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.

---


"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



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told