Governor Inslee signed an executive order yesterday instructing state agencies to better protect orcas. Inslee said of the executive action, “As the orca go, so go we.” Which reminds us, isn’t it time SNL brought back “Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey”? (Associated Press)

Rep. Kristine Lytton (D-Anacortes) announced she is joining the already long list of retiring legislators. Lytton was heavily involved in budget talks this session as the Chair of the House Finance Committee. (Bellingham Herald)

“Tax burdens should not be increased slightly…We have to go big or go home.” So said a member of Seattle’s homelessness task force yesterday to the Seattle City Council. The council is full-speed ahead on its latest tax on the job-producing businesses that help the city thrive. The head tax, or similar models, would likely tax employers either with a flat fee per employee or as a percentage of payroll. (MyNorthwest)

Seattle’s soda tax is as confusing as it is controversial, with stores and customers remaining unsure about how the tax actually works. Jesse Jones took a deep dive into the world of soda taxes and found unanswered question after question. “We’ve gone to stores where people actually charged the sugary drink tax on diet drinks and they shouldn’t have,” Jones said. (MyNorthwest)

Heroin injection sites in unincorporated Snohomish County are now banned after unanimous County Council action. Councilmember Nate Nehring said he was “stunned but what I saw” when visiting Vancouver, B.C.’s supervised injection site. “There is nothing safe or compassionate about enabling addiction and perpetuating the real suffering that addiction causes these individuals.” (Everett Herald)

Fish & Wildlife officers stretched too thin means more poachers are getting away with the crime. But with cell phone cameras now prevalent, hunters and fishers are encouraged to report poaching incidents to the department. “We do get a little frustrated because the penalties that are in place for a lot of poaching and wildlife crimes do seem to be very lenient,” Lee Davis of Eye in the Woods said. “The only way we’re ever going to get those increased is if we apply public pressure to our legislators.” (Yakima Herald-Republic)

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) gave Richland’s nuclear fuel plant high marks for its safety operations, safeguards, and radiological controls. The NRC said the plant managed its activities safely and securely, protecting public health and the environment. (Tri-City Herald)

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