Governor Ferguson creates Governor’s Space Council

Group will advise Governor on maintaining our competitive edge in the space economy

Excerpt from the release from the Office of Gov. Bob Ferguson

Governor Bob Ferguson signed an executive order creating the Governor’s Space Council at the Museum of Flight yesterday [Sept. 28] in Seattle.

The body, which includes representatives from the commercial space industry, aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors, higher education institutions, labor and more, will advise Governor Ferguson on how to keep Washington competitive in the industry and identify ways the state can improve its standing as a global leader in the space economy.

The council will also look for ways we might be able to develop Washington-based commercial launch capabilities.

“Washington has deep roots in the space industry,” Governor Ferguson said. “But the industry moves at an incredible pace. To remain a national leader, we cannot be complacent. My council will help us innovate and adapt as this sector rapidly grows.”

Washington state is already a global leader in the space industry. For example, Boeing workers in Kent built the lunar rovers that explored the surface of the moon during the Apollo missions. Since then, generations of Washington companies have made leaps forward in software, propulsion, materials, telecommunications and much more.

Washington is home to more than 90 space companies employing more than 13,000 workers. They generating approximately $4.6 billion in annual economic activity and $1.6 billion in annual payroll. Approximately two-thirds of the world’s operational satellites are built in Washington. Washington’s premiere universities play a critical role in research, development and growing the industry’s future workforce.

Click here for the Space Council details.

El Rey Burro’s Grand Opening is Thursday, Oct. 1st

From El Rey Burro in Yelm on Facebook:

THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER!

604 W Yelm Ave

Yelm, WA 98597

From the Office of the Thurston County Auditor on Facebook:

Epstein news continues to impinge the credibility of Donald Trump

+ Scripps News: New lawsuit could block Epstein advisers from receiving millions

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+ Raw Story: Todd Blanche admitted breaking Epstein files law in his own court filing: Katie Phang

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+ Raw Story: Todd Blanche bludgeoned in court after ‘egregious’ Epstein dodge: ‘Only himself to blame’

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+ Radar Online: Trump’s Mishandling of Epstein Files Was Exact Moment MAGA Lost Trust in Prez, Author Claims: ‘They Stopped Believing in Him’

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+ Raw Story: Blanche quietly turns over unredacted FBI notes on Trump accuser without telling court

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+ Raw Story: Todd Blanche begs appeals court to halt release of batch of Epstein files

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+ MediaIte: Jeffrey Epstein’s Former Lawyer and Accountant Now Faced With Justice Department Probe

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+ KNEWZ: Federal judge denies Todd Blanche’s motion to pause DOJ review of Epstein foreign-language materials

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+ OK!Magazine: Disgraced Ex-Prince Andrew Feels Like He’s ‘Living in Limbo’ as U.K. Police Investigation Over Epstein Allegations Drags On: Source

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+ Morning Honey: ‘Monstrous Crimes’: Lawmakers Accuse Trump of Hiding Past Flight Records Involving Jeffrey Epstein

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+ Raw Story: Trump appointee spent teens in ‘cult’ run by ‘Epstein of AA’: report

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+ Raw Story: DOJ zeroes in on Epstein shell company where survivors say he abused them during jail term

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+ Buzzfeed: ABC Allegedly Wouldn’t Let Rosie O’Donnell Air An Epstein Survivors Segment When She Hosted “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” –  So She Did It On Her Own Terms – The comedian said she’s in talks to do more videos with the women after ABC executives pushed back at airing the segment.

+ The Daily Beast: ‘Kimmel’ Guest Host Reveals Epstein Segment ABC Blocked – “They were certain that could not happen,” the comedian said.

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+ CNN: Epstein’s top advisers reportedly under federal investigation, marking major development for survivors

+ The New York Post: Federal prosecutors reportedly probe Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime lawyer and accountant: report

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Halloween ideas in Thurston County 

+ Thurston Talk: Trick-or-Treat Near Olympia: 2026 Family Events

+ Thurston Talk: Thurston County Halloween Events for Families

In the Center of it All

Small Town Living, One Hour from Anything

Excerpt from Business View Magazine:

Yelm City Council approves $2.23 million construction contract for Fuller Footpath project

Councilor Tracey Wood lone ‘nay’ vote against approval of agreement

Excerpt from the NVN:

Yelm City Council voted 6-1 to approve a $2.23 million construction contract with Active Construction Inc. for the downtown activated alleyway “Fuller Footpath” project, with councilor Tracey Wood serving as the lone “nay” vote against the contract.

The agreement between the City of Yelm and contractor Active Construction Inc. is in the amount of $2,231,231 for the construction of the Fuller Footpath project.

The total project budget — including the previously approved construction management contract with SCJ Alliance in the amount of $426,760.65 — sits at $2,657,991.65, according to Elizabeth Jones, Yelm projects and grants manager.

“The city received six bids for this project,” Jones said. “Following the review of the bids, required documents and contractor qualifications, the city confirmed Active Construction Inc. as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and recommended award of the contract. SCJ Alliance and USDA Rural Development has also provided its concurrence with a proposed award.”

Jones noted that project funding consists of $1 million in grant funding from USDA Rural Development, which was secured via Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland’s office. Yelm also received a grant valued at $44,620 from Washington State Department of Commerce.

With those grants secured, this leaves the City of Yelm left to fund $1,613,371.65.

“The project is fully funded within this budget,” Jones said. “I also want to emphasize that the Fuller Footpath is a public infrastructure and community space project. It will transform the existing alley into an ADA accessible pedestrian rridor, beginning behind Salon Nouveau, crossing over Second Street and ending at the downtown public parking area.”

+ The States Newsroom: With vote-by-mail court fight settled, attention shifts to protections at the polls

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Trump administration’s voter roll lawsuit dismissed in Washington

The Justice Department has now lost more than two dozen similar cases across the country.

Excerpt from The Washington State Standard:

This marks the 25th case that the U.S. Department of Justice has lost in its push to access sensitive voter information. The Justice Department has sued many states for voter rolls, and has yet to have a judge rule in its favor.

An appeals court has also ruled against it in a lawsuit against Michigan. The federal government has appealed many of its other losses, as well.

Both sides had been waiting for weeks for a decision from U.S. District Court Judge Kymberly Evanson after an early August hearing in federal court in Seattle.

In her order Tuesday, Evanson, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, said the Trump administration’s argument is “not persuasive as a matter of statutory interpretation, nor is it consistent with the purpose” of federal law.

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown called the decision “the likeliest of victories for democracy.”

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At least 16 states led by Republicans have provided or said they would provide their full voter registration lists, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

This is just one of the state’s flashpoints with the Trump administration over elections. Washington has also been at odds with the president over his unsuccessful efforts to restrict mail-in voting.

Click here for the full story.

$25 million upgrade to Thurston Co. waste facility will address traffic issues

Excerpt from The Olympian via MSN:

Thurston County’s only solid waste disposal facility will see big improvements by the end of 2028 under a $24.6 million contract.

The facility, known as the Waste and Recovery Center, is located at 2420 Hogum Bay Road NE in Lacey and serves both commercial and residential customers.

On Sept. 15, the Board of County Commissioners approved the $24.6 million contract with Forma Construction of Olympia and TCF Architecture of Tacoma. Before the vote, Thurston County Public Works director Karen Weiss said the facility will be reconfigured and expanded to reduce ongoing maintenance issues and increase the facility’s capacity. These efforts are expected to reduce wait times and make navigation easier for customers as well, according to the project website.

“The county is growing and upgrades to our primary disposal facility in Hawks Prairie, the WARC, are needed to increase safety, serve additional customers and address projected population growth over the next 20 years,” Weiss said.

Specifically, the county will move the public tipping area, which is where customers drop off waste, according to the project website. The county also will build new scale houses and administrative offices.

These areas are currently located on an old landfill. As such, the ground has been shifting, causing the building to settle unevenly, per the website. This situation has led to “frequent and costly repairs,” the website states.

Click here to read the full story.

Toxic algae health advisories issued for Clear Lake and Offutt Lake

Excerpt from The JOLT News:

Health advisories have been issued for Clear Lake and Offutt Lake in Thurston County because of toxic algae blooms.

Lab results from a sample taken from Clear Lake  detected microcystin toxin levels at 77.0 micrograms per liter, which is above the state recreation guideline of 8.0 micrograms per liter.

Lab results from a sample taken from Offutt Lake detected microcystin toxin levels at 10.5 micrograms per liter. Both samples were taken on Monday, Sept. 21.

“Microcystins are a liver toxin and a possible human carcinogen. Microcystins can also cause illness in livestock and pets that drink affected water,” said the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department in the advisory on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

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Health officials recommend taking the following extra precautions to avoid health risks posed by potential toxins:

• • Do not drink the lake water.

• Avoid contact with water containing algae.
• Avoid swimming, wading, windsurfing, and waterskiing in water bodies where algae blooms are present.
• Keep pets and livestock away from where algae blooms are present.
• Do not eat fish that come from the lake during an algae bloom.
• Avoid areas of scum when boating.

For more information about toxic algae blooms and health risks, and to see all Thurston County algae alerts, click here.