‘Hands Off’ protest in Friday Harbor planned for courthouse lawn at noon Saturday, April 5
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‘Hands Off’ protest in Friday Harbor planned for courthouse lawn at noon Saturday, April 5

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news outlet, SanJuans.Today takes no positions on political causes or campaigns. Nor do we accept paid political advertising for any cause or candidate. We are always interested in hearing all credible sides of any issue. We offer “equal time” to persons on all major sides of political causes. FOLLOWING IS A…

CDN: 37 workers arrested at Mt. Baker Roofing in ICE raid Wednesday
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CDN: 37 workers arrested at Mt. Baker Roofing in ICE raid Wednesday

Thursday, April 3, 2025 Cascadia Daily News has reported that Federal Immigration officers detained 37 workers at a Bellingham roofing company and took them away in buses Wednesday. The Seattle Times is calling it the first full-scale workplace raid in Washington since President Donald Trump took office. Read the CDN’s coverage here. Seattle Times coverage…

County’s pilot passenger ferry services will be free to public – program could expire June 30
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County’s pilot passenger ferry services will be free to public – program could expire June 30

Thursday, April 3, 2025 FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT BY SAN JUAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT During this week’s March 31 Council meeting, the San Juan County Council reviewed responses to the County’s Request for Proposals (RFP) as part of the pilot project to establish marine transportation services throughout the islands. These services will be available at no…

EDC invites participation in survey regarding business & workforce needs
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EDC invites participation in survey regarding business & workforce needs

Thursday, April 3, 2025 FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT BY THE EDC The EDC, a nonprofit organization, has launched a survey to assess business and workforce needs in San Juan County.  Responses to the survey are confidential and will be anonymized, aggregated, and used to determine programs and resources intended to help the EDC understand the…

OPALCO Annual Member Festival: April 25, 3:00-6:00 p.m.
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OPALCO Annual Member Festival: April 25, 3:00-6:00 p.m.

Member Appreciation Event Celebrating Local Power Tuesday, April 1, 2025 FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT BY OPALCO Get ready for the most electrifying event of the year – the OPALCO Annual Member Festival! Mark your calendars for April 25, when San Juan County Fairgrounds will be transformed into a hub of fun, freebies, and festivities for…

Gov. Ferguson warns Democratic legislature they aren’t close yet to a budget he will sign
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Gov. Ferguson warns Democratic legislature they aren’t close yet to a budget he will sign

Tuesday, April 1, 2025Reported by Albert James Following is a production of the Washington State University (WSU) Olympia News Bureau, run by the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication News Fellowship Program. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson weighed in on legislative Democrats’ budget plans this afternoon. Throwing water on key proposals to bring in more money…

PULL THE PLUG ON FACs?  State legislature considering suspension of WSF ferry advisory committees for 2 years — or forever
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PULL THE PLUG ON FACs? State legislature considering suspension of WSF ferry advisory committees for 2 years — or forever

Tuesday, April 1, 2025by Jeff Noedelvideo by Jeremy Tyler Ferry activists and local leaders reading the recently-passed State Senate transportation budget (ESSB 5161) were shocked to find a major policy shift proposed on page 105 of the 260-page bill. Section 720 of the bill details the make-up of Washington State Ferries ferry advisory committees. In…

SAN JUAN ISLANDER JOHN J. NANCE: ‘Aviation safety is a delicate balance’
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SAN JUAN ISLANDER JOHN J. NANCE: ‘Aviation safety is a delicate balance’

Compares FAA employee firings to taking a sledge-hammer to a fine-tuned Swiss watch Saturday, March 29, 2025by Jeff Noedel John J. Nance is a retired military and commercial pilot, a journalist and author, and a lawyer. He has appeared on American network television for 30 years. He is the man ABC News turns to when…

OPALCO files a draft license application with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
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OPALCO files a draft license application with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Thursday, March 27, 2025 FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT BY OPALCO OPALCO filed a Draft License Application with the Federal Regulatory Commission (FERC) today for a 10-year pilot project license for OPALCO’s proposed Rosario Strait Tidal Energy Project. In June 2024, OPALCO was awarded a grant by the Department of Energy to file this application and…

FH High School Eco Club members advocate for environment in Olympia Monday
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FH High School Eco Club members advocate for environment in Olympia Monday

Tuesday, March 25, 2025Photos and observations by Jess Newley It was a long day for Friday Harbor High School students — members of the Eco Club. With two advisors leading the way, the delegation of students traveled to Olympia to tour the state capitol and talk face-to-face with legislators. The subjects of the day: ecology…

La Conner community swells support around its new upstart newspaper
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La Conner community swells support around its new upstart newspaper

Wednesday, March 5, 2025by Jeff Noedel In late December, La Conner, Washington lost its weekly newspaper. That newspaper was well over a century old. Attempts to purchase the incumbent newspaper failed and the publisher stopped publication. While more than 2,000 U.S. communities have settled for social media as a replacement for their former weekly newspaper,…

Trump administration cancels 68 grants for LGBTQ health
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Trump administration cancels 68 grants for LGBTQ health

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 The Associated Press is reporting more than $1 billion in grants supporting the health of sexual minorities has been canceled by the Trump administration. The AP reports that last week, at least $1.36 million in future support has been canceled. Read the AP report here.

20 miles north of Orcas Island, Point Roberts struggling under Canadian resentment of U.S. trade war and annexation talk
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20 miles north of Orcas Island, Point Roberts struggling under Canadian resentment of U.S. trade war and annexation talk

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Approximately 20 miles north of Orcas Island is a rare “exclave” of the United States. Point Roberts is a 5-square-mile community with the Salish Sea coast to its west, south, and east. Its northern border is shared with Canada. This community — greatly dependent on goodwill with Canada — is home…

NIH ends future funding to study health effects of climate change
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NIH ends future funding to study health effects of climate change

It’s unclear whether the guidance will impact active grants, but it appears to halt opportunities for future studies. One climate health expert said the directive would have a “devastating” impact on much-needed research. Monday, March 24, 2025A ProPublica Storyby Annie Waldman and Sharon Lerner ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our…