Cascadia Journal
@cascadiajournal.bsky.social
An opinionated email newsletter about politics, the environment and culture across the #Cascadia bioregion, Written by @andyengelson.bsky.social. Sign up for the free newsletter here: https://cascadia-journal.ghost.io/
Some fear that crew leaders are being pressured to deploy close to the fire line, rather than choosing the safest place to make a stand.
Wildfire veterans fear federal tactics, extreme fires could put crews at risk • Idaho Capital Sun
U.S. Forest Service and Interior Department officials directed wildfire crews to use a “full suppression” strategy and attack wildfires urgently.
idahocapitalsun.com
In today's #Cascadia Journal, we wrap up WA election results, note that Portland has the worst air quality in the world right now, and look at the annual paddle to the Nisqually Medicine Creek potlach, which has deep significance for Coast Salish people: www.cascadia-journal.com/cascadia-tod...
Cascadia today: WA primary election results + PDX has world's worst air quality + annual Indigenous canoe paddle on the Salish Sea
Mix of centrists and progressives win in WA primary Yesterday was election day in Washington, and the results didn't show one particular trend but rather a mix of centrists and progressives prevailin...
cascadia-journal.com
On the job tonight for @washingtonstatestandard.com contributing to their live blog. I’ll be in Bellevue checking out the WA Dems party for Congressional incumbents Adam Smith, Suzan DelBene, and Kim Schrier washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/08/04/l...
Live coverage: Washington's 2026 primary election • Washington State Standard
Washington's primary election has arrived. The top two vote-getters in each race will advance to the November election regardless of party.
washingtonstatestandard.com
There’s only 6 hours left to vote in today’s primary elections. Only 20% of voters in King County have turned in their ballot so far. Boomers are out voting Gen Z by almost 5 to 1.
Good. "Under the emergency declaration, the federal government would take on 75% of eligible costs...Ferguson said Monday that he sought FEMA assistance to support search and rescue, debris removal, medical supplies and assistance, temporary shelters and emergency power."
The Seattle Times@seattletimes.com · yesterdayPresident Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Washington, providing federal disaster assistance through FEMA.
In today's news from across #Cascadia, Spokane wildfire is suspected arson, OR lawmakers want to ban new data centers for 3 years, WA's creepy trans sports ban wants girls' genitals inspected, and two festivals celebrate the diversity of Seattle's south end. www.cascadia-journal.com/cascadia-tod...
Cascadia today: One Spokane fire suspected as arson + OR lawmakers propose data center ban + creepy WA ballot measure wants to inspect girls' genitals
Suspect arrested for arson in Spokane wildfire As wildfires continue to burn uncontained in and around Spokane, the AP reports that a 37-year-old man in custody on suspicion of first-degree arson for...
cascadia-journal.com
Get your ballots in a drop box by 8 pm today, Seattle voters! Here's the real progressive guide...
Share the Cities (Seattle)@sharethecities.bsky.social · 2d agoSeattle! Vote in a ballot box by tomorrow at 7:59 pm 👀 Use @electioncheatsheet.org and it will take less than 10 minutes.
KUOW says that "influencers" like me are the reason you should give them money. If you want "police say" statements, I guess go for it. If you want deeply sourced, in-depth investigative reporting by someone who's been a journalist in Seattle since 2001, support PubliCola! publicola.com/support/
Support PubliCola - PubliCola
PubliCola is 100% reader-powered! If you like the work we’re doing here, and would like to support PubliCola financially, please…
publicola.com
If you're on a budget, you can create a box fan air purifier in about 10 minutes with these instructions: www.epa.gov/sciencematte...
Do-It-Yourself Air Cleaners: Making Cleaner Air More Accessible | US EPA
EPA and other health, environmental, and nonprofit organizations have provided instructions for creating do-it-yourself (DIY) air cleaners.
epa.gov
The Seattle Times@seattletimes.com · 2d agoWildfire smoke from a trifecta of catastrophic wildfires will roll in Tuesday and could cause the air quality to be unhealthy and reduce visibility.
This story is fine, but the headline the Seattle Times chose implies that a new bus lane is forcing drivers to just "find a new" route to I-5. No, the engineering project actually includes a new route to I-5. Anything to make it look like a progressive mayor is causing chaos, I guess?
Thousands of Seattle drivers and bus riders are in for a big change
How will Mayor Katie Wilson's move to speed the "Late 8" change Denny Way for transit riders and as many as 30,000 motorists who drive it on an average weekday?
seattletimes.com
More than 600 homes destroyed in devastating Spokane wildfires, court ruling could free hundreds held in Tacoma ICE camp, and a BC First Nation nursery grows native plants to restore damaged lands. Your #Cascadia news roundup: www.cascadia-journal.com/cascadia-tod...
Cascadia today: Wildfires devastate Spokane + ruling could free hundreds from Tacoma ICE camp + First Nation restores land with native plants
Thanks to all who turned out for Cascadia Democratic Action's water bottle and N-95 mask drive in Seattle this weekend. We raised more than $100 and received donations of more than 1,000 masks – which...
cascadia-journal.com
The #SpokaneComplex fires are still dangerous and thousands of people are displaced. Here are ways to help.
City of Spokane@spokanecity.org · 3d agoAs the Spokane community continues to face the devastating impacts of local wildfires, you can help your neighbors. We will continue to update this thread with more opportunities to help!
Please do not drive into the Old Trails Fire evacuation zone. For those in the evacuation zone, please head eastbound. For all evacuation information, visit bit.ly/SRECOfficial...
Cascadia 1, Blue Angels, 0
Cascadia Democratic Action@cascadiademocratic.bsky.social · 4d agoThanks to everyone who stopped by Cal Anderson today for CDA's Water Not Jet Fighters drive! We raised over $100 and received more than one thousand N-95 masks to help farm workers and those without shelter deal with heat & wildfire smoke. Plus the Blue Angels didn't fly! VICTORY FOR #CASCADIA 💙🤍💚
Today! Cal Anderson park in Seattle, noon--4pm Saturday Aug 1. Screw the Blue Angels, help our neighbors. Donate bulk bottled water and N-95 masks or make a monetary donation through our Ko-Fi. We'll be handing out earplugs & ICE whistle kits too. Hope to see you there!
Hey #Cascadia, we can have nice things, and not 34 years from now. How? By declaring fiscal autonomy, stopping funding a bloated military and mass deportation campaign and reasonably taxing the wealth in our region.
The Urbanist@theurbanist.org · 5d agoThe new 2060 timeline for light rail stations in Interbay and Ballard assumes Sound Transit isn't able to unearth any major cost savings or unlock additional financial tools. But the agency painted an optimistic picture for a 2042 opening. Story: www.theurbanist.org/full-ballard...
The amount of taxes we pay to the feds compared to what we get in return is outrageous. This needs much more attention, including from our businesses. The reason we keep increasing local taxes (the only ones we can keep 100%) is because so much of our state & fed taxes are going elsewhere.
Cascadia Journal@cascadiajournal.bsky.social · 6d ago"In 2025 Washington state paid $69.3 billion more in federal taxes than it received back in funding." My latest for #Cascadia Journal: www.cascadia-journal.com/as-feds-hold...
"In 2025 Washington state paid $69.3 billion more in federal taxes than it received back in funding." My latest for #Cascadia Journal: www.cascadia-journal.com/as-feds-hold...
As feds hold back disaster funds to Cascadia, tax gap grows to $51 billion
This week the Trump administration denied two of five FEMA wildfire assistance requests from Oregon, which is confronting what will likely be the most destructive wildfire season in its history. More ...
cascadia-journal.com
Hate the Blue Angels? Want to do something good instead? Cascadia Democratic Action is organizing a bottled water and N-95 mask drive for those living without shelter -- donate at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle from noon-4 pm Saturday Aug 1. Thanks! cascadiademocratic.org/event/water-...
In today's news from across #Cascadia, Seattle police chief Shon Barnes is fired, OR on pace for worst wildfire season ever, Salem residents furious about secret city deal to build data center, and poetry by Marc-Anthony Valle: www.cascadia-journal.com/cascadia-tod...
Cascadia today: Seattle police chief is fired + OR on pace for worst wildfire season + poetry by Marc-Anthony Valle
Can I ask you a favor? As wildfires burn across Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia and air quality drops across the region, the organization I'm working with on Cascadia autonomy, Cascadia Democ...
cascadia-journal.com
Listen to this great segment on creating a public bank in Washington.
Andrew Engelson@andyengelson.bsky.social · 7d agoA public bank in Washington could help us build housing, offer low interest student loans, provide disaster relief, and give our region fiscal autonomy. I talked about public banks with @janehu.bsky.social @bretthamil.bsky.social on today's episode of CityCast Seattle: megaphone.link/CC9576254694
What, a bunch of their signatures are invalid? Who would have guessed? 🙄
Willamette Week@wweek.com · 7d agoThe initiative seeking to reroute 25% of Portland Clean Energy Fund tax revenues to hiring some 400 police officers has failed the first level of signature verification necessary to place it on the November ballot.
ICE is literally all around us now Seattle, abductions in Shoreljne, West Seattle, snd South Lake Union, all in the last 24 In one video, two white women ignore a man getting abducted Where is the community? What will you do when you are inevitably faced with this situation?
Seattle limits NIMBY appeals to comprehensive plans, OR state police advise you to ask ICE for their badges, why are gray whales stranding in larger numbers across #Cascadia? and scenes from Portland's Mermaid Parade: www.cascadia-journal.com/cascadia-tod...
Cascadia today: Seattle limits NIMBY appeals + proposed BC pipeline faces hurdles + what's causing rise in whale deaths?
Want to help our neighbors without shelter cope with high temperatures and wildfire smoke? Cascadia Democratic Action is organizing a water bottle and N-95 mask drive this Saturday, Aug 1 from noon to...
cascadia-journal.com
So when exactly are Oregon State Police going to start enforcing the state ban on police hiding their identities?
Oregon Capital Chronicle@oregoncapitalchronicle.com · last wk.After announcing an investigation into masked armed men allegedly impersonating immigration agents off a highway by one of Oregon’s most immigrant-heavy cities, Oregon State Police offered tips to ensure residents could confirm the identity of law enforcement pulling them over.
We're going to need fiscal autonomy soon as the federal government keeps taking away funds our region desperately needs and spending it on stupid wars and a mass deportation campaign.
The Urbanist@theurbanist.org · last wk.The R Line is set to replace the Route 7 by 2032, with County Executive Girmay Zahilay promising to "fast track" the RapidRide project last year. But amid the bleak federal transit funding landscape, Metro won't count on those dollars any longer. Story: www.theurbanist.org/metro-set-to...
In today's news from across #Cascadia, Portland measure to pay cops from climate funds is falling short on signatures, Seattle hoping to limit NIMBY appeals to projects, and a BC First Nation opens a center on inland temperate rainforests: www.cascadia-journal.com/cascadia-tod...
Cascadia today: PDX cop measure falling short + can Seattle build new bus line without federal dollars? + First Nation forest center opens
Measure to pay Portland cops with climate funds falling short Willamette Week reports that due to a large number of invalid signatures, a Portland ballot measure that would re-direct 25% of the Portl...
cascadia-journal.com