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| Pacific treefrog [WDFW] |
Pacific treefrog Pseudacris regilla
Pacific treefrogs are able to utilize a wide variety of habitats and
persist even within urban and disturbed areas, where pockets of
undeveloped habitat exist. This species is prolific and the tadpoles are
usually the most common amphibian larvae at any breeding site. (WDFW)
Today's top story in Salish Current: Spring Chinook run continues to grow
NOAA senior scientists in Seattle depart amid Trump cuts
Scientists behind some of the most important breakthroughs in Northwest
scientific research over the past two decades have left their jobs in
the wake of budget cutting by the Trump administration...The science
center has lost about 30 people, according to Nick Tolimieri, president
of the fisheries chapter of the IFPTE Local 8A (a union leader for about
200 center employees in the bargaining unit). While science still
continues at the center, many of those lost were scientists with
significant experience. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)
Snohomish County Council passes controversial critical habitat ordinance
Despite overwhelming opposing testimony, the Snohomish County Council
passed a controversial amendment alongside its new Critical Areas
Regulations ordinance on Wednesday afternoon. Council members approved
the ordinance, along with what is known as Amendment 3, by a 3-2 vote,
with Megan Dunn and Strom Peterson voting against it. Eliza Aronson
reports. (Everett Herald)
Trump administration cancels $16 million WA digital equity grant
The Trump administration has rescinded a $16 million grant to create a
new cybersecurity literacy program in Washington. The state Department
of Commerce received word of the canceled funding Friday. That was one
day after President Donald Trump called the Digital Equity Act that
created the grant program “racist” and “unconstitutional.” Jake
Goldstein-Street reports. (Washington State Standard)
UW project took nuisance seaweed from shellfish farm to help growers. The USDA cut its funding
The Blue Carbon, Green Fields project received a $5 million grant from
the U.S. Department of Agriculture to promote climate-smart farm
practices. The project was launched in March 2024. In its first year,
the team harvested nearly 17,000 pounds of wet seaweed. [Project
director Sarah] Collier says there was so much interest that they were
ready to include more farms in the pilot when she learned the grant was
cancelled. Ruby De Luna reports. (KUOW)
WA boat builder suggests splitting electric ferry bid with Florida rival
Two days after its bid to build a new hybrid-electric ferry came in
nearly $90 million over an out-of-state competitor, Washington-based
Nichols Brothers Boat Builders urged Gov. Bob Ferguson on Wednesday to
let both companies build the state’s new electric ferry fleet. In a
letter to Ferguson, Nichols CEO Gavin Higgins pitched his idea as
beneficial to all involved, including his company’s rival in the bid
process, Eastern Shipbuilding Group from Panama City, Fla. Nicholas
Deshais reports. (Seattle Times)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval
The CEO of an Everett-based fusion energy company said legislation
signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson on Tuesday will help his company clear
potential hurdles to build the world’s first commercial fusion power
plant. Helion CEO David Kirtley said the fusion energy facilities bill
approved by the governor will give the Everett company the option of
presenting plans for a clean-energy power plant to the Energy Facility
Site Evaluation Council. If the group recommends the site, it would go
to the governor’s desk for approval, bypassing any local community
opposition. Randy Diamond reports. (Everett Herald)
Enbridge sells stake in Westcoast pipeline to First Nations group
Stonlasec8 Indigenous Alliance Limited Partnership will invest $715M for a 12.5 % share. (Canadian Press)
Democracy Watch
- D.H.S. Requests 20,000 National Guard Members to Help With Immigration Crackdown (NY Times)
- Under pressure, HHS reinstates hundreds of occupational health workers (NPR)
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West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 259 AM PDT Thu May 15 2025 TODAY W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 11 seconds. A slight chance of rain early this morning, then rain late this morning and afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds. Rain.
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