https://agr.wa.gov/about-wsda/news-and-media-relations/news-releases?article=35152
OLYMPIA – Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 continues to make its way through Washington. The latest detection was confirmed on Friday, May 27, in a backyard flock in Snohomish County.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is responding to the outbreak and urging flock owners to devote all efforts to protecting uninfected flocks, especially keeping domestic flocks isolated from wild waterfowl.
“In all backyard detections, we’ve seen significant exposure to wild waterfowl,” Dr. Amber Itle, Washington State Veterinarian, said.
Flock owners can take steps to prevent introducing diseases to their flocks by practicing good biosecurity, including washing boots or shoes before entering and when leaving a chicken coop, sanitizing equipment used around poultry, and wearing clean clothing around birds.
WSDA has numerous resources for flock owners to learn about bird flu and protect their flocks, including a bird flu webpage with information about each confirmed flock with HPAI, an interactive map, and a Facebook group dedicated to updates about bird flu in Washington. WSDA also has avian influenza videos on its YouTube channel.
Flock owners near confirmed detection sites may be contacted by WSDA or USDA officials to monitor the health of their flocks.
If your flock experiences sudden death or illness of multiple birds, call WSDA’s Sick Bird Hotline at 1-800-606-3056. Birds that have already died should be double-bagged and kept in a cooler on ice until WSDA veterinarians can make arrangements for sampling. Do not allow scavenger birds access to dead domestic birds as this can further spread the virus.
Dr. Itle has also cautioned bird owners to withdraw from exhibitions or fairs until at least the end of June and has requested that live bird markets discontinue sales temporarily.
“The virus is present in all corners of our state,” Itle added. “It’s so important we remain vigilant.”
Sick or dead wild birds should be reported using the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s online reporting tool.
IN OTHER STATE NEWS HEADLINES:
KING COUNTY LATEST IN LIST OF BIRD FLU DETECTIONS
OLYMPIA – Two more flocks tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 on Tuesday, May 24. Both backyard flocks were located in King County. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is responding to the outbreak and urging flock owners to devote all efforts to increasing biosecurity measures to protect uninfected flocks, especially keeping domestic flocks isolated from wild waterfowl.
https://agr.wa.gov/about-wsda/news-and-media-relations/news-releases?article=35146
Help detect and prevent Japanese beetle spread.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is asking the public to help prevent the spread of Japanese beetle.
https://wastatedeptag.blogspot.com/2022/05/JBdetectprevent.html
Attorney General Ferguson recovers another $6.6M in stolen unemployment money.
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that his office recovered another $6.6 million stolen as part of a massive fraud perpetrated against states across the country. The money had been deposited by fraudsters into JPMorgan Chase Bank accounts, and a King County Superior Court judge ordered JPMorgan Chase Bank to return the stolen funds to Washington state.
CONSUMER ALERT: Used car dealers cannot waive warranty without your consent.
OLYMPIA — As prices for used cars rise, Attorney General Bob Ferguson is urging Washingtonians to be aware of their used car warranty rights. All used cars come with an “implied warranty” under state law, ensuring the car is safe to drive and free of major defects. Dealers cannot waive this warranty without a buyer’s knowledge and consent.
King County judge agrees with AG Ferguson, denies Google’s attempt to dismiss location tracking lawsuit.
Ferguson’s lawsuit accuses Google of secretly tracking consumers’ location.
New $3.9 million Federal grant will aid state efforts to clean up contaminated sites.
Environmental Protection Agency funding seeks to address economic, social and environmental challenges caused by contaminated land
Drought designation extended for parts of Eastern Washington.
OLYMPIA –
A cool and wet spring brought relief to much of Washington following the drought of 2021, but in a few parts of eastern Washington, the drought’s effects have lingered.
https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Who-we-are/News/2022/May-26-Drought-2022
South-central Puget Sound (Marine Area 11) kicks off the salmon fishing season beginning June 1.
FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO DC:
Cantwell’s 11-Year Fight to Protect Bristol Bay Reaches Major Milestone
EPA to propose blocking the proposed Pebble Mine at Bristol Bay, Alaska; the mine would irreparably harm 40-60 million salmon and Washington state’s $30 billion maritime industry.
Cantwell Advances Her Bill Targeting Fuel Market Anomalies Hurting Consumers
The Transportation Fuel Market Transparency Act can protect consumers at the pump by uncovering and penalizing market manipulators
Senator Murray and Congresswoman Schrier Host Call with Food Banks and Local Mother Impacted by the Infant Formula Shortage.
Senator Murray Votes to Crack Down on Domestic Terrorism, Combat White Supremacists and other Violent Domestic Extremists.
WORLD NEWS HEADLINES,
From the UN News Center & USUN:
‘Think resilience’ to protect against climate and other catastrophes.
More countries must “think resilience”, and urgently adopt and improve early warning systems to reduce risks from an increasing number of disasters across the world, a UN disaster forum concluded on Friday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/05/1119202
Chile: Apology for sterilizing HIV-positive women in moment of ‘reproductive justice’.
The head of the UN agency leading the fight against HIV/AIDS, welcomed on Friday a public apology from Chile on a landmark case of involuntary sterilization of women living with HIV.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/05/1119272
Rights office welcomes Zambia’s pledge to abolish the death penalty.
Zambia’s plan to abolish the death penalty adds to the growing global chorus against the practice, the UN Human Rights Office, OHCHR, said on Friday in welcoming the decision.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/05/1119282
States urged to do more to help Haitians fleeing insecurity by sea.
Amid growing insecurity and gang violence in Haiti, the numbers of desperate people resorting to risky sea crossings has sharply increased. On Friday the UN called for regional Governments to step up protection for refugees.--USUN
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/05/1119222
Statement by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at the UN Security Council Stakeout Following a Vote on a U.S-Drafted Resolution on the DPRK.--USUN
Ukraine's Military Needs Change as Battle With Russia Continues--DOD
United States Targets the DPRK’s Ballistic Missile and Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs--US STATE DEPT.
https://www.state.gov/united-states-targets-the-dprks-ballistic-missile-and-weapons-of-mass-destruction-programs/
Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto At a Joint Press Availability--US STATE DEPT.
NATIONAL & BUSINESS NEWS HEADLINES:
President Biden Announces Third Round of U.S. Marshal Nominees--WH
Washington Man Pleads Guilty to Committing Hate Crime for Arson at Seattle Nightclub
Kalvinn Garcia, 25, of Sedro Woolley, Washington, pleaded guilty to one count of committing a hate crime for the Feb. 24, 2020, arson at Queer/Bar, a nightclub and event space in Seattle, Washington. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Nick Brown for the Western District of Washington and Special Agent in Charge Donald M. Voiret for the FBI Seattle Field Office made the announcement.--DOJ
Former Marine Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking Young Women in Sextortion Campaign
A California man pleaded guilty today to cyberstalking multiple young women in California in a “sextortion” campaign he waged while he was an active-duty member of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Statement from Secretary Cardona on Today’s Tragic Events at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
HUD Announces $147 Million to Tribal Communities for Affordable Housing and Community Development
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Thursday announced 83 awards totaling $147 million for affordable housing and community development projects that primarily benefit people with low and moderate incomes in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_22_102
Statement from Secretary Mayorkas on Efficiently and Fairly Processing Asylum Claims.
WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement regarding the implementation of a rule that will ensure that noncitizens placed in expedited removal who are eligible for asylum are granted relief quickly, while those who are not are promptly removed. The rule goes into effect on May 31, 2022
Administrator Regan Highlights US Climate Leadership, Work to Deliver Environmental Justice, Pollution Reductions and Ocean Protections at G7 Ministers Meeting in Berlin.--EPA
BUSINESS HEADLINES:
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $33 Million Infrastructure Investment to Address Legacy Pollution, Spur Good-Paying Jobs on Public Lands
New resources from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will create jobs, address environmental justice, fund remediation of 277 orphaned oil and gas wells across the country.--DEPT. of INTERIOR
Biden Administration Announces $32 Million to Advance Climate-Smart Mass Timber Construction, Expand Wood Markets--USDA
Commencement Remarks
Vice Chair Lael Brainard
At the 2022 Commencement of the School for Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, D.C.--THE FED
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/brainard20220525a.htm
Man Sentenced for Transnational Cybercrime Enterprise
A New York man was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison for purchasing stolen or compromised credit cards and assisting other members of the Infraud Organization in monetizing their fraudulent activity.--DOJ
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/man-sentenced-transnational-cybercrime-enterprise
IRS revises FAQs for Tax Year 2021 Earned Income Tax Credit.
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today revised frequently asked questions (FAQs) for the 2021 Earned Income Tax Credit (FS-2022-30) to educate eligible taxpayers on how to properly claim the credit when they prepare and file their 2021 tax return.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-revises-faqs-for-tax-year-2021-earned-income-tax-credit
Deputy Secretary Graves to Discuss Transatlantic Trade with Leaders, Industry Representatives in Europe.--US COMMERCE DEPT.
10 Tips to Avoid Fake Goods When Traveling this Summer
Worldwide trade in counterfeit and fake goods amounts to more than $500 billion each year. With the summer travel season about to kick off, here are some ways to Shop Smart.--US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Twitter to pay $150 million penalty for allegedly breaking its privacy promises – again.
It’s FTC 101. Companies can’t tell consumers they will use their personal information for one purpose and then use it for another.--FTC
HEADLINES FROM OTHER SOURCES:
NYT: For GOP, ‘Individual Rights Trump…Societal Response, Regardless of the Cost’--NEWS BUSTERS
Gas shortages and record high prices plague Washington drivers--MY NORTHWEST
https://mynorthwest.com/3481448/gas-shortages-and-record-high-prices-plague-washington-drivers/
More Washington renters are being overcharged for damages, advocates say, and there’s little tenants can do about it--THE SPOKESMAN REVIEW
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/may/26/more-washington-renters-are-being-overcharged-for-/
LOCAL MEETINGS:
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County Commission work session for 5/31/22
https://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=1317
Clallam County Board meeting for 5/31/22
https://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=7319
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS:
Jefferson County Special meeting for 5/31/22
https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/e5e743f3-e37d-483e-a66d-40030f30fe87
City of Port Townsend; SIMS WAY AND BOAT YARD EXPANSION STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE
May 31, 2022 | 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
