4/2 Plumeria, health programs, Head Start, carbon tax cut, Amtrak back, pipeline rules, Iona Is wastewater, Tulip Festival, first 100 days

 

Plumeria

Plumeria
Plumeria, also known as frangipani, is a genus of flowering plants in the subfamily Rauvolfioideae, of the family Apocynaceae. The genus Plumeria is named in honour of 17th-century French botanist and Catholic monk Charles Plumier, who traveled to the New World documenting many plant and animal species. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Under new management: our forests  / The plastic problem is bad; its health effects are worse

These WA health programs and jobs just got cut by the feds
Following the Department of Health and Human Services’ abrupt cancellation of more than $12 billion in federal grants last week, leaders at the Washington state health department have confirmed what work will likely end. The cuts total between $130 and $140 million. Elise Takahama reports. (Seattle Times)

WA Head Start staff locked out and let go due to Trump cuts
The Seattle Office of Head Start has been closed and all employees there have been placed on leave and notified they’ll be terminated, part of a massive wave of layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Seattle is home to the Region 10 Office of Head Start, which oversees the preschool program in Washington, Alaska, Idaho and Oregon. Claire Withycombe reports. (Seattle Times)

What cutting the consumer carbon tax means for Canada's emissions
The federal government has ended its carbon pricing for consumers, and that's expected to lead to savings at the gas pump. But what did the carbon tax and rebate actually do for the climate? And now that it's gone, what impact will that have on emissions? Emily Chung reports. (CBC)

Amtrak Cascades begins restoring canceled service
Amtrak is moving train cars to the Northwest from other parts of the country to swap in for 26 cars abruptly pulled from service in late March due to corrosion problems. With the arrival of the additional cars, two trains between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, — trains No. 516 and No. 519 — resumed service Tuesday. (Washington State Standard )

Southbound border crossings in B.C.'s Lower Mainland see sharp drop in 2025
Data shows nearly 43 per cent drop in vehicles with B.C. licence plates heading south in March. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC)

B.C. quietly allowed an oil and gas giant to sidestep rules for more than 4,300 pipelines
B.C.’s energy regulator has the power to grant exemptions — without notifying the public. Experts are raising the alarm about the process, saying the regulator is playing soft with fossil fuel companies that break rules. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Canada and B.C. finalize agreement to fund Metro Vancouver Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant
The governments of Canada and British Columbia have finalized an agreement for the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF), providing CAD 250 million (about USD 173 million) in federal funding over five years for the first phase of the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade. The funding represents a crucial step toward transforming the 1963-era facility into a state-of-the-art plant capable of serving a growing population — projected to reach 950,000 by 2051 — and meeting modern wastewater treatment standards. (Smart Water Magazine)

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival opens
The 2025 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival opened Tuesday. Ava Ronning reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

The First 100 Days

• HHS layoffs hit Meals on Wheels and other services for seniors and disabled (NPR)
  
• Head Start office closures, HHS layoffs worry preschool leaders (Associated Press)
  
• White House studying cost of Greenland takeover, long in Trump’s sights (Washington Post)
  

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  515 AM PDT Wed Apr 2 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft  at 8 seconds. A slight chance of rain.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 8 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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4/1 Goldfinch, culverts, Wild in Seattle, BC flooding, dead dolphins, EPA museum, library agency, BC Ferries, trans flag, WA trans athletes, ants and plants, first 100 days

 

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
Goldfinches are usually easy to find throughout much of North America, except in deep forests. Their po-ta-to-chip flight call is draws attention to them in open country. They’re most abundant in areas with thistle plants, and near feeders. Goldfinch are the state bird of New Jersey, Iowa, and Washington, and often flock with Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Eminent climate scientist named director of Whale Museum /  A tribute to Ralph Munro, an exemplar of public service

New $5B plan to fund culvert removals unveiled by WA senators
Washington state senators revealed a proposal Monday to raise billions of dollars to pay for the court-ordered removal of culverts blocking the migration of salmon and other fish. The plan included in the Senate’s capital budget would bond up to $5 billion over the next 15 years and repay the debt with revenue from an existing tax on electrical utilities. Jake Goldstein-Street reports. (Washington State Standard)  WA lawmakers’ capital budgets boost housing, school & environment The capital budget proposals released Monday by the House and Senate each allocate about $7 billion in funding. Laura Demkovich reports. (CascadePBS)

Wild in Seattle
David Williams' new book, "Wild in Seattle: Stories at the Crossroads of People and Nature" brings together 48 of his 'Street Smart Naturalist' newsletters focused on the geology, flora, and fauna of Seattle and surroundings. In addition, they are paired with wonderful and whimsical watercolor images by Elizabeth Person. Information.

Lower Mainland flood prevention work must wait, province admits
Three years after one of the costliest disasters in Canadian history, the provincial government now says it doesn’t have the money to fully fund critical flood-prevention work in the Lower Mainland. Tyler Olsen reports. (Fraser Valley Current)

Why Are Dolphins and Sea Lions Washing Up Dead on Southern California Beaches?
In recent weeks, hundreds of sea lions, dolphins and other animals have turned up in the sand dead or seriously ill, alarming rescuers and beachgoers alike. Orlando Mayorquín reports. (NY Times)

Lee Zeldin, E.P.A. Head, Shuts National Environmental Museum
The exhibits were dedicated to the agency’s history. Mr. Zeldin said closing the collection would save $600,000 annually. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

Entire staff at federal agency that funds libraries and museums put on leave
The Institute of Museum and Library Services has placed its entire staff on administrative leave. The IMLS is a relatively small federal agency, with around 70 employees, that awards grant funding to museums and libraries across the country.  Andrew Limbong reports. (NPR)

Four new major ships green-lit for B.C. Ferries
Commissioner Eva Hage says the four vessels were in the public interest, but the fifth — intended to serve as a relief ship — was not essential in the first phase. Andrew A. Duffy reports. (Times Colonist)

‘We affirm you.’ Transgender pride flag flies over Tacoma Dome for first time
In honor of Transgender Day of Visibility, for the first time a blue, pink and white trans pride flag was flown over the Tacoma Dome on Monday. Similar flags were raised above the Tacoma Municipal Building, Tacoma Police Department headquarters and the Tacoma Fire Department, according to the city. Becca Most reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Proposal to limit transgender athletes' participation in sports blocked in Washington state
Washington state’s governing body for middle and high school athletics has determined that its proposed rule changes for transgender student athletes would violate state law. Sean Bessette, director of communications for WIAA, said Monday that a “legal review” has found the proposed rule changes conflict with state law — and unless the law changes, they can’t be implemented. Sami West reports. (KUOW)

As the Forest Fries, Brazil’s Formidable Formicidae May Falter
An age-old relationship between ants and plants may unravel in a warming world. Jason Bittel reports. (bioGraphic)

The First 100 Days

• DOGE Accesses Federal Payroll System Over Objections of Career Staff (NY Times)
  
• Trump White House abruptly fires career Justice Department prosecutors (AP News)
  
• Trump Takes Aim at Smithsonian, Wading Into Race and Biology (NY Times)
  
• Mass Layoffs of Federal Health Workers Begin (NY Times)
  
• Supreme Court to weigh whether states can stop Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood  (Associated Press)
  

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  221 AM PDT Tue Apr 1 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to  5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 5 seconds and SW 3 ft at 11 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 ft at 9 seconds and SW 2 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of showers  after midnight.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told