Cascadia today: ICE abductions surge in WA + Spokane may get monster data centers + PDX's first Indigenous bookshop

ICE is surging around Seattle but media ignores it

ICE is in the middle of what may be its largest surge in Seattle and King county, but local media seems to be ignoring the situation because it's happening quickly and quietly. According to the Free Washington Project, a group that monitors ICE kidnapping reports, King. Snohomish, Pierce, and Yakima counties all saw significant increases in ICE seizure, with 256 kidnappings in the week ending September 26. That's nearly double the rate from earlier in the summer, and a 133% rise from the previous week. And this is only reported sightings – many more kidnappings are likely happening that observers haven't seen.

In addition, the Reddit Washington ICE Watch group has numerous videos of seizures from the past week from King, Snohomish & Yakima counties. KING 5 reported last week that activists say seven farmworkers were seized in a raid at Evans Fruit Company last week. The company denies any employees were detained and insists it always hires documented workers. Yeah, right.

What can you do to help? Talk to your neighbors. Contact your local Indivisible group. People are observing and documenting these arrests – and when folks show up with whistles, our neighbors know that ICE's masked goons are in the vicinity.

It's time to step up, Cascadia.

Border officers harass and detain BC residents visiting US

CBC reports that a Canadian citizen who has legally lived in the US town of Point Roberts for 14 years was detained for six hours by border officials who grilled her about voting in US elections. Border patrol kept her there until 2 am even though she maintained she's never voted in the US. "I was basically treated like a criminal," the woman told CBC.

This is outrageous. The people of British Columbia are not enemies of the US and need to stop being harassed to please US president Trump and his deluded fantasies about Canada and election fraud.

Cascadia welcomes new trains to Vancouver to Eugene route

The Urbanist got a look inside the of new Airo trains that will run on the popular Amtrak Cascades train route connecting Vancouver BC, Seattle, Portland, Eugene and cities in between. The shiny new trains go into service on Sept 30 and can hit speeds of 125 mph. They'll offer improved WiFi service, no-touch-control restrooms, and lots more seating capacity. The service, which is heavily subsidized by the Washington and Oregon departments of transportation, is a key climate-friendly transportation option for western Cascadia. Governor Bob Ferguson was there for the launch, but visibly absent were any members of the federal department of transportation. Probably because the feds have slashed funds for public transit and rail travel.

If we're ever going to expand rail service (including high-speed rail) Cascadia needs fiscal independence from the US:

To fix transportation, Cascadia needs fiscal independence

Cascadia has critical transportation infrastructure needs. And the feds can no longer be relied on to help us.

Cascadia JournalAndrew Engelson

Will mega data centers move forward near Spokane?

RANGE Media reports that even though Spokane and surrounding Spokane county have temporarily paused approval of any new data centers, three huge data centers are in the pipeline, especially on county land, when the pause expires on Dec 15. RANGE has the details on these MONSTER centers – one, the proposed Big Rock Data Center in the works from Apricus Energy Partners would use 1,000 megawatts of power and consume up to a million gallons of water a day. Avista is proposing developing another "hyperscale" data center that would gobble up 500 megawatts. There are others. These center consume obscene amounts of energy and water, and generate high decibel sound 24 hours a day that make life miserable for neighbors.

Read the piece. And then get organized. These behemoths need to be stopped.

WA tax revenue estimate slightly higher but deficit looms

Washington State Standard reports that estimates of state tax revenues for 2027 are about $22 million above estimates, which will slightly help the legislature next year, but not enough to make much of a dent in a multi-billion deficit. Even more important numbers were estimates of revenue after implementation of the millionaires tax (if it isn't repealed in November). The revised numbers indicate the state will bring in $3.5 billion in tax revenue in the 2027-29 budget cycle and then $9.4 billion in 2029-2031 if the tax remains.

The choice is clear. Vote to retain the millionaire's tax and provide funding for schools, child care, health care, and the social safety net.

Northern BC whet owls make a comeback

CBC reports that whet owls – extremely cute owls about the size of a pop can, are migrating in record numbers this year, with wildlife biologists 200 km north of Prince George, British Columbia reporting they've been able to capture and tag about double the usual number of the pint-sized owls. Generally the owls are endangered and in decline, so the surge this year was a welcome development.

Portlands' first Indigenous-owned bookshop

OPB reports on the opening of a new bookshop in southeast Portland called Sehaptin Stories. It's likely the first Indigenous-owned book store in Portland, and will focus on Indigenous authors and subjects for both kids and adults. Owner Cassandra Hanson is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs and she'll be stocking books from Indigenous writers from both Cascadia and all over the world.

“For a long time, it was really hard to figure out who I am as a person. Because I had, you know, grown up in two different places, two different worlds — being Native, being Mexican, but also trying to fit in in the modern world. It’s a lot to unfold.” – Cassandra Hanson, owner of Sahaptin Stories

Thanks for reading. Keep loving and keep fighting. --Andy