12/8 Salish Sea News and Weather: Stormwater fund, Pt Wells, Peninsula kudos, Lummi on coal, WSF, BC cougar, wooden boats

(Mark Mulligan, The Herald)

No algorithms were used in the compilation of these news clippings. How Twitter's Trending Algorithm Picks Its Topics

New blog: Did you listen to the President’s Kansas speech the other day? Why I Will Work to Re-Elect Barak Obama in 2012.

If you like to watch: The Herald’s Mark Mulligan captures Sea lion versus octopus

Weather forecaster Brett Anderson says this winter could be one of the top three coldest winters in the past 20 years for Vancouver and Victoria. Weather forecast for Vancouver: coldest in 20 years

More than $22 million earmarked in a state Department of Ecology account to help local governments control and treat stormwater would be used instead to balance the state budget under a plan submitted to the Legislature by Gov. Chris Gregoire. John Dodge reports: Stormwater fund in play as budget-balancing tool

The Point Wells developer stopped by a King County Superior Court judgment from building high-rise condos is appealing the decision. Point Wells developer appeals ruling that halts project

Good for Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend for leading the way with adoption of an official climate action plan. County and city approve climate action plan

Thanks to Clallam County officials for saving two popular volunteer-based programs from the budget ax. Streamkeepers, Master Gardeners programs saved

Floyd McKay in Crosscut lays out how the Lummi Nation plans to play in Whatcom County’s battle over the coal export facility at Cherry Point.  Lummi Nation raises its profile on coal port plan

John Stang in the Kitsap Sun reports on another consultant report that Washington State Ferries has management problems, New report on Washington State Ferries finds what many others also found  and that it’s not a financial slam dunk to convert the fleet to liquefied natural gas fuel, Report highlights potential pitfalls for liquefied natural gas-fueled ferries

How sad: RCMP officers shot a cougar at the ferry terminal because B.C. Conservation officers couldn’t show up in time and capturing and moving the cougar “could have posed a risk to the public so shooting it was deemed the safest option.”  Cougar shot at Swartz Bay ferry terminal

Deborah Bach in Three Sheets Northwest reports that the Center for Wooden Boats will be expanding. CWB to expand on north Lake Union site

And, really, this goes too far: “For the first time, scientists have altered natural bioelectrical communication among cells to directly specify the type of new organ to be created at a particular location within a vertebrate organism. Using genetic manipulation of membrane voltage in Xenopus (frog) embryos, biologists at Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences were able to cause tadpoles to grow eyes outside of the head area.” Changes in Bioelectric Signals Trigger Formation of New Organs: Tadpoles Made to Grow Eyes in Back, Tail

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 230 AM PST THU DEC 8 2011
  TODAY
 E WIND 5 TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 1 TO 4 FT AT 10 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG IN THE MORNING.
  TONIGHT
 E WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 1 TO 4 FT AT 12 SECONDS.

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