 |
| Frangipani |
Frangipani
Plumeria, commonly known as frangipani, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae. They are native in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, and as far south as Brazil and as far north as Florida, but are often grown as ornamentals in tropical regions, especially in Hawaii, as well as hot desert climates in the Arabian Peninsula with irrigation. (Wikipedia(
Today's top story in Salish Current: Should hunting be allowed for mountain goats?
Dramatic rise in bird migration over Washington state prompts 'Lights Out' efforts to protect millions
Washington's night sky will be filled with millions of migrating birds in the coming nights! According to BirdCast data, on the night of April 16, over 165 million birds will migrate across the country, and around 845,000 birds in Washington. Scientists encourage joining the "Lights Out" movement by turning off or dimming non-essential lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. during critical migration periods. Ashley Ruiz reports. (KING)
Joel Connelly, Iconic Northwest Journalist, dies at 78
Joel Connelly, considered by many to be the Dean of Seattle political journalism, died on April 15, the victim of a long battle with diabetes. He resided for many years in Madrona neighborhood and on Whidbey Island. Oddly, as a tough journalist, he was widely loved both by friends and sources, as well as by residents of Horizon House, and particularly his caretakers, where he courageously lived his last few years as his body wore out. David Brewster writes. (Post Alley)
Shrimping closed for 2nd straight year in waters east of Kitsap
Recreational fishing for spot shrimp will not open in the waters east of Kitsap County in 2026, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced, a rare closure for the second consecutive season due to declining populations found during state testing that one scientist called "unprecedented." David Nelson reports. (Kitsap Sun)
Joel Connelly, considered by many to be the Dean of Seattle political journalism, died on April 15, the victim of a long battle with diabetes. He resided for many years in Madrona neighborhood and on Whidbey Island. Oddly, as a tough journalist, he was widely loved both by friends and sources, as well as by residents of Horizon House, and particularly his caretakers, where he courageously lived his last few years as his body wore out. David Brewster writes. (Post Alley)
Shrimping closed for 2nd straight year in waters east of Kitsap
Recreational fishing for spot shrimp will not open in the waters east of Kitsap County in 2026, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced, a rare closure for the second consecutive season due to declining populations found during state testing that one scientist called "unprecedented." David Nelson reports. (Kitsap Sun)
Living in the Sprawl
As housing developments devour open space in the western United States, can local governments stave off habitat loss? Ben Goldfarb reports. (bioGraphic)
As housing developments devour open space in the western United States, can local governments stave off habitat loss? Ben Goldfarb reports. (bioGraphic)
Malfunctioning Canadian LNG terminal burned more gas than estimated 2024 global record
Exclusive: The LNG Canada plant — the country’s first major LNG facility, owned by Shell, Petronas, Korea Gas, PetroChina and Mitsubishi — is one of the highest sources of global emissions for flaring, undermining claims that Canada produces the cleanest natural gas in the world. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)
The Slimy BC Invader That Came from the West
The violet tunicate is a hermaphroditic reproducer that shellfish farmers have been blasting off oysters for nearly a century on the West Coast. Grace Kennedy reports. (The Tyee)
NPR receives $113 million from two donors after federal funding cut
NPR announced a $113 million windfall on Thursday from two charitable donors including billionaire philanthropist Connie Ballmer, a former NPR board member, who gave $80 million, the largest gift by a living donor in the organization’s history. An anonymous donor gave an additional $33 million. Scott Nover reports. (Washington Post)
Study: Wolves return might impact ecosystems less than previously thought
Predator effects on habitat are real but context-dependent. How do they apply in the Columbia River Basin? Eli Francovich reports. (Columbia Insight)
How seals' whiskers make them master underwater hunters
A harbor seal sports about a hundred whiskers — which are more than just for show. They provide the animals with key intel on their surroundings. Seals can use their whiskers to pull all sorts of information out of disturbances in the water. They can determine the direction in which something has traveled. Lab studies suggest seals might even distinguish between the movements of different types of fish. Ari Daniel reports. (NPR)
Landslide mitigation to protect salmon habitat begins on Vancouver Island
A First Nation on Vancouver Island has partnered with an environmental group to try to mitigate the harms of a massive landslide — known locally as "Big Bertha" — on salmon-bearing streams in the area. (Canadian Press)
Gray whales of the Salish Sea
A relatively high number of gray whale deaths in Washington this year has brought attention to one of the Salish Sea's most prominent large whale species. A new, comprehensive overview from the Cascadia Research Collective looks at the status and trends of our local grays, including where they are most likely to be spotted and the threats they face, such as climate change. John Calambokidis writes. (Puget Sound Institute)
Democracy Watch
Exclusive: The LNG Canada plant — the country’s first major LNG facility, owned by Shell, Petronas, Korea Gas, PetroChina and Mitsubishi — is one of the highest sources of global emissions for flaring, undermining claims that Canada produces the cleanest natural gas in the world. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)
The Slimy BC Invader That Came from the West
The violet tunicate is a hermaphroditic reproducer that shellfish farmers have been blasting off oysters for nearly a century on the West Coast. Grace Kennedy reports. (The Tyee)
NPR receives $113 million from two donors after federal funding cut
NPR announced a $113 million windfall on Thursday from two charitable donors including billionaire philanthropist Connie Ballmer, a former NPR board member, who gave $80 million, the largest gift by a living donor in the organization’s history. An anonymous donor gave an additional $33 million. Scott Nover reports. (Washington Post)
Study: Wolves return might impact ecosystems less than previously thought
Predator effects on habitat are real but context-dependent. How do they apply in the Columbia River Basin? Eli Francovich reports. (Columbia Insight)
How seals' whiskers make them master underwater hunters
A harbor seal sports about a hundred whiskers — which are more than just for show. They provide the animals with key intel on their surroundings. Seals can use their whiskers to pull all sorts of information out of disturbances in the water. They can determine the direction in which something has traveled. Lab studies suggest seals might even distinguish between the movements of different types of fish. Ari Daniel reports. (NPR)
Landslide mitigation to protect salmon habitat begins on Vancouver Island
A First Nation on Vancouver Island has partnered with an environmental group to try to mitigate the harms of a massive landslide — known locally as "Big Bertha" — on salmon-bearing streams in the area. (Canadian Press)
Gray whales of the Salish Sea
A relatively high number of gray whale deaths in Washington this year has brought attention to one of the Salish Sea's most prominent large whale species. A new, comprehensive overview from the Cascadia Research Collective looks at the status and trends of our local grays, including where they are most likely to be spotted and the threats they face, such as climate change. John Calambokidis writes. (Puget Sound Institute)
Democracy Watch
Salish Sea News Week in Review, April 17, 2026: Haiku
Poetry Day, tire toxin, WA flood relief, Climate Commitment Act, BC
DRIPA amendments, climate change cause, grizzlies, floating hotel, BC
toxic drug crisis.
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- 221 AM PDT Fri Apr 17 2026
TODAY S wind around 5 kt, backing to NE early this afternoon, backing to N late. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds.
TONIGHT E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 8 seconds.
SAT E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 3 seconds and W 2 ft at 9 seconds.
SAT NIGHT E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 4 seconds and W 2 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of rain.
SUN E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 4 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning.
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 221 AM PDT Fri Apr 17 2026
TODAY S wind around 5 kt, backing to NE early this afternoon, backing to N late. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds.
TONIGHT E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 8 seconds.
SAT E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 3 seconds and W 2 ft at 9 seconds.
SAT NIGHT E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 4 seconds and W 2 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of rain.
SUN E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 4 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning.
---
"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.
Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate,
Advocate
