The Horse Heaven Clean Energy Project in southeastern Washington, which would be the state’s largest wind farm, is nearing final approval after years of delays. Scout Clean Energy’s proposal includes 244 turbines and two solar arrays in Benton County. Environmental concerns, particularly protecting ferruginous hawk nests, led to a scaled-down project recommendation earlier this year. However, Shift WA readers will remember that Jay Inslee requested the council revise the plan to “balance” hawk protection with expanding renewable energy. In other words, Inslee admitted he does not care about hawks – he only cares about achieving his so-called “green” agenda. The updated draft creates smaller, more targeted buffer zones around active nests rather than broader core habitats.

Public comments are being accepted here until August 25, with a final decision expected at an August 29 council meeting.

Read more at Center Square.

Cheney teachers are threatening to strike on August 27 if their demands for a new contract aren’t met, potentially delaying the start of the school year. Of course, this strike is especially concerning given that students are still recovering from learning losses due to COVID-19 shutdowns. Instead of prioritizing students’ education, the union is pushing for salary increases of nearly 20% over two years, despite already being offered 18% over three years.

The union argues that higher pay is needed to stay competitive with neighboring districts. But the reality is that this strike would further harm students who can’t afford more learning disruptions given how much they have fallen behind already. Negotiations have been ongoing since May, with both sides already agreeing on 44 contract items. Unfortunately, the union remains focused on squeezing more money out of a district – financial sustainability be damned.

Striking just as school is set to begin sends a clear message: the union is more concerned about paychecks than helping students catch up on lost learning. After years of educational setbacks, kids deserve stability, not another round of missed classes. Read more at Spokesman Review.

Spokane continues its rapid cycle through police chiefs. On Monday, the City Council unanimously approved Kevin Hall as the next police chief, marking the fourth leadership change in under a year. Hall, a former assistant chief with over 30 years at the Tucson Police Department, is set to start on August 26. He replaces Interim Chief Mike McNab, who briefly filled in after Justin Lundgren’s departure, who himself stepped in following Craig Meidl’s exit shortly after Mayor Lisa Brown’s election. Hall steps into a challenging role, we certainly hope he will be able to take on the city’s significant public safety concerns. Read more at Center Square.

At the Democratic National Convention, a group of far-left delegates from Washington State (and other states) are pressuring Vice President Kamala Harris to abandon U.S. support for Israel, calling for a cease-fire and an end to military aid in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Despite Hamas’s brutal October 7 attack on Israeli civilians, these delegates are more focused on condemning Israel’s response than acknowledging the need for security in the region.

Shift WA readers will remember that the Washington State Democrat Party already approved a resolution calling for the end of military aid to Israel at their convention in June. The resolution – along with the demands of these delegates – signal just how far left the Democrat base has drifted. Their delusion appears to be stronger than ever. Read more at the Seattle Times.

A Washington State employee’s battle to opt out of union dues highlights the underhanded tactics unions use to trap members – according to a recent article from the Freedom Foundation. Despite the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that public employees cannot be forced to join or pay unions, the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) claimed this worker could only opt out during a narrow window in 2025. Unions like WFSE have exploited such “opt-out windows” to sidestep constitutional rights, with courts allowing these tricks to persist.

The worker sought help from the Freedom Foundation, which uncovered that her actual opt-out date was just three months away. WFSE, which lost 700 members last year alone, is increasingly facing pushback as more employees seek financial independence. Read more at the Freedom Foundation.

Have you subscribed to the new Shift WA podcast yet? We’ve already released three full episodes, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive:

• The hosts break down the results of the Washington state primary election. Why are people reflexively voting for Cantwell? What did we learn in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th congressional races? They touch on all those federal questions and pontificate about the major state races including OSPI, commissioner of public lands, and that other one.
• David Olson talks about his bid for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, including the role of OSPI, implications of I-2081, and his approaches to learning loss and school tech policies. He also addresses rising anti-Semitism in schools and the need for more apprenticeships.
• Jacquelin Maycumber outlines her campaign for the 5th congressional district, her reasons for running, and her views on Congress’s role. She covers national debt, entitlement reform, the border crisis, and offers insights on the Jones Act.

Subscribe now and don’t miss out on these critical discussions!

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