12/10 Christmas anemone, rain and flood, new orca calf, planting eelgrass, rural school funding, last coal plant, pulp mill hydrogen, democracy watch

 

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Christmas anemone

Christmas anemone
Urticina crassicornis, known as the mottled anemone, the painted anemone or the Christmas anemone, is a large and common intertidal and subtidal species of sea anemone. Its habitat includes a large portion of the coastal areas of the northern hemisphere, mainly polar regions, and it lives a solitary life for up to 80 years. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Changing landscape of Western Washington’s 'bible belt'

Atmospheric river to bring heavy rain to B.C.'s South Coast, orange warning issued for Fraser Valley. Orange warning issued under new Environment Canada colour-coded weather warning system. Nick Logan reports. (CBC)  More flooding, rainfall to come for WA and Seattle area with second surge (Seattle Times) 

New orca calf spotted with K pod
A new orca calf was spotted in Puget Sound on Tuesday afternoon, which is the first calf born into the K pod in over three years, according to the Orca Conservancy. Olivia Sullivan reports. (KING) 

Snorkeling an Eelgrass Meadow
What it's like to plant seagrass in the Joemma Beach eelgrass meadow by hand and by robot, part 2. Chris Rurik writes. (Infinite Peninsula) 

Congress approves Secure Rural Schools funding critical to rural Northwest counties
The U.S. House voted 395-4 to renew funding that helps rural counties pay for schools, roads and public safety. April Ehrlich reports. (OPB) 

Washington’s last coal power plant will transition to natural gas
The facility was set to close this year. A deal announced Tuesday will keep it producing electricity. Joseph O’Sullivan reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Why this B.C. pulp mill wants to produce hydrogen
Hydrogen will be produced and used for heat in a $21-million project at Kruger Pulp Mill in Kamloops. Jacqueline Gelineau reports. (CBC) 

Democracy Watch

• Must the Military Disobey Unlawful Orders? Pam Bondi Has Said Yes. (NY Times) 
• Trump administration aims to officially scrap Biden-era student loan forgiveness program (Washington State Standard) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  215 PM PST Tue Dec 9 2025    
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH  WEDNESDAY EVENING     
WED  W wind 20 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at  11 seconds. Rain.  
WED NIGHT  SW wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming W 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 4 seconds and W  7 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.

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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)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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