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WA governor Inslee announces carbon tax proposal
As the WA state legislature opens its 60-day session, Governor Jay Inslee announced his plan for a tax on carbon, which would generate $950 million annually. At $20 per ton, the tax is estimated to raise gasoline prices about 9 percent and natural gas 10 percent. Inslee proposes using most of the revenue to fund K-12 education, but others, such as public lands commissioner Hilary Franz, are urging the funds be pushed into clean energy or environmental protection.
Meanwhile, a report at KUOW finds that contrary to its eco-friedly perception of itself, Seattle’s rate of greenhouse gas emissions has not declined since 1990.
Judge dismisses case against Bundys, involved in armed standoff
On Monday, a Nevada judge dismissed a case against the Bundy family and an accomplice who were behind a 2014 armed standoff at Oregon’s Malheur Wildlife refuge attempting to resist federal control of public lands. Judge Navarro ruled that prosecutors had withheld evidence. The case involved ranchers who believe BLM and government cannot own public lands.
Is it time for British Columbia to end homeowner subsidies?
Andrew McCleod at The Tyee reports on a BC economist’s finding that the province’s $850 million program that gives home owners an annual subsidy does little to making housing affordable, especially in Vancouver. BC’s Green Party has called for an end to the program, while the ruling left-center NDP is supportive.
Fundraiser for Portland rock icon Scott McCaughey
Last week there was what sounded like a phenomenal concert in Portland to raise medical funds for Scott McCaughey, the force behind a lot of indie bands including Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows, and Filthy Friends. The show included the Decemberists, Peter Buck, Alejandro Escovedo, M Ward, and many others paying tribute and raising funds for McCaughey, who suffered a stroke. You can donate at Help the Hoople.
Pacific NW booksellers awards announced
Seattle author Sherman Alexie was among a handful of writers honored with a 2018 Pacific Northwest Booksellers award, announced this week. Other winners besides Alexie, honored for his memoir You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me,” were Portland writer Omar El Akkad, Jonathan White of Orcas Island, and Oregon novelist Brian Doyle, who died last year.
Critical look at tragic history of residential schools
At BC Booklook, scholar Andrew Woolford reviews Jim Miller’s Residential Schools and Reconciliation, and finds it a detailed history, but extremely lacking when it comes to representing Indigenous voices in the narrative. Woolford faults Miller from glossing over the truly traumatic story of First Nations children who were forced into schools to strip them of their cultural identity.
That’s today’s news and culture from the drizzly environs of Cascadia. —Andrew Engelson
Photo credis: Jay Inslee in legislature courtesy of Washington state governor’s office