Sen. Steve O’Ban is proposing a new bill that calls for an official review to certify a new or existing transportation service, providing better oversight of train transportation. “The public trust absolutely has to be restored. It’s not going to be restored without having the independent bipartisan panel like this weigh in,” said O’Ban. This comes in response to a National Transportation Safety Board review that blamed systemwide failures for the fatal derailment of an Amtrak train in Dupont. (KIRO 7)

An initiative making its way through San Juan County would require greater distance between whale watching boats and the orcas. It would create a 650-yard vessel-free protected area around endangered southern-resident orcas while they are in the county. “It’s a moral imperative; something has got to happen now,” said one supporter of the initiative. (Seattle Times)

Historic Seattle, a Seattle based nonprofit, submitted a letter expressing interest in purchasing The Showbox, with hopes of preserving it. “A building like that deserves to be saved,” Historic Seattle Executive Director Kji Kelly told MyNorthwest. “We feel like this in an opportunity to continue to invest in a property and save it for future generations.” Another interested buyer said they planned to demolish the building and replace it with 44-story apartment building. (MyNorthwest)

Just two weeks after being removed from office, the Thurston County Board of Commissioners voted to reappoint Richard Mankamyer to his post at the Thurston Conservation District. Earlier this year, Mankamyer was removed by the Washington State Conservation Commission for neglect of duty. The commissioners voted 2-1 to reinstate Mankamyer. (The Olympian)

Stephanie Seamans was named as the executive director of the Benton-Franklin Council of Governments. The council helps to provide a regional forum for 17 local counties, cities, ports and other agencies on transportation as well as economic and community planning. “Problems facing this region’s local communities cannot be effectively solved within a single city or county.” (Tri-City Herald)

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