Link Source: https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-ferguson-s-organized-retail-crime-unit-files-second-criminal-prosecution
Maple Valley woman charged with stealing more than $200K in fragrances, cosmetics in six counties
SEATTLE — Today Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s Organized Retail Crime Unit filed its second-ever felony criminal case, charging a Maple Valley woman over a string of organized retail thefts in western Washington.( see link source for full story)
In OTHER STATE HEADLINE NEWS:
Washington selected to participate in new HUD, HHS Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator program.
Only eight states and D.C. were selected for the new program
OLYMPIA, WA — Washington state was recently selected for technical assistance resources from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator (Accelerator) program. According to a press release from HHS, the Accelerator will help unlock resources to reduce homelessness by addressing health-related social needs, such as housing-related services, for Medicaid-eligible people with disabilities and older adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness./ COMMERCE DEPT
Cleaning up: Bellingham waterfront site moves closer to cleanup
Join us for a walking tour of the RG Haley site hosted by RE Sources, a local nonprofit./DOE
Cryptocurrency Platform Penumbras Appears To Be Engaged in Fraud.
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Securities Division received a complaint from a Washington investor that Penumbras Trading or Penumbras Asset Management System (“Penumbras Trading”), whose website is https://pc-us.penumbras.cc, may be engaging in fraud. Penumbras Trading purports to offer cryptocurrency, options, and Forex trading, among other services. It calls itself “[t]he safe for your transactions.” Its website is still online./DFI
Cryptocurrency Platform Mambam-psn Appears To Be Engaged in Fraud.
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Securities Division has received a complaint from a Washington resident regarding Mambam-psn, a purported cryptocurrency website. This website is currently unavailable and appears to have been taken down./DFI
WDFW approves five days of coastal razor clam digs starting Feb. 21; additional tentative digs planned for March.
OLYMPIA – Razor clam diggers can look forward to more opportunities on coastal beaches beginning Feb. 21, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) coastal shellfish managers confirmed today./WDFW
2) FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.
KILMER NAMED WINNER OF AWARD FOR CHAMPIONING INDEPENDENT HIGHER EDUCATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) received the Award for Advocacy of Independent Higher Education at the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) 2024 Annual Meeting. The Advocacy Award was established to recognize individuals outside of academia who have championed the cause of independent higher education.
Whether in government, business, or philanthropy, the recipient of this award has provided leadership, established resources, or enacted policy at the state or national level that recognized the role of independent colleges and universities in serving public purposes. According to NAICU, no single contribution makes one eligible to receive the award; rather, it recognizes a lifetime of service, initiative, and determination./ From a press release issued 2/12/24
Senator Murray Meets with Women Veterans in Seattle, FVeterans’ Health Care
Senator Murray: “It’s especially important to me that we do a better job looking out for the health care of our fastest-growing demographic of veterans—women.”/ From a press release 2/15/24
Senator Murray Holds Roundtable Discussion on Violence Prevention, Breaking School-to-Prison Pipeline at CHOOSE 180 in Burien
ICYMI: Senator Murray Helps Pass Bipartisan Gun Safety Bill, Calls to Do More to Keep Students, Families Safe
Senator Murray: “CHOOSE 180 is making a real difference by focusing serious time and resources on young people who deserve every opportunity to succeed.”/ from press release issued 2/14/24
3.
WORLD< NATION< BUSINESS.
WORLD HEADLINES:
Libyans Still Waiting to Realize Their Aspirations for Sustained Peace, Democracy, Mission Head Tells Security Council, Stressing Importance of Political Settlement
Despite the finalization of the constitutional and legal framework for elections, key Libyan institutional stakeholders appear unwilling to resolve the outstanding politically contested issues that would clear the path to the long-awaited elections, a top United Nations official told the Security Council today, as delegates underscored the need to increase synergies between the political and national reconciliation aspects./ UN PRESS RELEASE
Department of Global Communications Selects Co-Chairs for 2024 United Nations Civil Society Conference in Support of Summit of the Future
14 February 2024 - The United Nations Department of Global Communications today announced the selection of Carole Osero-Ageng’o, Global Initiatives Lead and Africa Regional Representative at HelpAge International, and Nudhara Yusuf, Executive Coordinator for Global Governance Innovation Network at The Stimson Center, as Co-Chairs of the 2024 United Nations Civil Society Conference in Support of the Summit of the Future. The conference will take place on 9 and 10 May 2024, at the United Nations Office at Nairob, Kenya./UN PRESS RELEASE
As Mounting Climate Chaos, Food Crisis Undermine International Peace, Secretary-General Tells Security Council It Must ‘Act Now’ to Resolve Conflicts, Protect People
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks for the Security Council high-level open debate on the impact of climate change and food insecurity on the maintenance of international peace and security./ UN PRESS RELEASE
Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts/ USUN
Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar Before Their Meeting/ US STATE DEPT.
NATION:
NATO Military Spending Has Steadily Increased.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a statement that NATO has projected 18 allies will spend at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense this year, and those not spending at least 2% should have plans to swiftly meet that target./ DOD
U.S. Department of Education Releases 2023 Update to Equity Action Plan, Outlines New Commitments to Advance Equity.
The U.S. Department of Education (Department) today released its 2023 Update to its Equity Action Plan, in coordination with the Biden-Harris Administration's whole-of-government equity agenda. This Equity Action Plan is part of the Department's efforts to implement the President's Executive Order on "Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government," which reaffirmed the Administration's commitment to deliver equity and build an America in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. /US DEPT. of EDUCATION
FDA Approves First Medication to Help Reduce Allergic Reactions to Multiple Foods After Accidental Exposure.
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Xolair (omalizumab) injection for immunoglobulin E-mediated food allergy in certain adults and children 1 year or older for the reduction of allergic reactions (Type I), including reducing the risk of anaphylaxis, that may occur with accidental exposure to one or more foods. Patients who take Xolair must continue to avoid foods they are allergic to. Xolair is intended for repeated use to reduce the risk of allergic reactions and is not approved for the immediate emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis./FDA
Former Kentucky State Prison Sergeant Convicted of Violating Civil Rights of an Inmate and Obstruction of Justice.
After a four-day trial, a federal jury yesterday convicted a former Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex (EKCC) sergeant, Eric Nantell, on one count of deprivation of civil rights for his failure to intervene to stop the assault of an inmate, two counts of obstruction for misleading state investigators and one count of making false statements to a special agent of the FBI. Six other officers previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the assault and cover-up, and three of those officers testified for the government at trial./DOJ
HUD Awards $2 Million to Revitalize Smaller Communities and Develop Affordable Housing
Grants will rejuvenate older downtown business districts and develop affordable housing while retaining the area's historic character./HUD
BUSINESS:
Supervision with Speed, Force, and Agility
Vice Chair for Supervision Michael S. Barr/ THE FED
Agriculture and Interior Departments Propose Changes to Strengthen Alaska Tribal Representation on Federal Subsistence Board/USDA
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR RELEASES UPDATED EQUITY ACTION PLAN, PART OF BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION COMMITMENT TO ADVANCE EQUITY, ECONOMIC JUSTICE
WASHINGTON – As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s whole-of-government equity agenda, the U.S. Department of Labor today released its updated Equity Action Plan to support the administration’s advancement of racial equity through executive orders and other federal mechanisms. / LABOR DEPT.
IRS announces special Saturday hours for face-to-face help; more than 50 Taxpayer Assistance Centers open across the nation/ IRS
FTC Proposes New Protections to Combat AI Impersonation of Individuals
Agency finalizes rule banning government and impersonation fraud and seeks to extend protections to individuals/FTC
IN FOCUS & LOCAL MEETINGS:
IN FOCUS: Inslee statement on 50th anniversary of the Boldt decision.
Gov. Jay Inslee released a statement on today’s 50th anniversary of the Boldt decision in U.S. v. Washington, which reaffirmed Tribes’ treaty-reserved rights to fish in their usual and accustomed places.
“This landmark decision set forth a path of state-tribal collaboration and co-management of fisheries resources in our state. Rather than being pitted against one another, Tribes and the state government have since collaborated on nation-leading efforts to save our iconic salmon. The history of this case provides many lessons that should be taught continually. Most importantly, it teaches that we as Washingtonians are always capable of doing better, and we are more likely to succeed when we work together for a more just society.”
Ref. https://governor.wa.gov/news/2024/inslee-statement-50th-anniversary-boldt-decision
ref. https://lib.law.uw.edu/indian-tribal/boldt?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
IN FOCUS: DNR Releases New Fire Prevention Animated Videos
4-part series of explainer animations to help communities be safe
To help reduce human-caused wildfires, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has teamed up with Next Day Animations to create four fire safety explainer animation videos.
These videos are created to help promote awareness of wildfires and how to prevent them, as they grow larger and faster.
“We’re all in it together when it comes to wildfire. That’s why I’m thrilled to share these videos about how to be better prepared for wildfires, and how to be one less spark,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. “In recent years, our investments have paid off and we’ve kept more than 95% of our fires to less than 10 acres, but humans still cause 90% of wildfires. We want to offer tools and knowledge to communities to help them stay safe as our fire seasons grow longer and hotter.”
The four-part wildfire prevention videos are:
Burning Safety
Equipment Safety
Campfire Safety
Wildfire Ready Neighbors
“We’re excited to provide our communities with better and more entertaining information on how to completely put out campfires, how to burn outdoors safely, how to use equipment safely as you work outdoors, and how you and your neighbors can prepare for wildfire,” said George Geissler, Washington State Forester. “We all have the responsibility to protect our homes and businesses from wildfires.”
Where did the funding come from? The funding for this video and social media campaign came from a State Fire Assistance special allocation from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as part of an effort to support community wildfire preparedness and risk reduction strategies as described in the Washington State Forest Action Plan; specifically, by reducing the risk of human-caused wildfire ignitions.
Because wildfires are becoming more challenging to suppress, all of Washington can be better adapted and prepared to prevent wildland fire by learning what each of us can do to prevent human-caused fires.
ref. https://www.dnr.wa.gov/news/dnr-releases-new-fire-prevention-animated-videos
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County Commission meeting for 2/20/24
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02202024-1074
City of Port Angeles Council meeting for 2/20/24
https://www.cityofpa.us/DocumentCenter/View/14280/02202024-CC-Packet
OMC BOARD MEETING FOR 2/21/24
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS
Jefferson County Commission meeting for 2/20/24
https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/5808e80e-167c-4ddf-a5a5-1d9540f90e74
PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA FOR 2/20/24
https://cityofpt.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=4&event_id=3552
Weekly devotional
BIBLE VERSE: Romans 8:35,37 (New International Version)
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Weekly Bible Lesson: How Are Local Churches Independent?
One important way that congregations are independent is in governing themselves. Losing the right of self-government causes a church to lose its independence. When men from outside a local church take over and rule it, it has lost its autonomy. But governing its own matters is not the only form of independence in a local church. Many churches make their own decisions, but still continue permanently to depend upon outside help in finance and other matters. Self-rule should lead to a church to be self-supporting and completely independent.---TFTW
https://truthfortheworld.org/how-are-local-churches-independent
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 WEEK'S VIDEOS:
13 Reasons Why BIDEN Is A Dictator, NOT Trump
The noise from the Left has been nonstop for years about Trump being a dictator. An actual headline in the Washington Post read, “A Trump dictatorship is increasingly inevitable. We should stop pretending.” But who is the ACTUAL dictator in the 2024 race for the White House? Glenn makes the irrefutable case: fascism is already here under Biden. You may not recognize it because it’s been quietly growing thanks to a sneaky administrative state modeled after Woodrow Wilson's that does not (yet) resemble the brute force of a Hitler or Mussolini dictatorship. “You Will Own Nothing” author and Main Street advocate Carol Roth argues it’s not hyperbolic to call the Biden administration fascist.
From COVID mandates, intentionally stoking inflation, killing the gig economy, and weaponizing the U.S dollar to freezing our energy output, Roth says the executive branch is trying to dictate every aspect of our lives down to what stove we use. But she also says we will continue to live under this administrative dictatorship unless the American people start to march on Washington to shame and threaten political power. Congresswoman Victoria Spartz, who represents Indiana’s Fifth Congressional District, was born and raised in Ukraine under the old Soviet Union regime.
She tells Glenn about the red flags she’s seeing that remind her of the authoritarianism that crushed her family, “What’s happening in D.C. is Karl Marx 101.” Instead of protecting citizens' rights, we’re taking them away in very clever ways through federal agencies like the EPA and DOJ. “You buy a Bible and a gun in the U.S., you’re labeled a domestic terrorist,” Spartz warns. “The same thing happened in the Soviet Union.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzpLlzFsGKI
Sunday Worship Service - 2/11/2023 Four Lakes C. of C.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Y0NDdKAr8
NIGHT OWL COMICS
https://pjrnightowlcomics.blogspot.com/
The Port Angeles Globe is a weekly Publication, every Saturday-- Publisher, Peter Ripley
