https://agr.wa.gov/about-wsda/news-and-media-relations/news-releases?article=37811
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) spongy moth* (Lymantria dispar) trappers had a busy season this year, trapping 103 spongy moths. Thirty moths were caught statewide in 2022 and only six in 2021.
The spongy moths were caught as part of the WSDA Pest Program’s regular summer moth survey program, during which more than 20,000 traps were placed around the state this year. Of the moths trapped, 81 were in Thurston County, with 77 trapped near Steamboat Island Road, making that the most moths trapped in one area in more than 30 years. Other counties with spongy moth catches include Pierce, Skagit, King, San Juan and Snohomish.
“We had a surprising number of catches this year,” Susan Brush, Acting Invasive Moth Projects Coordinator, said. “Our next step is to look for egg masses in the areas with the highest concentration of catches. Once we have that information, we’ll have the data necessary to start planning our response to this introduction.”
WSDA has monitored and successfully prevented spongy moth from establishing in the state since 1974. Each year, the state has new introductions of the invasive pest from people moving from the Eastern U.S. where 20 states are permanently infested with the moth or, more rarely, through the ports.
Spongy moth is an extremely destructive pest that threatens entire forests, parks and neighborhood trees and shrubs. The moths can defoliate acres of trees during outbreaks, which can result in the death of millions of trees and the destruction of native habitat for countless species. During an outbreak in eastern states in 2016, the damage was so extensive it could be seen on NASA satellites.
Visit agr.wa.gov/moths for more information about spongy moth and WSDA’s trapping and eradication programs.
IN OTHER STATE NEWS HEADLINES
Commerce receives $1 million SBA grant to boost small business exports/WA COMMERCE DEPT.
US Dept. of Energy Selects Pacific Northwest for Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub./wa commerce dept.
Washington and Oregon seek nominations for Columbia River fishing advisory groups/WDFW
Hunters invited to mentored pheasant hunt Nov. 4 in Oakville/WDFW
https://wdfw.wa.gov/newsroom/news-release/hunters-invited-mentored-pheasant-hunt-nov-4-oakville
Clark County residents invited to public discussion about living with disabilities.
OLYMPIA — If you’re interested in improving the lives of Clark County residents who have disabilities, the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues & Employment (GCDE) wants to hear from you./ESD
https://www.esd.wa.gov/newsroom/clark-county-residents-invited
2) NEWS FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
KILMER, BIPARTISAN GROUP REINTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO EXPAND TAX CREDIT TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced that he and U.S. Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Tom Cole (OK-04) reintroduced the Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act. The bill would help early childhood educators cover the cost of supplies, books, and other classroom materials by allowing them to claim the above-the-line $300 tax deduction currently available only to K-12 teachers. U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (CO) and Susan Collins (ME) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate./PRESS RELEASE
AARP, Seattle Pharmacists Endorse Cantwell Bill to Prevent Anti-Consumer Practices by Drug Industry Middlemen
Survey of 1,300 Washingtonians found that 1 in 4 have skipped or used less medication because they couldn’t afford it/PRESS RELEASE ISSUED
Senators Murray, Cantwell Announce $1 Billion for New Hydrogen Hub in Pacific Northwest Funded by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law/Press release
3) WORLD< NATION< BUSINESS:
WORLD:
Security Council 751 Committee Briefed by Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
On 28 September 2023, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) concerning Al-Shabaab held informal consultations to hear a briefing by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in accordance with paragraph 47(d) of Security Council resolution 2662 (2022) following the submission of the report of the Emergency Relief Coordinator, and in accordance with paragraph 5 of resolution 2664 (2022), on the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Somalia. The report has since been transmitted to the Security Council and issued as S/2023/720./UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15440.doc.htm
Entrenched Belief in Nuclear Deterrence as Defence Keeps Fear of Annihilation Alive, First Committee Hears in Thematic Debate
Mistrust Looms Large in Disarmament, Non-Proliferation, Speakers Say/UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2023/gadis3718.doc.htm
Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing Called by Russia on Threats to International Peace and Security/USUN
Third Meeting of the U.S.-Mexico High-Level Security Dialogue/US STATE DEPT.
https://www.state.gov/third-meeting-of-the-u-s-mexico-high-level-security-dialogue/
Austin: U.S. Commitment to Israel Is "Ironclad"
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III today underscored the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel after meeting with key leaders in Tel Aviv./DOD
NATION:
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim Delivers Keynote Address at the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources’ 31st Fall Conference in Washington, DC/DOJ
Former Nursing Home Worker Charged with Wire Fraud in “Ghost” Employee Fraud Scheme/DOJ
Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $13 Million to Improve Access to Child Care for Student Parents/DEPT. of EDUCATION
Paradise Flavors LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Wheat, Soy, Milk, And Color Additives (Fd&C Blue #1, Blue #2, Red #3, Red#5, Red #6, Red #40, Yellow #5, Yellow #6 Yellow #8) All Paradise Flavors Ice Cream Bars/FDA
HUD Announces $212 Million Funding Opportunity to Expand Affordable Housing Options for Persons with Disabilities
Funding provides capital to produce new or rehabilitate existing housing along with project rental assistance to support very-low and extremely low income-persons with disabilities/HUD
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_23_235
BUSINESS:
Shipbuilding Company CEO Charged with Witness Tampering and Obstruction/DOJ
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/shipbuilding-company-ceo-charged-witness-tampering-and-obstruction
Financial Stability in Uncertain Times
Governor Michelle W. Bowman
At the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee and Policy Center for the New South Marrakech Economic Festival, Marrakech, Morocco/ THE FED
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/bowman20231011a.htm
USDA Invests in Bison Purchase Pilot Incorporating Indian Country Bison for Tribal Feeding Programs/ USDA
Court Rules in FTC’s Favor in Case Against Telemarketing Company that Bombarded Job Seekers with Millions of Illegal, Unsolicited Calls/FTC
Small Business Needs Certainty
For small businesses to grow and thrive they need reassurance that they can operate without fear of unnecessary policy and regulatory changes from the government./US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
https://www.uschamber.com/small-business/small-business-needs-certainty
IN FOCUS & LOCAL MEETINGS for 10/14/23
https://pr2345.blogspot.com/p/in-focus-local-meetings-for-101423.html
