5/7 Hairy woodpecker, Energy Star, wind energy, Red Dress Day, BC Ferries, hidden streams, Chuckanut Drive, democracy watch

Hairy woodpecker

 

Hairy woodpecker Leuconotopicus villosus
The Hairy Woodpecker is larger and longer-billed than the downy woodpecker. Hairy woodpeckers use a variety of forest types, but they tend to prefer mature forests where wood boring beetle larvae are readily found. It is a year-round resident in all of the Northwest Region.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Wordsmith and comic superfan: an origin story

Editor's note: I'll ask again if you'd GiveBIG today to support our partners publication Salish Current. You'll be supporting independent community journalism, fact-base and free to read without paywall. Please GiveBIG. Thank you. Mike.

E.P.A. Plans to Shut Down the Energy Star Program
Employees were told that the popular energy efficiency certification program would be “de-prioritized and eliminated,” according to documents and a recording. Lisa Friedman and Rebecca F. Elliott report. (NY Times)

States sue Trump administration for blocking the development of wind energy
Attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C., are challenging an executive order Trump signed during his first day in office, pausing approvals, permits and loans for all wind energy projects both onshore and offshore. Jennifer McDermott reports. (Associated Press)

Swinomish tribe holds Red Dress Day event
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community recognized Red Dress Day on Monday by honoring those who had missing or murdered Indigenous people in their families.  Ava Running reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Coastal mayors call on province to intervene amid ongoing B.C. Ferries disruptions
Mayors say accountability is confusing when multiple entities oversee B.C. Ferries operations. Courtney Dickson reports. (CBC)

Chilliwack looks to uncover hidden streams
The city is creating a formal system to 'daylight' the watercourses currently moving through pipes and culverts. Grace Kennedy reports. (Fraser Valley Current)

Chuckanut Drive remains closed as WSDOT clears debris
Chuckanut Drive will be closed for several more weeks south of Bellingham as road crews remove debris and stabilize a sheer rock wall after an April 22 rockslide. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Democracy Watch

• U.S. Supreme Court lets Trump ban transgender people in military while case continues (Washington State Standard)
  
• States win a legal injunction against President Trump, pausing library funding cuts (NPR)
  

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-  227 AM PDT Wed May 7 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON PDT TODAY THROUGH  THIS EVENING    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25  kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: NW 4 ft at 6 seconds and W 7 ft  at 12 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: NW 4 ft at 7 seconds and W  7 ft at 12 seconds.

---


"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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told