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The Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) has appointed a new leadership team for its government relations efforts, led by former House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox as interim director. Wilcox will be supported by Matt Doumit, a policy associate with over a decade of experience in natural resource management and legislative policy. Tom Davis, the former director of government relations, will provide valuable institutional knowledge and context. This team aims to strengthen the forestry industrys voice in future legislative discussions, focusing on economic growth, climate change, and renewable wood products.

Half of Washingtons violent crimes unsolved, highlighting a significant challenge for law enforcement. Last year, police solved only 44% of reported violent crimes, with homicides, aggravated assaults, robberies, and rapes having low clearance rates. The pandemic exacerbated the issue, with over 49,000 violent crimes remaining unsolved. Major cities like Seattle, Tacoma, Kent, and Auburn have particularly low clearance rates. Officials call for state leadership to make this a priority, with a new $100 million grant program approved to boost police hiring and resources.

Federal Way resident, Susan Vesser, expresses relief after convicted rapist Kevin Coes death, following his release into her neighborhood. Coe, known as Spokanes South Hill Rapist, was linked to over forty assaults. Vesser, who took proactive steps to protect her community, now advocates for legislative review of laws concerning unconditional release, aiming to prevent similar situations.

U.S. Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez addresses sea lion predation in the Pacific Northwest, highlighting the urgent need for more effective and efficient methods to protect salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia River.

Introducing MyWDFW: A Game-Changer for Hunters and Anglers! The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlifes new mobile app offers a one-stop shop for managing licenses, purchasing hunting and fishing privileges, and electronically tagging game species. With features like catch record cards and an Enforcement View for WDFW officers, this app streamlines the licensing process. Starting in the two thousand twenty-six license year, customers can choose between traditional paper licenses and mobile licenses. To switch, simply log into the fishhunt dot d f w dot w a dot gov website and select the Mobile License Holder option.

Six-vehicle pile-up on I-5 in Thurston County sends three to hospital; car hauler driver arrested for driving without valid CDL due to following too close.