Source link: https://agr.wa.gov/about-wsda/news-and-media-relations/news-releases?article=39803&culture=en-us
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is launching its second year of the Compost Reimbursement Program to continue to encourage on-farm compost use.
All commercial Washington farmers – including those in agriculture, silviculture and aquaculture – are eligible for the program. Participating farms are eligible for 50 percent reimbursement on qualifying costs for compost purchases and associated transportation, equipment, and labor costs. Funding limits for participating farms vary based on farm size and proposed budgets. Participants must agree to conduct soil sampling before and for several years following the application of compost. Additionally, the compost must be purchased from an approved compost facility.
The Washington State Legislature instituted several changes to the program that take effect this year. These changes include prioritizing applications based on the presence of food-waste feedstock in the compost to be purchased, as well as distributing reimbursement funding based on farm size. Additionally, compost may now be purchased from Washington compost facilities that either have a solid waste handling permit or are permit-exempt.
Applications will be accepted starting July 29 at noon through September 12. This year, applicants will be required to provide: (1) a Statewide Vendor Number, (2) a quote from the compost facility where the compost will be purchased, and (3) an estimated budget outlining proposed costs.
Producers must apply to and be approved for the program, ensuring their business and compost source are eligible. Once conditionally approved, program participants must sign a grant agreement contract to become a participant in the program. The grant agreement contract must be signed prior to making purchases and the soil sample must be collected before applying compost. After expenses are incurred, applicants will submit a single reimbursement form for all expenses to WSDA.
IN OTHER STATE NEWS HEADLINES:
AG Ferguson, 6 AGs partner to challenge Regeneron for inflating Medicaid prices.
SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced his partnership with a bipartisan group of six attorneys general in a federal lawsuit asserting New York-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals inflated the price it charged Medicaid for an important eye medication. The scheme resulted in the submission of tens of thousands of false claims to Medicaid and millions of dollars in losses to the states./WAAG
Dollar Tree to reform children’s products testing nationwide, pay nearly $200K, after AG Ferguson investigation reveals toxic products/WAAG
New state rebate program reduces cost to buy or lease electric vehicles for low-income drivers/ WA COMMERCE DEPT
https://www.commerce.wa.gov/news/commerce-opens-ev-rebate-program-2024/
Washington water supply update.
The drought declared April 16 is still in effect. While there was hope for some relief in the fall, it’s looking like the anticipated La Niña conditions will be later and weaker than initially hoped according to experts who met July 24 for Ecology’s monthly Water Supply Availability Committee (WSAC) meeting./DOE
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/august-2024/washington-water-supply-update
State leaders, program recipients celebrate major Paid Family & Medical Leave milestones.
TACOMA – In the five years since Washington launched one of the nation’s most generous paid family and medical leave programs, customers have submitted more than 1 million applications and have received more than $5 billion in benefits.
On Wednesday, Gov. Jay Inslee, Employment Security Department Commissioner Cami Feek, legislators, customers and community leaders highlighted the growing impact of the state’s Paid Family & Medical Leave program./ EDC
https://www.esd.wa.gov/newsroom/paid-family-medical-leave-milestones
2) FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
Senator Murray Secures Over $513 Million for Key Infrastructure, Environmental, and Social Projects and Priorities in Draft Appropriations Bills/From press release issued 7/30/24
Senator Murray’s Bill to Permanently Reauthorize Northwest Straits Commission Passes through Senate Science Committee/press release issued from 7/31/24
Senator Murray Presses For FDA Follow Up On New Findings Of Toxic Metals In Tampons/ from press release 7/29/24
Cantwell Pushes Senate to Vote on Expanding Nation’s No. 1 Affordable Housing Program
Bill would expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit & allow WA to build nearly twice as many affordable homes per year under the credit, the biggest boost in 35 years; Cantwell fought to ensure her legislation making LIHTC improvements was included in bipartisan tax package/press release issued 8/1/24
WORLD< NATION< BUSINESS
WORLD:
General Assembly Recognizes Role of UN Youth Office to Bolster Young People’s Engagement in Global Issues, Advance Agreed Multilateral Frameworks
Delegates Also Adopt Drafts Concerning Upcoming High-Level Meetings on Anti-Microbial Resistance, Existential Threat Posed by Sea-Level Rise/UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2024/ga12616.doc.htm
Multilateral Environmental Treaties Highlighted during High-Level Week; Marine Biodiversity Treaty Opens for Signature at 2023 Treaty Event/UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2024/l3299.doc.htm
Highlighting Indigenous Peoples’ Role as Environmental Guardians, Secretary-General Observance Message Urges Safeguarding Their Rights to Live in Peace, Dignity/UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22324.doc.htm
Second U.S.-Singapore Critical and Emerging Technology Dialogue/US STATE DEPT.
https://www.state.gov/second-u-s-singapore-critical-and-emerging-technology-dialogue/
Statement by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Famine in Sudan’s Zamzam IDP Camp/USUN
NATION:
Second U.S.-Singapore Critical and Emerging Technology Dialogue/WH
Pentagon Official: Alliances Are Key to U.S. Nuclear Deterrence Advantage.
The U.S. maintains an asymmetric strategic advantage through its global network of allies and partners amid increasing competition, a senior Pentagon official said yesterday./DOD
Federal Court Permanently Prohibits Ohio Physician from Prescribing Opioids and Imposes $4.7M Judgment for Alleged Unlawful Opioid Distribution/DOJ
FDA Approves First Gene Therapy to Treat Adults with Metastatic Synovial Sarcoma/FDA
Deputy Director Abbate's Opening Statement to the Joint Hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees/FBI
BUSINESS:
U.S. Department of the Treasury Announces New Mexico Will Join IRS Direct File for Filing Season 2025/US TREASURY
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2517
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Leaders Across the Country Praise Biden-Harris Administration Actions to Provide Financial Assistance to Farmers Who Experienced Discrimination/USDA
IRS Whistleblower Office celebrates National Whistleblower Day; over $7 billion in collected proceeds thanks to whistleblowers/IRS
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCES $45M IN FUNDS AVAILABLE TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AFFECTED BY VIOLENCE, POVERTY/DEPT. of LABOR
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20240731
U.S. and IPEF Partners Establish Supply Chain Bodies and Convene First Virtual Meetings Under Landmark Supply Chain Agreement/US COMMERCE DEPT.
4) IN FOCUS & LOCAL MEETINGS
IN FOCUS: Cantwell on Boeing: “The Company Needs to Move Back to Seattle”.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier today, speaking to reporters after chairing an executive session of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), had this to say about news that Boeing selected Kelly Ortberg as its new CEO.
"The company needs to move back to Seattle. The notion that somebody thinks they can run the company from anywhere other than Seattle is a big mistake."
Sen. Cantwell later released this full statement:
"It's a good first step that the CEO will be based in Seattle, and now the rest of the headquarters needs to move back home to rejoin our world-class aviation workforce. When it comes to quality and safety, being close to the workforce on the ground matters."
Yesterday, Sen. Cantwell announced she sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Whitaker requesting the FAA conduct a root cause analysis to determine any deficiencies in its own oversight of Boeing and other aviation manufacturers.
The letter follows Sen. Cantwell’s most recent Committee hearing on aviation safety, where FAA Administrator Whitaker said the agency was “too hands off” on its oversight of Boeing. Following the Alaska Airlines flight 1282 incident in January, Sen. Cantwell requested that FAA perform a special technical audit of Boeing’s production line. The FAA said the audit found multiple instances where Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements.
Additionally, Sen. Cantwell held an April hearing to review the independent Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) Expert Review Panel’s final report, and a March hearing with National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy on its investigation of the January incident.
In May, Sen. Cantwell led the passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which includes new measures to improve aviation safety, such as putting more safety inspectors on factory floors, addressing the nation’s shortage of air traffic controllers, deploying new runway technology to prevent close calls, mandating new 25-hour cockpit recording systems to assist in investigations, and enhancing aircraft certification reforms.
The FAA Reauthorization Act builds upon the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act of 2020, spearheaded by Sen. Cantwell in the aftermath of the Boeing 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019.
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County work session for 8/5/24
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08052024-1249
Clallam County Commission meeting for 8/6/24
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08062024-1250
Clallam County Homeless Committee for 8/6/24
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08062024-1248
OMC COMMISSION MEETING for 8/7/24
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS
City of Port Townsend Council meeting for 8/5/24
https://cityofpt.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=4&event_id=3563
Weekly devotional
BIBLE VERSE: 1 Samuel 16:7 (New International Version)
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Weekly Bible Lesson:
Only One is the True Church of Christ
Many today believe that all churches are right. In other words, it does not really matter which church one goes to. They say, “God has saved people in all churches. It is up to the individual in each church to be sincere in his worship and accept Jesus as his personal Saviour.” They also say, “God has His children in all denominations. Therefore all churches are the same.”--TFTW
https://truthfortheworld.org/only-one-is-the-true-church-of-christ
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
THIS WEEKS VIDEOS:
Why Leftist Elites Will NEVER Understand J.D. Vance
32,504 views Jul 31, 2024
Democrats and their mouthpieces in the media have branded Trump's VP Pick J.D. Vance as ... "weird." But Glenn explains why that's a GOOD thing. Vance IS weird to leftist elites because they will never understand him. He grew up poor, not with the "white privilege" that Democrats insist all white people have. Instead of staying on government welfare, he pulled himself out of poverty. And perhaps "weirdest" of all to these elites, he's an entrepreneur — proof that the American free market system works.--Glenn Beck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJu0jdnqQkg
Men Punching Women FOR SPORT?! Who’s REALLY to Blame For Olympics NONSENSE.
The Olympics is allowing men to punch women in the face for our entertainment – but who’s fault is this? We could blame the Olympics, Glenn says. But when society stays silent for so long about these issues, maybe we shouldn’t be too surprised when things like this happen. Glenn reviews the story, which saw a fighter from Algeria with XY chromosomes and a very male physique competing in women’s boxing at the Paris Olympics. The match led to the woman in the match crying on her knees. Is this what presidential candidate Kamala Harris means by allowing ourselves to be “unburdened by what has been?” Glenn warns that while Harris’ favorite saying might sound silly, its real meaning is VERY dangerous.--Glenn Beck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbw4XDwh_fk
Sunday Worship 7/28/2024- Four Lakes C. of C
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOCG8LwPyqU
Sunday Worship 7/21/2024-Four Lakes C. of C
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jFgsZZt6wI
NIGHT OWL COMICS
https://pjrnightowlcomics.blogspot.com/
The Port Angeles Globe is a weekly Publication, every Saturday-- Publisher, Peter Ripley
