5/12 Gartersnake, fossil fuel suit, green energy dream, UW climate research, border pix, birding capital, fuel refinery sale, Chinook Nation, W. Ron Allen, democracy watch

Gartersnake

 Puget Sound Gartersnake Thamnophis sirtalis pickeringii
The Puget Sound Gartersnake is dark grey to black with three yellow or bluish-grey stripes: one narrow stripe down the back (dorsal stripe) and one on each side (lateral stripes). The lateral stripes are confined to the second and third scale row. Unlike the other subspecies of the Common Gartersnake that occur in B.C., the red bars on the sides between the dorsal and side stripes are often very faint or absent. The Valley Gartersnake typically only has seven scales on the upper lip and has a yellowish chin and belly. Individuals can grow to just over a metre in length. (Canadian Herpetological Society)

Today's top story in Salish Current: On the front line of food insecurity

Washington state sues to block Trump order expediting fossil fuel projects
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown is suing over what he says is President Donald Trump's unlawful declaration of an energy emergency, which is intended to speed up permitting procedures for fossil fuel projects. Brown’s latest lawsuit, his 17th against the Trump administration, was filed Friday in the Western District of Washington and joined by 14 other states. Amy Radil reports. (KUOW)

How the Pacific Northwest’s dream of green energy fell apart
Oregon and Washington passed aggressive goals to decarbonize their power supply but left it to the Bonneville Power Administration to build the transmission lines needed for wind and solar. The agency hasn’t delivered. Tony Schick and Monica Samayoa report. (OPB)

Trump administration pulls plug on UW climate research partnership
The Trump administration has pulled funding for a climate research program at the University of Washington that helps communities in the Northwest adapt to extreme heat, drought and other threats from climate change. The UW’s Climate Impacts Group, which has hosted the program since 2021, said in a Thursday statement that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ended its grant award for the research in a Monday letter. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

U.S. reportedly plans to photograph people leaving the country by vehicle at border crossings
The goal would be to 'biometrically confirm departure from the U.S.,' spokesperson for CBP, Jessica Turner told WIRED. (National Post)

Greater Victoria the unofficial birding capital of Canada
With sightings of more different species of birds than anywhere else in the country, B.C.’s capital region is Canada’s unofficial birding capital. Hannah Link reports. (Times Colonist)

Questions raised over U.S. company's bid for B.C. fuel refinery
The possibility of a Texas energy company buying a Burnaby, B.C., fuel refinery has workers and energy observers concerned, given Canada's trade fight with the United States. Sunoco, headquartered in Dallas, has offered $9.1 billion US for Calgary-based Parkland Corporation. (CBC)

Chinook Indian Nation federal status uncertain again after political break
The Chinook Indian Nation of Southwest Washington has been trying to get federal recognition from the U.S. government since the mid-90s. But is that possible without someone to champion their cause in Washington D.C.? Eric Neumann reports. (OPB)

Allen to be inducted into Native American Hall of Fame
W. Ron Allen, chair of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, will be inducted into the National Native American Hall of Fame, the organization announced. Allen and five other inductees will be honored on Nov. 1 at the OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City. (Peninsula Daily News)

Democracy Watch
Judge pauses much of Trump administration’s massive downsizing of federal agencies (AP)
Dow jumps nearly 1,000 and S&P 500 climbs 2.6% following a 90-day truce in the US-China trade war (AP)
House Republicans unveil Medicaid cuts in Trump's big bill (AP)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  211 AM PDT Mon May 12 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 9 seconds. A slight chance of showers this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 10 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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