NEWS

(WASHINGTON)– FEMA announced Friday that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Washington to supplement response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides beginning on December 9, 2025, and continuing. The President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, to protect property, public health and safety and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason,     (read more)

(NAS WHIDBEY ISLAND)- A Search and Rescue (SAR) team from Station SAR Whidbey based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island rescued two stranded men east of Fall City in King County on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. Both men, a 71-year-old trapped atop his car, the other, a 31-year-old man in a tree, were both stranded in waters following the recent storm that cause widespread flooding damage in Western Washington, according to a news release from NAS Whidbey Island. State Authorities reached out to NAS Whidbey Island’s SAR team for assistance as local rescue units were unable to reach the stranded     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)– Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is encouraging Washington residents, public employees, and state retirees to help residents of Western Washington affected by flooding from this week’s atmospheric river. Secretary Hobbs authorized the activation of the Disaster Relief Center (DRC), a special function of the Office of the Secretary of State’s Combined Fund Drive (CFD), and initiation of a special fundraising campaign to benefit response and recovery efforts, Dec. 11, 2025, according to a news release from the Office of the Secretary of State. “Whenever disaster strikes, Washington’s residents and state employees have always stepped up to offer support     (read more)

(MOUNT VERNON)- Skagit County Superior Court Judge Thomas L. Verge will retire on December 31st, 2025, culminating a 37-year legal career. Judge Verge served a total of 21 years on the bench in three different court systems throughout his uniquely varied legal career, according to a news release from the county. He first spent ten years in private practice in Mount Vernon focusing on criminal defense, civil law, and family law. He was elected as the Skagit County Prosecutor in 1998 for a four-year term ending in 2002. He then spent two years as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Whatcom County before serving     (read more)

(OAK HARBOR)— Students at Skagit Valley College’s Whidbey Island campus hosted a forum with their state lawmakers on Dec. 2, raising questions about the issues shaping their education, wellbeing, and future careers. The forum was organized by the Associated Students of Skagit Valley College (ASSVC) and brought together legislators from Washington’s 10th Legislative District, according to a news release from SVC. Senator Ron Muzzall, Representative Dave Paul, and Representative Clyde Shavers participated in the session, responding to a series of pre-screened questions submitted by students from across SVC’s campuses. “Our students are eager to understand how decisions in     (read more)