The following press releases and news stories are a collection of stories I wanted to share with you as top story for this week. Even the governor had to put his two cents in, obviosley angeling for a possible presidential bid in 2020 I bet!
President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States---White House Press release issued 7/ 9/ 18
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-judge-brett-m-kavanaugh-supreme-court-united-states/Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Anthony Kennedy’s assumption of senior status.
The nomination of Judge Kavanaugh comes after a selection process marked by an historic degree of transparency, including the President’s public disclosure of a list of 25 highly qualified potential nominees to the Supreme Court.
Judge Kavanaugh has served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 2006, authoring more than 300 opinions, including 11 that have been affirmed by the Supreme Court. Before becoming a judge, he served in the George W. Bush administration, first as an Associate Counsel and then Senior Associate Counsel, and subsequently as Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary. A graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School, Judge Kavanaugh clerked on the Supreme Court for Justice Kennedy, and for judges on the Third and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals. Judge Kavanaugh also served as a Counsel for the Office of Independent Counsel under Ken Starr and as a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis, LLP.
Judge Kavanaugh has earned a reputation as a brilliant jurist with impeccable legal credentials, and he is universally respected for his intellect, as well as his ability to persuade and build consensus. Judge Kavanaugh lives in Maryland with his wife Ashley and their two daughters.
Reactions from our Washington State Congressional delegation:
Senator Murray Announces Opposition to Supreme Court Nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh, Citing President Trump’s Extreme Ideological Litmus Test on Roe v. Wade, Health Care, and Other Rights and Freedoms
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ID=167ABFC3-78A6-493B-8BCF-6971CF6CAD02
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Assistant Democratic Leader and top Democrat on the Senate health committee, released the following statement opposing President Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
“President Trump has been very clear about what he wants in a Supreme Court nominee—he has stated it openly, publicly, and repeatedly.
“He has said that he wants a nominee who was fully committed to overturning Roe v. Wade, criminalizing abortions, and rolling back women’s ability to access contraception and other basic health care. On the campaign trail he promised that Roe v. Wade “can be changed” and that he was going to be “putting pro-life justices on the court” so that it would be overturned “automatically.”
Cantwell Statement on President Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement on President Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court:
"I have grave concerns about this nomination and Judge Kavanaugh’s previous decisions on net neutrality and health care."
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-statement-on-president-trumps-supreme-court-nominee-
(of course readers we can't forget Sen. Cantwell chiming in on this.)
STATE'S REACTION:
Inslee statement on President Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to U.S. Supreme Court
“The stakes for this court nomination couldn't be higher. President Trump has made clear his intent is to stack the bench with conservative-backed activists who will help advance his efforts to dismantle health care, civil rights, labor rights and women’s right to choose.
“People are rightfully concerned about this nomination. It’s one more reason why people need to get out to vote.”
https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-statement-president-trump%E2%80%99s-nomination-judge-brett-kavanaugh-us-supreme-court
( That's right Governor, people should go out and vote, vote you out of office! For making Washington State a laughing stock of the entire country!)
WORLD NEWS HEADLINES:
UN PRESS RELEASE: Speakers Make Human Rights Case for Adequate Housing, Greater Public Space in Urban Areas, as High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development Continues Session
The High‑level Political Forum on Sustainable Development turned its attention today to the world’s many fast‑growing cities, with speakers making the human rights case for housing and highlighting the urgent need to conserve and expand public space in the urban environment.
https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/ecosoc6937.doc.htm
UN NEWS CENTER:
Hearing ‘horrific’ testimonies from rape survivors in South Sudan, UN envoy says they yearn only for peace
Since the start of the conflict in South Sudan, widespread and systematic sexual violence has been a pervasive tactic of war and terror, said a high-level United Nations envoy, after visiting the war-torn country and hearing “horrific” testimonies.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/07/1014501
UN chief pushes for greater benefits from new technology, as he launches digital experts panel
A high-profile group of tech experts has been assembled at the request of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, tasked with putting the benefits of digital technology to more effective use, while also protecting against unwanted or unexpected negative impacts.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/07/1014511
Visiting North Korea, UN relief chief spotlights funding shortfall to meet humanitarian needs
The United Nations is seeking to raise $111 million to meet humanitarian needs in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), where millions of people face malnutrition, a shortage medicines, and lack of access to safe drinking water, the Organization’s top relief official said on Wednesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/07/1014431
Fragile countries risk being ‘stuck in a cycle of conflict and climate disaster,’ Security Council told
Climate change – and the shortages of water and food that come from it – is becoming increasingly linked to conflict, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council on Wednesday, warning that countries most vulnerable to drought and crop failure are also most vulnerable to conflict and fragility.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/07/1014411
From the US MISSION TO THE UN:
Remarks at a UN Security Council Debate on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security and Climate-Related Security Risks
Quote: " The United States acknowledges the special challenges that small island developing states face in achieving sustainable development related to their size, geographic isolation from markets, and limited infrastructure and institutional capacity. We have heard from our friends in the Pacific that they consider climate change to be an existential threat to their populations, and we understand the priority they place on the UN system and the international community supporting their unique needs.
Our support for small island developing states takes many forms. We are taking concrete action to address priorities identified in the SAMOA Pathway, the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Program of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, and other bilateral and multilateral initiatives. We participate in the Small Island Developing States Action Platform, and in addition the United States is seeking new ways to improve cooperation and align our programs more closely with the priorities of small island developing states."----Jonathan Cohen, U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations U.S. Mission to the United Nations
https://usun.state.gov/remarks/8515
Ambassador Haley on a Burmese Court Decision to Charge Reuters Journalists
Today, a Burmese court charged Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo with violating the colonial-era “Official Secrets Act” for investigating and reporting on an army massacre of Rohingya. In a major setback for press freedom in Burma, the journalists will now face trial and a possible sentence of up to 14 years.
“A free press is fundamental to democracy. Journalists not only keep citizens informed but they hold leaders accountable. They should never be unjustly targeted, threatened, or persecuted for simply doing their jobs. We call on the Burmese government to allow these journalists to return to their families and continue their work,” said Ambassador Haley.
In addition to the imprisonment of these two journalists, Police Captain Moe Yan Naing, who testified to their innocence, has also been detained, raising further serious concerns about rule of law in Burma.
https://usun.state.gov/remarks/8512
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Cantwell, Senate Democrats Call for Judiciary Committee Hearing on Family Separation
Press release issued 7/ 11/ 18
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-senate-democrats-call-for-judiciary-committee-hearing-on-family-separation-
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and eight of her Senate Democratic colleagues wrote a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), calling for him to hold an oversight hearing on the Trump Administration’s inability to reunite immigrant children with their families. The letter is in response to the failed “Senators Only” call last Friday with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who sidestepped questions about the department’s reunification process and praised the haphazard work the department has done so far.
“We are deeply troubled by the Trump Administration’s utter lack of preparedness to reunite children that it separated from their parents at the southern U.S. border and the callous manner in which it is treating the issue,” the senators wrote in the letter to Senator Grassley. “The purpose of the call appeared to be for the Secretary to congratulate himself and the Administration for what a good job that the Department of Health and Human Services is doing”
Since the introduction of the Trump Administration’s failed “zero-tolerance” policy, more than 2,300 children have been separated from their parents. Last month, U.S. District Court Judge Dana Sabraw gave the administration 14 days to reunite parents with children under 5, and 30 days to reunite parents with all other children. On Monday, the Department missed their first deadline.
“We are gravely concerned that the Administration is unprepared, and possibly unwilling, to handle this crisis in a timely, thoughtful, and humane manner,” the senators continued. “Although a federal court has ordered the government to reunite separated children with their parents, there have been reports that the Administration is trying to be released of its obligation to reunite children whose parents the Administration has already deported.“
Other reactions from our Congressional delegation:
Senator Murray Calls Out Glaring Inaccuracies in Trump Health Secretary Azar’s Testimony on Child Separation
July 11 2018
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=5FCFFB4A-E834-4CE5-B5F1-0C6F7F76446D
Quote: "Since the Trump Administration enacted this policy, we have made numerous inquiries seeking simple facts about the number and location of separated children in HHS custody, the physical and mental health care provided to separated children, the conditions and plans for reunifying them with their parents, and HHS policies and procedures. We have received very little, and at times conflicting, information from the Trump Administration,” wrote the senators. "These inconsistent answers and the continued lack of a clear plan for the care and reunification of separated children show a glaring lack of leadership.”
Senator Murray’s Statement on Trump Administration Missing Court-Ordered Deadline for Family Reunification: Democrats Will Keep This Administration’s Feet to the Fire
Jul 10 2018
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ID=68ED8D52-6B78-4CA1-A307-4F62EB1BD929
Children and parents separated under President Trump’s heartless policies have already waited far too long to be reunited.
“It is completely unacceptable that the Trump Administration continues to be unable to fully answer simple questions about whether families are still being separated at the border, how children are being cared for, and when every child and his or her parents will be brought back together.
“Make no mistake, Democrats are going to keep this Administration’s feet to the fire until they bring every family back together and drop this cruel effort completely.”
NATIONAL HEADLINES....
WHITE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE: CEA Report: Expanding Work Requirements in Non-Cash Welfare Programs
Today, the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) released a report outlining the likely effects of expanding work requirements for non-disabled working-age adults in social welfare programs. The following is the executive summary.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/cea-report-expanding-work-requirements-non-cash-welfare-programs/
US STATE DEPT: Eritrea and Ethiopia End War and Adopt Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship
The United States welcomes the July 9 commitment to peace and security between the State of Eritrea and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, effectively ending 20 years of conflict. We commend Prime Minister Abiy of Ethiopia and President Isaias of Eritrea for courageously leading their citizens towards peace, prosperity, and political reform. The normalization of relations and the adoption of the Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship between Eritrea and Ethiopia will provide their peoples with the opportunity to focus on shared aspirations for closer political, economic, and social ties.
The United States stands ready to support this process, and encourages all parties to continue working with transparency and confidence in the coming days. Peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea will further the cause of stability, security, and development in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea.
https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2018/07/283930.htm
DoD Announces Policy Change on Transfer of Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits
WASHINGTON --The Defense Department issued a substantive change today to its policy on the transfer by service members in the uniformed services of Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits to eligible family member recipients.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1573240/dod-announces-policy-change-on-transfer-of-post-911-gi-bill-benefits/
DOJ: Five Charged for Elder Fraud Schemes
Five U.S. individuals were charged today and yesterday for their roles in three separate elder fraud schemes. The schemes collectively defrauded tens of thousands of Americans, many of whom were elderly, out at least a hundred million dollars. Four defendants were charged in the Eastern District of New York, the other was charged in Southern District of Florida.
“Earlier this year, when we announced the largest elder fraud sweep in history, we sent a clear message: we will hold perpetrators of elder fraud schemes accountable wherever they are,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “When criminals steal the hard-earned life savings of older Americans, we will respond with all the tools at the Department’s disposal – criminal prosecutions to punish offenders, civil injunctions to shut the schemes down, and asset forfeiture to take back ill-gotten gains. Today’s indictment shows we are following through on this promise, and fraudsters everywhere should take note of it.”
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/five-charged-elder-fraud-schemes
US DEPT OF EDUCATION BLOG: Rural District Embraces the 3 E’s to Advance Student-centered Vision
School leaders seized on Lean Six Sigma training as a way to help more students gain recognized tools for the world of work. Interest has grown, and this year, every junior is scheduled to receive a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt designation through their standard business electives. Seniors from Graham High School now have the option to graduate with Green Belt certification, in addition to their diploma.
https://blog.ed.gov/2018/07/rethinkschool-rural-district-embraces-school-innovation/
PAGE 3
Senator Murray Votes Yes on VA Secretary Nominee, Vows to Hold Robert Wilkie Accountable for Strengthening VA for the Long-Term and Working Closely with Senate Committee to Put Veterans First
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ID=6E970B95-A813-44C1-9DFE-AC85D3F2D257
Press release issued 7/ 10/ 18
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, voted today to confirm Robert Wilkie to be the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA). Mr. Wilkie’s nomination now goes to the full Senate.
“For generations, the VA has played a critically important role in fulfilling our country’s promise to care for those who served long after they return home, including my own father, a World War II veteran who received care through our local VA. This commitment to our veterans—to those who have served, those who are serving right now, and those who will in the future—is one I take very seriously.
“I supported Mr. Wilkie today with the expectation that should he be confirmed, he will always put veterans’ needs first and that he is capable of withstanding political pressure to privatize or otherwise degrade the VA. While I feel confident Mr. Wilkie was truthful during his confirmation hearing when he pledged to strengthen VA for the long-term, it will be his actions, not his words, that ultimately demonstrate whether he will find success at the VA and continue to have my support.
“In addition, should Mr. Wilkie be confirmed by the full Senate, I will actively work to ensure he follows through on his commitments to veterans, including his promise to implement the expansion of the Caregivers program as Congress intended; his promise to continue to ensure VA provides fertility treatment to veterans and their spouses who need them due to injuries related to their service; and his promise to work hand-in-hand with our Committee to provide the best possible care to millions of veterans, including the hundreds of thousands of veterans who live in Washington state.”
More national headlines...
HUD APPROVES U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS' $243 MILLION DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN
Funding will target housing, infrastructure and economic development
WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today announced he is approving a disaster recovery plan to help citizens in the U.S. Virgin Islands to recover from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. In November, HUD allocated $243 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to support long-term recovery efforts.
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_18_067
Acting Administrator Wheeler Addresses EPA Staff
WASHINGTON – Today, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler addressed EPA employees on the third business day of his tenure after being appointed acting administrator by President Donald J. Trump.
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/acting-administrator-wheeler-addresses-epa-staff
Statement by FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on formation of a new drug shortages task force and FDA’s efforts to advance long-term solutions to prevent shortages
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm613346.htm
U.S. Department of Commerce Initiates Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Investigations of Imports of Steel Racks from China
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the initiation of new antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations to determine whether steel racks from China are being dumped in the United States and to determine if producers in China are receiving unfair subsidies.
https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2018/07/us-department-commerce-initiates-antidumping-duty-and-countervailing
NASA’s Fermi Traces Source of Cosmic Neutrino to Monster Black Hole
For the first time ever, scientists using NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have found the source of a high-energy neutrino from outside our galaxy. This neutrino traveled 3.7 billion years at almost the speed of light before being detected on Earth. This is farther than any other neutrino whose origin scientists can identify.
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-fermi-traces-source-of-cosmic-neutrino-to-monster-black-hole
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FTC, Partners Conduct First Compliance Sweep under Newly Amended Used Car Rule
All dealers are required to display a revised Buyers Guide on used vehicles for sale
Press release issued 7/ 12/ 18
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/07/ftc-partners-conduct-first-compliance-sweep-under-newly-amended
The Federal Trade Commission, working jointly with 12 partner agencies in seven states, conducted the first compliance sweep of car dealerships since the amended Used Car Rule took effect earlier this year. Under the amended Rule, dealers must display a revised window sticker called a “Buyers Guide,” which contains warranty and other important information for consumers, on each used car they offer for sale.
The compliance sweep was conducted between April and June 2018, in 20 cities nationwide. The inspectors found Buyers Guides on 70 percent of the more than 2,300 vehicles inspected, with almost half of those displaying the revised Buyers Guide. Of the 94 dealerships inspected, 33 had the revised Buyers Guide on more than half of their vehicles, and 14 had revised Buyers Guides on all of their used cars.
Following the sweep, the FTC sent letters to each dealership detailing the results of the inspections and providing material to help them come into full compliance with the amended Rule. Over the coming weeks, dealerships that were not displaying the revised Buyers Guide can expect follow-up inspections to ensure they have brought themselves into compliance with the amended Rule. Under the FTC Act, dealers who fail to comply face penalties of up to $41,484 per violation. State and local law enforcement agencies also enforce the recently amended Rule.
The Revised Buyers Guide
On November 18, 2016, the FTC amended the Used Car Rule. Under the amended Rule, as of January 28, 2018, dealers are required to display a revised Buyers Guide on all used vehicles they offer for sale. The revised Buyers Guide:
Changes the description of an “As Is” sale;
Places boxes on the face of the Buyers Guide that dealers can check to indicate whether a vehicle is covered by a third-party warranty and whether a service contract may be available;
Provides a box that dealers can check to indicate that an unexpired manufacturer’s warranty applies;
Adds air bags and catalytic converters to the Buyers Guide’s list of major defects that may occur in used vehicles;
Adds a statement that directs consumers to obtain a vehicle history report and to check for open recalls;
Adds a statement, in Spanish, to the English-language Buyers Guide, advising Spanish-speaking consumers to ask for the Buyers Guide in Spanish if the dealer is conducting the sale in Spanish; and
Provides a Spanish translation of the statement that dealers may use to obtain a consumer’s acknowledgement of receipt of the Buyers Guide.
Dealership Locations and FTC Partners
Through this sweep, the FTC and its partners inspected dealerships in: 1) Burbank, North Hollywood, Richmond, San Bruno, San Jose, San Pablo, and Van Nuys, California; 2) Jacksonville, Florida; 3) Chicago, Illinois; 4) New York, New York (Queens); 5) Brooklyn Heights, Cleveland, East Cleveland, and Cleveland Heights, Ohio; 6) Arlington, Dallas, and Grand Prairie, Texas; and 7) Lakewood, Puyallup, and Tacoma, Washington.
The FTC would like to thank the following partners for their assistance in the current compliance sweep: 1) the California Department of Motor Vehicles Inspection Division; 2) the Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney; 3) the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office; 4) The Santa Clara County Office of the District Attorney; 5) the San Mateo County Office of the District Attorney; 6) the Florida Bureau of Dealer Services; 7) the Cuyahoga, Ohio, County Department of Consumer Affairs; 8) the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles; 9) the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection; 10) the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs; 11) the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles; and 12) the Washington State Office of the Attorney General.
In other Business & Finance News:
FTC Testifies Before Senate Banking Committee on Fair Credit Reporting Act
The Federal Trade Commission testified today before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee that enforcement of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) remains a top priority, and outlined the agency’s efforts to educate consumers and businesses about the law’s requirements.
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/07/ftc-testifies-senate-banking-committee-fair-credit-reporting-act
‘Real Ugly, Real Quick': 3 Pennsylvania Industries Feeling the Sting of Tariffs
Mark Boyer, a partner of Ridgetop Orchards in Fishertown, PA is worried.
The orchard, founded in 1980 by his father, Dan, and mother, Lois, has since grown from 140 acres to over 500 acres, partially on the back of robust international demand for his apples. And now that orchard, dotted with perfect lines of fruit trees, finds itself at the center of the budding global trade war – a war he says the apple industry can’t win.----US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
https://www.uschamber.com/series/above-the-fold/real-ugly-real-quick-3-pennsylvania-industries-feeling-the-sting-of-tariffs
Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement action with United Bank Limited and former employee of Hinsdale Bank & Trust and announces termination of enforcement action with United Bank Limited
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/enforcement20180712a.htm
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCES AWARD OF $47,600,000 IN TRAINING GRANTS TO HELP HOMELESS VETERANS RE-ENTER THE WORKFORCE
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/vets/vets20180710
USDA: Illegal Marijuana Sites Can’t Hide from Science
The problem of illegal marijuana farms on national forests is, pardon the pun, growing. Although marijuana is now legal in California and other parts of the U.S., illegal marijuana growing is still a billion dollar industry with international tentacles.
https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2018/07/11/illegal-marijuana-sites-cant-hide-science
PAGE 5
Leading the charge: Inslee promotes an electric transportation future
Governor’s executive policy adviser on electric vehicles sits down for a Q&A about where we’re headed
From the Governor's Medium page dated 7/ 11/ 18
https://medium.com/wagovernor/leading-the-charge-inslee-promotes-an-electric-transportation-future-7be79bbf2cde
When electric vehicles first hit the market, they were innovative but ultimately out of reach for many Washingtonians because of their high price tag and short range. But over the last few years, EVs have only gotten better, increasing in range and availability and lowering in price. They also play a key role in the fight against climate change.
While EV purchases are on the rise, most drivers still purchase vehicles that run on petroleum engines. Currently, our roads are the biggest source of carbon emissions in Washington state. It’s why Gov. Jay Inslee has made it one of his top priorities to expand and promote EVs. Since he first took office, Washington has emerged at the forefront of EV adoption and infrastructure in the country, and there is only more to come.
We recently sat down with Charles Knutson, executive policy adviser to the governor, for a Q&A about the impact and future of electric vehicles in the state of Washington. Here’s a condensed version of that conversation:
How much do electric vehicles help the environment?
A tremendous amount. In Washington state, our power grid is relatively clean. We’re at about 70 percent hydroelectric, and we are about to phase out our last coal plant. So, that means that most of our carbon emissions are coming out of our tailpipes. The more we can electrify and automate our fleet, and promote robust transit, the more we can mitigate and defeat climate change in our state.
EVs are about cleaner air, lower emissions, saving consumers money, and reducing storm water damage and runoff into our rivers and the Puget Sound.
What are the goals for Washington when it comes to electric vehicles?
We are already a key leader in electric vehicles in the United States — but our goal is to be as good as Norway. We want to electrify every mode of transportation, and we are well on our way to making that happen. Currently, we have 28,000 EVs on the road. It is the governor’s Results Washington goal to increase that number to 50,000 EVs by 2020, and we can make that goal.
There are five parts to our electric vehicle strategy:
We want to make electric vehicles more accessible and affordable to everyone. We’ve worked on this in the past by offering no sales tax on EVs, and our plan is to continue this incentive next year and extend it, because it has been very effective in helping people see that electric vehicles are within their reach.
We must reduce range anxiety, and by that I mean increase the number of charging stations. With EV batteries improving and getting more range, this is becoming less of a factor, but it still enters consumers’ minds when they are deciding what type of vehicle to buy. They want a car that can make it to the mountains or to the coast, too. That’s why we started an EV infrastructure bank to build high-speed charging stations throughout the state.
We want to reduce the so-called “garage orphan” problem. People who live in dense urban areas are great candidates for EVs because they do a lot of short-range trips, but they often lack places to plug-in at home. We have changed building codes so that all new commercial, multi-family condo or apartment buildings must have five designated EV parking spots, and enough power to eventually handle 20 spots.
The governor’s EV Fleets Initiative requires that 20 percent of all new passenger vehicles in our state fleet are electric. We have already surpassed that goal, and are working to increase it. We only had six EVs when Governor Inslee took office — now we’ve increased that thirty-fold.
Increasing education and public awareness about EVs is crucial, and we are finding more and more that this is the secret sauce in a place like Norway, where there is high EV adoption. There, 50 percent of all new vehicles purchased by consumers are electric. Our adoption rate is good (we are increasing 21 percent every year), but if we want to go to the next level, we will need much higher public awareness and understanding of electric vehicles.
What is the governor doing to promote the sales and use of EVs in Washington?
The governor has done a tremendous amount to move all these EV initiatives forward. It is his personal dedication, time and passion for boosting the use of electric vehicles that makes his efforts so impactful. He has been at the forefront of talking about the benefits of EVs, advancing key EV policy and legislation, and leading our state toward a clean transportation future. For him, it’s about cleaning our air and reducing asthma in kids. It’s also about creating jobs, helping salmon by reducing storm water runoff and helping families save money. He also knows that EVs are a lot of fun to drive.
Does the governor use an electric vehicle at home?
He does — he purchased an all-electric Chevy Bolt for First Lady Trudi Inslee.
What are EV tourism routes, and how will they benefit the state?
There is a growing trend towards EV tourism, and we are seeing it embraced not just by local cities that want to encourage tourism but also by the private sector. You’re seeing more EV charging stations pop up at hotels, restaurants, and wineries, and it is just a really great way to encourage people to come to your location and spend a little time and money while their car charges up.
How do charging stations work?
In most new high-speed charging stations, a person is able to pay for that electricity using a credit card — just plug it in and get a cup of coffee while it charges. In workplace or residential parking, the payment may be covered or included as a part of company or household costs. Ultimately, the costs are much lower than gas.
In Wenatchee, for example, electricity is only two and a half cents per kilowatt hour. In Seattle, it is about nine cents. It is not just clean, cheap, and made in Washington, but it is predictable as well. You can count on rates being stable — unlike petroleum.
How are EVs being incorporated into public transit?
We are actively supporting the electrification of transit and have seen success in places like King County, where its Metro bus system has purchased 100 Proterra all-electric buses. The state paid for their pilot charging system to demonstrate the feasibility of an all-electric bus fleet.
Ferries are also a form of public transit, and the governor has been a key leader in the adoption of electric ferries. Of all the things we do in the state, transportation is the dirtiest, and ferries are, by far, the dirtiest form of transportation. Our three largest vessels (the Jumbo Mark IIs) use one-fourth of all the diesel in our state’s ferry fleet. But as early as next year, we plan to begin converting these vessels to electric.
There are a number of benefits to electrifying ferries. There are no carbon or diesel emissions. The ferries will also become virtually silent, helping reduce the noise and vibrations that can hurt orcas and other marine life. Electrifying ferries will also increase fleet reliability and save us up to $14 million a year.
There is an educational component to this as well. If we can electrify a boat of that size, it will increase public awareness of electric vehicles and clean-energy technology. Ferries are an icon of the state, and electrifying them would really help us encourage more electrification in other sectors as well.
IN OTHER STATE RELATED HEADLINES...
AG FERGUSON ANNOUNCES FAST-FOOD CHAINS WILL END RESTRICTIONS ON LOW-WAGE WORKERS NATIONWIDE
SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that in order to avoid a lawsuit from his office, seven large, corporate fast-food chains will immediately end a nationwide practice that restricts worker mobility and decreases competition for labor by preventing workers from moving among the chains’ franchise locations. The companies will no longer enforce provisions included in franchise agreements that stop workers from moving to potentially better positions and wages, and will remove the language from current and future contracts.
https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-ferguson-announces-fast-food-chains-will-end-restrictions-low-wage-workers
Contractor fined $13,000 for construction site stormwater violations in Bremerton
BREMERTON – The builder of an East Bremerton housing development faces $13,000 in state penalties for failing to keep muddy water from draining off the construction site into nearby storm drains and waterways.
https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/News/2018/July-11-Trep-Development-penalty
Fecal Matters: Cline Spit County Park is OPEN for Water Recreation, Clallam County
July 11, 2018, Clallam County Health and Human Services has re-opened Cline Spit County Park to water recreation.
https://ecologywa.blogspot.com/2018/07/fecal-matters-cline-spit-county-park-is.html
Veterans, employers celebrate YesVets veteran hiring initiative with event in Yakima
YAKIMA — Leaders of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and Employment Security Department (ESD) joined with area businesses, veterans and legislators today in Yakima to celebrate the third anniversary of YesVets, a statewide veterans hiring program.
https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/veterans-employers-celebrate-yesvets-veteran-hiring-initiative-with-event-in-yakima
Bellevue firm barred from public projects; failed to pay $140,000 to workers
Tumwater – Quality Construction has been barred from seeking contracts on public works projects after failing to pay workers more than $140,000 for their work on two elementary schools.
http://lni.wa.gov/News/2018/pr180711a.asp
PAGE 6
More than 7,000 Acres of Forest Land Protected in Puget Sound
The Trust for Public Land, Green Diamond Resource Company and Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced they have permanently protected 7,391 acres of working forest land in Mason County at the southwestern end of Puget Sound.
The land, located on the Olympic Peninsula between Hood Canal and Case Inlet, will remain in active timber production while protecting water quality and wildlife habitat. It will also be available to the public for hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor recreation. The 7,391 acres protected today is the second phase of a three-phase effort to protect over 20,000 acres of this coastal forest from development in the Puget Sound region. In 2016, 6,967 acres – the project’s first phase – were protected, and earlier this year, Congress appropriated $5.1 million in the 2018 budget to protect the project’s third and final phase. With two metropolitan areas only a half hour away and with high demand for affordable home sites, the land was highly vulnerable to subdivision and development.
“Protecting these productive forestlands from future development safeguards local jobs, keeps vital habitat intact for wildlife and protects the quality of Puget Sound while providing public access for outdoor recreation,” said David Patton, Northwest Area Director for The Trust for Public Land. “This project advances multiple benefits for everyone involved.”
The land is owned by Green Diamond Resource Company, a Washington-based privately held forest products company. Green Diamond will continue to manage it under a conservation easement that guarantees the land will never be developed and will always be open for public recreation. Green Diamond’s lands in Washington state are managed under a Habitat Conservation Plan to protect 51 aquatic and terrestrial species while allowing for forest management.
"Working forests are a major part of Mason County’s economy, and this transaction will help to ensure a healthy forest products industry here for many years to come,” said Blayde Fry, Vice President and General Manager at Green Diamond Resource Company.
The conservation easement was appraised and purchased for $6.634 million. Funding for the purchase came entirely from the USDA Forest Service Forest Legacy Program, which is specifically designed to protect environmentally sensitive forestlands that are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. The easement will be held by DNR, which will be responsible for long-term monitoring and enforcement of its restrictions.
The FLP funding comes from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the federal government’s main source of funds to protect land. LWCF, which was created by Congress in 1964, is funded not through taxes, but through royalties paid by energy companies for offshore gas and oil drilling.
"The working forestland protected by this easement will provide public recreation, environmental and economic benefits for generations to come,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hillary Franz, who leads DNR. “This is a huge win for Mason County.”
“This conservation is another major step toward protecting essential forest lands in Mason County that support vital local wildlife, recreation, and economic growth. Washingtonians across the board depend on our natural resources, and I’ll keep fighting to strengthen investments in critical environmental programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund that supports programs to help protect these forests for future generations of families, entrepreneurs, and outdoor enthusiasts across Mason County and Washington state,” said U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA).
“The Land and Water Conservation Fund is critical to protecting public lands, working forests, clean air, and clean water throughout our country. The successful and widely supported South Puget Sound Coastal Forest project is a perfect example of why I am fighting to reauthorize the LWCF,” said U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
"The Land and Water Conservation Fund protects our land and literally grows jobs," said U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06). "This project will protect thousands of acres of working forestland in Mason County that will help attract more visitors to our region and improve water quality in Hood Canal which is critical for our shellfish growers. I'll keep pushing to permanently reauthorize the LWCF so that it continues creating more opportunities in our neck of the woods."
Healthy, productive waters for salmon and shellfish are important for the Squaxin Island Tribe’s way of life.
“This will help protect water quality to sustain the long term treaty resources for future generations,” said Arnold Cooper, Chairman of the Squaxin Island Tribe.
The project will also benefit the local shellfish industry. Mason County has one of the most productive shellfish growing areas in the nation. Shellfish harvesting is the County’s second largest industry. Incompatible development could threaten local water quality, which is essential to the industry’s survival. Securing a conservation easement on the property helps protect downstream water quality for shellfish on 1,400 acres of tidelands for more than 20 shellfish companies and 2,000 recreational and tribal harvesters.
“This conservation easement is a critical step in helping to protect the water quality in the nearby inlets,” said Bill Taylor, President of Taylor Shellfish. “The easement will help to ensure that these inlets will continue to produce shellfish for tribal harvesters, recreational harvesters and shellfish farmers. The easement will not only benefit the environment in the long term but also the local economy,” he concluded.
About the partners
The Trust for Public Land’s mission is to create parks and protect land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live within a ten-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. To learn more, visit www.tpl.org.
Green Diamond Resource Company is a privately held forest products company that owns and manages working forest lands in the Pacific Northwest and the U.S. South. Learn more about Green Diamond Resource Company at www.greendiamond.com.
Administered by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, DNR manages more than 5.6 million acres of state-owned forest, range, commercial, agricultural, conservation, and aquatic lands. Of these, more than half are held in trust to produce income to support public schools, universities, prisons, and other state institutions. State trust lands managed by DNR provide other public benefits, including outdoor recreation, habitat for native fish and wildlife, and watersheds for clean water.---DNR press release issued 7/ 10/ 18
More State news headlines...
Fire danger and fire precaution level increases in northeast Washington
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today the following changes in fire danger rating and industrial fire precaution levels (IFPL) on DNR-protected lands.
https://www.dnr.wa.gov/news/fire-danger-and-fire-precaution-level-increases-northeast-washington
State renews tourism marketing efforts with launch of new board
Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the appointment of nine members to the Washington Tourism Marketing Authority Board. The members, from a diversity of backgrounds and regions throughout the state, will oversee a new fund to promote tourism in Washington state.---press release issued 7/ 10/ 18
https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/state-renews-tourism-marketing-efforts-launch-new-board
Fort Casey celebrates 50th anniversary of ‘Big Guns’ arrival
OLYMPIA – July 10, 2018 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Fort Casey Historical State Park invite the public to attend the 50th anniversary celebration of the Big Guns at Fort Casey.
http://parks.state.wa.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=405
Constitutional concerns arise over Initiative 1639 petition format
OLYMPIA — The Office of Secretary of State Kim Wyman received signed petition sheets this week from three initiative sponsors reporting enough signatures to qualify for the November General Election.
https://www.sos.wa.gov/office/news-releases.aspx#/news/1294
Pierce County excavator penalized $11,000 for violating state dig law
OLYMPIA, Wash. – A Pierce County excavator was issued an $11,000 penalty for violating the state’s “call before you dig law.”
The Utilities and Transportation Commission fined Fife-based Concrete Services, Inc, $11,000 for three separate violations of RCW 19.122 that occurred in 2017 and 2018. All violations were for failing to request an underground utility locate before excavating.
https://www.utc.wa.gov/aboutUs/Lists/News/DispForm.aspx?ID=540
LOCAL MEETINGS AND AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS:
Clallam County meetings
1) Clallam County Commission meetings.
Clallam County Commission work session for 7/ 16/ 18
http://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=1115
Agenda highlights:
4th Draft Ordinance language - This document was submitted after the agenda packet was posted
Regular commission meeting agenda for 7/ 17/ 18
http://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=384
Agenda highlights:
- Notice that the following Supplemental Appropriations will be adopted by Resolution on July 31:
Sheriff - Emergency Services - Award of Federal and State funding for the Clallam County Hazard Mitigation Plan update, Washington State Military Department contract D17-008/$65,525
Public Works - Solid Waste - Public works applied for and received a Local Solid Waste Financial Assistance Grant for the grand cycle 2017-2019, a program reinstated by the State Legislature Capital Budget in 2018/$21,500
Department of Community Development - Environmental Quality - US Fish & Wildlife Services grant $105,580 to be used over the next three years to assist in funding the construction of the current McDonald Creek Fish Barrier/$40,000
- Resolution calling for a hearing to be held July 31 at 10:30 a.m. for the following Debatable Emergencies:
HHS - Developmental Disabilities - Employment Coordinator position was approved for a new pay grade (HR Pay Study) and increased to 40 hours per week effective 12/2017, which was too late to change the 2018 submitted budget. This updates the 2018 salary and benefits line to reflect the change. Paid by millage/$21,299
Public Works - Roads - Increase construction budget expense to match the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) approved for the 2018 budget. TIP was approved after the budget was adopted/$1,000,000
NonDepartmental - Resolution 68, 2018 authorizes expenditures to Healthy Families of Clallam County in the amount of $4,245.93 and to Forks Abuse Program in the amount of $2,286.27 for Domestic Violence Prevention/$6,533
Auditor’s Document Preservation - Upgrade Eagle Recorder to allow electronic recording/$15,000
Treasurer’s O & M - Cost of foreclosure reports is significantly higher in 2018 and there are more reports needed/$30,000
Clallam County Board of health agenda for 7/ 17/ 18
http://clallam.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=clallam_0f8b4b217d9ff5b45ea074d90ede06cc.pdf&view=1
Agenda highlight: Discussion over raising the legal age for smoking from 18 to 21.
CITY OF PORT ANGELES COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA FOR 7/ 18/ 18
https://www.cityofpa.us/DocumentCenter/View/5468/Final-Packet-07182018
Agenda highlight: Second Amendment to Agreement for Services Regarding Elwha Dam Removal Project..
In March, 2018 the City entered into an Agreement for Services with Natural Resource Results, LLC to help the City optimize settlement with the National Park Service over the impact of dam removal. On June 18, the Council extended the Agreement for one month.
The City and the National Park Service are still negotiating, and it is beneficial to the City to extend the Agreement for Services with Natural Resource Results to August 31, 2018, and to give the Acting City Manager authority to extend the Agreement for an additional one or more months, either sequentially or individually, not to extend beyond December 31, 2018.
JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA FOR
7/ 16/ 18
https://media.avcaptureall.com/session.html?sessionid=facab4b2-c74c-4996-97c2-7180ac05e122&prefilter=845,5958
Agenda highlight: HEARING NOTICE re: Proposed Ordinance Adding Chapter 2.05 to the Jefferson County Code Regarding Indemnification and Tort Representation of Jefferson County Employees and Officers (Repeals and Replaces Resolution 87-86 and Amends Resolution 36-11); Hearing scheduled for Monday, August 6, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the Commissioners Chambers, Jefferson County Courthouse, Port Townsend
PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA
FOR 7/ 16/ 18
http://cityofpt.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=4&event_id=1248
Agenda highlight:
Ordinance 3200 Related to Taxation; Adopting a Multifamily Tax Exemption Program, Designating Residential Target Areas, and Adding a New Chapter 3.15 “Multi-Family Tax Exemptions” to the Port Townsend Municipal Code
Action: Move to approve first reading of Ordinance 3200 Related to Taxation; Adopting a Multifamily Tax Exemption Program, Designating Residential Target Areas, and Adding a New Chapter 3.15 “Multi-Family Tax Exemptions” to the Port Townsend Municipal Code
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🕂He's in your corner
WEEKLY BIBLE VERSE: If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.---John 15:10 NKJV
Weekly Bible Study
Undenominational Christians: Can We Be Just Christians Today?
Peter, Paul, and other first-century disciples were Christians, but what denomination were they members of? None at all! Denominational division, as we know it, did not exist in the first century. ---Gospel way
https://www.gospelway.com/topics/church/undenominational_christians.php
Free bible studies (WBS)
https://www.worldbibleschool.org/
Learn english using the bible as text (WEI)
http://www.worldenglishinstitute.org/
(Join us in worship every Sunday starting at 10:30AM Church of Christ)
http://www.pacofc.org/index.php
👲Riddle Genie
From, Squigly's Featured Games
last week's question: A man and his wife were driving in a car, when the wife's behaviour caused him to stop the car and rush to the nearest house. When he returned to the car, he found his poor wife at death's door and there was a stranger in the car with her. When the police arrived, they did not arrest or even question the stranger. How come?
Answer from last week: The woman had delivered a baby.
New Question: What 9 letter English word is still a word each time you take away a letter?
Answer next week: Startling: starting, staring, string, sting, sing, sin, in, I.
