NEWS

(SKAGIT COUNTY)- Skagit County is soliciting public comment on the draft 2024 Stormwater Management Program Plan through April 19, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. The Stormwater Management Program Plan, which is updated annually, informs the public on the County’s Stormwater Management Program plan for the current calendar year, according to a news release from the county. The public comment period gives members of the public an opportunity to provide feedback on current and future actions being taken by the County’s stormwater program. The draft plan can be found online on the Skagit County Stormwater Management Program page. Actions outlined within the     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)– State and federal agencies and departments in Oregon and Washington have agreed to collaborate on addressing the escalating wildfire crisis by increasing use of prescribed fire and other forest fuel management strategies at larger geographic scales while also increasing outreach to nearby communities as these strategies are deployed. These strategies reduce forest fuels on the ground and allow for strategic burning that minimizes community and public health impacts relative to impacts from uncontrolled wildfires, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Ecology. Over the past decade, wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and beyond have intensified,     (read more)

(SEATTLE)- The League of Women Voters of Washington (LWVWA) announces two public briefings to review the newly adopted legislative map. The new map is the result of the Soto Palmer v Hobbs lawsuit filed in 2022 by Yakima area residents. 13 districts in 15 counties are affected. Over half a million people will change districts and 5 legislators are displaced, according to a news release from LWVWA. LWVWA President Mary Coltrane commented, "The League of Women Voters believes that the uncertainty and churn caused by this lawsuit illustrate the need to change our state’s redistricting process. The League is pleased to offer     (read more)

(SKAGIT COUNTY)- Skagit County will begin accepting applications today, April 4, 2024, for economic development grants to fund the construction of public facilities that retain and/or create family-wage jobs, in accordance with RCW 82.14.370. The deadline for submittal is May 20, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. Application materials are available at www.skagitcounty.net/budgetfinance. Entities may apply for funds for multiple projects, according to a news release from the county. Skagit County anticipates approximately $3,000,000 will be available for award. Award limits will remain at $500,000 per project or project phase, and the criteria established via resolution R20180107 remains unchanged. A committee will review applications     (read more)

(SKAGIT COUNTY)- After a year of significantly fewer Skagit County home sales in 2023, the first quarter of 2024 started the same way, according to Peter Ahn, co-owner of Northwest Washington’s The Muljat Group. Only 222 Skagit County homes sold in the first quarter, 17.5% fewer than last year and 41.3% lower than two years ago (378), according to a news release. “With 30-year mortgage rates staying in the mid-6% range, fewer buyers can qualify for a loan,” Ahn said. “Also, fewer Skagit residents want to sell their homes because they don’t want to give up their lower mortgage rate obtained several years     (read more)