Here’s a thought…
“Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”
READER BOARD
News Brief | Judge orders Trump administration to halt ballroom construction unless Congress OKs it
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| “The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” the federal judge wrote in the ruling. The judge ruled that any construction work that’s necessary to ensure the
Share Your Feedback | County & partners are developing tools to manage human/wildlife interactions
Update: During the upcoming April 21, 2026 meeting, the Council is expected to set a public hearing for May 12. Previous versions of this article stated that the public hearing would be on the 21st, but the hearing is not yet scheduled. It will likley occur on May 12. The
News Brief | In the past decade, Washington has become one of the most expensive states to live in
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE STANDARD ||| Drawing from an array of federal and state data, a new analysis shows the state’s cost of living rising faster than the national average over that time, with only California, New Jersey, Hawaii and Washington, D.C. considered more expensive in 2023. “The story is
A Life Close to Nature | Center for Whale Research honors Tamar Griggs
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| An adventurous spirit who sailed across the Atlantic in her early twenties, a mother, a nature photographer, an author, and a lifelong supporter of wildlife and whale conservation, Tamar Griggs lived a life deeply connected to the natural world. Recently, we were deeply
Locally supported Meals on Wheels programs support seniors ability to age well in the islands
In 2025, the County’s Senior Nutrition Program produced over 38,000 meals – serving 16,269 in-person lunches to 606 seniors and delivering 21,809 meals to 245 seniors ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| For many older adults in the islands, ‘Meals on Wheels and More’ provides more than nutritious food.
SJC Monthly News Digest – March 2026
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. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS Maintaining Health, Safety & Community Services: Council Places Levy Lid Lift on April Ballot San
The Kitchen set to open at Odd Fellows on Fridays
||| FROM DIDIER GINCIG for ODD FELLOWS HALL ||| The Kitchen, featuring locally inspired tasty and delicious Pan-Asian food, opens Friday April 3 for takeout at the Odd Fellows Hall (112 Haven Road) (downstairs at the restaurant). Text 206.581.1913 for orders; open weekly on Fridays 4-7.
Update on proposal for limited deer hunting on Orcas Island
Public engagement is key to the Land Bank’s planning and operations. Written comments deadline has been extended and will be accepted until 5pm on Monday, April 20, by emailing erinh@sjclandbank.org. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The Land Bank extends a hearty thank you to all who attended our
Guest Opinion | When growth ends and maintenance begins
||| FROM ELISABETH ROBSON ||| In the Puget Sound and the Salish Sea, the shift is easy to see. Washington State Ferries, the largest ferry system in the United States, is not expanding to carry more people. Instead, the state is scrambling to replace aging vessels simply to keep existing
No Place Like Loam | Legacy Landscapes: The three design forces of time, experience, and structure
||| NO PLACE LIKE LOAM by ALEX TAMAYO.WOLF ||| Time: The Monk of Reichenau Abbey He worked in a scriptorium lit by high, narrow windows, winter light thin and lateral, flattening shadow against stone. Beeswax candles guttered in drafts, their smoke faintly sweet, clinging to wool and parchment. The room
Let’s talk public transit for Orcas, San Juan
You're invited to a community meeting || FROM COLIN WILLIAMS for RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION |||| Let's talk public transit for Orcas & the San Juan Islands. Hosted by the Friends of Rural Public Transportation Date & Time -- Tuesday, March 31, 2026 , 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM Location: Orcas Island Public
Preparing for when oil meets shore
Inside a Shoreline Assessment Workshop on Lopez Island ||| FROM BILL SYMES and ELAINA THOMPSON ||| Islands’ Oil Spill Association (IOSA) held a public workshop on the classification, assessment, and cleanup of oiled shorelines, February 11 at the Lopez Community Center. Led by Gary Shigenaka, a 40+ year National Oceanic
Vote in OPALCO’s election
Voters eligible to win prizes ||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| OPALCO Board Candidate election season is in full swing! OPALCO members should have received a ballot. Get to know the candidates this year and vote in the election to help guide the energy future
OPALCO Board candidate questionnaire results released
Eight candidates provide detailed perspectives on cooperative future ||| FROM CHOM GREACEN ||| To help members differentiate among an unusually large field of candidates in the upcoming Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) board election, a group of concerned members has released the results of a candidate questionnaire. Of the
County float at Waldron temporarily closed April 5-11 for repairs
The County recognizes how important marine facilities are to commuters, visitors, businesses, locals, and other service providers and is working to repair the facility as quickly as possible. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Public Works Department owns and/or maintains marine facilities (piers, floats, and ramps)
News Brief | How new fishing tech can reduce bycatch of turtles and other creatures
||| FROM ARSTECHNICA.COM Designed to capture animals destined for our dinner tables, our oceans are full of sophisticated, perfect traps. Over the decades, conservationists, researchers, and fishermen have developed ways to minimize various kinds of bycatch in different fishing stocks around the world. Some approaches, however, now have a proven
