Funds stem from successful lawsuit against gun dealer that illegally sold high-capacity magazines
SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that his office is accepting applications from local law enforcement agencies for $2 million in funding for programs intended to reduce gun violence, promote firearms safety and support victims of gun violence.
Applications for the funding must be submitted by Oct. 31. Applications should be submitted to Cherie Norris, grants and contracts supervisor at the Attorney General’s Office, at FISGrants@atg.wa.gov or by mail at 7141 Cleanwater Dr. SW, P.O. Box 40107, Olympia, WA 98504-0107.
The one-time funding opportunity is the result of a lawsuit enforcing Washington’s ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines. A King County judge ruled Federal Way Discount Guns violated the law by selling thousands of high-capacity magazines, and the store paid $3 million. Ferguson chose to use $2 million of that money to fund law enforcement efforts to support efforts to reduce gun violence.
“Putting this money directly in the hands of local law enforcement will improve public safety in communities across our state,” Ferguson said. “These funds will combat gun violence and offset the harm caused by the brazen and unlawful actions of Federal Way Discount Guns.”
Any local police department, county sheriff’s office or tribal police agency in Washington is eligible to apply for the funding. Applicants must demonstrate how gun violence is impacting their community, supported by relevant data, and clearly articulate how they will use the funding to achieve concrete goals to address the problem.
Agencies have 60 days to apply for the funds. Agencies that receive funds must keep track of how the funds are used.
If you have questions about the application process, please contact FISGrants@atg.wa.gov or call 360-709-6465.
Federal Way Discount Guns lawsuit results in gun violence prevention funding
Ferguson’s consumer protection lawsuit against Federal Way Discount Guns led to a resolution that funded this opportunity.
Washington prohibits the sale of magazines with the capacity to hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Ferguson's investigation into Federal Way Discount Guns found that the retailer sold 3,625 of these unlawful high-capacity magazines between July 1, 2022 — when the law went into effect — and December 2022, when Ferguson filed his lawsuit.
In April 2023, a King County judge ruled Federal Way Discount Guns broke the law. As a result of the case, Federal Way Discount Guns paid $3 million to the Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office is retaining approximately $1 million for the office’s costs to investigate and litigate the case, and will disperse up to $2 million to local law enforcement agencies to support gun violence prevention efforts.
The $2 million in funding is known as a cy pres distribution, meaning an indirect form of restitution rather than individual payments direct to consumers.
When resolving lawsuits, the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office often recovers costs and fees incurred in bringing the actions, as well as civil penalties and restitution. Whenever possible, the Attorney General attempts to provide direct restitution to consumers who were harmed by the conduct of the subject of a lawsuit.
However, it is not always possible to identify each consumer who was harmed, or the amount of money available for each individual makes it impractical to distribute money directly to consumers. In those situations, courts can allow a cy pres distribution. Cy pres means “as near as possible,” and requires that funds be distributed in a manner that benefits the category of consumers harmed by the illegal conduct.
You can learn more about cy pres awards from the Attorney General’s Office here./WAAG
IN OTHER STATE NEWS HEADLINES:
Attorney General’s sex predator unit seeks to prevent release of Whatcom County sex offender.
BELLINGHAM — Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a petition today urging a Whatcom County Superior Court judge to civilly commit a sex offender to McNeil Island, preventing his release into the community./WAAG
Climate Commitment Act at work in communities: Commerce awards nearly $8 million to help assess, aid local governments in addressing clean buildings requirements/WA COMMERCE DEPT.
Investigating the French Creek orange water mystery.
For the past few summers, neighbors along French Creek in Snohomish County have been noticing an intriguing change — an unusual orange hue in the stream, particularly where it flows into the Snohomish River. This peculiar color shift has sparked curiosity and concern among the community./DOE
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/september-2024/investigating-the-french-creek-orange-water-mystery
WDFW statement on Ferry County black bear incident.
On Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Officers received a report of a human-black bear incident with documented injuries on private property near Mink Creek Road in Ferry County. A female victim and her dogs were hiking when she was charged by a black bear./ WDFW
https://wdfw.wa.gov/newsroom/wdfw-statement/wdfw-statement-ferry-county-black-bear-incident
WDFW announces 42 tentative days of coastal razor clam digging opportunities beginning Oct. 3-7.
OLYMPIA – Shellfish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) today announced 42 tentative days of razor clam digs at four coastal beaches from Oct. 3 through Dec. 31./ WDFW
2) NEWS FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION:
In Seattle, Senator Murray Visits Daybreak Star & Meets with United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, Affirms Strong Support for Tribal Communities/ from press release issued 9/5/24
FDA Initiates New Studies on Toxic Metals in Tampons Following Push from Senator Murray
Murray announces FDA has responded to her July letter about toxic metals in tampons confirming it has commissioned an independent review of the literature, and is conducting a new study on the issue./Press release issued 9/5/24
In Pierce County, Senator Murray Highlights Early Childhood Education, Workforce Training, and Efforts to Fund Local Initiatives
Murray discussed two issues that have been top priorities for her in Congress, early childhood education and workforce training; Murray is working to support local Pierce county initiatives with federal funding./ From press release issued 9/4/24
Cantwell, Colleagues Protest Proposal That Would Limit Access & Endanger Climbers in National Parks and Forests
In bipartisan letter to Interior & Ag Secretaries, Senators express concern over draft rules that would severely limit use of fixed anchors on 50,000 climbing routes in wilderness areas, including iconic climbs in North Cascades, Zion, & Yosemite; Over eight million climbers in U.S. are responsible for over $10 billion in outdoor recreation economy./Press release issued 9/5/24
3) WORLD< NATION< BUSINESS
WORLD:
Two New Outstanding Issues with Syria’s Chemical Weapon Declarations ‘Extremely Worrying’, United Nations Official Tells Security Council
Insufficient information provided by Syria regarding potentially undeclared chemical-weapons activities resulted in the opening of two new outstanding issues with Syria’s declaration under the Chemical Weapons Convention, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, noting that 19 of the now 26 such matters remain unresolved./UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15811.doc.htm
‘Catalogue of Human Misery Must Stop, Our World Needs Peace’, Secretary-General Stresses, in Video Message for International Day
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the International Day of Peace, observed on 21 September/ UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22354.doc.htm
China-Africa Partnership ‘Can Drive Renewable Energy Revolution’, Says Secretary-General in Remarks to Cooperation Summit./UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22353.doc.htm
Joint Statement on the Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan.
We, the Security Council members that have a strong interest in the human rights situation in Afghanistan -Ecuador, France, Guyana, Malta, Mozambique, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and my own country Japan- have come together today to express our deep concern about the so-called “morality law” which was announced by the Taliban recently./USUN
https://usun.usmission.gov/joint-statement-on-the-human-rights-situation-in-afghanistan/
Hong Kong Business Advisory.
On September 6, the U.S. Departments of State, Agriculture, Commerce, Homeland Security, and Treasury jointly released an updated (last issued in July 2021), warning U.S. businesses about risks to their operations and activities in Hong Kong./ US STATE DEPT.
https://www.state.gov/hong-kong-business-advisory/
NATION:
Days After Labor Day, Biden-Harris Administration Issues Executive Order to Promote Good Jobs Through Investing in America Agenda/WH
AI Security Center Keeps DOD at Cusp of Rapidly Emerging Technology.
The director of the National Security Agency said the agency's new Artificial Intelligence Security Center is paying dividends in the Defense Department's efforts to stay at the cutting edge of the rapidly advancing technology./DOD
Medical Device Company to Pay $700,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Concerning Inflated Reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid/DOJ
Raising the Bar Across America
Education Department Releases State Fact Sheets Detailing Biden-Harris Administration Investments in America’s Students, Schools, and Colleges
Since day one of their Administration, President Biden and Vice President Harris have made fighting for public education a top priority – and they have delivered, with unprecedented investments in our nation’s public schools, colleges, and universities. Thanks to President Biden’s and Vice President Harris’s leadership, schools and campuses across America reopened safely from COVID-19, and with continued support, they are making a strong recovery – helping students succeed and be prepared for a bright future in a global economy./DEPT. of ED
https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/raising-bar-across-america
Youth E-Cigarette Use Drops to Lowest Level in a Decade.
Half a million fewer U.S. youth reported current use of e-cigarettes in 2024 compared to 2023, according to new data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) released today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention./CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0905-youth-ecigarette.html
BUSINESS:
U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Announce $1.3 Billion Recovered from High-Income, High-Wealth Individuals Under Biden-Harris Inflation Reduction Act Initiatives./US TREASURY
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2562
The Time Has Come
Governor Christopher J. Waller
At the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana./THE FED
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/waller20240906a.htm
IRS reminder: Third estimated tax payment due Sept. 16; disaster-area taxpayers have more time./ IRS
Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on ERS’ 2024 Farm Sector Income Forecast/USDA
US Department of Labor obtains judgment requiring Pennsylvania in-home care agency to pay $1M to 193 employees denied minimum wage, overtime./DEPT. of LABOR
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20240904-0
IN FOCUS & LOCAL MEETINGS:
IN FOCUS: Trust Land Transfer Funding Request Approved by Board of Natural Resources.
DNR will ask Legislature to fund 8 transactions that would conserve 12,299 acres of forests and grasslands, fund replacement of trust land
The Washington State Board of Natural Resources approved a priority list of eight parcels for legislative funding to conserve via the Trust Land Transfer program during its meeting Wednesday morning at the Natural Resources Building.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources will submit the ranked list of properties, which come from five different counties across the state, to the Office of Financial Management and the Governor’s Office as part of agency funding requests for the next legislative session. The 12,299 acres of land are proposed to be transferred to Tribes and public agencies, including DNR’s Natural Areas Program and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The transfers must be funded by the Legislature before they can be completed.
“The Trust Land Transfer tool is a pivotal way to conserve lands while supporting public services and Washington’s rural economy, and from the Columbia Basin to the coast, these parcels are a great example of the benefits this program provides to the Evergreen State,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, chair of the Board and elected leader of DNR.
A 12-member volunteer committee ranked the applications based on five weighted criteria – community involvement and support, ecological values, economic values, public benefits, and tribal support – adopted with the help of beneficiaries, tribes, industry, and conservation groups. The criteria were tested in a pilot project in 2022, and the Board formally adopted them earlier this year.
DNR generates more than $250 million each year through the management of trust lands, which are required to generate revenue to support schools, colleges, and critical local services across Washington state. That revenue comes from sustainable forest management, agricultural leases, clean energy leases, and commercial real estate leases.
The Trust Land Transfer tool is designed to transfer trust lands that produce no or minimal revenue but do provide important ecological values or public benefits. If funded by the Legislature, DNR will transfer these lands to public agencies for conservation or recreation purposes and then replace them with lands better suited to generate money to support school construction and local governments.
This is the first time that the Trust Land Transfer tool is being used since the Legislature codified it during the 2023 session. The program had existed since 1989, conserving more than 125,000 acres of Common School Trust lands that support K-12 school construction statewide. Now, the program is available for all types of DNR-managed trust lands.
Here are more details on each of the eight parcels included in the package, in ranked order:
Beckler 6, King County: This 676-acre parcel 4 miles north of Skykomish would be transferred to the Tulalip Tribes and continue to be managed for conservation. The Beckler River bisects the parcel, which is surrounded by the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on three sides and is more than 3 miles from the nearest DNR-managed parcel. DNR currently manages the parcel as long-term forest cover under its State Uplands Habitat Conservation Plan with the federal government. The Alpine Lakes Protection Society submitted this application.
The parcel is currently designated to support the Scientific School Trust, which generates revenue for capital projects for Washington State University.
Okanogan G, Okanogan County: This 42-acre parcel 1 mile south of Twisp would be transferred to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation to restore and maintain riparian habitat along the Methow River. DNR had previously managed the parcel under a grazing lease before designating the parcel for disposal in 2019 because of the minimal revenue it generated. The parcel is approximately 2 miles from the nearest DNR-managed parcels.
The parcel is currently designated to support the Common School Trust, which funds K-12 school construction across Washington state.
Tract C East, Tract C North and Tract C South, Yakima County: These three proposals, totaling 9,936 acres, would be transferred to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. The parcels are on the western edge of the Ahtanum State Forest, approximately 25 miles west of Yakima, and Tract C North and Tract C South are both in checkerboard ownership with Yakama Nation lands. The parcels are in the usual and accustomed areas of the Yakama Nation, and they have minimal potential to generate revenue for DNR’s trust beneficiaries.
The parcels were split into three applications to ensure that their size fit within the scope of the Trust Land Transfer program. All of the lands are currently designated to support the Common School Trust.
Babcock Bench, Grant County: These two parcels about 6 miles southwest of Quincy, totaling 1,235 acres, would be transferred to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to be managed as part of the Quincy Lakes Unit of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area. The parcels include habitat for a host of plant and animal species of concern, including shrub-steppe ecosystems and roosting for at least eight species of bats.
The parcels, both of which are currently managed to support the Common School Trust, are currently leased to and managed by WDFW, and their transfer would eliminate an inholding and an edge-holding to the Quincy Lakes Unit.
South Lake Ozette, Clallam County: This forested parcel 12 miles northwest of Forks, totaling 372 acres, would be transferred to the Quileute Tribe for conservation and cultural purposes. The parcel, which is directly south of Olympic National Park, includes two creeks that drain into Lake Ozette and provides habitat for the endangered Lake Ozette sockeye salmon run, as well as the federally threatened marbled murrelet and Northern spotted owl.
The parcel currently is designated to support the Common School Trust.
Middle Fork Snoqualmie, King County: This parcel 2 miles southeast of North Bend, totaling 95 acres, would be transferred to DNR’s Natural Areas Program and added to the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Natural Resources Conservation Area. The parcel, the majority of which is not available for timber harvest because of buffers to protect water quality, is currently managed as long-term forest cover. It is adjacent to the Middle Fork Snoqualmie NRCA to the east and west, and it is already within the long-term boundaries of the conservation area.
The parcel is currently designated to support King County public services.
ref. https://www.dnr.wa.gov/news/trust-land-transfer-funding-request-approved-board-natural-resources
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County work session for 9/9/24
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09092024-1285
Clallam County Commission meeting for 9/10/24
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09102024-1286
City of Sequim Council meeting for 9/9/24
https://sequimwa.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=122
City of Forks Council 9/9/24
https://forkswashington.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Agenda-20240909.pdf
Clallam County PUD meeting for 9/9/24
https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/clallampud/Board.nsf/Public
Port of Port Angeles Commission meeting for 9/10/24
https://portofpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Comm-Pkt-9-10-24.pdf
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS:
Jefferson County Commission meeting for 9/9/24
https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/06ed565f-11d9-4118-b2ea-fb0d059f628a
Port of Port Townsend Commission meeting for 9/11/24
https://portofpt.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-09-11-CommMtg-Agenda.pdf
Weekly devotional
BIBLE VERSE: Colossians 1:28 (New International Version)
He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
Weekly Bible Lesson:
Pearls From Philippians - Chapter 4
Today marks the final lesson in this series of lessons, each dealing with highlights from each of the four chapters of this great epistle of Paul to the Philippians. Chapter 4 might be described as a chapter which gives a formula for peace, a peace “which passeth all understanding.” Surely we all seek peaceful living; yet do we seek it from the proper source?--TFTW
https://truthfortheworld.org/pearls-from-philippians-chapter-4
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:
FACT CHECK: Are Illegal Immigrants Voting in Our Elections?
Americans are finally starting the feel the impact of unchecked immigration under the Biden-Harris administration. Venezuelan gangs are terrorizing communities. Illegal immigrants in New York City now account for 75% of arrests in Midtown Manhattan. This isn’t by accident. It’s a globalist plan to overwhelm and collapse our country. Glenn Beck saw this coming back during the Arab Spring. He predicted how the movement would see Islamists, anarchists, Marxists, and progressives all working together.
It would cascade throughout Europe and eventually to the United States. Now, in the middle of this chaos, there are two issues that citizens in every Western country — including ours — are being censored over: immigration and elections. Glenn connects the dots and does a deep dive on the data to answer: Are illegal immigrants voting in our elections? And if so, are the numbers meaningful enough to actually choose the next candidate? The numbers in the swing states are shocking! Some of the best work that exposes the White House’s master plan on illegal immigration has been produced by Mike Howell at the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project. He joins Glenn to separate fact from fiction on how widespread illegal voting by noncitizens really is and explains why Democrats in Congress really don’t want to pass the SAVE Act. “They’re lying to you. ... Illegal voting is a largely unpoliced matter by design.”---Glenn Beck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7q1mp3RyT4
Mark Levin Audio Rewind - 9/6/24
On Friday’s Mark Levin Show, WREC radio host Ben Ferguson fills in for Mark. Former VP Dick Cheney has endorsed Kamala Harris and says Donald Trump is a threat that can never be trusted with power again. Cheney is still mad about Liz Cheney losing her spot in Congress and her relevancy because of Trump and has joined the never-Trumpers and fake Republicans like Adam Kinzinger. If you care about our country, you don’t put a Marxist in office. Also, when Trump won in 2016 the political elites and the establishment hated him because he disrupted their world. There was a line or a pecking order in politics and they waited their turn. Trump disrupted the establishment and the Republican party by using his fame and notoriety to jump the line and become president. The Obamas, the Clintons, the Cheneys, etc were furious. Later, the open border under the Biden-Harris administration, combined with anti-police policies and mentality, has led to gangs taking over entire cities in America like Aurora, CO. The communist Marxist Democrats have put us all in danger and now American citizens are hostage to cartels.--Mark Levin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btBCMRWmRCg
Sunday Worship 9/1/2024--Four Lakes C. of C
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0iXHdgZLfs
NIGHT OWL COMICS
https://pjrnightowlcomics.blogspot.com/
The Port Angeles Globe is a weekly Publication, every Saturday-- Publisher, Peter Ripley
