4/24 Mustard, Seattle climate, UW climate research, fast tracking fossil fuel projects, Canada LNG, BC regulatory exemptions, Lasqueti Is reserves, farming bird, first 100 days

Wild mustard [Zeynel]

 

Wild mustard Brassica rapa
Wild mustard is a wild herb of the mustard family that’s used widely across the globe, especially in the Pacific Northwest, as a vegetable and seed oil crop. Other common names include field mustard and, in the UK, charlock. The Pacific Northwest was first introduced to wild mustard by means of crop production in 1864, and its use as a food crop, as well as its invasive nature, helped it to quickly spread across the rest of North America.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Never too late: women’s stories take center stage / Pope’s ‘field hospital’ provides light in the darkness

Seattle launches new actions to tame transport’s climate impact
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced measures Tuesday to cut the city’s stubborn carbon emissions, including more electric-vehicle charging stations and a program for e-cargo bike deliveries. To meet its science-based targets for helping the world hang on to a livable climate, Seattle needs to cut emissions nearly in half by 2030. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

UW climate research group braces for Trump cuts
Potential budget cuts by the Trump administration could roughly slash in half funding for a leading Pacific Northwest climate change research group, scientists say. The scientists, with the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group, are raising alarm and bracing for the elimination of two federal climate research programs they run from the university campus. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Interior Department to Fast-Track Oil, Gas and Mining Projects
The Interior Department said late Wednesday that it would fast-track approvals for projects involving coal, gas, oil and minerals on public lands, arguing that President Trump’s declaration of an energy emergency allowed it to radically reduce lengthy reviews required by the nation’s bedrock environmental laws. Environmental reviews that typically take a year to complete would be finished in 14 days, administration officials said. More complicated environmental impact statements that usually take two years would be completed in 28 days, they said. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

LNG could help break Canada's dependence on the U.S. energy economy — but there are no guarantees
With the backing of Shell, Petronas, PetroChina, Mitsubishi Corporation and the Korea Gas Corp., the $40 billion Canada LNG project has been described by the federal government as the "largest single private sector investment in the history of the country." Debate over environmental, economic impacts as industry calls for 'Team Canada' approach. Andrew Kurjata, Lyndsay Duncombe and Chris Corday report. (CBC)

BC Greens call for regulator reform over secret exemption given to oil company
The BC Greens say secrecy around BC Energy Regulator compliance and enforcement is ‘completely unacceptable.’ Matt Simmons and Zak Vescera report. (The Narwhal)
 
Two properties donated as parkland on Lasqueti Island
The properties are being added to conservation areas and a provincial park on the small Gulf Island to form 568 acres of protected area. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

The Birds Who Farm the Forest Floor
New research shows that superb lyrebirds dig in the dirt to create habitat for other species—and to sate their own appetites. Jude Isabella reports. (bioGraphic)

The First 100 Days

• Trump signs executive orders targeting colleges, plus schools’ equity efforts (Associated Press)
  
• WA international students file class action over Trump revocations (Seattle Times)
  
• 12 States Sue Trump Over His Tariffs (NY Times)
  
• Black churches back Smithsonian African American museum after Trump's order (Associated Press)
  

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  230 AM PDT Thu Apr 24 2025    
TODAY  E wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to NW late. Seas 3 to 4 ft.  Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 11 seconds.  TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 11 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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