Initiative to the People 2066 Certified to November General Election Ballot
Signature verification has been completed and certified by the Office of the Secretary of State for the following Initiative to the People:
- Initiative No. 2066 concerning access to natural gas for Washington homes and businesses.
The signatures have been verified by the Office of the Secretary of State Elections Division using a state-mandated process of examining a 3% random sample of submitted signatures. Sponsors of I-2066 submitted 533,005 signatures in support of the initiative. A review of the random sample of 15,991 signatures found that 12,960 of the sampled signatures were valid.
Senator Murray Visits Helion Energy, Discusses Legislation She Passed to Propel Clean Energy Tech
Everett, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited Helion Energy’s cutting-edge fusion energy research and manufacturing facility in Everett. Murray toured the Helion facilities and met with staff to discuss their groundbreaking work to harness fusion technology as a source of clean electricity. Murray discussed the transformative possibilities of fusion energy and talked about the Fusion Energy Act, legislation she was a lead sponsor of, which will help support the development of commercial fusion facilities and was signed into law by President Biden earlier this month. Murray also discussed the billions she secured to propel clean energy solutions in this year’s spending package.
The Library Levy Lift Con - [ Meyerott ]
This letter is addressed to all Islanders who believe that Democracy is a good way to govern. Democracy does not work unless the voters are fully informed before they vote. To that end , I make it habit of "looking under the hood” to see what a proposal offers and what it is going to cost. In 2022 I wrote to all islanders and demonstrated that the library was not being very transparent about the true ultimate costs to the taxpayers for the proposed new library. I expressed the information and my opinion to the then Director of the library. 60% of the voters said NO to the proposal.
San Juan County Takes Multi-Step Approach to Improve Dept. of Community Development Services
Editor's Note - County Council aproves more government bloat while still insisting on four day work week.
The San Juan County Council has approved a series of steps in an effort to improve services from the Department of Community Development (DCD). The County will begin contracting out services in the land use division, and hire an additional code enforcement officer, planning manager, and land use permit technician.
Jim and Minnie Knych support Stephanie O'Day for County Council
We support Stephanie Oday for County Council. This decision comes after attending the candidate forum on June 29, and watching the interviews with Stephanie and other candidates at CNL2
Stephanie Oday has demonstrated knowledge of the issues facing our county. She also shows an understanding of the issues facing the county council including the aging workforce, the morale of county employees and the out-of-control budget.
As an attorney she understands the complexities of the legal system. She has also proven that she is able to listen to all sides and negotiate a fair outcome. As a thirty-three-year citizen of San Juan County, she has been a frequent volunteer, giving time and money to community service events; often in leadership positions.
Most of all, she is a problem solver who has made a commitment to represent the citizens of all the islands and to hold regular meetings outside of council meetings to answer questions and keep “we, the people” informed.
~Jim and Minnie Knych
Ferguson, Hobbs agree to settlement voiding original Washington state Constitution voter rule
By TJ Martinell / The Center Square
Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs' Office has, through agency rulemaking, officially removed a residency requirement for registering to vote enshrined in the state’s original 1889 Constitution.
The rulemaking occurred after both Hobbs and state Attorney General Bob Ferguson agreed to a consent decree earlier this year to settle a 2023 lawsuit arguing that the constitutional provision violated federal law due to a 2018 state law.
What Are Libraries For?
Authored by Roger L. Simon via The Epoch Times
When I was a kid in New York, the 96th Street library was a focal point of my life. Even though I was perpetually losing my library card and amassing fines for overdue books I didn’t want my parents to know about, it (as well as the movie theaters on 86th) was my home away from home.
It had also, I was given to understand, served the same function for the young James Baldwin (although Wikipedia cites the 135th Street library in Harlem) and other esteemed writers of the past and had a history of spawning authors, something even then I dreamed of being.
It was also a place for stimulating the mind as only books can.
Bipartisan Fusion Energy Bill Led by Senator Murray, Colleagues Passes Senate, Heads to President Biden’s Desk
Legislation comes as Washington state is quickly becoming a global leader in the race for fusion energy
Senator Murray: “Our legislation will provide the regulatory certainty needed to speed fusion development and deployment, boosting the fusion sector in Washington state and ultimately bringing down energy costs for families.”
Inslee appoints Gent Welsh adjutant general
Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh has been appointed adjutant general of Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee announced today.
Welsh will command all Washington Army and Air National Guard forces and serve as the director of the Washington Military Department, which along with the Washington National Guard, includes the state’s Emergency Management Division and the Washington Youth Challenge Academy. The position also serves as homeland security advisor to the governor and as administrator for all Homeland Security grants awarded to Washington’s state, local, Tribal and non-profit entities.
Potential Land Purchase on Shaw Island for Public Works Operations
On Tuesday June 25, the San Juan County Council is scheduled to deliberate on a decision to purchase approximately 16 acres along 1427 Neck Point Road to support Public Works operations on Shaw Island. This Council meeting follows a community meeting with Council Chair Jane Fuller that was announced on May 23, held on June 3, and recapped in a press release issued on June 7. Council and staff have received and incorporated feedback from this meeting into ongoing exploration of this potential purchase.
Report of Downed Aircraft in San Juan Channel
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, along with personnel from the US Coast Guard and the WA Department of Fish & Wildlife (DWFW), are responding to a reported aircraft that went down in San Juan Channel near Orcas Island. The incident was reported to San Juan County’s dispatch center around 11:40am. The report noted that an older model plane was flying from north to south then went into the water and sunk. No additional information is available at this time and the number of passengers onboard is unclear.
THE PERFECT COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER - [ Knych ]
It has interesting to see the candidates for our non-partisan county council. I’ll be evaluating the candidates based on their statements and platforms.
Here’s what I’m looking for in a council representative.
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Recreational Campfire Status in San Juan County
As of July 10, 2024, at 1:00pm, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued a declaration banning all fires statewide on DNR protected lands. This ban extends to recreational campfires on DNR lands in San Juan County.
The San Juan County Fair is Just Around the Corner; Register Your Exhibits TODAY!
The San Juan County Parks & Fair Department continues to streamline ways to help you participate in the County Fair. With online pre-registration for entries and a new pick-up and drop-off service on Orcas, Lopez and Shaw, it’s never been easier to be part of the Fair!
Scam Alert: Recent 'Spoofing' Scam Impersonates Sheriff's Office
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the public to an ongoing 'spoofing' scam in our community. Islanders are getting calls from someone claiming to be the Sheriff’s Office, attempting to scam them out of money. These calls are NOT from the Sheriff's Office and the community is encouraged to be aware of suspicious phone calls.
Former astronaut William Anders, who took iconic Earthrise photo, killed in Washington plane crash
William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic “Earthrise” photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90.
Same-day camping reservations now available at 26 state parks
Same-day reservations program expands across Washington
OLYMPIA — June 6, 2024 — Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) is excited to announce its same-day reservation pilot program has expanded to 26 parks across the state.
Additionally, Parks has implemented a new flexible dates feature in its reservations system. Rather than searching for exact dates, visitors can now choose the flexible booking dates option and see when different sites are available. This great new feature lets campers with flexibility find a site, especially during peak season, at busier parks.
Pet of the Week
ABOUT
Age: ~8.5 months old
Sex: Female
Breed: Domestic Medium Hair, Black
Origin: San Juan Island
Weight: ~5lbs
Personality: Conscientious, One-of-a-Kind, Worth-the-Wait
Energy Level: Varying, and still revealing itself.
Likes: Building Trust, Cryptozoology, Fellow Feline Friends
Dislikes: Parades, Poachers, Surprises
Application:
https://www.apsfh.com/adoption-program/feline-application/
Community Meeting: Discussion of Trail Routes on San Juan Island
The County is exploring trail routes between the Town of Friday Harbor and Zylstra Lake Preserve, as well as other routes and destinations that connect the Town with neighborhoods, public lands, and other amenities. The community is invited to a meeting where together, we will recap the trail project goals, share potential trail routes, and open discussion for ideas and feedback.
Detransitoner Guest Speaker Shunned by Friday Harbor Citizens
Matt and Maureen Marinkovich invited 23-year-old Nicolas Blooms to speak to the comunity about his journey down the slippery Transitional experiment. While many in the community welcomed Nicolas, there were many who rejected him, including The Grange, where Nicolas was going to speak.
Listen to Maureen on [un]Devided with Brandi Kruse and KIRO's John & Jake
San Juan County Files a Lawsuit Against the Town of Friday Harbor to Protect Access to Water
The County has a 21-day window to appeal the Town’s decision before forfeiting the right to engage in further action.
San Juan County made the difficult decision Tuesday, May 21, to file a lawsuit against the Town of Friday Harbor in an effort to protect access to water at the Fairgrounds.
Raw Milk at the Crossroads, Again
Analysis by Sally Fallon Morell
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- The campaign against raw milk began with a fabricated 1945 article in Coronet magazine claiming a deadly brucellosis outbreak in a nonexistent town, leading to restrictive laws against raw milk starting in Michigan in 1948
- A 2007 PowerPoint presentation by an FDA official falsely maligned raw milk using flawed reports; none of these reports proved pasteurization would have prevented alleged outbreaks
- The 2024 USDA announcement attributed symptoms in dairy cows to avian flu without confirmed viral presence in milk, relying on questionable PCR testing methods
- Despite claims, there is no peer-reviewed evidence supporting transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza from raw milk to humans
- While pasteurization is promoted as making milk safe, the actual diversion or destruction of milk from infected animals suggests that pasteurization may not guarantee safety
Most Interested
- What Are Libraries For?
- Ferguson, Hobbs agree to settlement voiding original Washington state Constitution voter rule
- Scam Alert: Recent 'Spoofing' Scam Impersonates Sheriff's Office
- The San Juan County Fair is Just Around the Corner; Register Your Exhibits TODAY!
- The Library Levy Lift Con - [ Meyerott ]