American cities as ‘training grounds’ and local officials are pushing back

Everett Herald
Curriculum that students can really dig
Public invited to food and farm center open houses
Everett shares info on draft five-year housing affordability plan
Law enforcement warns of scam using Snohomish County Jail inmates
Comment: Latest shutdown theatrics making same mistakes
Comment: Republicans argue to keep government open but won’t talk with Democrats focused on health care costs.

News Tribune
Is Tacoma’s ‘services first’ approach to homelessness gaining momentum?
Opinion: Washington’s digital ad tax is unwise, discriminatory and illegal

New York Times
Spam and Scams Proliferate in Facebook’s Political Ads
How Shutdown Gridlock Could Impede Disaster Preparedness
Trump Administration Moves to Relax Rules on Climate Super Pollutants

Northwest Asian Weekly
Stacey Abrams draws standing ovation at Seattle Town Hall event

Olympian
Washington minimum wage to rise above $17 in 2026
WA sues Trump admin after Homeland Security cuts funding ‘for political purposes’

Port Townsend Leader
Mill leaked 114,000 gallons of untreated water, fined $20,000
Washington State raises Discover Pass fee for first time in over a decade
Jefferson County’s drug and alcohol use sees shift in the wake of the pandemic

Puget Sound Business Journal
Report: Boeing explores options to replace 737 Max
Executives see the economy rebounding but concerns remain
Businesses face ‘upheaval’ over rapid shifts in union organizing rules

Seattle Medium
Building Stronger Futures: Verity Expands Financial Literacy Programs
Critics Claim Supreme Court Ruling Opens Door To Profiling Of Americans
Harrell Announces Major Investments To Support Seattle Small Businesses
Strickland, Smith Introduce Bill To Boost Investment In Minority-Owned Businesses

Seattle Times
What the partial federal shutdown could mean for WA
What happens at national parks with government shutdown?
Here’s how much minimum wage will increase in WA, Seattle
How Social Security will be affected by a government shutdown
Judge halts Trump administration cuts to aid for ‘sanctuary’ states
Editorial: Hastily passed tax will haunt WA lawmakers (Berg)

Spokesman Review
‘It’s been a little confusing’: WA businesses look to navigate new sales tax law (Berg)
Northwest Democrats and Republicans dig in for messaging battle as government shutdown begins
Broad, bipartisan task force hopes compromise criminal justice tax could succeed where jail tax failed
Security guard shot and killed at Eastern State Hospital remembered as ‘tenacious’ roller derby player, kind soul

Washington Post
Shutdown begins amid blame, acrimony
Trump has warned that he’ll fire federal employees
Supreme Court allows Lisa Cook to remain on Fed board for now

WA State Standard
Federal government shutdown begins
Lawmakers revisit WA’s plastic bag restrictions
Washington’s minimum wage to top $17 in 2026
ICE is transferring people in its custody away from family, lawyers

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
What government shutdown means for Washington state
Sweeping sales tax expansion hits Washington nonprofits
Trump suggests U.S. cities be ‘training grounds’ for troops, points to Seattle with false claim
Washington has one of the highest minimum wages in the country. It’s going up again in 2026

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Price of Discover Pass increasing starting today
How does a government shutdown impact places like SEA Airport?
Federal HUD website blames ‘the Radical Left’ for government shutdown
Thurston County sheriff warns of ‘largest setback’ in county history amid budget cuts
Trump calls for using US cities as a ‘training ground’ for military in unusual speech to generals

KNKX Public Radio
Olympia renovating Armory building to house local nonprofits
At least 166 Oregon National Guard members have volunteered for Trump deployment

KUOW Public Radio
Washington Discover Pass price going up $15 on Oct. 1
What happened to nearly $1 million of pandemic assistance in Thurston County?
Washington won’t have any free Covid shots for the uninsured until mid-October
As government shutdown approaches, Rep. DelBene reflects on “pivotal” hours ahead

KXLY (ABC)
Volunteer policing organization to merge with Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Eastern Washington Congressman Michael Baumgartner calls government shutdown ‘reckless course’
Government shutdown threatens to furlough hundreds of workers, disrupt services across Spokane region

NW Public Radio
Tacoma Parks lays off staff, freezes open positions
Unpacked: Hanford site prepares to process radioactive waste
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center buying Catalyst Medical Group

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Dropping off multiple ballots is ‘OK’

Cascade PBS
Olympia ‘Diaper Guy’ named in $940K rent aid fraud investigation
Whatcom Council eyes closing legal loophole that hid $225K payout

MyNorthwest
Seattle’s minimum wage to rise to $21.30 in 2026

The Stranger
Cascade PBS Newsroom Axing Preventable, Union Says

The Urbanist
What’s Easier than Adding a Bus Lane in Seattle? Deleting One

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: October begins
CLOSURE ALERT: Dates set for first South Park Bridge closures during Duwamish River in-water cleanup season

Tuesday, September 30

Trump’s big bill is prompting urgent action in some Democratic states, but not in Republican ones
New Mexico lawmakers are to open a special session Wednesday to boost funding for food assistance and rural health care — actions the Democratic governor contends are needed to “minimize the damage from President Trump’s disastrous bill” cutting federal taxes and spending. The special session follows one in Colorado, where the Democratic governor asserted Trump’s tax cuts wreaked havoc on the state’s budget. Oregon’s Democratic officials also are wrestling with whether a special session is needed. And California Democrats recently passed new spending measures meant to counteract Trump’s big bill. Continue reading at King 5. (AP Photo)

Washington leaders brace for possible federal takeover in Seattle
Seattle mayor Bruce Harrell has a message for the Trump Administration when it comes to a potential deployment of the National Guard: “Stay out of Seattle!” Harrell, alongside other city and state officials, emphasized that they have not received direct communication from the Trump administration regarding the deployment, but they are taking the threat seriously. “To not mince words, we do not need the federal government bringing in armored vehicles, semi-automatic weapons, and military personnel to ‘make us safer.’ There is not an insurrection here,” Harrell stated. Continue reading at KIRO. (KIRO)

Utilities and telecoms turn to WA lawmakers for help as copper wire theft surges
A public utility in Mason County has started labeling its power poles hoisting fiber-optic cables so thieves don’t mistake the lines for expensive copper wire. “This wire is steel core, not copper,” the notice reads. “It has no scrap value!” The public notice is a step Mason County’s Public Utility District No. 3 is taking to respond to the destruction of cables as wirecutters get increasingly brazen. In one case, a Thanksgiving Day copper wire theft from underground electrical vaults on the Tahuya Peninsula left around a thousand homes without power. Continue reading at WSS. (David Paul Morris)

Print

Axios
Seattle mayor falls short on homeless housing pledge
YouTube to pay Trump $22 million for suspending his account after Jan. 6 riot

Bellingham Herald
Here’s where Bellingham is planning a severe weather shelter this winter
Bellingham’s proposed 2026 budget has layoffs, service cuts and a new tax

Capital Press
Study says Washington plastic bag ban increases waste

Columbian
Vancouver residents’ top concerns at forum? Population growth, abandoned vehicles, homelessness

Everett Herald
Garfield Elementary playground sees colorful improvements
Family of 13-year-old sues Everett after fatal bike collision with a metal cable

New York Times
Here’s How a Government Shutdown Works
Judge Reinstates Over 500 Voice of America Journalists and Staff
Fragile N.C. Residents Lose Medicaid Support for Food and Housing
In Some States, Strapped Counties Must Impose Trump’s Medicaid Cuts
Two HUD Civil Rights Lawyers Dismissed After Raising Concerns About Fair Housing Act Enforcement

Puget Sound Business Journal
Could Trump really move World Cup games out of Seattle?

Seattle Times
New sales tax on services in WA takes effect this week
How WA is getting over new bumps in COVID vaccine rollout
WA to pay $9 million due to alleged sexual abuse in foster care
WA utilities and telecoms say copper wire theft is at ‘crisis level’ (Ryu)
Gender-affirming care for WA youth is dwindling amid federal pressure
Gov. Ferguson creates new ‘sub-cabinet’ to protect WA immigrant rights
Feds will stop mailing Social Security, tax refund checks. What to do if that’s you
Opinion: How to help ease our agricultural community’s mental health crisis
Editorial: Dismal math scores in WA should have been an emergency years ago (Santos)

Tri-City Herald
Gov. Bob Ferguson to meet WA National Guard after Trump orders troops to Portland
Student with guns, manifesto and Tri-Cities school map charged with attempted murder

Washington Post
Trump’s USAID pause stranded lifesaving drugs. Children died waiting.
Government shutdown set to begin overnight; Senate to vote on GOP measure
Why growing fears of a new tech bubble could be bad news for 401(k)s and jobs

WA State Standard
Utilities and telecoms turn to WA lawmakers for help as copper wire theft surges (Ryu)
Hundreds of thousands of federal employees face furloughs under Trump shutdown plans
‘Appalling’: Democrats want accountability for Arizona GOP lawmaker who called for hanging of WA congresswoman
Comment: Why first responders want to see WA diversify its long-term care fund investments

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Trump’s big bill is prompting urgent action in some Democratic states, but not in Republican ones

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Electric vehicle tax credit incentive ends today
Suquamish ferry pulled from service due to engine issues
Partial water service restored at Mount Rainier’s Paradise area
Washington leaders brace for possible federal takeover in Seattle
Gov. Ferguson signs executive order creating immigration sub-cabinet
Family of 13-year-old killed by metal cable in bike crash sues city of Everett

KUOW Public Radio
Block on Tacoma ICE facility inspections may soon be lifted
New sales tax on services in Washington takes effect Wednesday
Pramila Jayapal on government shutdown, threats from Arizona lawmaker
Mayor Harrell tells Trump to ‘stay out of Seattle’ after federal troops ordered to Portland

KXLY (ABC)
Volunteer policing organization to merge with Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
“She had a great smile”: Friends mourn woman killed in shooting at Eastern State Hospital
‘Once in a generation opportunity’; City of Spokane Valley wants input on proposed new ice rink

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Washington state and federal vaccine guidelines further diverge
Scarcity of funding and units drive Whatcom’s 5-year homeless housing outlook
Proposed Bellingham city budget includes layoffs and service reductions, new sales tax

Cascade PBS
‘Stay out of Seattle,’ Mayor Harrell says to Trump’s federal troops

MyNorthwest
WA governor signs order on immigrant rights
Say goodbye to the federal electric vehicle tax credit
Washington leaders brace for possible federal takeover in Seattle
Protesters persist at Portland ICE facility after federal troops deployed

Washington Observer
AG Brown dings rental giant for stiffing veterans

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Tuesday info

Monday, September 29

Oregon sues to block Trump from sending National Guard to Portland
Oregon and the city of Portland are suing President Donald Trump to block the federal government from deploying hundreds of Oregon National Guard members in an unprecedented crackdown in Oregon’s largest city. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth notified Gov. Tina Kotek on Sunday morning that he was mobilizing 200 Oregon National Guard members for 60 days under an order to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal property where protests are occurring or likely to occur. Hegseth’s memo came the day after President Donald Trump declared in a social media post that he would deploy troops to Portland. Continue reading at WSS. (Alex Baumhardt)

Washington schools find high lead levels in drinking water
For the first time in three years, comprehensive data from Washington state’s mandatory school water testing program reveals a troubling picture: more than 1,100 school water sources contain lead levels above state safety standards, with some fixtures showing contamination so severe they pose immediate health risks to students. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)

What starts as a single mollusk, plant, insect or bird can spread into a force that changes the Northwest landscape for generations
When an alarm at the watercraft inspection station gate sounds to signal another boat is crossing the Washington-Idaho border, Fin the dog barks excitedly. On an early September afternoon, Fin — the only invasive-mussel-detecting dog in Washington — is guided by his handler, Nick Knauss, as they inspect yet another of more than 600 boats crossing the state line via Interstate 90 after Labor Day weekend. They work in tandem: Knauss looks for standing water, aquatic vegetation, dirt or suspicious small shells, while Fin puts his powerful nose to work, seeking the slightest trace of scent. Continue reading at The Inlander. (Young Kwak)