NEWS

(NAS WHIDBEY ISLAND)- There will be training evolutions at the Seaplane Base Training Area on Thursday May 21, 2026, between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This training evolution will involve simulated gunfire, according to a news release from NAS Whidbey Island. Safety precautions will be set to ensure ground operations pose no threat to neighboring property or persons.     (read more)

(MOUNT VERNON)– Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs presented two Washington state charities May 7 with nearly $500,000 received through the Washington state Combined Fund Drive’s December 2025 special disaster relief campaign. The campaign disbursed $993,612 overall to date for Washington charities after the historic atmospheric river event. Community Action of Skagit County and the Whatcom Community Foundation respectively received $224,580 and $234,033 in donations for directly supporting flood relief efforts across Skagit and Whatcom counties, according to a news release from the Office of the Secretary of State. “Time and time again, Washingtonians continue to answer the call when our neighbors need it most,”     (read more)

(NEWHALEM)– Two emergency repair projects have started, and State Route 20/North Cascades Highway is expected to fully reopen to eastbound and westbound traffic by Thursday, June 25. This is 10 days earlier than the Washington State Department of Transportation’s previous goal of reopening by the Fourth of July, according to a news release from the agency. A section of SR 20 between Colonial Creek Campground (milepost 130) and Porcupine Creek (milepost 156) has remained closed since the North Cascades Highway’s partial reopening from the east side April 30. Several sections were seriously damaged by washouts in December and a March rockslide, making it unsafe     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)— Beginning May 16, Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is leading a trade mission to Japan seeking to strengthen existing business ties between our economies and forge new ones. The trip to Tokyo will take place between May 16 – May 27, according to a news release from the Office of the Secretary of State. Japan is the largest foreign investor in the United States, with interests that align with major drivers of growth and economic activity in Washington state. The trade relationship between Japan and Washington alone is worth $11 billion. Secretary Hobbs will conduct meetings on behalf of aerospace, agriculture, and shellfish     (read more)

(SKAGIT COUNTY)- Skagit County Planning and Development Services has received a grant through the Washington State Department of Commerce to develop local clean energy development regulations and prepare a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This EIS will evaluate where different types of clean energy projects can be appropriately sited, as well as assess their potential impacts and identify appropriate mitigation measures, according to a news release from the county. Skagit County has identified the following goals for the project: Retain local control over clean energy permitting where possible; Establish clear and consistent standards for project proponents and the public,     (read more)