YAKIMA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a petition today urging a Yakima County Superior Court judge to civilly commit a sex offender to McNeil Island, preventing his release into the community.
Michael Murr, 34, pleaded guilty in Yakima County in 2010 to one count of first-degree child molestation. After serving a 45-day sentence, Murr had an additional Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative for five years and eight months. In 2019, he was charged with second-degree attempted child molestation. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Murr is in prison and due for release on Nov. 25. The Attorney General’s Office petitioned to have him committed, alleging that he is mentally ill and dangerous.
The civil commitment petition consists of allegations that have not yet been proven in a court of law. A judge will hold a probable cause hearing for Murr on Nov. 25 to determine whether to confine him at McNeil Island pending a trial.
Prosecutors will still have the burden to prove the allegations in court. A jury verdict must be unanimous to continue to detain an individual on McNeil Island as a sexually violent predator.
Assistant Attorney General Nathan Olson and paralegals Rebecca Hendrickson, Sarah Shaw and Lissa Treadway will handle the case for the state.
Washington’s Sexually Violent Predator law allows the Attorney General’s Office to petition for the civil commitment of violent sex offenders who, because of a mental abnormality and/or personality disorder, are proven likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence if released.
In 1990, Washington became the first state in the nation to pass a law permitting the involuntary civil commitment of sex offenders after they serve their criminal sentences. The Sexually Violent Predator Unit was established shortly thereafter.
The unit is responsible for prosecuting sex predator cases for 38 of Washington’s 39 counties (King County being the exception).
As of late November, there are 181 sexually violent predators in the state’s Special Commitment Program.
IN OTHER STATE NEWS:
Japanese beetles increase, spongy moths decrease in annual trapping
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has wrapped up seasonal trapping for several invasive pests including Japanese beetles and spongy moths. The traps for these pests, which were set and checked several times throughout the summer, have now been removed./WSDA
https://agr.wa.gov/about-wsda/news-and-media-relations/news-releases?article=40408&culture=en-us
Commerce partners with Evergreen Business Capital Community Finance to launch new gap closure loan programs./WA COMMERCE DEPT.
Ecology receives $8.95 million settlement to help reduce air quality impacts from South Tacoma warehouse project./DOE
https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024-news-stories/nov-21-bridge-agreement
Ecology issues final water quality permit for Everett’s Water Pollution Control Facility.
In October 2023, we released a draft water quality permit for the City of Everett’s Water Pollution Control Facility, one of the larger wastewater treatment plants in Washington. After careful consideration of the many public comments that we received, we are issuing the final permit today./DOE
Alleged cryptocurrency trading platform cse-kcrypto.co 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 the CSE-K trading platform (https://cse-kcrypto.co) and C3-Griffin AI Data Investment Group (“C3-Griffin”). It appears that the CSE-K trading platform website has been taken down./DFI
NEWS FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION:
Senator Murray Secures Confirmation of Rebecca Pennell as U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Washington—Filling Nearly All of WA’s Federal Bench with Biden-Harris Judges./from a press release issued 11.20/24
Murray, Durbin Introduce Legislation to Ensure Victims of Discrimination Can Seek Damages in Court, Despite Harmful Supreme Court Ruling./from press release issued 11.20.24
WA Communities Get $9.6M to Treat Substance Abuse & Help Inmates Avoid Relapse Upon Release
Spokane Sheriff also receives $945k to incorporate AI analysis of bodycam footage to improve training
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that two counties and a health agency in the State of Washington will receive a total of $9.6 million for programs aimed at treating people with substance use disorders and helping inmates with substance use disorders re-integrate into their communities upon release without relapsing./ From press release issued 11.20.24
Senate Committee Approves Extension of Bill that Monitors Local Volcanoes
Cantwell’s legislation, first enacted in 2019, has improved monitoring at WA’s five active volcanoes - St. Helens, Rainier, Baker, Adams, & Glacier Peak./press release issued 11.20.24
WORLD< NATIONAL< BUSINESS
WORLD:
Lauding Honourees’ Relentless, Inspiring Work, Secretary-General Tells UN Foundation’s Leadership Awards Dinner That Spirit Needed More than Ever to Tackle Global Challenges./UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22469.doc.htm
Lauding Honourees’ Relentless, Inspiring Work, Secretary-General Tells UN Foundation’s Leadership Awards Dinner That Spirit Needed More than Ever to Tackle Global Challenges./UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22469.doc.htm
Amid Rising Violence in Haiti, Security Council Urges States to Bolster Funding for Security Support Mission, Transfer to UN Peacekeeping Mission
Delegates Objecting to Peacekeeping Mission Cite No ‘Peace to Keep’, Failure of Past Missions./UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15908.doc.htm
Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Political and Humanitarian Situations in Syria./USUN
Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the OSAC Annual Briefing./US STATE DEPT.
NATION:
Statement from President Joe Biden on Warrants Issued by the International Criminal Court.
"The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous. Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security."/WH
Russians Launch New Missile at Dnipro, U.S. Provides Ukraine With New Tactical Weapons./DOD
Co-Founders of Paycheck Protection Program Lender Service Provider Charged for COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme./DOJ
HUD Announces $1.3 Million to Prevent Homelessness
Funding will support housing assistance for young adults transition out of foster care.
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced $1.3 million in funding for 21 Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) across 15 states for young adults under 25 years old who left foster care or are transitioning out of foster care. Through the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program, HUD will help prevent homelessness among young adults and eligible youth. Today’s announcement supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to preventing people from becoming homeless, addressing inequities that disproportionately impact underserved communities, and helping cities and states reduce unsheltered homelessness./HUD
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_24_308
CDC confirms H5N1 Bird Flu Infection in a Child in California.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed a human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) (H5N1 bird flu) in a child in California./CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p1122-h5n1-bird-flu.html
IN FOCUS & LOCAL NEWS:
IN FOCUS: Public workshop Dec. 5 to provide update on Spencer Island restoration project.
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will provide an update on a major restoration project at Spencer Island in Snohomish County on Dec. 5 at an in-person meeting, alongside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and Snohomish County Parks.
The Spencer Island restoration project intends to restore a portion of river delta that was heavily modified when the landscape was developed for grazing and agriculture in the early 1900s. The project would improve important habitat for threatened salmon, increase biodiversity, and normalize water movement at the site. Located in the Snohomish River estuary east of Everett, WDFW manages a portion of the island as the Spencer Island Unit of Snoqualmie Wildlife area.
WDFW, the Corps, and Snohomish County Parks will host an in-person public meeting to discuss proposed site design and potential recreational effects at Spencer Island on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Weyerhaeuser Room, located on the fourth floor of the Everett Transit Station at 3201 Smith Avenue in Everett. The public is invited to ask questions and provide feedback on the updated design proposal.
A previous meeting and public comment period was held in 2023 to discuss preliminary design options. An additional public comment period is also planned for January 2025 as part of required National Environmental Policy Act review.
Materials from the Dec. 5 meeting will be posted to the WDFW website when available; those who are unable to attend the meeting can email questions to lindsey.desmul@dfw.wa.gov.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish, wildlife, and recreational and commercial opportunities.
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County Work Session for 11.25.24
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11252024-1357
Clallam County Commission meeting for 11.26.24
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11262024-1358
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS
Jefferson County Commission meeting for 11.25.24
https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/aa8ae786-688b-494d-bd55-276207dfa038
Port of Port Townsend meeting for 11.26.24
https://portofpt.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-11-26-CommMtg-Agenda.pdf
Weekly devotional
BIBLE VERSE:
Psalm 100:4-5 (New International Version)
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Weekly Bible Lesson:
Sin of Division
Paul wrote the first letter to the Corinthians because he had learned of the problems in the church. The family of Chloe had told him that the church was divided (1:11). Paul had also received a letter from the Corinthians asking him several questions (7:1). Earlier, he had written a letter to them which the Holy Spirit did not include in the New Testament (5:9).--TFTW
https://truthfortheworld.org/sin-of-division
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
Come and See
https://www.comeandseefoundation.org/
THIS WEEKS VIDEOS:
Trump, RFK Jr. Put Health Agencies on NOTICE: Mandate to Fix America Part 2
The resistance from the political and media establishments over Trump’s Cabinet picks has been insane. They’ve smeared Tulsi Gabbard as a Russian asset and Pete Hegseth as a dangerous Christian nationalist with tattoos. A "hacker" (who is definitely not a DOJ leaker) is trying to take down Matt Gaetz. And no one is more terrified of RFK Jr. leading the Department of Health and Human Services than Big Pharma and Big Media.
One of the major subtexts of this election was anger over COVID-19 and how it wrecked trust in government. The pandemic showed us just how broken and politicized our federal health care institutions have become through their harmful policies, dishonesty, and censorship. In part 2 of this Glenn TV miniseries that examines the cancer infesting our nation and the mandate to excise this deep-state rot, Glenn exposes powerful agencies like the CDC, FDA, and NIH. Trump has put these health agencies under the microscope, and they will not like their treatment plan.--Glenn Beck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg49FXQIF-U
Mark Levin Show
On Friday’s Mark Levin Show, Pam Bondi is coming under attack. Every nominee for Attorney General by a Republican president has been attacked or called controversial. The Democrat party believes it owns all the bureaucracy, especially the DOJ. Democrats don’t want the DOJ reformed - they liked what it did to President Trump. The Democrat Party says they want to work in a bipartisan way, but Rep Jamie Raskin and Rep Hakeem Jeffries prove that’s all for show. Good thing they have no role in her nomination. Also, Gen Mark Milley is the latest to smear Pete Hegseth. Milley should have resigned in shame after his surrender in Afghanistan.
Every patriot that Trump nominates is under attack. Trump is picking people who aren’t part of the swamp and that upsets the Democrats. We won’t fall for the Democrat's vicious tactics. They are plotting, in the shadows, on how to derail Trump’s nominees for the purpose of derailing Trump and the outcome of the election. Finally, it used to be when men went into women’s bathrooms they would be arrested - now they have civil rights. How sick is the educational bureaucracy? They are destroying women’s sports and women should not have to put up with this.---Mark Levin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gXWiwmtO5E&t=1461s
Sunday morning worship at the Concord Street Church of Christ on November 17, 2024. David Pharr preached a sermon titled “Concord Culture”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnjDpIsWxow
Other News Sources:
HS distance runner begs school to remove trans athlete amid safety fears: ‘LGBTQ is shoved down our throats’--NY POST
Joy Reid just can’t help but spit venom at Trump supporters: ‘People are rightfully alarmed’/BPR
'Men Are Threatening to Bash My Head In': Nancy Mace Fires Back After Critics Get Violent/WJR
https://www.westernjournal.com/men-threatening-bash-head-nancy-mace-fires-back-critics-get-violent/
NIGHT OWL COMICS
https://pjrnightowlcomics.blogspot.com/
The Port Angeles Globe is a weekly Publication, every Saturday-- Publisher, Peter Ripley
