Time is running out to file a claim — the deadline is next Wednesday, June 5
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that 24,492 claims checks will head to Washingtonians in the next week as a result of his antitrust lawsuits against chicken and tuna producers. The checks amount to an additional $2.59 million to eligible households throughout the state.
Ferguson announced in December of 2023 that his office would mail checks to hundreds of thousands of Washington households as a result of his successful antitrust lawsuits against large chicken and tuna corporations that engaged in price-fixing. The restitution is available to every household whose income is at or below 175% of the federal poverty level. Today’s claims checks are in addition to that original disbursement. Claims check recipients did not receive checks in the original disbursement.
As of Friday, May 24, 273,080 households had cashed the checks originally sent out in December, totaling approximately $26.85 million for Washingtonians. Another 2,980 have received and cashed $301,810 in claims checks. Ferguson will send out 24,492 additional claims checks in the coming days, for an additional $2.59 million to Washington households.
Time is running out for Washingtonians to file a claim. The deadline is next Wednesday, June 5. To file a claim, visit refundcheck.atg.wa.gov. Eligible single-person households will receive $50 checks, multi-person households will receive $120 checks.
“My legal team took on multiple large price-fixing schemes that increased the cost of food for Washingtonians, and we’re putting money back in the pockets of those who were most impacted,” Ferguson said. “Washington families were cheated by corporate price-fixing conspiracies they knew nothing about. Time is running out to get your fair share. Go to refundcheck.atg.wa.gov today to file your claim. My legal team and I will continue standing up to corporate greed when it harms Washingtonians.”
The restitution comes as a result of Ferguson’s two separate antitrust lawsuits against broiler chicken producers and tuna companies alleging price-fixing and market manipulation to maximize profit.
In December, Ferguson began mailing checks to Washingtonians as restitution from the resolutions. At the time, the Attorney General’s Office had $35.5 million from resolutions in the chicken producers lawsuit and $5.1 million from lawsuits against tuna producers.
Ferguson has resolved cases against all of the tuna companies, and 16 of the original 19 chicken companies. Two of the remaining companies have since merged.
If the case against the last two companies — Foster Farms and Wayne-Sanderson Farms — is resolved at trial, the judge will direct how those funds are used.
The cost to administer the claims process is being paid by the defendants. No taxpayer funds are being used to send out the restitution checks to consumers. Ferguson will make the entire resolution amount available for consumers if enough claims are received. In that case, the administration costs will be paid by the Antitrust Division. The Attorney General’s Antitrust Division receives no general fund support, funding its actions through recoveries made in cases it brings.
The broiler chicken lawsuits
The 19 broiler chicken producers named in Ferguson’s lawsuit account for approximately 95 percent of the “broiler” chickens sold in the United States — a term for virtually all chicken produced for consumption. Broiler chickens are used for everything from chicken breasts consumers purchase at the grocery store, to chicken nuggets and chicken sandwiches individuals buy at fast food restaurants.
The Attorney General’s Office asserts the chicken producers drove up the price of chicken since at least 2008, causing consumers to overpay by millions of dollars. The lawsuit asserts a widespread illegal conspiracy to inflate and manipulate prices, rig contract bids, illegally exchange information and coordinate industry supply reductions to maximize profits. Ferguson asserts their conduct violated Washington state antitrust laws.
The Attorney General’s Office investigation found a coordinated, industry-wide effort to restrain production through the exchange of competitively sensitive information, signals during investor calls and direct coordination between players in the industry.
Washington was the first state to hold chicken production companies accountable for their roles in the price-fixing conspiracy. Every time a new resolution was announced, the Attorney General’s Office indicated it planned to use the recoveries to assist Washingtonians harmed by the price-fixing conspiracy.
The tuna lawsuits
Ferguson also garnered more than $5.1 million available for consumer restitution from cases against major tuna companies. Those include a $4.1 million resolution with StarKist, a $500,000 resolution with Chicken of the Sea, a $100,000 resolution with former Bumble Bee Foods CEO Christopher Lischewski, and $450,000 in sanctions against StarKist’s parent company, Dongwon Industries.
Washington was the first state to sue tuna companies and the first to reach a resolution with Lischewski.
Executives at the three companies called each other, texted, used private emails and in some instances had face-to-face meetings at pre-arranged locations such as hotels and restaurants to avoid detection so they could exchange internal company policies and data.
Lischewski complained to other tuna executives before they began the price-fixing scheme that canned tuna was “too cheap” and he wanted the tuna companies to make consumers pay more for tuna. Two of Lischewski’s subordinates testified that he gave “a very clear, direct” order to fix canned tuna prices.
The Office of the Attorney General's Antitrust Division is responsible for enforcing the antitrust provisions of Washington's Unfair Business Practices-Consumer Protection Act. The division investigates and litigates complaints of anticompetitive conduct and reviews potentially anticompetitive mergers. The division also brings actions in federal court under the federal antitrust laws. It receives no general fund support, funding its own actions through recoveries made in other cases.
The Antitrust Division investigates complaints about potential anticompetitive activity. For information about filing a complaint, visit https://fortress.wa.gov/atg/formhandler/ago/AntitrustComplaint.aspx.
IN OTHER STATE NEWS HEADLINES:
AG Ferguson files charges against Clarkston man for judge intimidation, harassment of other local officials.
ASOTIN — The Attorney General’s Office announced today that it filed felony charges against Trevor Lunney, of Clarkston, in Asotin County Superior Court for intimidation of a judge and four counts of harassment against local officials.
If convicted, Lunney faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $20,000 fine for the charge of intimidation of a judge. He faces five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each of the felony harassment counts./WAAGWAAG
Annual Minority and Justice Commission Symposium To Be Held June 12
Save the date June 12, 2024, for the annual Washington Supreme Court's Minority and Justice Commission Symposium. The Symposium, "A Legacy of Harm: Examining the Impacts of Our Sentencing Paradigm," will feature three program sections: a scholarly presentation on the history of sentencing laws in Washington, both pre- and post-Sentencing Reform Act; a scholarly presentation on the efficacy and impact of sentencing laws on public safety; and an expert panel discussion on pathways forward and recommendations for the Court. The event begins at 8:45 a.m. in the John A. Cherberg Building, Olympia, followed by a reception at noon. Please RSVP to commissions@courts.wa.gov./WA COURTSWA COURTS
Commerce partners with Heritage Bank and Calvert Impact to launch small business loan programs.
Applications open for two new loan programs: Owner-Occupied Commercial Real-Estate and Small Business Flex Fund 2
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce has launched the first of five planned small business loan and investment programs aimed at increasing access to capital for small businesses in Washington state, particularly those that have been historically underserved or underbanked. A total of $163 million in funding comes from the U.S. Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Commerce manages the SSBCI programs in Washington./ WA COMMERCE
Commerce awards nearly $40 million in Climate Commitment Act funds for local electrification programs.
New and established programs in communities statewide will provide electrification incentives and appliance rebates to homeowners and small businesses
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced $39,575,225 in grants to cities, counties, municipal utilities, and state and federally recognized tribes to support electrification of homes and businesses. The funding, made possible by Washington’s Climate Commitment Act, will establish and enhance local programs that provide rebates and incentives to households and small businesses to purchase and install high efficiency electric equipment./WA COMMERCE
Most EPS foam containers banned from sale and distribution in WA starting June 1.
2021 state law ends era of clamshell containers, plates, bowls, cups, trays, and coolers made of expanded polystyrene/DOE
NEWS FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION:
Senator Murray Visits Maddie’s Place Recovery Nursery in Spokane, Discusses Her Work on Opioid Recovery for Moms, Babies
Murray, former HELP Committee Chair, negotiated and passed landmark opioid legislation in 2018; This year Murray secured $4.6 billion in federal funding to support substance use disorder treatment and recovery programs/from a press release issued 5/30/24/from a press release issued 5/30/24
Senator Murray Visits WSU Spokane’s Native American Health Sciences Center, Discusses New Funding She Secured to Help Improve Health Outcomes for Tribes in Washington State
In the government funding bills Murray negotiated, she secured $1.47 million for WSU Spokane to build out their Indigenous Health Simulation Center to help train health care workers and improve health outcomes for Indigenous patients/ from a press release issued 5/30/24 from a press release issued 5/30/24
Alleged Oil Industry Price-Fixing Caught on WhatsApp: Cantwell & Schumer Call For Investigation
WA gas prices more than doubled from May 2020 -June 2022, within the timeframe of the alleged collusion; Cantwell legislation directs the FTC to proactively monitor markets for fraud or manipulation that may be artificially inflating pump prices/from a press release issued 5/30/24
Cantwell Celebrates Grand Opening of New Spokane Airport Expansion
Cantwell secured $59.3M in federal funding that covered nearly 40% of the project’s total cost; When fully complete, TREX project will add 6 ticket counters and 6 new gates to Spokane International Airport/from a press release issued 5/30/24from a press release issued 5/30/24
WORLD< NATION< BUSINESS
WORLD:
Absent Political Progress, Ongoing Violence Putting Syria, Global Community at ‘Terrible Risks’, Special Envoy for Syria Warns Security Council
In Last Briefing Before Stepping Down, Senior Relief Official Says ‘It Pains Me that the Suffering of the People of Syria Grinds On’/UN PRESS RELEASE
Earth’s Life-Sustaining Ocean in Trouble, Secretary-General Observance Message Warns, Urging Greater Action to Restore, Protect Marine, Coastal Ecosystems
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on the occasion of UN World Oceans Day, observed on 8 June/ UN PRESS RELEASE
World Leaders Adopt Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States, as International Conference Concludes
As the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States concluded today, world leaders adopted the “Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS: A Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity” — named after the Caribbean island nation that hosted them — and pledged to help such States achieve their priorities over the next 10 years./ UN PRESS Release
https://press.un.org/en/2024/dev3463.doc.htm
Remarks at a UN Security Council Meeting on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Satellite Launch/USUN
Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky At the Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Countering Foreign Disinformation Between the U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic/US STATE DEPT.
NATION:
Austin Emphasizes Open Lines of Communication Between U.S., China Militaries.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication at multiple levels between the United States and China during his first meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun./DOD
Medical Device Manufacturer Innovasis Inc. and Two Top Executives Agree to Pay $12M to Settle Allegations of Improper Payments to Physicians/DOJ
HUD Makes $150 Million Available for Affordable Housing in Tribal Communities
Funding focuses on the construction of new homes, housing rehabilitation, and support for low-income families across Indian Country./HUD
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_24_130
Biden-Harris Administration Launches Nationwide Heat and Health Tool to Protect Communities Most Impacted by Extreme Heat
New tool – the first-ever to provide zip-code level data – will help target heat-related health resources and prioritize life-saving interventions for communities most affected by extreme heat./HHS
Justice Department Expands Efforts to Dismantle Human Smuggling Operations and Support Immigration Prosecutions/DHS
BUSINESS:
Former Senior Executive and Former Sales Manager Convicted of Selling Data on Millions of U.S. Consumers to Perpetrators of Mail Fraud Schemes/ DOJ
FTC Staff Provides Annual Report to CFPB On 2023 Activities Regarding Financial Acts.
The staff of the Federal Trade Commission has provided its annual report to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on its enforcement and related activities in 2023 on the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Consumer Leasing Act (CLA), and Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA)./FTC
U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Announce Direct File as Permanent Free Tax Filing Option, All 50 States and D.C. Invited to Join in Filing Season 2025/US TREASURY
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2385
USDA Announces $824 Million in New Funding to Protect Livestock Health; Launches Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program/USDA
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FILES COMPLAINT TO STOP HYUNDAI MANUFACTURER, PARTNERS FROM USING, PROFITING FROM OPPRESSIVE CHILD LABOR
Alleges 3 companies jointly employed child who worked up to 60 hours a week making auto parts/DEPT. of Labor
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20240530
IN FOCUS & LOCAL MEETINGS:
IN FOCUS
Spot shrimp fishery to reopen May 30 and June 13 only for additional opportunities in some Puget Sound marine areas.
OLYMPIA – Recreational spot shrimp fishing will reopen in some Puget Sound marine areas on May 30 and June 13 only, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.
“We are excited to announce some additional spot shrimp fishing opportunities in several marine areas,” said Aaron Dufault, WDFW Puget Sound shellfish manager. “Challenging weather on the May 16 opener likely lowered the expected harvest resulting in some added days to the schedule.”
Following review of the recreational shrimping catch and effort data in Puget Sound to date, WDFW shellfish managers determined that enough of the quota remains in multiple marine areas to offer additional harvest opportunities on May 30 and June 13 only.
Marine Area 7 East (northern Rosario Strait, Bellingham Bay, Sucia and Matia Islands and Strait of Georgia) is open to harvest all shrimp species from May 30 through June 1.
Discovery Bay Shrimp District is open for all shrimp species on May 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. only.
Marine Area 9 (Edmonds, Port Townsend and Admiralty Inlet) is open for all shrimp species on June 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. only.
Marine Area 10 (Elliott Bay) is open for all shrimp species on June 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. only.
Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton Area) outside Elliott Bay is open for all shrimp species on June 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. only.
The recreational catches of spot shrimp in Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) were particularly poor during the May 16 opener and the decision was made to close harvest for the season.
Shrimp fishers are reminded from May 30 through June 1, only a portion of Marine Area 7 South (from west of Point Colville on Lopez Island and east of Cattle Point on San Juans Island) will be open.
Other changes include:
Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island): The non-spot shrimp (dock, coonstripe, sidestripe and pink shrimp only) fishery is open June 1 through Oct. 15 with a maximum depth restriction of 150 feet. During the non-spot season 1/2-inch mesh pots are allowed, depth restrictions are in place, and all spot shrimp are required to be released immediately.
Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound): The non-spot shrimp (dock, coonstripe, sidestripe and pink shrimp only) fishery is open June 1 through Oct. 15 with a max depth restriction of 200 feet. During the non-spot season 1/2-inch mesh pots are allowed, depth restrictions are in place, and all spot shrimp are required to be released immediately.
The daily limit is 80 spot shrimp with a total daily weight limit of 10 pounds (whole shrimp) all species combined. If retaining non-spot shrimp, all shrimp heads (spot and non-spot) must be retained in the field until ashore and finished fishing for the day. Daylight hours only indicates that pots can be set and retrieved from one hour before official sunrise to one hour after official sunset. All traps must be removed from the water during periods when fishing is closed.
Those looking to spend more day’s shrimping can take advantage of other marine areas open for spot shrimp. More information on recreational shrimp seasons, and a description of the marine areas, is available on WDFW's recreational shrimp fishing section of the website.
Shrimp fishers are reminded to follow Be Whale Wise regulations and guidelines to help protect endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW). Avoid approaching SRKW, and at minimum stay the required distance away (reference the Be Whale Wise website for more information). Anglers are also encouraged to watch for the Whale Warning Flag, an optional tool from the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee that lets others know that there might be whales nearby. If you see the flag, slow down and follow guidelines. For more details about steps anglers can take to keep the whales – and themselves – safe, visit BeWhaleWise.org.
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County Commission work session for 6/3/24
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06042024-1203
Clallam County Commission meeting for 6/4/24
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06042024-1203
Homeless task force meeting for 6/4/24
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06042024-1200
Housing solutions meeting for 6/7/24
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06072024-1199
City of Port Angeles Council meeting for 6/4/24
https://www.cityofpa.us/DocumentCenter/View/14949/06042024-CC-Agenda-Packet
OMC BOARD MEETING FOR 6/5/24
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS:
Jefferson County Commission meeting for 6/3/24
https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/ec8a79a7-ffff-4e64-aa36-b2198890bb86
Port Townsend City Council meeting for 6/3/24
https://cityofpt.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=4&event_id=3559
Weekly devotional
BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 21: 2-4 (New International Version)
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Weekly Bible Lesson:
Jesus Is Joined to Salvation - Part 2
Last time we looked at the fact that God has joined Jesus to salvation, that we cannot be saved except through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”--TFTW
https://truthfortheworld.org/jesus-is-joined-to-salvation-part-2
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)
1233 E Front St, Port Angeles, WA 98362
The Chosen: About the life of Christ
https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen
THIS WEEKS VIDEOS
Color Revolution: The Underground, Anti-Trump Cabal Threatening Our Republic.
Are we in the beginning of a DOMESTIC color revolution? If you think the pro-Gaza/anti-Israel college campus protests were totally organic and grassroots, you may want to think again. Helping spur regime change in foreign countries like Ukraine and Libya has been United States policy for decades. Covert CIA operations to manipulate foreign media, meddle in elections, and topple governments go back to the opening salvos of the Cold War.
But NOTHING the CIA pulled off even comes close to what the agency's successors began doing. NGOs, trade unions, and people like George Soros had their fingerprints all over color revolutions in the Middle East, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. They trained and mobilized street movements, toppled regimes, and they did it all out in the open. They bragged about it! In this episode of "Glenn TV," Glenn Beck reveals the players, the playbook, and the warning signs that point to the same cabal activating HERE in the United States. They seem to pop up every four years, and coincidentally, their money and activism usually come at a time of mass civil unrest. Glenn had two big predictions at Fox News related to the color revolutions and the Arab Spring protests. At the time, he was widely mocked by mainstream media and called “crazy.” But … those predictions turned out to be true, and with global consequences. Will anyone listen now?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq2WieMzE-o
Sunday Worship 05/26/2024 (FOUR LAKES C. of C)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpSHrGbxA-s
NIGHT OWL COMICS
https://pjrnightowlcomics.blogspot.com/
The Port Angeles Globe is a weekly Publication, every Saturday-- Publisher, Peter Ripley
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