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BC prop-rep vote finishes this week
British Columbia’s vote on whether to create a system of proportional representation finishes up next week, with a deadline of 4:30 pm Nov. 30. CBC reports on how a postal strike may be affecting the election, and whether Elections BC will exercise its authority to extent the deadline. If you’re still undecided, The Tyee has a great guide outlining the various choices.
BC looking to repeal privatization measures
The Tyee reports on how the ruling NDP in the British Columbia legislature is looking to repeal several measures passed by the previous government, including one that decreased unionization among health care workers and seriously lowered wages. In other health-related news Willamette Week reports on two women’s crusade to find out why insulin is so expensive in Oregon–and discovered that insurers and drug companies have conspired to keep costs high.
WA lands director asks for $90 million for orca protection
The Seattle Times reports that Washington’s commissioner of public lands is asking the legislature to dedicate $90 million toward restoring salmon habitat in Puget Sound in order to help orca recovery. Crosscut examines the WA governor’s task force recommendations for orca recovery and finds it asks for commitments to salmon restoration, reducing boat noise, and decreasing toxins in the Salish Sea.
Oregon under-reports crimes by released criminally insane
ProPublica has a detailed investigative report into how those found not-guilty by reason of criminal insanity in Oregon are committing crimes after release at higher rates than officially reported–at a rate is 35 percent. In related news, the Oregonian found that Oregon Health Authority’s plan to move some committed mental health patients to less restrictive facilities was plagued with problems, including injuries to patients.
BC spraying forests with herbicide, increasing fire potential
Bethany Lindsay, writing for CBC, reports on how the provincial government continues to spray the herbicide glyphosate on thousands of hectares of aspen groves to eliminate the trees in favor of conifers–even though evidence shows these deciduous forests provide an important role in reducing wildfire severity.
Providing options for opioid drug users in rural WA
KNKX reports on how the town of Orting, Washington– at the foot of Mount Rainier– has seen increasing rates of opioid addiction, and is working with Seattle-based Recovery Cafe to open an addiction help center there.
“Jeju Island,” poetry by EJ Koh
Over at Poem-A-Day, you can read “Jeju Island,” by Seattle’s EJ Koh, an intense look at how we become inured to historical atrocities:
“…Words let us watch a man about to be killed.
The eye-hollows of his skull see home…”
“The Sun Disappears” by Elissa Washuta
Over Canadianart, you can read “The Sun Disappears,” microfiction by Elisa Washuta, who’s member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. The narrative is a fractured monologue of a woman pursued by men during the current climate apocalypse: “Our earth-wrecking makes the sky so good and ’grammable. But that’s not how you respond to a man’s sunset. You’re supposed to say beautiful, I’d love to see it sometime.”
That’s today’s collection of news, arts, poetry, and environmental reporting from across the Pacific Northwest. Have a great evening. –Andrew Engelson