NEWS

(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)

(MOUNT VERNON)- Skagit Valley College invites students, alumni, current and former faculty and staff, and community members to celebrate a century of impact, learning, and Cardinal pride during Cardinal Centennial Days in May. The free, two-day celebration will feature live music, food and refreshments, games, activities, and special events honoring the college’s 100-year history and the people who have shaped its legacy, according to a news release from SVC. Cardinal Centennial Days will take place: Through the Decades at Whidbey Island Campus — May 19 1900 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor 4-6 p.m. — Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and Community Gathering     (read more)

(NEWHALEM)– A second emergency contract has been signed, and repairs began Wednesday, May 13, along a section of State Route 20/North Cascades Highway damaged by washouts in December. Work on this new contract will happen at the same time as emergency work already underway near Diablo Lake. The Washington State Department of Transportation set a goal to finish repairs and reopen the closed section of SR 20 between Colonial Creek Campground (milepost 130) and Porcupine Creek (milepost 156) by the Fourth of July. To help accomplish this goal, contractors are required to work 24 hours, seven days a week when it is safe to do     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)– For the first time since 2017, Washington has a new playbook for the skies. A recently completed, comprehensive roadmap called the Washington Aviation System Plan (WASP) guides how the state invests, protects and modernizes its 134 public-use airports over the coming decade. This update arrives at a pivotal moment, as Washington’s aviation system has faced growing demand and rapid change. Since the last WASP was completed, the industry has transformed with the emergence of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the popularity of sustainable aviation fuels, a widening pilot and mechanic workforce gap, and pressure on airport land from     (read more)