NEWS

(NAS WHIDBEY ISLAND)- A Search and Rescue (SAR) team from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island rescued a 40-year-old hiker the Cascade Mountains on Sept. 16, 2024. The SAR unit received early morning notification of a hiker who had lost consciousness after at 30’ at Whistler Creek and had a possible spinal injury. Bellingham Mountain Rescue team was on scene with the injured man and needed a hoist capable aircraft to due to the nature of the terrain, according to a news release from NAS Whidbey Island. The SAR crew launched from Ault Field at 4 a.m. and was on scene by 4:30.     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)– The Washington Department of Ecology is proposing to adopt the federal water pollution limits intended to protect human health – formally adding the existing federal limits into state rules. This proposal would not change any of the human health criteria already in place for Washington. The human health criteria are a set of pollution limits designed to protect people, particularly those who eat fish and shellfish and drink untreated water, from experiencing long-term health effects of pollution in rivers, lakes and marine water in Washington. These limits are specific to each of the nearly 100 pollutants covered by the criteria, which     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)— The Office of the Secretary of State invites Washingtonians to join the nationwide celebration of National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) on September 17. NVRD is dedicated to getting every eligible American registered to vote ahead of the various state deadlines. As the nation’s largest nonpartisan civic holiday, organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to local food banks and public libraries will join forces for a one-day, nationwide democracy blitz to create broad awareness of voter registration opportunities through in-person events, virtual events, and media outreach. Since 2012, more than 5 million voters nationwide have registered to vote or updated their voter registrations     (read more)

(SKAGIT COUNTY)- Skagit County Planning and Development Services invites the community to an open house on the Climate Element of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan update on Tuesday, October 1, from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Jefferson Elementary School in Mount Vernon. The Comprehensive Plan serves as a vital roadmap for the future growth and development of Skagit County over the next twenty years and acts as a framework to guide the day-to-day land use decisions by elected officials and local government staff, according to a news release from the county. Washington House Bill (HB) 1181, passed in 2023, amended the Washington Growth Management     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)— The Office of the Secretary of State is accepting nominations for Washington’s Medals of Merit and Valor through the September 20 deadline. The Medal of Merit recognizes people who perform outstanding services for Washington and its residents. The Medal of Valor is awarded to anyone who has saved, or attempted to save, the life of another at the risk of their own safety and is not acting in the course of duty as a Washington police officer, firefighter, or other government-employed first responder, according to a news release from the Office of the Secretary of State. “There is still     (read more)