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)
  

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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.



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3/31 Forsythia, weather service, health cuts, gas tax, Tesla protests, WA wildfire season, Skagit Queer, first 100 days

 

Forsythia

Forsythia
Forsythia is a genus of flowering plants in the olive family Oleaceae. There are about 11 species, mostly native to eastern Asia, but one native to southeastern Europe. Forsythia – also one of the plant's common names – is named after the botanist William Forsyth. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Corrosion problem knocks most Amtrak Cascades trains out of service

More cuts coming to the National Weather Service
Weather balloon flights—and the forecasts they inform—would become less frequent nationwide under a plan revealed internally on Thursday. (John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Vaccine clinics canceled, health jobs cut as feds rescind grants to WA
Federal cuts are beginning to be felt in Washington state clinics, hospitals and public health departments. The Centers for Disease Control immediately ended $130 million “pandemic-related” grants this week, terminating jobs for over 200 employees at the state Department of Health, and potentially more at local health authorities, tribal clinics and community organizations. Scott Greenstone reports. (KUOW)

WA state Senate OKs gas tax hike and budget built on billions of new taxes
Senators want to raise the tax 6 cents per gallon. The House has a 9-cent tax that could be voted on this week. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

Growing Tesla protests put pressure on Musk at showrooms in Seattle, U.S.
Protesters gathered at Tesla dealerships throughout Washington and dozens of other locations across the U.S. on Saturday in a coordinated protest against CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in the federal government. At the Tesla showroom in Seattle’s University Village, hundreds of people were chanting shortly after 10 a.m. Police had blocked vehicle traffic near the showroom, which is in the popular outdoor shopping mall.  Caitlyn Freeman reports. (Seattle Times)

Budget woes, federal cuts puts WA plans at risk as wildfire season nears
Budget woes, combined with cuts to the federal wildfire-fighting workforce and President Donald Trump’s tariff and sovereignty threats against Canada, have made it more difficult for state officials to plan for the upcoming wildfire season. In Washington, a $12 billion budget shortfall prompted majority Democrats in the Legislature last week to propose slicing spending on wildfire prevention and fighting by one-third to two-thirds.  Martha Bellisle reports. (Associated Press)

Skagit Queer holds human rights protest in Mount Vernon
Rainbow flags and signs in support of LGBTQ+ rights were on display Saturday during Skagit Queer's human rights protest in front of the Skagit County Courthouse. Cameron Martinez reports (Skagit Valley Herald)


The First 100 Days

• As Trump Tariffs Loom, White House Eyes Costly Farmer Bailouts (NY Times)
  
• Musk hands out $1M payments after Wisconsin court declines to stop him (Associated Press)
  
• Trump says he’s considering ways to serve a third term as president (Associated Press)
  
• RFK Jr. forces out Peter Marks, FDA’s top vaccine scientist (Washington Post)
  
• Trump says military force not off the table for Greenland after Danish FM scolds his administration (Associated Press)
  
• Trump's FCC commissioner opens investigation into Walt Disney Co. and ABC for diversity policies (Associated Press)
  
• Trump says he won’t ‘fire people’ over Signal messages, reiterates support of national security team  (Associated Press)
  
• DOGE fires nearly all of staff at U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters  (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-  215 AM PDT Mon Mar 31 2025    
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt late this  morning and early afternoon, veering to S late. Seas 3 to 4 ft.  Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at 3 seconds and W 2 ft at 9 seconds. A  chance of showers.  TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 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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3/28 Grass spider, toxic tire dust, Great Bear MPA, McBarge sinks, coyote, first 100 days, week in review

 

Grass spider

Grass spider Agelenidae
The funnel-weavers, house spiders, and grass spiders represent one of the most common spider families encountered in the Pacific Northwest. Perhaps the easiest recognizable
features of this family are the sheet-like webs they spin with a landing in the front and a conspicuous funnel-shaped entrance in the back.. The spider often hides in the funnel
until an insect lands or crawls over the non-sticky sheet-like web. (WSU)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Community stands in solidarity with immigration advocate detained by ICE

Scientists discover ‘potential breakthrough’ in protecting salmon from urban killer
For decades, toxic tire dust has choked coho salmon before they can spawn in their natal streams...Preliminary results from a recently completed study show certain soil mixes can effectively filter a toxic chemical out of stormwater, boosting coho salmon’s survival rates significantly. The key may be in special soil mixes containing sand, coconut fiber and biochar, a charcoal-like organic fertilizer, King County scientists said this week. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

BC Conservative Candidate Targets Great Bear Marine Protection Plan
North Island-Powell River Conservative candidate Aaron Gunn has proposed killing plans for a network of Indigenous-led marine protected areas on the West Coast. Advocates say Indigenous protected areas will increase economic opportunities. Rochelle Baker reports. (The Tyee)

Transport Canada called in as McBarge quietly sinks into Fraser River
The end is near for McDonald's Expo 86 floating restaurant that never quite found a home after global event. David Carrigg reports. (Vancouver Sun)

The Coyote Next Door
What urban wildlife can teach us about cognition, survival, and how to be good neighbors. Betsy Mason reports. (bioGraphic)

The First 100 Days

• Trump executive order on Smithsonian targets funding for programs with ‘improper ideology’ (Associated Press)
  
• Internal White House document details layoff plans across U.S. agencies (Washington Post)
  
• Trump signs executive order to end collective bargaining at agencies involved with national security (Associated Press)
  
• Trump officials working to strip FEMA’s role in disaster recovery by Oct. 1 (Washington Post)
  

Salish Sea News Week in Review 3/28/25: Piano Day, WA natural gas, mineral mining, David Suzuki, kids climate suit, metal mining, Growlers, pink salmon, BC consumer carbon tax, BC hydrogen, Columbia R treaty, Fraser geese.

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 weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  234 AM PDT Fri Mar 28 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT    
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt late this  morning and afternoon. Seas 8 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 4  seconds and W 2 ft at 11 seconds. Showers. Patchy fog late.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 3 seconds and W 3 ft at 11 seconds. Showers.  
SAT  S wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at  3 seconds and W 4 ft at 10 seconds. Showers.  
SAT NIGHT  SW wind around 5 kt, backing to E after midnight.  Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of  showers in the evening.  
SUN  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at

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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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3/27 Grasshopper, missing hooligans,BC hydrogen, forest protection, BC flood strategy, Columbia R treaty, dissolved oxygen, fed health funding, lithium mining, goose problem, right whale, first 100 days

 

Grasshopper

Grasshopper
Grasshoppers are a group of insects belonging to the suborder Caelifera. They are amongst what are possibly the most ancient living groups of chewing herbivorous insects, dating back to the early Triassic around 250 million years ago. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Islanders hone emergency strategy after earthquake

The case of the missing hooligans: a Cowlitz River mystery
Thousands of Northwesterners were disappointed when they failed to meet up with some hooligans in March...They’re a species of fish with many names, including hooligan, oolichan, eulachon, savior fish, salvation fish, candlefish, Columbia River smelt, and Thaleichthys pacificus. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Documents suggest B.C.'s hydrogen plans under threat as uncertainty halts 'large-scale' projects
Documents released through a freedom of information request reveal that B.C.'s former energy minister was told last September that at least seven "large-scale hydrogen projects" were being cancelled or paused because of issues including electricity supply, high cost and transportation.  Jason Proctor reports. (CBC)

Activists answer call to protect forests
For some people, the auctioning of a timber parcel might seem like the end of the road: no refunds, no returns, no exchanges. Not so for local environmental activists, however, whose cries to save the trees echo well past a parcel’s sale. Emma Maple reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

BC Flood Strategy advisor 'unimpressed' by lack of funding to reduce risk
Sto:lo Tribal Council President Tyrone McNeil says he and his colleagues have seen “little to no” action on BC’s new flood strategy. Tyler Olsen reports. (Fraser Valley Current)

Trump tariffs, ‘attacks’ over water complicate Columbia River Treaty negotiations
Attacks by President Donald Trump on Canada’s water and sovereignty, and a full-on trade war, have not only upended relations between the countries but have also threatened negotiations over a crucial treaty that governs use of the Columbia River. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

'Natural conditions' are at the center of disputes over dissolved oxygen standards
Oxygen is indisputably essential to aquatic life, but conflicts are brewing over water quality standards mandated in state regulations. This article is part of a series of reports funded by King County about the quest to define healthy oxygen levels in Puget Sound. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

WA is losing $160M in federal health funding. Here’s what to know
Washington state is losing more than $160 million in federal funding designated for public health, mental health and substance use treatment as the Trump administration slashes federal agencies’ budgets. The state Department of Health was notified Monday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was immediately terminating multiple pandemic-related grants, totaling at least $130 million. Taylor Blatchford reports. (Seattle Times) 

BLM rushes review of Oregon lithium mine following Trump’s executive order
A proposed Southeast Oregon lithium project has been under review for three years. Now the Trump administration is giving people until Sunday to comment before proceeding. April Errlich report. (OPB)

The Fraser Valley's supersized goose problem
As communities spend money to addle goose eggs, they're paying the price for a previous breeding experiment gone wrong. Grace Giesbrecht reports. (Fraser Valley Current)

To Discover the World’s First Intersex Southern Right Whale, the Third Test Was the Charm
What you think you know about the world depends on how you’re looking. In 2022, Carla Crossman was analyzing the genes of southern right whales when she came across something unexpected. Vanessa Minke-Martin reports. (bioGraphic)

The First 100 Days

• President Trump announces 25% tariffs on auto imports (Associated Press)
  
• DOGE staffer 'Big Balls' provided tech support to cybercrime ring, records show (Reuters)
  
• H.H.S. Scraps Studies of Vaccines and Treatments for Future Pandemics (NY Times)
  
• Trump Administration Abruptly Cuts Billions From State Health Services (NY Times)
  
• 10,000 Federal Health Dept. Workers to Be Laid Off (NY Times)
  

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-  240 AM PDT Thu Mar 27 2025   TODAY  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft  at 4 seconds and W 3 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  
TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. 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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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3/26 Eelgrass, pink salmon, BC carbon tax, PRGT pipe, orca calf, OR urban trees, BC shellfish fines, first 100 days

Common eelgrass [Sound Water Stewards]

 

Common eelgrass Zostera marina
Native in the state of Washington, Zostera marina’s range spans the area from Alaska to California on the West Coast and is also found on the North American East Coast, in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It is common in low intertidal and subtidal zones to a depth of 20-30 feet along sheltered areas with sandy or muddy beaches. (Sound Water Stewards)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Frustrations and flux in Sedro-Woolley schools leadership / Down-ballot elections can changes lives in seismic ways

Abundance of pink salmon may be harming orcas
Pink salmon now comprise nearly 80% of all adult salmon in the North Pacific. This record abundance is coming at a cost to other salmon species such as threatened Chinook, which compete with pinks for spawning territory. A new study shows that the ecological toll may extend all the way to endangered southern resident killer whales. Eric Wagner reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

B.C. scrapping consumer carbon tax altogether on April 1, government says
The B.C. government has announced it will completely scrap the provincial consumer-facing carbon tax on April 1 and is urging gas companies to remove tax from pricing. Andrew Kurjata and Akshay Kulkarni report. (CBC)

Indigenous, community groups take BC Energy Regulator to court over PRGT pipeline approval
Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups are in court this week, arguing the BC Energy Regulator bent its own rules when it green-lighted construction of a new 800-kilometre gas pipeline for the LNG industry. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Orca calf a descendent of one of last killer whales captured
The orca calf’s great-grandmother was one of six whales captured and temporarily held by SeaWorld in Washington’s Puget Sound in March 1976. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Trump administration funding freeze creates uncertainty for Oregon urban tree canopy programs
The Trump administration appears to have frozen at least $40 million in federal payments for Oregon-based urban tree canopy programs, as part of a broader push by the president to cut support for programs related to climate change. Courtney Sherwood reports. (OPB)

B.C. shellfish harvesters fined for illegal fishing
A woman from Nanaimo and another from Richmond were found to have retained more than the daily quota for clams and oysters, with some of their catch under the legal minimum size. Darron Kloster reports.(Times Colonist)

The First 100 Days

• Trump signs order seeking to overhaul US elections, including requiring proof of citizenship (Associated Press)
  
• Long waits, waves of calls, website crashes: Social Security is breaking down (Washington Post)
  
• Trump administration says it will pull back billions in COVID funding from local health departments (Associated Press)
  
• Vaccine skeptic hired to head federal study of immunizations and autism (Washington Post)
  
• The Atlantic posts Signal chat with attack plans from Hegseth (Associated Press)
  
• Federal cuts squeeze already-struggling food banks, school lunch programs (Statelines)
  

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-  304 AM PDT Wed Mar 26 2025    
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft  at 4 seconds and W 5 ft at 14 seconds. A chance of rain this  morning, then showers likely with a slight chance of tstms this  afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 5 seconds and W 4 ft at 13 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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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3/25 Reed canarygrass, WA lege, OR kid climate suit, BC metal mining, Brave Little Hunter, eelgrass, Growlers, extreme heat, news diet, first 100 days

Reed Canarygrass

Reed Canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea
Canary grass is a major threat to natural wetlands because it out competes most native species as it forms large, single-species stands, outcompeting other species. Dense stands have little wildlife habitat value. Its invasion can cause siltation in irrigation ditches.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Who speaks truth to Trump’s transgressions?

Democrats in Washington Legislature pitch competing budget plans
Furloughs and taxes, early learning and police hiring are among the matters in need of negotiations between the House and Senate and with the governor. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)  Gas tax increase is key to fueling WA Senate transportation budget Jake Goldstein-Street reports. (Washington State Standard)

US Supreme Court declines to revive landmark climate suit brought by young Oregonians
The decision ends a decade-long fight led by 11 young Oregonians and 10 of their peers across the nation against the U.S. government over climate inaction. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

‘Metals are the new oil’: B.C. fast-tracks critical minerals projects to counter tariffs
Premier David Eby says the province has ‘unlimited’ potential when it comes to critical minerals. Used to make everything from weapons to renewables, critics question whether B.C.'s rush to mine copper, lithium and more could impact the environment and Indigenous Rights. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Narwhal)

Hope persists for Brave Little Hunter, one year later
A researcher who was involved in the rescue effort is optimistic that as the days grow longer and the weather improves, there will be more sightings. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

County awarded $500,000 for eelgrass project
Pierce County Planning & Public Works has been awarded a $500,000 grant to help advance eelgrass monitoring along Pierce County shorelines. Starting this summer, PPW and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources will collect data on marine vegetation by using underwater videography at approximately 180 Pierce County sites. The results will be analyzed to identify the distribution of eelgrass beds in the county’s nearshore environment. (Tacoma Weekly)

Comment period open on Growler operations
The U.S. Navy is accepting public comments regarding a draft of its amended analysis to the final environmental impact statement for EA-18G Growler aircraft operations at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island through April 28. The amended analysis was mandated by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. (Peninsula Daily News)

The Vicious Cycle of Extreme Heat Leading to More Fossil Fuel Use
A new report illustrates a concerning dynamic: Record heat last year pushed countries to use more planet-warming fossil fuels to cool things down. Claire Brown reports. (NY Times)

7 ways to cultivate a healthy news diet
Media literacy and mental health experts from the University of Washington offer their suggestions to fight brain rot, headline anxiety and misinformation. Sireen Abayazid, Nimra Ahmad, Sophie Grossman & Madeline Happold report. (CascadePBS)

The First 100 Days

• Judge bars DOGE access to sensitive personal information at 3 federal agencies (News From the States)
  
• Trump officials texted war plans to a group chat in a secure app that included a journalist (Associated Press)
  
• In His Second Term, Trump Fuels a ‘Machinery’ of Misinformation (NY Times)
  
• Transgender Americans aim to block Trump’s passport policy change (Associated Press)
  
• GOP-led states push for control of federal education money under Trump (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-  801 AM PDT Tue Mar 25 2025    
REST OF TODAY  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail:  W 5 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain early this morning, then a  slight chance of rain this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft  at 3 seconds and W 5 ft at 15 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.



Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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