Steve Klein addresses current issues impacting Yelm and vicinity and provides a meeting place for anyone with an interest in this area to provide their ideas and opinions
Every major military base in the continental US is expected to maintain essential operations, including independent access to electricity, water, fuel and communications for 90 days. Credit: Reuters.
The former Deputy Director of the FBI has issued an urgent warning to Americans as countries worldwide start stockpiling supplies for a potential crisis.
Dan Bongino, who left the bureau in January, said the public needs to do what the UK and European governments are telling citizens: Have a preparedness plan and at least three days of food and power ready.
‘Have yourself an emergency radio, have yourself some batteries, get yourself some emergency food, get yourself a rain collection and water filtration, some filtration tablets,’ he said on Monday [Oct. 26].’
Get your stuff today. Please. Do it for your family,’ Bongino added.
Governments in the UK, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and France have encouraged households to keep food, water, medicines and other essentials available for emergencies.
The UK’s updated guidance released this month recommends enough supplies for three days, helping families cope if severe weather, cyberattacks or other disruptions interrupt essential services.
Bongino, who has also worked for the Secret Service and NYPD, said preparing in advance could reduce anxiety and prevent families from finding themselves without essentials when a crisis strikes.
‘There’s nothing wrong with being prepared. It’s not panicking or anything like that,’ he said.
Grok then claimed it was ‘not hype,’ before referencing the United Kingdom’s Be Ready campaign, which was launched on October 22.
“The campaign asks for 3 days of water (3L/person/day), non-perishable food, torch, radio, cash and basics. Same as France, Ireland, Netherlands and others,” Grok explained.
Governor Bob Ferguson speaks at the 2025 Medal of Honor & Medal of Merit ceremony at the state Capitol on March 18, 2026. Jimi Hendrix was honored with the Medal of Merit at the ceremony. Credit:Office of Gov. Bob Ferguson
Governor Ferguson chooses Jimi Hendrix for Washington’s U.S. Mint Innovation Coin
Program honors innovation from each state, D.C. and U.S. territories with $1 coins
The program, first launched by the Mint in 2019, honors innovation and innovators from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories by issuing four new $1 coins every year through 2032. Washington state is set for a 2029 release.
Governor Ferguson designated Washington Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti as the state’s official liaison to the U.S. Mint. Pellicciotti assembled an Innovation Coin Advisory Committee of state leaders in history and innovation to review public submissions, generate additional ideas, collaborate on concepts and formalize the state’s submission to the Mint. The committee unanimously approved five finalists for Governor Ferguson to choose from.
“Washington is one of the most innovative states in the nation,” Governor Ferguson said. “The finalists were all strong examples of this. The Innovation Coin program is a unique opportunity to honor our history and share Washington’s story. Picking just one example from the most innovative state in the nation was difficult, but Jimi Hendrix’s historic innovation on guitar and his deep roots in Washington make him a great choice to represent our state.”
Born in Seattle in 1947, Jimi Hendrix revolutionized electric guitar. He attended Horace Mann Elementary School, Washington Junior High and Garfield High School. His first musical gig was in Seattle. Hendrix was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 along with his band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
In 2023, Rolling Stone named Hendrix the greatest guitarist of all time, calling him “a true master of the instrument.” Hendrix was listed above iconic guitarists like Chuck Berry, Jeff Beck, B.B. King, Carlos Santana and others.
The Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) is going to consider approving $16 million in federal transportation grant awards at a meeting on Friday, Nov. 6.
The Transportation Policy Board recommended approving funding for projects aimed at improving roads, trails, transportation access and air quality across the region. The board made the move near the end of summer.
The funding comes from two federal programs: $11 million in Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funds and $5 million in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) funds.
Under the recommendation, 15 of the 16 federal grant proposals would receive funding, with 10 receiving their full requested amounts. The remaining funding requests, totaling approximately $19.1 million, would be placed on a contingency list for possible future funding.
The recommendation also provides full funding for two regional set-aside projects totaling $1 million and all five Rural Community Support Program (RCSP) proposals totaling $1.2 million.
The RCSP funding is intended to support transportation improvements in the region’s small cities, towns and tribal communities.
Among the recommended federal awards, Yelm’s Couplet project and Olympia’s Capitol Corridor Phase 2 project would receive full funding.
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If TPB’s recommendation is approved, the projects will be programmed in TRPC’s Transportation Improvement Program, allowing them to move toward federal funding obligations and implementation during federal fiscal years of 2027 through 2032.
Around 60,000 Microsoft employees are eligible for the new buyout program across four countries, said a person familiar with the matter.
The move comes six months after Microsoft announced its first-ever voluntary retirement program to a small set of U.S. workers.
Employees must decide whether to take the offer in early December, and those participating will leave on Dec. 31.
The software maker announced a new voluntary exit offer for certain workers in the U.S., Canada, India and the United Kingdom at its experience level of 70 or below.
Around 60,000 people are eligible, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named while discussing an internal matter. The effort affects about 27% of Microsoft’s total workforce of 223,000 people.
Miceal Ledwith, left, greeted by then-Pope John Paul II, with
then-Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany looking on (who became Pope Benedict).
Circa 1980. Ledwith was the former adviser to Pope John Paul II on theological matters.
Photo credit: Special courtesy to the Yelm Community Blog by Dr. Miceal Ledwith.
An historic figure in our area dies at age 83
Dear readers;
My longest, best friend in the Yelm area for over 37 years was suddenly and unexpectedly stricken on November 6th, passing away at just after dawn on November 7, at age 83.
We shared many similar views about life which only deepened our friendship, and travelled extensively together to Ramtha School events on every continent except Antarctica.
Over the last 38 years, Miceal became my mentor, confident and spiritual brother. His contributions to my life are enormous.
I extend my blessings to his beloved Elaine, his family in New York City and Europe, plus his extended family in Tenino.
Dr. Ledwith’s legacy lives on his many books, audio recordings, 2 motion pictures, and numerous published videos.
With gratitude from a grateful spiritual community!
Steve Klein
Yelm Community Blog, Host
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Dr. Ledwith’s voice lives on in these select video excerpts:
Miceal Ledwith, PhD, was professor of systematic theology for sixteen years at Maynooth College in Ireland and subsequently served for ten years as president of the university. He was a member of the International Theological Commission, a small group of theologians of international standing, charged with advising the Holy See on theological matters. He also served as chairman of the Committee of Heads of the Irish Universities and as a member of the governing Bureau of the Conference of European University Presidents (CRE). He has lectured extensively throughout Europe, South Africa, Japan, Australia, Mexico, and North America.
Dr. Miceal Ledwith, a scholar featured in the recent films What the Bleep Do We Know? [2004] and Down the Rabbit Hole [2006], has inspired audiences throughout Ireland and Britain as well as all over Europe, the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, South Africa, Australia, Japan and the Western Pacific with his wise observations about what it means to be a believer in today’s world.
Miceal was ordained a Catholic priest in 1967 and has served in a number of prestigious roles at Pontifical University, Maynooth, including Professor, Registrar, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Vice-President and President.
He also was editor of the prestigious review The Irish Theological Quarterly, and for more than a decade was a member of the Editorial Board of the International Catholic Review “Communio“.
Miceal also served three terms as a Member of the International Theological Commission, a small group of theologians who advise on theological matters referred to them by the Pope or the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He was Chairman of the Committee of Heads of the Irish Universities and was a member of the Governing Bureau of the Conference of European University Presidents. He was deeply involved in ecumenical relationships between the Churches in Ireland for two decades, and was a Consulter to the Vatican Congregation for Education, which oversees those colleges and universities around the world who hold a Papal Charter. He is a native of County Wexford, Ireland.
Dr. Miceal Ledwith, L.Ph., L.D., D.D., LL.D (h.c), served as a Catholic priest and as Professor of Theology and College President for over 25 years in Ireland. During the course of his academic and administrative careers he lectured extensively to interested adult groups in many countries and continues to speak at venues all over the world today. He is a long-time member of Ramtha’s School of Ancient Wisdom and has been invited to speak at Events held by the school for several years at many venues throughout the world. He was one of the scholars featured in “What the Bleep Do We Know,” and its sequel “Down the Rabbit Hole.”
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Miceal Ledwith, Steve Klein. Rainier, WA. April 28, 2026.
People gather during a ‘No Hate in WA State’ rally against multiple initiatives on the November ballot, on 17 October in Seattle, Washington. Credit: Lindsey Wasson/AP via The Guardian (US).
Washington state passes ballot measure banning trans girls from school sports
Measure in blue state requires female athletes prove their sex, which critics warn could lead to ‘invasive’ genital exams
Voters in Washington state have passed a ballot measure banning transgender girls from playing on girls’ sports teams, a major loss for LGBTQ+ rights in a solidly Democratic state.
The measure says students in elementary, middle and high school who want to join girls’ athletics must first submit statements from their healthcare providers verifying their “biological sex”. Opponents have raised alarms the measure may force girls to endure “invasive and extreme” genital exams to participate in school sports.
Initiative 638 passed with support from nearly 57% of voters as of Thursday morning, though votes were still being counted.
More than 25 states across the US have adopted similar bans on trans youth athletes, mostly through legislation pushed by Republican lawmakers. Voters in Arizona and Nebraska approved similar ballot measures this week, and a ban proposed in Colorado was leading in early results, but that race has not yet been called.
Prohibiting trans youth from sports has become a major priority of conservatives and anti-LGBTQ+ groups who argue that they are protecting “fairness” in women’s athletics. But civil rights advocates say the policies are discriminatory and unnecessary, noting that trans youth have long played sports and that the restrictions target a small group of students already facing extreme prejudice and exclusion.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association said earlier this year that it was aware of only about 10 trans middle and high school sports players, a tiny fraction of the more than 200,000 students competing statewide. The state has for nearly two decades allowed trans students to play on teams that match their gender identity.
WSDOT‘s Cascadia Program is asking for public input on proposed high-speed rail connecting Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver. You can take the survey and learn more about the project through the link in the comments below.
A 54-year-old Bremerton man says he is lucky after surviving six days lost in the woods of Thurston County. He wandered away from a Civil War reenactment Saturday, Sept. 5, and was found by two men four-wheeling Friday, Sept. 11.
Tom Goodwin was taking part in the reenactment on a rural property in Yelm when he went into the woods and got lost.
“Odds were, I should be dead, really in reality. People don’t go that long, with all that,” Goodwin said.
Goodwin said he had a headache during the Saturday reenactment, and it worsened that night as he tried to head back to camp. Doctors say a stroke caused everything from disorientation to hallucinations.
“My sense of direction was really not very good at that point,” he said.
The event took place over Labor Day weekend, when a Yelm farmer hosted a Civil War reenactment for hundreds of people. Saturday night, police received a call about Goodwin, who was portraying a Confederate soldier. His 13-year-old son, Hunter, said his father had not made it back to the family’s tent.
Volunteers, searchers from Thurston and neighboring counties, and Goodwin’s friends and co-workers searched for him every day.
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That Friday, after a 911 call from the four-wheelers, the Washington State Patrol’s “Smoky” unit helped Yelm police officers from above, directing units on the ground to Goodwin.
“First time I’ve been really happy to see the State Patrol,” Goodwin said.
Goodwin said he was dehydrated and had not eaten in four days.
“I only want a cigarette and a Coke,” he told the officers.
