NEWS

(WHATCOM COUNTY)- The Northwest Clean Air Agency has canceled a Stage 2 air quality burn ban that started Dec. 29, 2025, in the Columbia Valley urban growth area (including the Peaceful Valley and Paradise Lakes developments) in Whatcom County. Air quality has improved at this time, but NWCAA urges residents to limit indoor wood burning as much as possible to avoid another burn ban in the near future, according to a news release from NWCAA. Burn bans are based on weather forecasts and current air pollution from small particles. They are called when air quality is predicted to be worse than the     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)– A new report from the Washington Department of Ecology shows that the state’s Clean Fuel Standard eliminated an estimated 2 million tons of greenhouse gases in 2023 for less than 1 cent per gallon of gasoline. That’s the equivalent of taking nearly 450,000 cars off the road or eliminating emissions from one of the state’s biggest refineries, according to a news release from Ecology. Transportation is Washington’s largest source of greenhouse gases, accounting for about 40% of statewide emissions. The Clean Fuel Standard reduces emissions by driving investment in low-carbon transportation fuels, such as biodiesel, ethanol and electricity for vehicle     (read more)

(SKAGIT COUNTY)- Skagit County’s median home sales price narrowly rose in 2025 for the 15th consecutive year, according to a report prepared by broker Adrik Brashear of Northwest Washington’s The Muljat Group. The median sales price, the point at which half of the homes sell for more and half sell for less, increased by only 0.9% last year in Skagit County to $585,900. Among its most populous communities, Anacortes leads with a median sales price of $743,120 for all 2025 sales, followed by Burlington, $603,000; La Conner, $597,500; Mount Vernon, $570,000; and Sedro-Woolley, $519,450, according to a news release. Brashear said 1,296 Skagit County homes were sold     (read more)

(ROCKPORT)- Emergency repairs to a section of State Route 530 about 8 miles south of Rockport damaged by recent floods are expected to begin Monday, Dec. 29. Contractor crews will build a temporary gravel bypass road along the east shoulder near milepost 59 of SR 530. Local traffic will alternate using the bypass road, creating a work area for crews to rebuild the embankment and backfill the roadbed with gravel. Crews will then pave and stripe SR 530, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. Work is expected to take about a month, meaning essential traffic should be restored in     (read more)

(SKAGIT COUNTY)- Skagit County Commissioner Lisa Janicki has announced her retirement effective January 2, 2026. Commissioner Janicki’s current term representing District 3 ends on December 31, 2026. With the decision to retire before the end of her elected term, a nomination process was conducted by the Skagit County Democrats to replace Commissioner Janicki. The candidate ultimately nominated to the vacant seat will serve until the November general election results are certified. The District 3 commissioner seat will be on the ballot November 2026 and the newly elected commissioner will take office as soon as the election results are certified, according to a news release from     (read more)