NEWS2026-05-04T09:42:46-07:00

Here’s a thought…

That confidence — that the law cannot reach you because you are the one wielding it — is the oldest and most dangerous delusion in Washington.”

MILES TAYLOR

LATEST NEWS

Rep. Rick Larsen files for reelection

May 4th, 2026|

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF  U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| EVERETT, Wash. – Rick Larsen filed for reelection on May 4. In the next Congress, Larsen will work to lower costs for working families, including child care, health care, housing, groceries and gas. He will continue delivering federal funding to

Heather Lee announces candidacy for county auditor

May 4th, 2026|

||| FROM HEATHER LEE ||| My name is Heather Lee, and I am pleased to announce my candidacy for San Juan County Auditor. Heather Lee I served as Chief Deputy Auditor for San Juan County for three years, through March 2026, working across elections, licensing, and financial operations

SJC Monthly News Digest – April 2026

May 4th, 2026|

This is a roundup of April news ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| This column is part of a series detailing San Juan County’s recent news. Follow along each month to learn about important County projects, Council initiatives, department updates, and more.   Sheriff’s Office Moves into New Substation on Lopez Island The San Juan County

Protect Your Flock | Tips to prevent avian influenza exposure

May 4th, 2026|

Spring environmental health tips from your local public health department ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Your local public health team wants to remind you of a few tips to help make your spring season as fun and healthy as possible. Avian influenza infections in people are rare. Still,

Orcas Choral Society to present songs, dance, quilts

May 4th, 2026|

||| FROM ORCAS CHORAL SOCIETY ||| May 16 and 17, come celebrate our nation’s 250 years of creativity in song and dance and the traditional art of quilting, as Orcas Choral Society presents its spring concert, An American Choral Tapestry at the Orcas Center. All the songs in this concert

Guest Opinion | The wrong question … and a suggestion

May 4th, 2026|

||| FROM BILL APPEL ||| Over the past few years (who’s counting?) we have participated in, been treated to, or studiously ignored a fierce debate around the following question: “Should OPALCO be permitted to construct a utility-scale solar facility at Bailer Hill and/or to expand its existing solar facility on

Guest Opinion | The issues surrounding our National Parks

May 3rd, 2026|

||| FROM JOSLIN BROETJS BAIRSTOW ||| As a resident of Orcas Island, I have the privilege of being surrounded by natural landscapes and beautiful parks. Theodore Roosevelt, commonly known as the conservation president, believed that our forests, mountains, prairies, and deserts are sacred spaces that should be protected for future

May library art exhibit

May 3rd, 2026|

||| FROM ANDREA COHEN for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The photographs of Lewis Francis are on exhibit at the Orcas Island Library for the month of May. Originally from Gibraltar, Lewis moved to California in the 1990’s and moved to Orcas a few years ago. His show of black-and-white landscape photographs,

Traffic accident claims lives of Orcas islanders

May 3rd, 2026|

||| FROM SOURCE ONE ||| CHELAN - A three-vehicle crash on U.S. 97 in Chelan County left three people dead and two others injured late Friday night, according to a Washington State Patrol press memo. The collision occurred around 9:11 p.m. on May 1 near milepost 233 along the highway,

Alex Ramel | 40th District legislative update

May 2nd, 2026|

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. ALEX RAMEL ||| The last time we connected, the legislative session had almost concluded, but additional work remained as we passed the final state supplemental budgets, and the Governor signed legislation into law. My colleagues – Senator Lovelett and Representative Lekanoff, and I have

Go to Top