People of color across Cascadia speak up against climate change | Crosscut
From country towns to South Seattle, activists say the government must listen to long-marginalized communities that feel climate change’s biggest impacts.
Research: Becoming a Manager Doesn’t Always Feel Like a Step Up
There is, however, evidence that some people experience “managerial blues,” or disenchantment with their managerial job, viewing it as less meaningful than their previous one. Such disenchantment can easily push people to exit the managerial ranks not long after joining them, creating potentially a huge loss for the employee’s career and the organization.
Black farmers will receive $5 billion of the stimulus package - The Washington Post
$5 billion would go to farmers of color, who have lost 90 percent of their land over the past century because of systemic discrimination and a cycle of debt
The Salish Seeds Project Spring Native Wildflower Sale | Islands' Sounder
The San Juan County Land Bank is offering a rare opportunity to purchase locally grown wildflowers native to San Juan County. Reserve plants online at sjclandbank.org, March 5 to 12, and pick them up on Saturday, March 20 at locations on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan islands.
Butterfly numbers plummeting in US west as climate crisis takes toll | Butterflies | The Guardian
There has been a 1.6% reduction in the total number of butterflies observed west of the Rocky Mountain range each year since 1977, researchers calculated, which amounts to a staggering loss of butterflies over the timespan of the study period.
Staying in is the most effective way to protect yourself during the pandemic, and that means a lot more time online at home. A VPN can help secure that critical connection.
USDA Invests $285 Million to Improve National Forest and Grassland Infrastructure | USDA
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $285 million to help the Forest Service address critical deferred maintenance and improve transportation and recreation infrastructure on national forests and grasslands.
CDC Says It's Safe For Vaccinated People To Do These Activities, Should Continue Masking In Public | Northwest Public Broadcasting
The CDC has issued new guidance for vaccinated people, giving the green-light to resume some pre-pandemic activities and relax precautions that have been in place.
USDA Seeks Public Comment on Revised Conservation Practice Standards | NRCS
“NRCS wants to ensure that the standards used to carry out the conservation practices are relevant to local agricultural, forestry and natural resource needs,” Acting NRCS Chief Terry Cosby said. “We are revising conservation practice standards to make sure they are the best technology and address the needs of producers and the natural resources on their land.”
Fully vaccinated Americans can safely visit unvaccinated family, CDC says | Ars Technica
People who are fully vaccinated can safely have private visits with unvaccinated people who have a low risk for severe COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today in highly anticipated guidance for vaccinated people.
Lakota rancher to head Farm Service Agency - Indian Country Today
A South Dakota rancher and former head of the Intertribal Agriculture Council has been tapped as the first Indigenous person to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Services Agency.
Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Senate Passage of the American Rescue Plan Act | USDA
If you’re a mother or father struggling to get by, who didn’t always know when or where the next meal would come from, you will rest easier tonight knowing help is on the way. The bill not only boosts SNAP benefits through September, it also increases targeted nutrition assistance to mothers and young children and expedites more nutrition aid to U.S. territories. Farmers, business owners, and workers across the food supply chain will see additional assistance to respond to market disruption, as well.
Boots on the ground: AmeriCorps members support Skookumchuck River restoration - Washington State Department of Ecology
“I really enjoyed the project on the Skookumchuck River as a first planting project. Serving with Thurston Conservation District was a joy as well,” shared AmeriCorps member Kylie Rench. “It was wonderful to have our sponsors with us directly at the site and to plant the beginnings of an oak woodland. I am excited to see how well it does over the years!”
What to Do When Your Employee Is Totally Checked Out
It’s frustrating when a member of your team has mentally checked out. In some cases, this person does only the bare minimum. In other cases, they fail to meet important deadlines, or they drop the ball on critical projects.
Zebra mussels on Marimo moss balls are causing an emergency in WA | Crosscut
From Tuesday to Friday afternoon, zebra mussel sightings have popped up in Washington state, as well as Wyoming, Oregon, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, New York, Pennsylvania and Montana. “This has blown up,” Anderson says. A USGS employee said the agency has heard that at least 12 states have been affected as of Friday afternoon.
A Bipartisan Push Could Change State Wildlife Protection - Route Fifty
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, also known as RAWA, would direct nearly $1.4 billion annually to state and tribal wildlife agencies to protect overlooked species. The bill also would likely require states to put up 25% in matching funds for the money they receive. Wildlife officials say the extra cash would allow them to multiply their work on non-game animals to many times their current capacity.
Tensions over vaccine equity pit rural against urban America - OPB
In Oregon, state GOP lawmakers walked out of a Legislative session last week over the Democratic governor’s vaccine plans, citing rural vaccine distribution among their concerns.
The Equity of Citizen Participation - PA TIMES Online | PA TIMES Online
As public administrators, we are both aware of and resigned to the lack of diversity in our public meetings. Laudable creative strategies are punctually deployed to increase it, including taking meetings with key stakeholder groups, providing evening childcare, making some meetings more ‘fun’ and even doing away with the chambers altogether by hosting off-site meetings.
Idaho cow manure pollution bill approved by Senate panel
The [IDAHO] Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee voted 5-3 to send to the full Senate the bill requiring state officials to consider economic ramifications when imposing pollution regulations on farms and ranches producing manure to protect nearby communities and the environment from pollution.
Washington's latest economic review: positive indicators amid ongoing uncertainty - Washington State Wire
The Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) released their latest economic review this week, finding positive trends in the context of ongoing economic uncertainty.
Study: Chinook Salmon Are Key To Northwest Orca Population All Year | Northwest Public Broadcasting
But a new paper from Hanson and others at the NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center provides the first real look at what the whales eat the rest of the year, when they cruise the outer Pacific Coast — data that reaffirms the central importance of Chinook to the whales and the importance of recovering Chinook populations to save the beloved mammals.
Local Camouflage: Don’t Overlook Municipal Government Employment for Veterans - PA TIMES Online | PA TIMES Online
The bottom line is—don’t fall victim to the misconception that federal government employment is the only opportunity for a veteran to work in public service after their time in the military. If you are a veteran and have a heart for service to others, local government may be the path for you. Don’t discount your local cities, counties or state agencies as a viable option to continue to serve in your community.
WA Senate OK’s bill for state-run meat inspection program | The Olympian
A bill to make it easier for Washington ranchers to get their meat directly to consumers unanimously passed the state Senate this week.
The bill would create a state-run meat and poultry inspection program with requirements equal to those of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Cliff Mass Weather Blog: An Above Normal Winter Snowpack is Guaranteed!
The Northwest snowpack is now well above normal and with the latest model runs, it is pretty much guaranteed to stay that way through April 1.
And April 1 is the key date: the defined date for measuring the winter's snowy bounty before the spring melt season begins.
Washington forms healthy snowpack after snowiest February in 20 years | king5.com
A good snowpack means more water for farmers who need irrigation this summer, as well as municipal water supplies. It can also help mitigate wildfire season.