NEWS

(NAS WHIDBEY ISLAND)- NAS Whidbey Island will host its annual open house for the public on August 22, 2026, at Ault Field from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Open House will include a 5K run around the flightline. Registration for the 5K will be at 7 a.m., with the run starting at 8 a.m., according to a news release from NAS Whidbey Island. Photography is not allowed by participants in the 5K run. Photography by participants is forbidden during the 5k run, however, photography at the beginning and finish of the race is permitted at the starting gate. Live streaming     (read more)

(ANACORTES)- Expect delays and long lines on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route during the San Juan County Fair, Thursday through Sunday, especially on the interisland route. To accommodate livestock trailers and vendors on the last day of the fair, State Ferries is limiting reservation space on the 9:50 p.m. sailing from Friday Harbor to Anacortes on Sunday, Aug. 16, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. State Ferries is also preparing for increased traffic by adding extra crew to the interisland vessel and coordinating with other transportation providers to quickly move crew between islands     (read more)

(BURLINGTON)– Skagit Transit signed three grant agreements with the Federal Transit Administration on Aug. 7, securing federal funding to advance Phases 2 and 3 of its new operations facility. The funding will support construction of the next phases of the facility in Burlington. With the grant agreements executed, Skagit Transit plans to solicit a general contractor in September, with Phase 2 construction targeted to begin in November 2026, according to a news release from Skagit Transit. “Signing these agreements is a major milestone for Skagit Transit and the culmination of more than 18 months of work to move this project forward,” said Skagit Transit CEO Crystle     (read more)

(MOUNT VERNON)— Skagit Valley College has received a $1.4 million grant from Ballmer Group to support the continued growth of Maestros para el Pueblo, a collaborative initiative that expands access to higher education and prepares students to become educators in the communities they call home. Through the grant, Maestros: Expanding Access to Education Pathways through Servingness and Regional Impact, the college and its partners will strengthen the infrastructure and support systems needed to increase the program's reach and long-term sustainability, according to a news release from SVC. Through a unique partnership with Mount Vernon School District, Burlington-Edison School District, and Western     (read more)

(SKAGIT COUNTY)- Due to the continued risk of fire and the commitment of shared firefighting resources to ongoing wildland fire response efforts across Washington State, the Skagit County Fire Marshal’s Office is implementing a complete burn ban effective Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. The burn ban prohibits all outdoor open burning in unincorporated Skagit County. The only exception is agricultural burning, which may continue only when conducted in accordance with applicable state and local regulations and any required permits, according to a news release from the county. Propane fire tables and other gas-fueled cooking appliances are permitted during     (read more)