New resources will help address crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and people
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson provided the following statement today after the Legislature approved his budget request for $500,000 to fund genetic genealogy and DNA testing for the entire backlog of unidentified remains in Washington.
Right now, 163 unidentified remains await further testing in Washington. The new funding will supplement existing state and federal DNA testing resources. As a result, families awaiting information about loved ones do not need to endure unnecessary delays and cases can be resolved more quickly.
The Attorney General’s Office and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force advocated for the funding to clear the backlog. The task force, convened by the Attorney General in 2021, published a report in December 2023 urging the Legislature to dedicate the funding necessary to clear the backlog. DNA testing of individual remains and forensic genetic genealogy are proven strategies to identify missing Indigenous people and bring closure to families.
“Timely DNA testing can bring a measure of closure and help solve more cold cases,” Ferguson said. “Families should never have to endure unnecessary delays when seeking answers about their missing loved ones. I am thankful to our partners in the Legislature — Rep. Lekanoff, Rep. Stearns and Sen. Kauffman and many others — who continue to fight to ensure the missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis gets the attention and resources it deserves.”
In December 2023, the task force released its latest report and recommendations. The recommendation calling for funds to clear the backlog of unidentified remains stems from the experience of task force member Patricia Whitefoot, who waited 14 years for the partial remains of her sister, Daisy Mae Heath, to be tested and identified. Much of that delay was due to a lack of funding. Ultimately, the Attorney General’s Office worked with the Yakima County Coroner to provide the necessary funding.
“I’m pleased the Washington State Attorney General’s Office heard the voices of families in our pursuit to know the status of unidentified remains,” Whitefoot said. “I was reminded of these remains whenever our family received an inquiry about unidentified remains, since my sister, Daisy Heath, had been missing over 30 years. Because of our sister, I found myself motivated and compelled to promote needed resolution about the remains with the task force. Our family wondered about the status of our sister for far too long.”
The 2024 budget provides the new resources to the Washington State Patrol, which will provide financial assistance to local jurisdictions for testing of all unidentified remains. Funds will be available for initial DNA testing. If DNA testing fails to provide an identification, funding will pay for forensic genetic genealogy.
Forensic genetic genealogy helps law enforcement solve cold cases by combining DNA testing with genealogical research, using publicly available ancestry data.
Cost is the primary barrier for law enforcement agencies looking to use DNA and forensic genetic genealogy testing to identify remains. DNA testing of individual remains costs approximately $2,500 and forensic genetic genealogy costs approximately $8,000, though costs can vary.
The state Crime Lab conducts DNA testing for local law enforcement. The Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative provides grants for that purpose, as well as forensic genetic genealogy testing at private labs. These grants have helped solve multiple cases. More information about those cases can be found here. DNA testing of some unidentified remains is also available for free through the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), but NamUs has experienced significant delays in recent years. It can take up to 18 months for agencies to receive results, and in some cases remains are ineligible for the federal program.
Attorney General’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force
The budget request started as a recommendation with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force, which Ferguson convened in 2021 using a framework adopted by the Legislature. The 23-member task force is part of a coordinated statewide response to the urgent crisis of Indigenous people who go missing, are victims of homicide, or experience other types of violence. Many national leaders in tackling this crisis serve on the task force.
The task force’s work has resulted in several Attorney General Request bills enacted into law.
In 2022, the Washington State Patrol launched a statewide alert system to help identify and locate missing Indigenous women and people. The legislation was requested by Ferguson and sponsored by Rep. Debra Lekanoff, D-Anacortes, who serves on the task force. It is the first alert system of its kind in the nation.
In 2023, at the recommendation of the task force and request of Attorney General Ferguson, the Legislature established a Cold Case Investigations Unit to focus on solving cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and people. Rep. Lekanoff and Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, another task force member, championed the legislation. The unit hired its chief investigator, Brian George, in November 2023 and is now fully staffed with four additional investigators and a victim advocate.
In addition to recommending funds for genetic genealogy testing, the task force’s 2023 report also recommended forming a state work group to develop best practices for law enforcement, coroners and medical examiners tasked with collecting Indigenous demographic data. Racial misclassification in cases of missing Indigenous people is a major systemic barrier to understanding the full scope of the crisis.
Additionally, the task force recommended that the U.S. Department of Justice create a nationwide Missing Indigenous Persons Alert system, similar to the one launched in Washington in 2022.
Background on the missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis
American Indian and Alaskan Native women and people experience violence at much higher rates than other populations. The national Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that homicide is the sixth-leading cause of death for Indigenous women and girls and the third-leading cause of death for Indigenous men. A recent federal study reported that Native American women are murdered at rates 10 times the national average in some jurisdictions.
According to data from the Homicide Investigation Tracking System in the Attorney General’s Office, Indigenous victims are 5% of the unresolved cases throughout the state, while making up less than 2% of the population. Due to reporting practices, racial misclassification, data collection and jurisdictional issues, the actual disparity is likely even more significant.
The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs estimates that there are approximately 4,200 unsolved cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people. A 2018 report from the Urban Indian Health Institute in Seattle found that Washington had the second-highest number of cases in the country.
IN OTHER STATE NEWS:
Commerce awards $240,000 to five regional partnerships planning for low-income housing needs.
Additional grant funding is available through March to support regional planning for vulnerable residents at the lowest income levels
OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Commerce awarded $240,000 to five community partnerships across the state to support coordination of land use planning and homeless services planning. Each city or county-led partnership will use the funds to coordinate resources and plan for their lowest income housing needs, including residents experiencing homelessness./ WA COMMERCE DEPT.
More than $3 billion approved for Hanford Site cleanup – a new record.
RICHLAND –
On Saturday, March 9, President Joe Biden signed a historic budget for Hanford Site cleanup work. Hanford received $3.05 billion for 2024 – a $205 million increase from 2023, and the first time Hanford funding has exceeded $3 billion./DOE
Seeking environmental technicians
Join our Watershed Health Monitoring team for a summer of instream data collection.
Our watershed health monitoring team is seeking eight early career scientists to join us for a summer of river and stream sampling. These watershed health environmental technicians and specialists will travel all over the state to complete physical surveys of designated stream sites. Work includes field navigation, biological monitoring, water quality sampling, habitat surveys, and using different types of monitoring equipment./DOE
Halibut fishing starts April 4 in some Puget Sound marine areas and May 2 in coastal marine areas.
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today plans for the 2024 halibut fishing season, which will kick off April 4 in some Puget Sound areas./ WDFW
WDFW seeks public input on 2024 proposals for Washington’s ocean salmon fisheries.
FRESNO – Fishery managers have developed options for Washington’s ocean salmon fisheries that reflect lower numbers of several coho salmon stocks predicted to return this year./WDFW
2) NEWS FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION:
KILMER ANNOUNCES NEARLY $14 MILLION IN CLIMATE RESILIENCE FUNDING FOR LOCAL TRIBES
TACOMA, WA – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced the allocation of $13.74 million in support of climate preparedness and resilience efforts for Tribal nations within Washington’s Sixth Congressional District. The funding, made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, is distributed through the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience./ Press release issued 3/15/24
KILMER ANNOUNCES $1.3 MILLION TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND ENHANCE MOBILITY ACROSS I-5 IN TACOMA
TACOMA, WA – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced that the City of Tacoma will receive $1.3 million in new federal funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) and Neighborhood Access and Equity discretionary grant programs for increased safety and mobility options along Interstate 5 (I-5) in Tacoma./ press release 3/14/24
Planned Renton, Tukwila Transit Centers Get $69.8M in Funding
Centers will serve thousands of daily riders on new Burien-Bellevue BRT line slated to open by 2028
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced that Sound Transit will receive $69,830,356 to build new transit centers in Renton and Tukwila that serve the Stride S1 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line. The cities of Tacoma and Seattle also received planning grants, the senator announced./Press release issued 3/13/24
City of Bellevue and Yakama Nation Get $2.9M to Improve Traffic Safety
Funding comes from SMART Grant Program, which Cantwell fought to secure in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced the City of Bellevue and the Confederated Tribes and Band of the Yakama Nation will receive Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grants to improve traffic safety./ 3/13/24 press release
Senator Murray Delivers Major Floor Speech on Billions She Secured as Appropriations Chair for Washington State Priorities in the First Funding Package/ press release issued 3/14/24
Murray Cosponsors Legislation to Crack Down on Big Corporations Shrinking Products Without Reducing Prices, Stop Shrinkflation
Bill empowers Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to crack down on corporations reducing product size without a reduction in price
Federal Reserve research found corporate profits account for total inflation from July 2020 through July 2021 and 41 percent of total inflation from July 2020 through July 2022/ press release issued 3/13/24
3) WORLD < NATION < BUSINESS
WORLD:
Concentric Circles of Escalation, Risky Military Adventurism in Red Sea Could Spark New War Cycle in Yemen, Special Envoy Warns, Urging Maximum Restraint
With concentric circles of escalation and risky military adventurism in the Red Sea, Yemen could descend into a new cycle of war, the Organization’s senior official for that country warned the Security Council today, as he urged all actors to exercise maximum restraint and work towards de-escalation and the peace process./UN NEWS RELEASE
Collective Action, Balanced Responses Key to Fight Record Levels of Drug-Related Death, Illegal Production, Secretary-General Tells Narcotic Drugs Commission Session/ UN PRESS RELEASE
Financing for Poverty Eradication Must Address Unequal Gender, Power Relations, Assistant Secretary-General Stresses, as Commission on Women Continues Session
Stressing the impact of elements including conflict, pay inequity and informal labour on the gender poverty gap, ministers and officials from around the world called for greater efforts to reverse trends indicating that 8 per cent of the world’s women will still be living on less than $2 per day by 2030, as the Commission on the Status of Women continued its sixty-eighth session./UN PRESS RELEASE
Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at National High School Model United Nations Conference/USUN
Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the 67th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs Side Event “Protecting Global Public Health and Safety: Mounting a Unified International Response to Synthetic Drugs and Their Precursors”/US STATE DEPT.
NATIONAL
FACT SHEET: The President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2025.
Budget Details Vision to Protect Progress, Lower Costs, Protect and Strengthen Social Security and Medicare, Invest in America and the American People, and Reduce the Deficit/WH
NORAD Commander: Incursions by Unmanned Aircraft Systems on Southern Border Likely Exceed 1,000 a Month.
There are likely more than 1,000 incursions by unmanned aircraft systems along the U.S.-Mexico border each month, said the U.S. Northern Command's top general during testimony today at a Senate Armed Services Committee posture hearing./DOD
Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission File Comment with U.S. Copyright Office Supporting Renewal and Expansion of Exemptions Facilitating Consumers’ and Businesses’ Right to Repair Their Own Products/DOJ
U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights Reminds Schools of Their Legal Obligation to Address Discrimination Against Muslim, Arab, Sikh, South Asian, Hindu, and Palestinian Students/ Dept. of Education
CDC Statement on the President’s Fiscal Year 2025.
Today, the Biden-Harris Administration released the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) budget request for FY 2025 includes $9.683 billion in discretionary budget authority, Prevention and Public Health Funds, and Public Health Service Evaluation Funds, which is $499.2 million over the FY 2023 appropriation. This budget request will enable the CDC to prioritize efforts to rapidly identify and respond to health threats; continue addressing the mental health and overdose crises; and support young families to help children thrive./CDC
BUSINESS
Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Funding to Expand High Speed Internet in New Mexico Tribal Communities as Part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda/US TREASURY
Army Hotel Manager in South Korea Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Steal Government Property and Commit Bribery./ DOJ
Agricultural Producers to Conserve Land through Climate-Smart Easements as part of President’s Biden’s Investing in America Agenda/USDA
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO HOLD WEST VIRGINIA EVENTS FOR CURRENT, FORMER COAL MINERS WITH BLACK LUNG DISEASE, THEIR FAMILIES
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Federal Black Lung Program will host three outreach events in West Virginia on March 19-21, 2024, for current and former coal miners disabled by black lung disease, and their families, to file or refile claims for benefits./ US LABOR DEPT.
March 22 deadline approaching to resolve incorrect Employee Retention Credit claims; IRS urges businesses to review questionable claims to avoid future compliance action/IRS
IN FOCUS & LOCAL MEETING:
IN FOCUS: Report: Creative economy contributes nearly $120 billion to Washington state GDP.
Commerce study outlines priorities, strategies to grow creative sector which represents nearly 20% of total state economic production
OLYMPIA, WA – The creative sector accounts for nearly 20% of Washington state’s economy, contributing nearly $120 billion annually to the state GDP, according to a report released today from the Washington State Department of Commerce. The report, produced with the assistance of the Creative Economy Strategic Work Group and lead contractor Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF), provides a strategic pathway for future growth of this key industry sector.
Read the full Creative Economy Strategy online. The study was requested by the 2021-22 State Legislature
“This study confirms that Washington state is a world leader in creative sector jobs,” said Commerce Director Mike Fong. “Innovation is a key driver of our economy, and this sector enriches the arts and cultures of our communities as well as technological advances, from artificial intelligence and quantum computing to new methods for producing clean energy.”
Fong said the results of this study will help guide the future growth of Washington’s creative economy, noting the work group findings align with the state’s commitment to ensuring that economic growth across the state is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
In its findings, the workgroup reported that the creative sector contributes $119.2 billion to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP), which is 19.6% of Washington’s total economic production.
The study was produced by 34 creative economy stakeholders with input from more than 400 industry representatives. It shows that the creative sector employed 383,001 workers in 2021, which accounted for 9% of total employment. While the majority of the industry is located in urban centers, creative economy jobs can be found in every corner of the state.
In determining a strategy for future growth, the study identified four priorities:
Equity and access: Build a more inclusive, just, and equitable creative economy in Washington.
Infrastructure and investment: Leverage resources to build the capacity of the creative economy in support of its sustainability.
Learning and skills: Activate long-term growth of Washington’s creative economy by investing in the future workforce.
Sector and workforce development: Strengthen Washington’s creative economy by investing in its most critical resource – the creativity and talent of its people.
To support these goals, the workgroup identified 11 interrelated policy areas along with initial recommendations:
Broadband: Increase broadband access.
Housing: Develop creative housing plans and artist live/work spaces.
Taxation: Abate/reduce business taxes for small creative businesses.
Incentives: Increase funding and focus on incentives; increase utilization of historic and new market tax credits.
Licenses: Expand access to licenses; introduce social equity programs for licenses.
Zoning/Land Use: Leverage zoning in support of affordable, multi-unit housing and storefronts/creative space.
Public Development Authorities: Expand/increase the number of Public Development Authorities.
Creative Districts: Expand creative districts programs and add incentives; invest in sporting and entertainment districts; consider intersection with Opportunity Zones 4.
Workforce Boards: Activate creative firms to utilize workforce boards to address industry skill/labor force needs.
Apprenticeships/Learn and Earn: Establish state and federally-funded creative apprenticeship programs and other “learn and earn” opportunities.
Grants and Financing: Utilize Community Economic Revitalization Board grants and loans to build supportive infrastructure. Additionally, stakeholders identified a number of barriers to the development of the creative economy.
“The Creative Economy Strategic Plan is important to me, as a Native entrepreneur, because my voice was heard. The thought and detailed actions to implement a plan that is inclusive is something that the world leader in creative-sector jobs, Washington state, is paving the way for all others. This plan has outlined barriers in order to be inclusive, recognizing the imbalance of current structures and redirecting equitable funding and support,” said work group member Mary Big Bull-Lewis, co-owner of Wenatchi Wear and R Digital Design, and chair of Indigenous Roots and Reparations Foundation in Wenatchee.
Creative technology accounted for the most significant number of jobs in the state (59%), which includes careers in the information and communications field. During the study period, the creative technology sector experienced exponential growth (130%), though some growth could be attributed to the shifting needs of the pandemic. Music, theater, dance and visual arts employed 50,474 individuals (13%). Fashion; film, television and radio; and cultural institutions were the three smallest positive-growth contributors to creative economy employment.
IN FOCUS: UTC staff recommend $252,000 plus penalty to CenturyLink for lack of documentation and customer service response times.
Staff found company violated requirements for live representative response times and providing documentation
LACEY, Wash. – The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission filed a complaint against CenturyLink Communications, LLC for excessive wait times to reach a live customer service representative and not providing required documentation to the commission.
In an investigation, UTC staff found that CenturyLink violated commission rules by not connecting customers with a live representative within 60 seconds from the time the caller selected to speak to a live representative. Staff found that CenturyLink committed nine violations of this law from March 2022 through November 2022.
During the investigation, staff also found that CenturyLink failed to provide all requested documentation to the commission within 10 business days of the request. Staff found that CenturyLink committed 234 such violations from March 2023 through February 2024.
Staff are asking the commission to assess CenturyLink a penalty of up to $1,000 for each violation of requested documentation, totaling $243,000. Staff are also requesting an additional $1,000 per each violation of customer service response times, totaling $9,000. The combined total amount for all violations recommended is $252,000.
Initially, UTC staff discovered the violation after receiving several complaints from CenturyLink customers about excessive call wait times and their inability to reach a customer service representative.
The Utilities and Transportation Commission will hold a prehearing conference to establish a schedule to review the complaint at 1:30 p.m. on April 8.
CenturyLink, part of Lumen Technologies, is the largest local telephone company in Washington, serving approximately 650,000 residential and business lines.
The UTC regulates the rates and services of telecommunications companies, investor-owned electric utilities, natural gas and water companies, garbage-collection haulers, household-goods movers and passenger transportation companies, commercial ferries, pipeline companies, marine pilotage, and a low-level radioactive waste repository. The commission does not regulate the rates of broadband, cellular, cable, or internet service.
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County Commission work session for 3/18/24
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03182024-1135
Clallam County Commission meeting for 3/19/24
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03192024-1134
City of Port Angeles Council meeting for 3/19/24
https://www.cityofpa.us/DocumentCenter/View/14521/03192024-CC-Agenda-Packet
City of Sequim Special meeting for 3/18/24
https://www.cityofpa.us/DocumentCenter/View/14521/03192024-CC-Agenda-Packet
OMC BOARD MEETING FOR 3/20/24
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS
Jefferson County Commission meeting for 3/18/24
https://test.co.jefferson.wa.us/WeblinkExternal/0/edoc/5178784/031824A.pdf
City of Port Townsend meeting for 3/18/24
https://cityofpt.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=4&event_id=3554
Weekly devotional
BIBLE VERSE: Colossians 3:12 (New International Version)
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Weekly Bible Lesson:
How Is the Whole Church Organized?
The whole church or body of Christ has no government on earth. Its Head is in Heaven and all authority is in His hands (Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18).--TFTW
https://truthfortheworld.org/how-is-the-whole-church-organized
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:
The Globalist Mass Migration Agenda that Led to Laken Riley’s Murder.
On February 22, 2024, Georgia nursing student Laken Riley went for a jog and never returned. This is a murder that could have been prevented just by enforcing our immigration laws. However, Democrats and the media seem more bothered by President Biden’s use of the word “illegal” in his State of the Union address than the ILLEGAL act of murder of an innocent U.S. citizen. It wasn’t always this way.
More than a decade ago, Barack Obama said citizenship is “not guaranteed” and immigrants “must learn English.” So, what changed? Why is there now a big push for mass migration of unvetted immigrants? Glenn reveals how it all ties back to the United Nations’ conspicuously updated list of Sustainable Development Goals. Mass migration suddenly became useful to globalists. He also calls out Cato, the Washington Post, and Jon Stewart’s heartless and bizarre defense of deadly open border consequences. Plus, Glenn’s head writer and researcher Jason Buttrill gives a sneak peek of the new Blaze Originals documentary “Texas vs. The Feds.” He saw the standoff at Eagle Pass firsthand and says the border fight between Republicans and Democrats is smoke and mirrors, and you’ll never look at the immigration crisis the same way again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWW8qH_y7jA
Sunday Worship - 3/10/2024- Four Lakes C. of C
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaxqbHeslr4
NIGHT OWL COMICS
https://pjrnightowlcomics.blogspot.com/
The Port Angeles Globe is a weekly Publication, every Saturday-- Publisher, Peter Ripley
