NEWS

(EVERETT)– Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) returned to its homeport of Naval Station Everett, Oct. 16, following more than 8-months of operations supporting regional security and operations in the Indo-Pacific, according to a news release from the Navy. After departing San Diego on Feb. 1, Benfold conducted operations to strengthen regional stability and partnerships, demonstrating the U.S. Navy’s long-term commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. Benfold steamed more than 20,000 nautical miles across the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleet areas of operations. The crew executed three ammunition transfers with zero mishaps and successfully on-loaded in excess     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)— County elections offices statewide will mail ballots to every eligible voter for the Nov. 3 General Election by Friday, Oct. 16. Over 5.1 million registered voters will be mailed a ballot for the midterm elections. Voters will decide on local, state, and federal contests, as well as three statewide ballot measures, according to a news release from the Office of the Secretary of State. Voters participating in the election must return their ballot by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The Office of the Secretary of State strongly encourages voters to return their ballot using an official ballot drop box. If voters need     (read more)

The Skagit County Commissioners are excited to announce the reopening of the Marblemount Bridge and the completion of a temporary bridge over Jordan Creek, reestablishing important access points for east county residents. In recognition of these two important projects, the County Commissioners will be hosting a ribbon cutting event at the Marblemount Bridge on Thursday, October 29, at 10:00 a.m., according to a news release from the county. The Marblemount Bridge underwent significant rehabilitation work to extend the life of the 96-year-old bridge, with the project being fully funded through an $18.5M Federal Highway Administration grant. The temporary bridge over Jordan     (read more)

(MOUNT VERNON)— Skagit Valley College’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Management (BASM) program has been selected as one of 21 community college baccalaureate programs participating this fall in a national pilot of the Community College Baccalaureate Association’s (CCBA) new Quality Framework. The college will evaluate the BASM program using the framework to examine its own practices while contributing feedback to CCBA’s national quality work, according to a news release from SVC. With support from the ECMC Foundation, CCBA is leading a national effort to develop the first Quality Framework specifically for community college baccalaureate programs. The work responds     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)– The Washington State Department of Transportation's Cascadia Program is coordinating efforts to address current and future transportation demands throughout the Cascadia megaregion. Stretching from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Portland, Oregon, the Cascadia megaregion is expected to grow by 3.4 million people through 2050. The Cascadia Program includes the Interstate 5 Master Plan and the Cascadia High-Speed Rail projects. Together, they aim to address the region’s population growth and existing infrastructure constraints. The goal is to ensure the reliable movement of people and goods now and into the future. Taking an integrated approach is crucial for maintaining connectivity and addressing growth within     (read more)