Councilor Carmody finally obtains council’s vote to clean-up “loosest of contracts” – after 3.5+ years!

• Editor’s note: I acknowledge Yelm Council member Molly Carmody for her persistence in getting the City of Yelm’s Executive Branch leaders and the city council to finally follow the law in approving an open bidding process for the city attorney.
• Carmody advocated and finally received council’s vote approving to divide contracts for the City Attorney (municipal) and the Prosecuting Attorney, instead of one person being assigned as both.
• That Yelm has had the same attorney for 20 years, when the population was 3,289 and is more than 3 times the size today, required this to finally come to fruition.
• The vote was held September 28th, a no-brainer that should not have taken 3.5 years to get approved!
• See below for my blog posts on Councillor Carmody’s proposals in the first half of 2018.
• Councilor Carmody posted this on her Facebook page after the Sept. 14th council session approving to add this as an action item for Sept. 28th:

Tuesday’s meeting: we had the second reading (first was at the study session) of the proposed contracts for City Attorney (municipal) and Prosecuting Attorney. This doesn’t sound very exciting but I’m pretty proud of it. For decades, both the municipal and the prosecuting duties have been undertaken by one firm/attorney with only the loosest of contracts, while the public defender/assigned counsel attorneys are required to submit new proposals/applications every few years. I didn’t think this was fair. One attorney, getting an open-ended contract, with no chance for someone else to compete for the job? Not right, and I’ve been talking about this for YEARS. Finally, finally, we are poised to divide the position into 2 jobs, both up for grabs every 5 years. Our current attorney is admirably equipped to act as both the municipal attorney and the prosecutor but he’s going to retire eventually and we need to acknowledge that a prosecutor may not be a good municipal attorney and vice versa. If someone wants to submit bids for both, that’s fine!I’ve been talking about this since I was first elected in 2015 and it’s finally coming to fruition. Squeaky wheel, I guess. So I’m proud of that and hopefully we can vote it into reality next meeting.

Story highlights covered here from the January 9, 2018 council session
* Councilor Carmody noted there was a change to city attorney, prosecutor,
* There was no open bidding process on these posts’ changes as required by law,
* The city council was not provided an opportunity to vote on these changes,
* Carmody called on this to be resolved by Court session on Thursday [January 11] morning.

Click here for the in-depth report.

Story highlights covered here from City Administrator Grayum’s response

+ Councilor Carmody is attempting to get city leadership to be consistent in open up bidding for all legal services, “to present a fair and open and transparent contract.”

+ The whole issue of legal representative Brent Dille assigned to the City of Yelm for 15+ years by law firm BGWP, then leaving that firm and starting his own practice, then Mayor Foster immediately appointing Dille to city attorney and city prosecutor, raised many questions, especially regarding favoritism and transparency, which Carmody nailed!

+ Dille served as BGWP’s legal representative as the City Attorney for Yelm since 2000, when this town was a third of the current size. The 2000 population was 3,289, where today’s population is estimated at over 9,000.

+ In 2002, Dille was also appointed BGWP’s legal representative as prosecutor for the City.

+ Mayor Foster has proven he is resistant to change, however in his new role as an elected mayor, this was the perfect time to bring in a new city attorney AND a new prosecutor. The size of city Yelm has become demands there be two separate persons as city prosecutor and city attorney. As usual, Foster chose what was familiar and expedient for him, rather than what was best for his constituents.

+ Since Yelm has more than doubled in size since Dille was appointed 15+ years ago to handle both positions for BGWP, the time has come for new legal representation and two separate lawyers for each of these these posts. Foster did not take such action.

+ I agree with Carmody’s stand.

Click here for the in-depth report posted January 19, 2018.

*** REGIONAL NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

+ KING-5 TV: ‘It’s frustrating’: Hundreds of Washington workers could lose jobs despite having vaccine exemptions – More than 1,700 employees who were granted COVID-19 vaccine exemptions could lose their jobs because agencies cannot accommodate them with non-public positions.

+ Yelm High School: Bounty for Families Launches ‘LEARNERS WITHOUT LIMITS’ to Support Students

+ South Sound Business: CERB to Invest Over $10M in Rural County Projects [i.e. rural broadband projects in Thurston County]

+ KING-5 TV: Proposed changes to Washington state’s Congressional districts released

*** NATIONAL NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

The Telegraph (UK): Is the US going to run out of money? Washington has just 19 days to reach a deal or face a US government shutdown

CNBC: Nearly 600 United Airlines employees face termination for failing to comply with vaccine mandate

KING-5 TV: ‘Blah, blah, blah’: Greta Thunberg ridicules leaders on climate change, mocks ‘Build Back Better’ plan

Mediaite: ‘I Emailed You Months Ago’: Reporter Fumes at Psaki Trying to Stonewall Her on an Assange Story She’s Long Pursued

NBC News: Migrants returned to Mexico describe horror of kidnappings, torture, rape

For the Refugees: FINALLY! After five years of waiting, four of the Snowden refugees are on a plane to Canada, and will start their new lives as Canadians today.

National Post: (Canada): Refugee family that helped hide Edward Snowden in Hong Kong arrives in Canada – The Sri Lankan family were admitted half a decade after they first applied for asylum in this country

*** VIRUS NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

The Wrap: YouTube to Ban Prominent Vaccine Skeptics, Including Robert F Kennedy Jr and Dr. Joseph Mercola

*** TRUMP NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

NBC News: Jan. 6 committee subpoenas rally organizers, Trump allies – The panel demands that they give their sworn depositions on varying dates from late October to early November.

Truthout: Trump Planning Lawsuit to Block January 6 Committee From Getting His Records

Daily Kos: One week after details of Trump’s plan to overthrow America were revealed, the press is silent

Daily Kos: Emails find Trump trio planned to sell veterans’ patient data for ‘hundreds of millions of revenues’

MSNBC’s Maddow Blog: In court case, Giuliani shed new light on the Big Lie’s origins – Rudy Giuliani confirmed under oath that when he peddled election conspiracy theories, he didn’t check to learn whether they were true.

MSNBC’s Opinions: Trump had ‘Cats’ and ‘Phantom of the Opera’ played to soothe him, a new book claims – Trump has long loved Andrew Lloyd Webber. His staff members used that to their advantage.

*** REGIONAL NEWS FROM TUESDAY ***

• Dear readers: The unsubstantiated rumors and falsehoods in e-mails and comments I have received about the purpose of a Nisqually Tribe quarantine center are very damaging. Tribal Chair Willie Frank III has now responded to this ignorant public assault. The facts of this facility were easily accessible in The Seattle Times from July 2020. I list both stories here for you to discern for yourselves:

+ JOLT News: Nisqually Indian Tribe responds to threats related to its quarantine site – Chairman Willie Frank III speaks directly to those who have concerns about Brighton Creek facility

+ The Seattle Times [July 17, 2020]: “The Nisqually Indian Tribe is constructing a $900,000 emergency response center and buying a modular unit to be used as a domestic violence prevention center. [Editor’s note: This was a Trump Admin. federal grant “to pay for programs to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus and give financial help to tribal members for rent and utility bills.‘]

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+ Hope Restored Christian Ministries: 5th Annual Nakaseeta 5K Walk/Run Event Yelm Middle School, Oct. 2nd.

+ NVN: Yelm Community Schools Enrollment Down Nearly 300 in Initial Counts – Officials Say COVID-19 Pandemic is Largely to Blame

+ NVN: Bald Hills Names Volunteer Jacob Jones Firefighter of the Year

+ The Olympian: WA. Medical regulators take stand against COVID-19 misinformation, threaten to take action

+ Patch: Kirkland Company Ordered To Pay $2.6M In Restitution

*** NATIONAL NEWS FROM TUESDAY ***

USA Today: USPS mail delivery is about to get permanently slower and temporarily more expensive

Rep. Eric Swalwell Retweet: Kevin McCarthy@GOPLeader · Oct 21, 2015 – When the United States makes promises, it keeps them, which is why the House voted today to avoid the threat of a debt default.

NBC News: Under 40? Expect an ‘unprecedented’ life of extreme heat waves, droughts and floods

NORD VPN: Is your phone spying on you? [How you can tell.]

The Washington Post: Tribes want ‘immediate action’ to reverse Trump’s cut to Bears Ears National Monument

Truthout: All Voters in California Will Be Mailed Ballots Automatically, Thanks to New Law

*** TRUMP NEWS FROM TUESDAY ***

MSNBC’s Maddow Blog: Trump’s attorneys couldn’t have been too pleased with his Georgia rally rant

AP: Jan. 6 trials slowed by mounting evidence in US Capitol riot

MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber: MAGA insiders admit Trump was lying in new book

MSNBC’s Deadline White House: Daniel Goldman: DOJ needs to ‘take a broader look’ at Trump’s conduct

MSNBC’s Deadline White House: WaPo’s Carol Leonnig recounts Trump admin’s attempt to silence intelligence and security officials

*** REGIONAL NEWS FROM MONDAY ***

+ Joe DePinto for Mayor: The Yelm Police Officer Guild is proud to endorse Mr. DePinto for Mayor of Yelm. He has shown overwhelming support of law enforcement over his two terms on City Council and we are confident he will continue to make public safety his priority as Mayor.” – Detective Anthony Sparkuhl, Yelm Police Guild President.

+ The Olympian: Thurston plan to protect gophers, streamline permit process up for public comment – Residents have until Nov. 8 to submit their comments to a draft environmental impact statement.

+ The Olympian: Everything you need to know about WA’s new bag ban and what it’ll cost you – Say goodbye to single-use plastics, and get ready to pay for most other bags, including paper and when ordering takeout or groceries.

+ The Olympian: Authorities in Washington state say COVID-19 hospital admission rates “look better” but hospitalizations still remain high.

+ McClatchy News: Greyhound Lines Inc. will pay $2.2 million to settle a lawsuit over the bus line’s practice of allowing U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to board its buses in Washington state to conduct immigration sweeps.

*** NATIONAL NEWS FROM MONDAY ***

Yahoo! Finance: Ford to build $11.4 billion mega campuses for electric car production [creating 11,000 jobs]

The Washington Post: FBI: Killings soared nearly 30 percent in 2020, with more slayings caused by guns

Truthout: RNC Official Reveals GOP Plan to Ramp Up Election Lawsuits in 2022

Daily Kos: Mitch McConnell’s hijacking of the Supreme Court is backfiring bigly

Gallup: Approval of U.S. Supreme Court Down to 40%, a New Low

The Washington Post: Biden said Border Patrol agents ‘will pay’ for treatment of Haitian migrants. Texas Gov. Abbott offered them jobs.

*** VIRUS NEWS FROM MONDAY ***

KING-5 TV: ‘We are on a razor’s edge’: Hospitals nearing crisis standards with staff burnout, abuse from patients

Tennis World: Jeremy Chardy: I regret getting vaccinated, I have series of problems now

Science Direct published paper: Why are we vaccinating children against COVID-19?

Reuters: New York may tap National Guard to replace unvaccinated [fired] healthcare workers – Some 16% of the state’s 450,000 hospital staff, or roughly 72,000 workers, have not been fully vaccinated, the governor’s office said.

*** TRUMP NEWS FROM MONDAY ***

CNN: Trump’s new interviews and appearances show that a storm is brewing

MSNBC’s American Voices: Trump reveals he asked Georgia Governor to ‘help us out’ following defeat to Biden [Ed. note: He has a major lawsuit and investigation in process on this, too.]

Business Insider: A Trump adviser’s emails say ‘election stuff’ repeatedly took precedence over the president’s pandemic response

MSNBC’s Maddow Blog: When Trump says the U.S. ‘will not survive,’ don’t look away

Salon: Trump’s planning to run again in 2024: Will his supporters ever realize he hates them?

Truthout: Donald Trump Is Building an Army. He Can No Longer Be Ignored.

Common Dreams: New Report Says Trump’s CIA Considered Kidnapping or Assassinating Julian Assange

Truthout: Trump Aides Refusing to Testify Before January 6 Committee May Face Criminal Charges

Robert Kagan: “Our constitutional crisis is already here”

• Editor’s note: Every American should read this, for we have been warned about our future!

+ Daily Kos: Robert Kagan offers a terrifying treatise on Trump and the future of the nation

+ The Washington Post: Robert Kagan: “Our constitutional crisis is already here”

Kagan writes, “The United States is heading into its greatest political and constitutional crisis since the Civil War, with a reasonable chance over the next three to four years of incidents of mass violence, a breakdown of federal authority, and the division of the country into warring red and blue enclaves. The warning signs may be obscured by the distractions of politics, the pandemic, the economy and global crises, and by wishful thinking and denial. But about these things there should be no doubt:

“First, Donald Trump will be the Republican candidate for president in 2024. The hope and expectation that he would fade in visibility and influence have been delusional. He enjoys mammoth leads in the polls; he is building a massive campaign war chest; and at this moment the Democratic ticket looks vulnerable. Barring health problems, he is running.

“Second, Trump and his Republican allies are actively preparing to ensure his victory by whatever means necessary.“

Click here to read the full Op-Ed in The Washington Post. About Robert Kagan. Excerpt accessible here

Ed. note: Kagan left the Republican Party in 2016 due to the party’s nomination of Donald Trump and endorsed the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, for president.

*** REGIONAL NEWS FROM THE WEEKEND ***

+ City of Yelm: Utility Moratorium Expires September 30, 2021

+ The Olympian: Census data shows how Thurston County has become more diverse over last decade

+ The Olympian: 23 Washington state Senators ask governor to suspend incoming long-term care tax

+ The Olympian: ‘Failed obligation.’ WA Gov. Inslee implores feds to halt appeal of ill Hanford worker law

+ The Washington Post: Fires are lasting longer into the night, and researchers may have found out why – A new study showed nighttime air in the western U.S. is getting drier and warmer, potentially prolonging fire activity.

*** NATIONAL NEWS FROM THE WEEKEND ***

Science Alert: Ice Melt at The Poles Is Now Causing Hidden Changes to Earth’s Crust on a Huge Scale

MSNBC’s The Reidout: Facebook’s latest scandal is a reminder that it’s past time to delete our accounts – Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg signed off on an internal effort to push pro-Facebook content on users’ News Feeds, according to a new report.

Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO): Technology ethicist Tristan Harris joins Bill to discuss how Facebook’s algorithm feeds users’ outrage

CNBC: Costco, Nike and FedEx are warning there’s more inflation set to hit consumers as holidays approach

CNBC: Federal judge deals blow to vaccine mandate for New York City teachers

Yahoo! News: Kidnapping, assassination and a London shoot-out: Inside the CIA’s secret war plans against WikiLeaks [Ed. note: From Edward Snowden: Stop what you’re doing and read this. The CIA developed plans to kill or kidnap an award-winning journalist whose work they did not like — before they charged him with a crime. The case against Julian Assange must be dropped—and condemned.]

*** VIRUS NEWS FROM THE WEEKEND ***

BMC Infectious Diseases published paper: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are an emerging cause of significant morbidity and mortality in severe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Stand for Health Freedom: Oregon Senators File Formal Grand Jury Petition Calling for Investigation into CDC’s Willful Misconduct to Hyperinflate COVID-19 Data Following Federal Law Violations – click here for Oregon State Senate public document.

La Crosse (WI.) Tribune Opinion: How about health as a COVID exit strategy?

Daily Kos: The Daily Show went to an anti-mask rally so you don’t have to. Here’s what happened [click here for the video]

*** TRUMP NEWS FROM THE WEEKEND ***

Business Insider: Donald Trump could be charged with multiple crimes over his attempts to overturn his loss in the state of Georgia, report says

Newsweek: Trump Falsely Claims Arizona Audit Found He Won ‘At a Level You Would Not Believe’

MSNBC Opinions by Glenn Kirchner: House committee investigating Jan. 6 riot must make Steve Bannon appear– Congress has the power to force an appearance from Trump’s inner circle.

The Hill: Graham told Trump he ‘f’d up’ his presidency: book

The Independent (UK): Trump reveals the one thing that would stop him from running again in 2024 – “a bad call from a doctor or something”

The Conversation: 21 Million Americans Say Trump Should Be Restored to the Presidency by “Force”

The Atlantic: Trump’s Plans for a Coup Are Now Public – Some of the plots to overturn the election happened in secret. But don’t forget the ones that unfolded in the open.

*** REGIONAL NEWS FROM FRIDAY ***

+ City of Yelm: The City is Seeking Public Comment on the 2022 [20 year long-range] Transportation Plan – The City’s Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on the draft plan via Zoom on Monday October 18, 2021 at 4PM.

+ The Olympian: Gov. Inslee names Thurston County Superior Court Commissioner as ninth judge

+ CNBC: Costco brings back purchase limits on toilet paper, cleaning supplies and more

+ The Olympian: Longtime business Johnson Smokehouse & Sausage Kitchen in East Olympia to open a new store

+ Guinness World Records: Yelm, Washington resident and record-holder Joel Strasser and his majestic beard were on-set to break his existing record for the most pencils in the beard at 450 pencils.

+ Thurston Talk: Yelm Junior Kyler Ronquillo Lifting Tornados to New Gridiron Heights

*** NATIONAL NEWS FROM FRIDAY ***

USA Today: CNN anchor Chris Cuomo accused of sexual harassment by former female ABC News boss, The New York Times: Chris Cuomo Sexually Harassed Me. I Hope He’ll Use His Power to Make Change. [Ed. note: This is pertinent in Yelm with the recent multiple sexual harassment allegations against City Administrator Graham!]

CNBC: Delta wants other airlines to share ‘no-fly’ lists of unruly passengers

*** VIRUS NEWS FROM FRIDAY ***

Springer Link published paper: The sufficient vitamin D and albumin level have a protective effect on COVID-19 infection

Pub Med published paper: Vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19: A case-control study at a tertiary care hospital in India

American Journal of Physiology: Vitamin D and lumisterol novel metabolites can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication machinery enzymes

Kaiser Health News: Scientists Say a Daily Pill to Treat COVID Could Be Just Months Away

*** TRUMP NEWS FROM FRIDAY ***

Politico: Biden won’t invoke executive privilege to shield Trump White House records from Jan. 6 committee

The Hill: Arizona draft audit report shows Biden lead widened by 360 votes

Business Insider: Trump actually lost Arizona’s largest county by hundreds more votes, according to GOP ‘audit’

The Washington Post: The Arizona election review did exactly what it was intended to do – The point was always to try to bolster reasons to be skeptical of the results.

New York Daily News: Rudy Giuliani not welcome at Fox News: report

Newsweek: Ex-Trump Attorney Asks Court to Reduce City of Detroit’s Bill for Cost of Bogus Election Fraud Cases

CNN: Judge orders Trump Org. to explain its response to subpoena by New York attorney general for company records

The Washington Post: Judge orders Trump Organization to hand over documents more quickly to New York AG

Daily Kos: Trump lawsuit admits Trump is addicted to Twitter

MSNBC’s Opinions: Trump’s election lies would have died out without help from his lackeys – There are simply no remaining good faith disagreements about the result of the 2020 election.

2 days of weekend fun at Yelm City Park

+ NVN: Harvest Festival Set to Take Place This Weekend at Yelm City Park

“Yelm’s first Fall Harvest Festival will bring autumn-themed activities for the whole family to Yelm City Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25.

There will be more than 100 vendors at the event between those at the Yelm Farmers Market, which will be running simultaneously, and those brought by festival coordinator LaDonna Shea Hockaday of Simply Events by LaDonna.”

+ K-9 Kerplunk, Sunday at Yelm City Park

NVN: The city of Yelm will open the splash pad to dogs for the “K9 Kerplunk” event at 2 p.m. Sunday Sept. 26, at Yelm City Park

City of Yelm: Join us for a paw-ty! The City of Yelm invites dogs and their owners to K-9 Kerplunk – an end of summer Splash Pad party just for pups.

*** REGIONAL NEWS FROM THURSDAY ***

+ KING-5 TV: Gov. Jay Inslee has extended the state’s eviction moratorium for one month. The moratorium was set to expire on Sept. 30, 2021.

+ JOLT News: County auditor: “Our elections are totally above reproach.”

+ NVN: 2021 Best of Nisqually Finalists – voting now open

+ The Olympian: Native American population in Washington state has grown by more than half – 313,633 people identify as American Indian/Alaska Native on recent U.S. Census

*** NATIONAL NEWS FROM THURSDAY ***

Politico: Jan. 6 committee subpoenas 4 from Trump’s inner circle – The four will be commanded to produce relevant documents by Oct. 7 and appear for depositions the following week.

The Washington Post: Texas secretary of state’s office announces audit of 2020 election results after Trump calls for one

NBC News: More deaths than births in Alabama for the 1st time in recorded history

The New York Times: Murders rose nearly 30 percent in the U.S. last year, the sharpest increase on record — and have continued rising this year.

KING-5 TV: United Airlines say 97% of US employees have been vaccinated – United said it will start termination proceedings against unvaccinated employees as soon as next Tuesday.

Office Newz: A record number of cargo ships are stuck outside LA. What’s happening? “the result of a shortage of trucks and drivers to pick up goods, coupled with an overwhelming demand for imported consumer products.”

*** VIRUS NEWS FROM THURSDAY ***

The Guardian: Wuhan [and U.S.] scientists planned to release coronavirus particles into cave bats, leaked papers reveal-Documents reveal researchers applied for $14m to fund controversial project in 2018

Daily Kos: One of the most reliable predictors of the pandemic shows decline in coming weeks

*** TRUMP NEWS FROM THURSDAY ***

The Washington Post: Biden White House leans toward releasing information about Trump and Jan. 6 attack, setting off legal and political showdown

Daily Kos: Republicans’ silence on memo that proves Trump’s Big Lie was a lie is deafening—and telling

Daily Kos: Peril Book: Biden, upon Seeing Trump’s White House Virtual Golf Wall: “What a F***ing A**hole”

CNN’s The Point: Donald Trump turned on Lindsey Graham. Of course. 

The Washington Post: To sue the New York Times and his niece, Trump turned to a low-profile attorney from New Jersey

CNN’s The Point: Steve Bannon was knee-deep in January 6

Daily Kos: Violence emanating from far-right anti-vaccine/anti-mask contingent keeps ratcheting