Man recently awarded millions from state after years of abuse and neglect dies, North Cascades Highway partially reopens partially reopens after heavy snowfall, Providence nurses on strike, DOJ funds programs for juveniles in six Western Washington tribal communities, Lummi Nation, State and EPA ready grants to restore salmon habitat, improve water quality near Puget Sound, Federal judge dismisses lawsuit against WA’s carbon-pricing law, year anniversary of of bipartisan infrastructure law, many projects in Whatcom
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STORY: Man recently awarded millions from state after years of abuse and neglect has died
A Whatcom County man who was recently awarded nearly $23 million from multiple state agencies after years of abuse and neglect has died.
67-year-old James Rupke (RUHP-key) passed away Sunday at the assisted living facility he had been living in for several months. Rupke won a lawsuit that accused the Department of Social and Health Services, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Northwest Regional Council of failing to protect him from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and abandonment by his state-paid caregiver. The lawsuit was the largest ever levied against DSHS for a severely disabled adult.
The cause of death has not yet been determined.
STORY: North Cascades Highway partially reopens after heavy snowfall
A section of the North Cascades Highway reopened on Tuesday after being closed due to wintry weather over the weekend.
The stretch of State Route 20 between the Ross Dam Trailhead and Silver Star Gate had been closed due to significant snowfall and slide concerns, but was cleared at 1pm yesterday as weather conditions improved. However, the Department of Transportation says the reopening is temporary, and the seasonal closure of the North Cascades Highway is pending.
STORY: Providence nurses on strike
Over 1,300 workers at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett are on strike as labor negotiations failed to produce a new contract.
The strike, scheduled to last until Sunday morning, has led to concerns from hospital leaders about disruptions in patient care and the negotiation process for a new contract. According to recent reporting, the hospital claims to have had a seamless handoff of care with qualified nurses, while the union insists that conditions inside are not okay.
The hospital has offered a 21.5% pay increase over three years, but the union says nurses need a 30% increase to stay competitive with contracts offered at other local hospitals.
STORY: DOJ funds programs for juveniles in six Western Washington tribal communities, Lummi Nation
The Department of Justice has allocated over $2 million in grants to tribal communities in Western Washington to improve services for juveniles.
Six Western Washington tribes will receive money, including the Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Tribe who will each receive about $100,000. The grants, announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman, cover a range of needs, including substance abuse and mental health treatment, academic support, and strategies to engage students in school.
STORY: State and EPA ready grants to restore salmon habitat, improve water quality near Puget Sound
The Environmental Protection Agency has allocated up to $30 million over the next six years to the Washington Department of Ecology to enhance the health of streams and rivers in the Puget Sound region.
According to a recent release from Ecology, the funding aims to improve water quality, stream flows, and critical habitats by restoring native vegetation along riverbanks. Ecology will establish criteria for evaluating and implementing riverbank restoration projects in collaboration with partners such as the Washington State Conservation Commission.
The initiative will ask farmers, landowners, counties, and others to identify suitable projects that will support local salmon runs, and protect waterways from the impacts of climate change. The funding is coming through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
STORY: Federal judge dismisses lawsuit against WA’s carbon-pricing law
A federal judge has ruled against a natural gas power plant in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Washington’s Climate Commitment Act.
The law, enacted in 2021, requires top polluters to purchase greenhouse gas emissions allowances. Invenergy, the private operator of a natural gas power plant in Grays Harbor County, claimed discrimination against privately operated gas plants and unfair treatment as an out-of-state business.
U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle dismissed the case, noting the Climate Commitment Act treats all owners of electric utilities and generating facilities the same, regardless of their location. Invenergy expressed disagreement with the ruling but affirmed support for Washington’s climate efforts.
The ruling seems to strengthen the Climate Commitment Act against legal challenges, but according to recent reporting by the Seattle Times, right-wing groups are still seeking a 2024 ballot measure to repeal it.
STORY: 2 year anniversary of of bipartisan infrastructure law, many projects in Whatcom
Two years after President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Washington state has received approximately $7.9 billion dollars from the legislation.
According to a recent update from Senator Maria Cantwell, funding has been directed to various projects throughout the state, with 27 different
projects funded in Whatcom County alone. Roads, bridges, transit, and climate resilience efforts are included in the projects to-date. Statewide, more than 465 grants had been allocated for infrastructure projects, totaling around $5.3 billion for transportation and $366 million for clean water projects.
Examples of local projects funded by the Infrastructure act include the Lummi Island Ferry replacement, multiple fish passage projects, sidewalk upgrades in Everson and Birch Bay, and the Lake Samish Bridge. Large-scale projects state-wide include the expansion of the Port of Tacoma’s Husky Terminal, relocation of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe Upland Village, construction of a rail underpass in Washougal, and expansion of Spokane International Airport’s terminal.
According to a release from the White House, $400 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been distributed throughout the country to over 40,000 specific projects across more than 4,500 communities in all 50 states, territories, and Tribes.
WX: Clear
Today will be mostly cloudy with a 60% chance of rain, with a high around 47° and a low of 32°. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny, with slightly higher temperatures.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, and Connor O’Boyle. Tune in to local news on
KMRE weekdays at 3, 4 and 5 p-m. For news tips and feedback, send us an email at news@kmre.org or call 360-398-6150. KMRE is a nonprofit community radio station, powered by listener donations. I’m ________________ and thanks for listening.
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