Cascadia today: ICE ramped up arrests in Cascadia + Ferguson raids climate fund + progress on sea star recovery
Feds detained 1,100 immigrants in OR
ICE and other federal agencies arrested at least 1,100 immigrants in Oregon this year, up substantially from 113 in 2024, Oregon Capital Chronicle reports. Oregon has been at the center of federal efforts at mass deportations, with deployment of the National Guard in Portland, and ramped up ICE activity in places like Hillsboro. Only 32% of those detained had criminal records. In related news, apple growers and farm workers in central Washington are under immense stress from Trump's crackdown, Washington State Standard reports. In Washington, nearly 2,000 immigrants have been detained this year.
“We can’t get workers to come out,” – Kent Karstetter, apple grower, Quincy, Washington
WA gov raids pollution fees to balance budget
The Urbanist looks in detail at Washington governor Bob Ferguson's plan to raid $569 million from the state's carbon pollution auctions to balance the state budget at the expense of transit, flood mitigation, and clean energy projects. Though Ferguson has proposed a wealth tax on residents earning more than $1 million (to go into effect in 2029) the legislature needs to challenge Ferguson's timid approach and make Cascadia more resilient to federal cuts, including:
- raising the 1% property tax increase cap to 3%
- passing a 5% employer wealth tax on those making more than $176,00 per year
- tax stocks and other assets worth more than $50 million
If you live in Washington, call your legislator today and tell them you support these three measures.
Flood watch issued for Haida Gwaii & north BC coast
CBC reports that more than 200 mm of rain is expected in Haida Gwaii and British Columbia's north coast, triggering flood warnings. Meanwhile, portions of Smithers, BC are under a flood evacuation alert due to ice jams on the Bulkley River, CBC reports. In related news, Washington's Steven Pass (including its popular ski area) will be accessible via an eastbound route on Hyw 2, which will partially open with pilot-car access. Hwy 2 remains closed west of Skykomish to Stevens Pass.
News site makes Spokane Flock data public
Bless RANGE Media, an independent news outlet in Spokane, for filing a bunch of records request of data related to Flock surveillance cameras all over the Spokane Valley and which is now making that data and Flock-related documents available to the public. Washington legislators are proposing tighter restriction on Flock and other license plate readers, as are Oregon legislators. To learn more about efforts to limit or remove Flock license plate readers, visit DeFlock.
A year of progress saving sea stars
OPB reports that 2025 has seen significant progress in the efforts to save Cascadia's threatened sea stars. Subject to a devastating wasting disease, the sea creatures – especially massive sunflower stars – have seen numbers decline by up to 90%. This in turn hurts kelp forests suddenly exposed to predation by sea urchins, the sea stars' favorite food. But researches have bred some stars in captivity and successfully re-introduced them, and this year biologists identified the bacteria responsible for the wasting disease. To learn more about conservation efforts, visit the Oregon Kelp Alliance.
Thanks for reading! --Andrew
