Here’s a thought…
“Deep breath. Deep breath. The air is free. You can take as many as you want.”
BUDDHIST MONK
New SJC COVID case count: Lopez 0, Orcas 0, San Juan 2
||| FROM KYRA KINNAMAN for SJC HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES ||| Note: Current positive case numbers are available online at the the County Case Data Dashboard. Since the last update on Thursday July 22, total cases in San Juan County have increased from 195 to 197. There are approximately 25
Most recent Washington state update on COVID-19 cases
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 431,743 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on July 28. There have been 6,119 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more,
What new WA police accountability laws do and don’t do
Plus, a closer look at some of the concerned statements made by police chiefs and sheriffs ||| FROM CROSSCUT ||| Several new police accountability bills went into effect in Washington state this week, changing some of the ways police officers can interact with the public. In anticipation of the new laws
‘Occam’s Razor’ | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
Welcome to our weekly feature, Occam's Razor, from local artist S.C. Watson.
NOTAM: No fuel at Orcas Airport into Monday at least
||| FROM JEANNIE SHARPE for PORT OF ORCAS ||| NOTAM / NOTICE TO AIRMEN The fuel station will be down all weekend and into Monday at least. The new credit card machine install was not able to complete this afternoon due to the cellular service at the airport. A new
DOH adds data enhancements to the COVID-19 dashboard
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA -- Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has added new data about testing and healthcare system readiness trends to the COVID-19 data dashboard. These enhancements include adding: Antigen tests to the testing tab (currently the testing tab only includes molecular tests) Percent positivity
San Juan County complete burn ban goes into effect tomorrow, 5 p.m.
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for SJC FIRE DISTRICTS & COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL ||| With continuing dry weather conditions, San Juan County Fire Districts and the County Fire Marshal’s office are enacting a complete burn ban throughout the San Juan Islands. This burn ban will be in effect beginning this Friday,
Back to school safety checks, immunizations, more scheduled for Saturday
||| FROM ANNE PRESSON for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTHCARE DISTRICT ||| The Island Primary Care-Orcas Clinic is hosting a back to school event this Saturday, July 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This will be a great opportunity for families to get kids ready for the upcoming school year. The
Oprah sells Orcas Island estate for $14 million
||| FROM BUSINESS JOURNAL ||| Oprah Winfrey has sold her 43-acre waterfront estate known as Madroneagle on Orcas Island’s Catspaw Lane for $14 million, the Business Journal has learned. Sources familiar with the deal say it is the highest price ever paid for an Orcas Island property. Winfrey, who bought the
New data reveals COVID-19 impact on unvaccinated Washingtonians
Between February and June 2021, most people in Washington who died of COVID-19 were unvaccinated ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA -- New reporting from the Washington State Department of Health reveals the devastating impact of COVID-19 on people who are unvaccinated, and underscores once again the need for
EDC has much more help available for your business
||| FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| Small Business Flex Fund Have a leak? Broken equipment? Is this the last thing your business needs after a long year? If you're thinking about taking out a business loan, consider the Small Business Flex Fund. It offers flexible, low interest loans for Washington's
Masks required for all K-12 students and staff heading back to the classroom
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Safely returning to the classroom for full time in-person instruction this school year is important for students, teachers, and staff. Today, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released updated guidance for the 2021-2022 school year. DOH’s guidance aims to minimize transmission and
Latest statewide COVID-19 response updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 430,103 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on July 26. There have been 6,097 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more,
Census redistricting data | What to expect and when
||| FROM DR. RON JARMIN for U.S. CENSUS BUREAU ||| Since releasing the apportionment results in April, we’ve had several teams working hard on the next set of 2020 Census data — the redistricting data. These data play an important role in our democracy and will begin to illuminate the
Free healthcare career training offered by EDC and Cornerstone
||| FROM MICHELANGELO (MICKEY) VON DASSOW for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| Those seeking to enter health care careers, obtain side income while helping their neighbors, or boost personal care business are invited to get free Home Care Aide (HCA) training through a program offered by the Economic Development Council (EDC)
Whatcom County Council vote changes the future of industry at Cherry Point
||| FROM BELLINGHAM HERALD ||| Whatcom County Council unanimously approved a series of Comprehensive Plan amendments for the Cherry Point industrial zone, adding tougher environmental and development rules for the region that’s home to two of Washington state’s five oil refineries. Tuesday’s vote was hailed by environmental groups as a
