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.
By: M.D. Kittle @ The Federalist
They’re not particularly brave, but they’re about as politically courageous as a modern-day Democrat can get.
The four lonely liberals who voted for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, aka the Save Act, are at least smart enough to know that their constituents — constituents everywhere — believe only U.S. citizens should vote in U.S. elections. That knowledge just might save the bacon of the more politically vulnerable of this gang of four in next year’s election.
Not all heroes wear capes.
Their fellow Democrats, however, did not get the memo. They doubled down on some of the most ludicrous talking points the Democratic Party has yet to proffer, and that’s saying something for a club taken over by certifiably crazy people.
Anyone shocked by this? The worst thing about living in this state is the financial punishment. We never see price decreases for staples like gas and groceries. This map illustrates what it's like to be a taxpayer in WA State, especially with plans to add 9 cents and a road usage… pic.twitter.com/qeAb1RRxkT
— Talon (@Raz0r_Ramon) April 8, 2025
n Monday, The Federalist ran its first in-depth article covering the lawfare against President Trump’s efforts to implement his American-first agenda. “In Your Guide To The Lawsuits Challenging A President’s Power To Fire Executive Officials,” The Federalist provided a detailed analysis of the litigation launched against the Trump Administration challenging the president’s firing of executive branch officials.
Today’s article provides a deep dive for a second category of lawsuits likely to soon reach the Supreme Court, namely challenges to the Trump Administration’s funding freezes and terminations, and the federal government’s failure to pay for past work performed under grants and contracts.
SEATTLE – Governor Bob Ferguson announced today he will delay hybrid-electric conversion for two of the state’s largest ferries, putting Washington on the path to restoring full domestic ferry service by this summer. As a result of this plan, Washington State Ferries will have 18 operating vessels in the water for the first time since 2019.
Full domestic service is considered 21 vessels with 18 in the water at any time.
Ferguson is delaying the ferry conversion until after World Cup 2026, which is scheduled from June 26 through July 6. Converting the ferries removes them from service for an extended period of time. For example, the Wenatchee, the first Washington State Ferries vessel to undergo hybrid-electric conversion, will have been out of service at least 22 months by the time the conversion is completed this summer.
Georgia and Utah could become the next Republican-led states to leave the leftist-linked voter roll maintenance group known as ERIC if bills mandating their respective withdrawals are passed into law.
On Tuesday, Republicans on a Georgia House elections subcommittee passed legislation in a party-line vote that seeks to prohibit the Georgia secretary of state and state entities from “joining or participating in any multistate voter list maintenance organization” that fits specific criteria outlined in the bill. Under HB 215, Georgia would be required to pull out of a nongovernmental voter list maintenance group that mandates “or encourages the contacting of individuals who are not currently registered to vote with the intent to register them to vote” or “[s]hares voter data outside of the explicit purpose of removing deceased, duplicate, or otherwise ineligible voters from the list of electors.”
By Moe K. Clark and Farah Eltohamy / Cascade PBS @ InvestigateWest
President Donald Trump has identified state and local law enforcement agencies as being pivotal in his plans to deport millions of undocumented people from the U.S. But the extent of how his undertaking will play out on the ground remains unclear, especially in Washington and other “sanctuary states” that have local laws prohibiting such collaborations.
Washington’s “sanctuary law,” formally called the Keep Washington Working Act, restricts the extent to which local law enforcement agencies may participate in federal immigration enforcement actions. The law prohibits the use of county jails for immigrant detention and does not allow local law enforcement to interview or detain those suspected of being an undocumented immigrant.
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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.
In OPACLO's blog Why Local Generation Is Important: Part 1 of 3 they seem to believe the hype created by the now debunked climate hoax that seems to only affect California, Oregon, Washington and parts of Canada. Where else on this plant do we see climate change wildfires running amok?
Could OPACLO not find a current supply/demand graf? 2019 was so long ago.
How much has OPALCO spent on nuclear power, the most underrated renewalble green power source we have. With micro nuclear plants coming fast to all corners of the planet we should be looking at that as a better form of local power. Wind, water and solar are nice but have no scalablity and reliance on environment.
Maybe parts 2 and 3 will be better.
With school districts around San Juan County resuming classes in early January, the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is reminding drivers of school bus safety laws and best practices.
“It is never ok to pass a school bus with the stop-arm out,” said Sheriff Eric Peter. “The Sheriff's Office has received several calls regarding people either disregarding or not being aware of the school buses when they are stopped with the red lights flashing and the stop sign out to load and unload children.”
San Juan County’s Public Works Department is preparing to advertise to bid the Douglas/Bailer Hill Road Improvements Project this month. The County expects to evaluate bids at the end of January and determine if the project can move forward. In the event the County is able to proceed with the 1.3-mile-long project, the department is pleased to share the preliminary scope, timeline, and accommodations.
With gratitude and great appreciation for his years of service in San Juan County, we announce that Leo Michael will retire from his role as owner and principal of Safe Harbor Insurance at the new year, January 1, 2025. We recognize his many years of hard work, commitment, and friendship as a long term SJI local. His expertise and personal touch will be greatly missed by his clients, colleagues, and neighbors.
Leo has a hard time thinking about retirement, as he genuinely loves this community, his co-workers, and the local friendly faces who swing by just to say hello!
For many years I thought saying 'Happy Veterans Day' seemed a poor choice in words. Many of us have died from the endless wars, what is there to be happy about? Once I realized that without veterans there would be no country and no day of recognition for those of us who put our live on the line.
So, from the mountain top - HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
