Building a stronger, more just & transparent democracy
Building a stronger, more just & transparent democracy
Sorted by date Results 1 - 24 of 24
Washington currently has the fewest adult entertainment establishments per capita in the country. The reason? They are not allowed to serve alcohol. But if a bill in the state Legislature wins approval, Washington could soon join the rest of the country in allowing alcohol sales in strip clubs. Adult dancers say if this change is approved, workplace security should be required. "Washington State has had a war on strip clubs for a long time, and that is the reason why we have...
Some fear Artificial Intelligence (AI) might open a dark chapter to a dystopian future. Others say the progress it promises is virtually unlimited. To find a balance among those concerns, Washington state is considering launching a task force to determine how it can best promote the most beneficial uses while mitigating potential challenges. Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, has introduced a bill, SB 5838, that would establish the task force. The bill has 17 Democratic and 2...
Kroger and Albertsons claim a proposed merger worth 24.6 billion will result in better prices for grocery shoppers, but many fear food prices will go up and jobs could be lost as the stores eliminate competition. Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit to stop the merger, which was announced in a Seattle press conference Jan. 15. "Our job is to make sure there is a level playing field for Washington consumers and that means pushing back against the consolidation of...
The story of Geri Florek is a story of the Wahkiakum County Eagle. Or perhaps, the story of the Eagle is a story of Geri. After 30 years, it's hard to tell anymore. Their tales are too intertwined. It's also a story of three publishers. It's Rick Nelson's story, and Bob Nelson's story before him. It's the beginning of Brandon J. Simmons' story. And it's mine. Geri's life encompasses the chapters of so many who have walked through the Eagle's doors these last 30 years, all...
MOUNT VERNON - When a brand-new wedding venue opened up next door to longtime cattle rancher Terry Sapp's place, he saw the potential for serious, perhaps literal, rain-on-parade incidents. Farming chores the Skagit County farmer used to do anytime he needed - pumping manure or moving cows from pasture to pasture - created a range of problems for wedding guests and the occasional bridal couple, even though the land they stood on had long been designated for farmers....
The United States Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division found Ostrom Mushroom Farms LLC failed to pay its workers the required wage rate, nor did they provide cooking facilities or three meals per day, which are all violations of the H-2A temporary agricultural program, according to a press release from the DOL on Thursday, August 10. The press release goes on to say that workers discovered the housing listed in the job order was not available, and that Ostrom Farms...
CATHLAMET - The Eagle continues to soar! Just two months after the death of beloved publisher Rick Nelson, the Wahkiakum County Eagle has new bosses. They are his son Jacob and his husband Brandon J. Simmons. Both are enthused about playing leadership roles while preparing for the retirement of Geri Florek, long-time production manager. She stepped up as acting publisher during Nelson's cancer battle. The family will continue to own the paper. Jacob will continue to work for...
The first thing Gig Harbor resident Sandra Wade does when she wakes up in the morning is have her service dog, Pharrell, retrieve his collar with a cue she calls "yours." After she puts it on him, he then brings her red medical bag to her and, if she needs a shoehorn, she uses the cue "feet" to have him get it. Pharrell, an English Labrador trained by Bellingham-based Brigadoon Service Dogs, has been with Wade, 66, for five years. Diagnosed with PTSD, Wade, an Army veteran who...
The Washington State Transportation Commission is proposing to increase ferry fares over the next two years to meet revenue requirements set by the state Legislature. Ferry riders and members of the public are invited to weigh in and can submit their comments through July 30. The proposed fare changes come after public input gathered through recent community meetings hosted by Washington State Ferries and an online survey hosted by the commission. The proposed fare increase...
WENATCHEE - Last year's cold, wet April brought the cherry crop down. But this year, the Washington state cherry harvest is in full swing, and the industry is optimistic about it. Around 21 million 20-pound boxes are expected for harvest, said Tim Kovis, director of communications and events for the Washington State Tree Fruit Association. That is due to summer-like days in the spring months. "There's been more ideal conditions this year," Kovis said. "Cherry trees love when...
Alaska Airlines is adding new nonstop service between Paine Field and Honolulu starting this fall – its first flight connecting Snohomish County and the Hawaiian Islands. The daily, year-round flight begins on Nov. 17, ahead of the holiday season. "Alaska Airlines continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to providing more convenient, direct routes for both business and leisure passengers from Seattle's second airport," said Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller, which operates t...
ILWACO - After about five years of producing increasingly higher yields and record sales, one of Pacific County's fastest-growing cash crops is showing signs of slowing down, with some licensed marijuana growers scaling back operations while local retailers report wilting sales. Plagued by a statewide oversupply in the marijuana market, some local growers are trimming production as they struggle to find space on store shelves. 'You just have to try to survive' On Thursday,...
Employers would be prohibited from denying a person a job for their non-work-related cannabis use in a bill passed by the state Senate 28-21 and the House of Representatives 57-41. Currently, there is one difference between the two houses. The House bill excludes people seeking positions as a first responder or corrections officer, or with a law enforcement agency or a fire department. Both bills exclude applicants in the aviation and aerospace industries because of federal transportation rules. Beyond those exemptions,...
Cannabis stores may be able to display larger outdoor signs if they comply with local ordinances rather than statewide regulations from the Liquor and Cannabis Board under a proposal in the state Legislature. Vicki Christophersen, Washington CannaBusiness Association Executive Director, said the bill does nothing to change the LCB’s authority to regulate the content of the signs, whether it be a billboard or a sign on the store. What the bill does is make regulation of the sign’s size and the number of signs subject to loc...
Delivery drivers working for firms such as DoorDash and Instacart would be required to purchase a $50 state license and complete a certified class to deliver alcoholic beverages from bars and restaurants if a House bill under consideration passes. Under current law, a class 12 permit is required for managers, bartenders and servers engaging in alcohol sales. House Bill 1375, sponsored by Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way, would require delivery drivers to have to have the same permit. Reeves said the bill is not an expansion of...
Interns and employees between the ages of 18 and 23 in the alcoholic beverage industry will be able engage in handling liquor under certain circumstances, if a bill presented in the Legislature is adopted. House Bill 1299, by Rep. Kelly Chambers, R-Puyallup, would allow certain businesses to employ interns and employees between 18 and 21 to transport, handle or possess liquor, said Matt Sterling. The bill would also permit a bar or restaurant to allow underage employees to stock and handle liquor if a person over the age of...
When newspapers close, communities lose and democracy declines. It is happening in Washington state. A new study by the League of Women Voters of Washington is blunt: “Local newspapers are in crisis.” Since 2004 over 25 weeklies and three dailies have closed, roughly 20% of the state’s newspapers. The impact on communities – readers and nonreaders – is significant. Citizens are “experiencing an explosion of mis- and disinformation, creating significant challenges for public health officials and others. Coverage of governme...
If you strolled by SanKai recently, you've seen what appears to be a trio of see-through igloos outside its Fourth Avenue North location. Nope. They are geodesic domes constructed from high-strength polycarbonate material 200 times stronger than glass and capable of sustaining 70 mph winds. That's a mouthful. So go ahead and call them domes. Or igloos. Or dome pods. They are booming in popularity worldwide after the worst of the pandemic subsided (we think) and are especially...
Mail Boxes International owner Brant Baron stands in his H Street company's storage room lined with boxes. Holiday sales have returned to normal this year, which is about 50 percent more than nonseasonal times, Baron says, but overall business is not operating at prepandemic levels. "We're still not back to where we were precovid," Baron said. "There's still a lot of people who haven't been back to the states since. But we're hearing more and more people every day saying,...
RAYMOND - Weyerhaeuser workers reported back to work on Monday, Oct. 31, less than a week after 54% of union voters from the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) approved a new contract. The slim margin left a rift, with 46% of the workers unhappy with the outcome. Details of the negotiations and final contract have been kept under tight wraps. An inquiry from the Observer to IAMAW Vice President Brandon Bryant resulted in a vague response that...
Winemakers across Southwest Washington hope to federally recognize the region for its grape-growing and production. On Aug. 15, the Southwest Washington Winery Association announced it had submitted a petition to be recognized as an American Viticultural Area (AVA.) The distinction comes through the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which is part of the Department of the U.S. Treasury. It would allow wineries in the area to mark their labels with a...
Driving through Stanwood on Highway 532, shoppers find an assortment of familiar chain stores like QFC, Haggen, Grocery Outlet, Rite Aid and Dollar Tree. But just a block or so north of the highway are the main streets of Stanwood's historic commercial core, which for decades was the most-used route through town. In the first half of the 20th century, shoppers and visitors could stroll the streets finding myriad stores, restaurants, hotels and other businesses. Like so many...
An "anti-resume" app. When it comes to new tech startups that show up on national radar, the Whatcom and Skagit county region has often been a no-fly zone. Or perhaps it's just an area that's really good at stealth scaling. Jyst, a new Mount Vernon-based company working to create a straightforward, app-based job marketplace for what it calls "foundational workers," clearly hopes it's the latter. Jyst launched its beta early in 2022 with an Android and iOS app to solve a...
When you wake up after a dream, the dream fades away because it wasn't real. I dreamt of starting the first Chinese newspaper in the Pacific Northwest in October 1981. I woke up after 40 years, and it still exists because it wasn't a fantasy. (Our 40th anniversary is Jan. 20, 2022.) Some say the newspaper is able to continue due to hard work, grit, and a great team. We all know that, don't we!? We are still here because I have always listened to the needs of our readers and...
