There are a lot of headlines out there about the government shutdown. Here are some things you need to know.
[The] team at ALP is heartbroken by the death of Charlie Kirk — a devoted husband, father, and friend. Love for God, family, and country defined his life.
Charlie leaves behind his wife, Erika, and their two young children. As they navigate this unimaginable loss, we want to rally together to provide security and stability for Charlie’s loved ones.
Our goal is to raise as much as possible to support the Kirk family. ALP has contributed $1 million to this effort, and we invite you to join us in honoring Charlie’s legacy by giving whatever you are able.
We hope you’ll join us. Please Donate Here
Image: Pesels
Hiring with intention is not the same as hiring with impact. You can post on a job board and add an EEO footer—but if your systems, language, or workflows aren’t built to be inclusive, you’re not signaling trust. You’re broadcasting friction. People with disabilities aren’t just looking for a paycheck—they’re assessing risk. In the gaps between your form fields, your follow-ups, and your feedback loops, they’re sensing whether you’ve designed with them in mind. Attracting talent in this space isn’t a campaign. It’s a design system. And it starts before a single resume arrives.
Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement:“President Trump’s unnecessary trade war with Canada is hurting families and businesses in Northwest Washington state.
[Editor's note -- No where does Rep. Larson point to Olympia's high gas prices or crippling taxation on Washington and visistors from Canada]
Once again Washington wins to push more business to other states because Washington's legislators seem to think micro-governance is the healthy way forward for the people of Washington. I'm sure the red state of Florida embraces our backwards thinking.
Washington State commissioned Eastern Shipbuilding Group, a Florida-based shipyard, to build new hybrid-electric ferries. This marks the first time in over 50 years that Washington's ferries will be constructed out of state. The primary reasons behind this decision are outlined below.
Photo via Pexels
Starting a business close to home isn't just about profit margins or quarterly projections. It’s about planting a flag in the soil you walk every day, saying this is mine and I believe in it. The road to entrepreneurship in your own community requires more than hustle; it demands clarity, patience, and a deeper understanding of the people you want to serve. To thrive, you’ve got to weave yourself into the fabric of the neighborhood, becoming both familiar and essential in the eyes of your customers.
With the ever increasing gap in the budget, Washington legislation will be changing untaxed services to taxable retail sales with ESSB 5814.
Go Washington.
Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 5814 added new business activities to the definition of retail sales. This means sellers must begin collecting sales tax on these services on October 1, 2025:
It's being called revolutionary by some, reckless by others. A proposed tidal energy project in the Salish Sea is facing fierce pushback from environmental groups and the Swinomish Tribe. They say the technology could endanger the region’s last remaining Southern Resident killer whales.
At the center of it all — a utility company trying to prevent blackouts before the lights go out for good.
The project, spearheaded by the Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO), would install a massive tidal turbine—roughly the size of a Boeing 747—in the Rosario Strait, a narrow waterway between Blakely and Cyprus Islands frequented by boaters and home to endangered southern resident killer whales.
"This is a huge piece of equipment," said Sheri Tarantino, executive director of the advocacy group Orca Conservancy. "It could definitely mask their search for food."
Tarantino, a vocal opponent, has called the proposal "incompetent" and "outrageous," warning, "This project, with it only powering 400 homes, to me, is just another nail in the coffin for the southern resident killer whale population."
Washington Dems to Small Biz: Pay Up, Shut Up, or Get OutAs the Washington Policy Center writes, the 2025 legislative session in Olympia might go down as the year Washington Democrats officially declared war on small businesses. Facing a $16 billion budget crater of their own making, lawmakers responded with their favorite tool: more taxes, more regulations, and even less accountability.
HB 2081 jacks up Washington’s already-punishing B&O tax, a system so backwards it taxes revenue whether a business is profitable or not. And while Democrats claim the bill targets Big Tech, it also slaps a fat surcharge on large firms while quietly dragging down small and mid-sized businesses with them. If you’re barely breaking even? Too bad—pay up.
By The Vigilant Fox @ Covid Vaccine, Safe and Effective
The “safe and effective” narrative collapsed on camera during Senator Ron Johnson’s explosive Senate hearing on COVID-19 vaccine injuries Wednesday afternoon.
Senator Ron Johnson brought the receipts, exposing how the Biden administration DELIBERATELY hid vaccine harms from the public.
Then Dr. James Thorp (OB-GYN) revealed miscarriage data so disturbing, it left the room silent.
This is the Senate hearing they never wanted you to see. I turned three hours of footage into a five-minute read.
House hunting is already enough of a logistical puzzle, but when accessibility enters the equation, the stakes shift. It's not simply a matter of square footage or school districts—it’s about the livability of a space in the most personal sense. Accessibility in a home isn’t a checklist item; it’s a fundamental quality that determines whether a space can truly be called home. Yet, the market isn’t always generous to those looking for homes that welcome every body, every mobility device, every real need.
The Democrats are loud with claims that Trump and DOGE are slashing millions for the Medicare/Medicade roles. They never mention how many real, living breathing, persons are being affeccted by these cuts. However, it appears that the Trump administration is removing those who do not quilify. Maybe dead, maybe never existed or maybe getting kickbacks via laundering.
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Washington State Ferries (WSF) will upgrade equipment at the Lopez and Orcas Island ferry terminals in spring 2027. A portion of this maintenance requires 48-hour service closures. WSF is interested in learning which days islanders would prefer to close the terminals on Lopez and Orcas.
San Juan County is helping gather community feedback regarding the best timing for these closures. Please take this quick survey to provide your input to WSF: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/san-juan-county-ferry-information/surveys/ferry-terminal-closure-dates-2027-2
Dear Friends and Fellow Patriots,
It is with heavy hearts and profound sorrow that we learned of the despicable assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10th. The San Juan County Republican Party wishes to express its profound condolences to his family, his wife and two children. Our nation has lost a bright, conservative, God-fearing and courageous man, who inspired a generation to embrace faith and freedom.
San Juan County Republicans had a rocking good time at the fair. Thank you to the fair staff, board and volunteers who made this the best San Juan County Fair in years. You organized a varied and exciting fair that provided time to renew old friendships and meet new neighbors. Thank you!
In the Republican booth, the banner of Republican values was a conversation starter. Visitors agreed that Republican values are American values. Everyone had a few laughs as we gave away butterscotch cotton candy called “Trump Hair”. It was a hit with youth.
A poster comparing Socialism and Capitalism prompted one man to say, “If I had a dollar for every time Socialism worked, I would have $0.”
People of all political stripes enjoyed discussing and voting for the most important accomplishment of President Trump in the first 200 days of his term. Both young and old fair goers took advantage of the photo opportunities provided by life size images of Abraham Lincoln, President Trump, V.P. Vance and Robert F. Kennedy.
There was also opportunity to sign the initiative for a ballot measure to vote on whether proof of citizenship should be required for voter registration. Any one who missed the opportunity to sign the initiative, will have another chance soon. Watch for an announcement.
Do you dream of creating wildflower habitat in your backyard? Are you looking for sustainable landscaping to support pollinators and other wildlife?
Mark your calendar for the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank’s Fall Native Wildflower Sale. Buyers can reserve plants online September 14 - 19 and pick them up on Saturday, October 4 on San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez islands. Plants are produced locally by the Salish Seeds Project, a joint program of the Land Bank and the San Juan Preservation Trust.
The Douglas/Bailer Hill Road Improvements Project is nearing completion as crews enter the final phases of construction.
Project Updates
The project is progressing ahead of schedule and crews are working diligently to prepare the road for pavement. Crews anticipate chip sealing the road near the end of August and packing up equipment before Labor Day Weekend.
Until the project is complete, the speed limit will remain at 25 MPH while vehicles travel on a gravel surface. Bicycle and motorcycle traffic are still encouraged to use alternate routes until the project is finished.
SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA, May 22, 2025 — Due to favorable weather conditions and current fire risk assessments, the San Juan County Fire Marshal in conjunction with all Fire Districts have extended the residential burn permit season through Sunday, June 15, 2025.
All current burn permits remain valid through that date, allowing permitted burning of natural vegetation in accordance with County regulations. Residents are reminded to follow all permit conditions closely, including monitoring burn piles at all times and ensuring appropriate safety measures are in place.
All the latest information on Covid covid.gov
In the April 2025 edition of Rualite you can read what the board blindly missed. I'm sure you can pickup a copy of Rulatite in the discard pile of your local post office.
The OPALCO board says "[T]here is no single option for solving the big power reliability issues."
Dear OPALCO Board, Nuclear is your single solution to power shortfalls. It's time to see the future and invest in it.
Small actions make a world of difference! This spring, join your fellow islanders in the 2025 Spring Great Islands Clean-Up and take action to keep our beaches and roadways clean. The event takes place on Saturday, April 12 on Lopez Island and Saturday, April 26 on Orcas, Shaw, and San Juan Islands. Every piece of litter removed helps protect our local wildlife, waterways, and shorelines.
All of San Juan Island will be affected by a planned power outage necessary for the OPALCO crew to energize newly relocated transmission lines. This power outage will be during the night to minimize impact to OPALCO consumers.
The outage will begin at approximately 11:00 pm on Wednesday, March 26 and power is expected to be restored on March 27 no later than 5 am. During this time, OPALCO crews will do the necessary work to energize the new power lines on Pear Point Road.
