We can add Impact Bioenergy to Macy’s, Bartell Drugs, countless food trucks, restaurants and downtown businesses who make up a growing list of companies who’ve packed up and moved out of the unhospitable environment of Seattle.  They have stopped believing the spin that everything is fine and have faced the reality that problems keep getting worse. (ShiftWA)

King County is the latest government entity to announce that its “climate change” measures are failing to meet its greenhouse gas emissions goals.  This is not surprising since often these measures are liberal tax or government expansion proposals cloaked in a “climate change” blanket. These measures are failing. Perhaps it is time for us to look at innovation and free market proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (ShiftWA)

The Washington state Board of Health banned the sale of flavored vaping products that contain nicotine or THC.  The board’s vote was unanimous (one member abstained) and is initially for 120 days. The ban does not apply to tribal shops, but the governor’s office said they are reaching out to them for cooperation.  (Kitsap Sun)

The Sierra Club posted a poll stating that 66% of Democrat voters would consider changing presidential candidates if another candidate emphasized climate issues.  Yet the reality is that there was one candidate who emphasized climate change for five months and his support dropped from 1% to 0%.  Even the best efforts of Governor Zero and his sidekick Tina Podlodowski could not convince Democrat grassroots leaders that climate change was an important issue for the voters (Sierra Club/Climate Voters and VICE)

Necessary permits for the proposed Kalama methanol plant have been put on hold by the state Department of Ecology. This is one of two plants Jay Inslee reversed his support for as he sought national environmental money during his failed presidential campaign.  Attorney for the project stated, “This is an unclear and evolving regulatory environment.”  Regional EDC spokesman proclaimed, “The more we ask these companies to jump through hoops, the less likely they’ll be to look at our region as an area to open their business.” 1000 construction jobs and 200 permanent jobs are tied to the plant. (The Daily News)

Washington Department of Natural Resources is planning to thin 1.4 million acres of forest over the next 20 years.  By reducing density, the forest will have less fuel for wildfires and thus they will not spread as rapidly. (Crosscut)

A RV full of trash was parked in front of a home owned by Seattle Councilwoman Lisa Herbold.  At first this was believed to be a political statement about how the city allows RVs to be parked in neighborhoods that bring drug, crime, and sanitation problems.  Yet, this was not a political protest but a coincidental occurrence of someone who bought the camper trailer and planned to clean it out. (Seattle Times)

The person who Mayor Durkin hired for $195,000 a year will be leaving his job in December, yet few people know what he does. The mayor created the high-paying position for Mike Warden and said he was in lead for the city’s efforts to ease traffic problems through downtown prior to the opening of the highway 99 tunnel.   (Seattle Times)

Spokane teachers approved their new contract by a slim 53.5% to 46.5% margin.  Spokane Education Association president said the close vote was due to teachers’ concerns over budget cuts that have impacted class size, maintenance, and security.  During the past year the Spokane School District was forced to make those cuts due to the budget impact of teachers receiving a 13% pay raise in 2018. (Spokesman)

Now that growing hemp is legal, farmers are struggling to make sure their crop stays within acceptable levels of THC.  Hemp must stay below a 0.3% THC level which is the threshold that technically makes it marijuana.  (Washington AG Network)

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