By Peter Ripley
It has been quite a while since I had been able to produce a publication for you my readers, I assure you it wasn't by choice. My trial began in the early part of October, when I fell trying to transfer from my wheelchair, to the toilet , I was feeling sick, and light headed then, I fell, and managed to injure myself. I was told I had a slight heart attack, and my mind was messed up, my speech was slurred, and I was having delusions I guess.
The EMTs were called by a friend from the church I go to, who was checking up on me, and the EMTS took me to the Emergency room at Olympic Medical Center (OMC).
I stayed at the hospital for most of the month of October, the on the 29th of October was transferred to Alaska Gardens, in Tacoma where I spent until last Wednesday, January 5th. why so far from home to convalescent you ask? The reason why there was no convalescent center that could take me here in Port Angeles, or Sequim, so they sent me to Tacoma.
Always in dealing with Hospitals, or convalescent center, you are going to encounter, people who will will treat you with indifference, and the lack empathy, and sympathy. In the OMC there was a nurse there who had an apparent grudge or problem with me, telling a nursing aid not no to show sympathy toward me, ( apparently this aid who was male had a thing for this nurse.) she worked in the ICU, apparently resigned after showing abusive behavior towards me.
There were a few more incidences from the OMC nursing staff that less then ethical behavior, of course they would all deny any of these things.
So, I have to say that the covalence center in Tacoma treated me more better then the Olympic Medical Center while I was there.
As for Alaska Gardens, in Tacoma staff there were professional, and kind for the most part. They at least didn't mock my disabilities, and my problems I had, unlike a few nursing aids at the OMC did.
So, that's the short story of my experiences at the local hospital, and the time I spent in Tacoma.
To be fair to OMC, despite a few unethical nurses, and aids, the major of the staff there were friendly, and helpful.
My time back home maybe short lived because in February 23rd I'll have to be moved to a hotel, because the housing Authority is planning to renovate my apartment, and I'll won't have access to my computer for another three weeks! Starting late Feb.
Nevertheless, here is this week's edition.
State News Headlines...
Inslee statement on start of 2022 legislative session
January 10, 2022
press release from Governor's office.
https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-statement-start-2022-legislative-session
Gov. Jay Inslee released a statement today on the first day of the 2022 legislative session.
“As the Legislature starts its work in a supplemental budget year, it should be anything but a quiet few months. This may be a short session, but we have a long list of unprecedented crises facing our state.
“I am calling on the Legislature to act quickly on a number of pressing issues, including, increasing affordable housing and providing additional supports for those without shelter; continuing our work to address climate change and clean energy; ensuring that salmon can thrive; making necessary adjustments to police accountability and to the long-term care act; and ensuring consequences for those who seek to undermine our election system.
“These issues cannot wait. The scale of these crises demand swift and decisive action. I know the Legislature is up for these challenges and they will build on last year’s historically productive session.”
In other state news headlines:
WSDA advises ag industry to prepare for flooding.
Washington has seen its fair share of wintry weather conditions in recent weeks.
https://wastatedeptag.blogspot.com/2022/01/wsda-advises-ag-industry-to-prepare-for.html
AG Ferguson files 36 criminal charges against Electron Hydro company and COO for polluting Puyallup River.
TACOMA — Today the Washington Attorney General filed 36 gross misdemeanor charges against Electron Hydro, LLC and its Chief Operating Officer, Thom A. Fischer. Electron Hydro operates a hydroelectric dam on the Puyallup River. Each of the 36 charges, filed in Pierce County Superior Court, are against both Fischer and the business. The charges include violations of the state’s Water Pollution Control Act, Shoreline Management Act and Pierce County Code.
AG Ferguson lawsuit nets $45M in debt relief, payments from Navient.
SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that, as a result of his lawsuit, student loan servicer Navient will provide nearly $45 million in debt relief, restitution and costs to resolve Washington’s lawsuit. Ferguson asserted Navient, the Sallie Mae offshoot that was then the nation’s largest student loan servicer, engaged in numerous unfair and deceptive practices harming Washington student loan borrowers.
https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-ferguson-lawsuit-nets-45m-debt-relief-payments-navient
State investments enable burst of new solar panel projects in community buildings.
Commerce grants $3.5 million to help public buildings cut energy costs, reduce pollution and showcase solar in communities across the state.
Cleaning up: Two-thirds of Pasco Landfill hazardous drums dug up!
Prior to packing up for the holidays in mid-December, cleanup contractors finished removing approximately two-thirds of the hazardous waste drums buried in Pasco Landfill’s Zone A.
https://ecology.wa.gov/Blog/Posts/January-2022/Cleaning-up-Two-thirds-of-Pasco-Landfill-hazardous
State revokes, suspends licenses, certifications, registrations of health care providers
OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health has revoked or suspended the licenses, certifications, or registrations of the following health care providers in our state. The department has also immediately suspended the credentials of people who have been prohibited from practicing in other states.
world news headlines:
Tigray: Aid operations ‘about to grind to a halt’, warns WFP.
Aid and food distribution operations in northern Ethiopia are about “to grind to a halt” amid ongoing fighting, bloodshed and a lack of funding that is making humanitarian access impossible, the UN World Food Program, WFP, said on Friday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/01/1109802
Colombia: Children still ‘used and abused’ despite historic peace accord.
Despite a steady decrease in grave violations against children in Colombia since the signing of the 2016 Peace Agreement between the Government and FARC rebels, youngsters there continue to suffer from the impact of hostilities, according to a new UN report published on Wednesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/01/1109662
Yemen: ‘Political will, responsible leadership' needed, to end 7-year war.
Seven years into the war in Yemen, UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg reaffirmed to the Security Council on Wednesday that no long-term solution can be found on the battlefield, urging the warring parties to “talk, even if they are not ready to put down their arms”.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/01/1109642
At least four children killed during escalation of conflict in Myanmar
At least four children have been killed and multiple others have been maimed during an escalation of conflict over the past week in Myanmar, said the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/01/1109592
Horrors of Hiroshima, a reminder nuclear weapons remain global threat.
Despite the annihilation of two major Japanese cities in 1945, atomic bombs have not been relegated to the pages of history books, but continue to be developed today – with increasingly more power to destroy than they had when unleashed on Hiroshima and Nagasaki back in 1945.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/01/1109602
National:
Background Press Call on the Rollout of 500 Million Free Tests to American Homes--WH
Lab Owner Pleads Guilty to $6.9 Million Genetic Testing & COVID-19 Testing Fraud Scheme
A Florida man pleaded guilty today in the Southern District of Florida to a $6.9 million conspiracy to defraud Medicare by paying kickbacks and bribes to obtain doctors’ orders for medically unnecessary lab tests that were then billed to Medicare. The defendant exploited the COVID-19 pandemic by bundling COVID-19 testing with other forms of testing that patients did not need, including genetic testing and tests for rare respiratory pathogens.--DOJ
From our congressional delegation to DC
Senators Cantwell and Murray Announce More than $605 Million Investment to Help Repair Washington State Bridges.
Kilmer Delivers Over $605 Million for Washington Bridges from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Infrastructure Law Kilmer Supported Aims to Help Grow Local Jobs by Making the Largest Investment in Fixing American Bridges in History.
Senator Murray on SCOTUS Decision Blocking Enforcement of the OSHA Vaccine or Testing Workplace Safety Standard.
