*** REGIONAL NEWS FROM THE WEEKEND ***

+ City of Yelm YouTube: Yelm Historic Water Tower video now posted

+ KING-5 TV: UW researchers discover methane gas bubbles coming up from the Puget Sound seafloor

+ The Olympian: JBLM troops have been put on increased readiness status over Russia-Ukraine crisis

+ The Olympian: Washington Senate Democrats introduce legislation to limit the governor’s powers

+ KING-5 TV: Inslee testifies in support of bill that makes spreading election result misinformation illegal – Opponents of the bill are raising concerns about preserving free speech.

+ Airliner Watch: Boeing to increase monthly B777F production from two to three aircraft – in Everett

+ Thurston Talk: Where to Get Thai Food in Olympia and Throughout Thurston County, including Yelm

+ South Sound Business Profiles: Lattin’s Country Cider Mill and Farm’s Sweet Success

+ Yahoo!: Harbor Custom Development, Inc. Enters Preliminary Commitment with Marquee Funding Group for $15,715,000 Construction Loan– for the 75 unit Wyndstone apartment complex

+ The Points Guy: Report: Boeing finds launch customer for 777X freighter – Qatar Airways

*** NATIONAL NEWS FROM THE WEEKEND ***

The Nation: America’s Defense Budget Is Bigger Than You Think – Each year, Congress approves hundreds of billions of dollars for the US defense budget—but the real number exceeds $1 trillion.

Common Dreams: Climate Groups Celebrate as Judge Blocks Biden’s Oil Lease Sale in Gulf

Daily Kos: As white nationalists, Jan. 6 extremists embrace Christian nationalism, even darker forces revive

Daily Kos: State lawmaker proposes bill that would let Arizona legislature nullify presidential elections

The New York Times: Republicans Relish Biden’s Troubles, Eyeing a Takeover of Congress

MSNBC: Biden’s election comments veer uncomfortably close to the ontology of Trumpism

The NY Ledger: John Kerry, U.S. Climate Envoy, Tells Top Polluters ‘We Must All Move Faster’ – away from coal

*** VIRUS NEWS FROM THE WEEKEND ***

UPI: COVID cases declining from Omicron peaks, as U.S. draws closer to 900,000 deaths

The Washington Post via Yahoo! News: They were so careful, for so long. They got covid anyway. Safety precautions that had for so long felt talismanic ― get vaccinated, mask up, avoid large indoor gatherings — have in the past few weeks collapsed under the weight of omicron.

The Defender: U.S. Developing Vaccine Passport System Using Complex Web of Big Tech Partnerships – Just because the federal government isn’t directly developing a national vaccine database or vaccine passport system doesn’t mean such systems aren’t in the works — they are, and some of the Big Tech players involved have deep ties to multiple government agencies.

The Defender: Dr. Anthony Fauci this week predicted children under age 5 will require a three-dose regimen of the COVID vaccine, but Swedish health authorities said the vaccines provide no benefit to kids that age, Norway is making them optional and Denmark is revisiting its decision to vaccinate young children.

The Washington Post: They were so careful, for so long. They got covid anyway. Vaccinated people followed guidelines but still got mild cases of covid. Doctors say this could be the new normal.

*** TRUMP NEWS FROM THE WEEKEND ***

MSNBC’s American Voices: President Trump said he would consider pardoning the people who stormed the U.S. Capitol if he wins back the White House in 2024.

The Guardian (UK) via MSN: Nixon aide John Dean: Trump pardon promise for Capitol rioters is ‘stuff of dictators’ [click here to see John Dean’s tweet with Trump’s video.]

Business Insider via MSN: Trump calls for ‘the biggest protest we have ever had’ in DC and other cities if prosecutors investigating him ‘do anything illegal’

Trump inferred violence: “If these radical, vicious, racist prosecutors do anything wrong or illegal, I hope we are going to have in this country the biggest protest we have ever had in Washington, D.C., in New York, in Atlanta and elsewhere because our country and our elections are corrupt,” he said, ticking off cities in which his business or presidential behavior is under investigation.

“The three prosecutors investigating Trump — New York Attorney General Letitia James, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis — are Black.”

Daily Kos: Too Little, Too Late, Too Damning — Newsmax Admits their Complicity with Promoting the Big Lie

The Brennan Center for Justice via Truthout: Trump Administration Engaged in “Unprecedented” Actions Over 2020 Census, Documents Show

US News: Trump Facing Legal, Political Headwinds as He Eyes Comeback – Former President Donald Trump is already declaring himself the 45th and 47th president of the United States.

Yelm Dollars for Scholars News – Auction tickets now LIVE!

Get your tickets for this year’s auction!

• From Yelm Dollars for Scholars:

It is time for our 27th annual Dollars for Scholars Auction!

Auction proceeds directly support Yelm High School graduates pursuing further education and training in the form of scholarships. The program has raised and distributed $2.6M in scholarships over the last 26 years and we are grateful to have your support as we continue our mission to help break down financial barriers to education.

Live Auction: We are excited to see you at our live event scheduled for 5 p.m. March 12 at the Yelm Community Center! This is a ticketed event with a provided dinner and drinks, and it is set to be a great night out with an incredible community. Get your tickets before they sell out!

Online Silent: Leading up to the live auction will be the renowned silent auction. Bidding will open March 5 and close at 10 p.m. March 11. Create an account early to get notifications!

If you have any questions, please send us an email at yelmdollarsforscholars@gmail.com or visit our website at yelm.dollarsforscholars.org.

We Need Volunteers!

Send us an email at yelmdollarsforscholars@gmail.com if you are interested in helping.

Want to donate to the auction?

Click Here
Purchase Tickets

Taste of the Prairie Upcoming Dates!

Read more

*** REGIONAL NEWS FROM THURSDAY ***

+ KING-5 TV: Gov. Inslee signs bill to delay long-term care tax until 2023

+ Airliner Watch: Relatives of 737 MAX crash victims want to re-open a settlement that protected the manufacturer from criminal prosecution

+ JOLT News: Timberland Regional Library (TRL) prioritizes staff and patron safety

*** NATIONAL NEWS FROM THURSDAY ***

Daily Kos: Far-right extremists plotting to take down power grids in order to ‘cause chaos,’ DHS warns

The Washington Post via Yahoo! News: The IRS wants to scan your face – Starting this summer, you’ll need to provide a video of your face to access the agency’s website. It’s a major expansion of the use of facial recognition software by the government.

The Washington Post: Biden outpaces Trump in issuing drilling permits on public lands – The widening gulf between the president’s policies on oil, gas and coal extraction and his initial promises has raised questions about his climate goals

*** VIRUS NEWS FROM THURSDAY ***

AP News: COVID-19 vaccine booster drive is faltering in the US

Axios: It’s very difficult to get access to antiviral COVID treatments

Newsweek: Scolding the Unvaccinated Left Biden Unprepared for Omicron – “supposedly non-partisan public health agencies, such as the CDC, NIH and FDA, have become thoroughly politicized and have repeatedly downplayed or ignored data that contradict the White House narrative.”

The Defender: ‘Tide Is Turning’: Several EU Countries Scrap COVID Restrictions – they announced plans to ditch COVID restrictions, including masks, quarantine rules and capacity restrictions at indoor venues.

ABC News: Austria will end its lockdown for unvaccinated residents next Monday — one day before a COVID-19 vaccine mandate takes effect in the country

The Defender: Numerous studies conclude COVID vaccines protect people after the second dose, but those conclusions are based on data that excludes data on infection rates in people during the two-week period after vaccination. “Obviously, this is flawed.”

FOX News: Canadian ‘freedom’ truckers massive vaccine mandate protest convoy may smash world record – Justin Trudeau called participants of the protest a ‘small fringe minority’

The Defender: COVID Vaccines Causing Miscarriages, Cancer and Neurological Disorders Among Military, DOD Data Show – Attorney Thomas Renz on Monday told a panel of experts that data provided to him by three whistleblowers show COVID-19 vaccines are causing catastrophic harm to members of the U.S. military.

*** TRUMP NEWS FROM THURSDAY ***

People: New Filings Shed Light on How Much Money Donald Trump Really Has in the Bank – “In 2020, Forbes estimated that Trump had about $93 million in cash, which is interesting because as recently as 2015, he told Forbes he had $793 million in cash—which is probably just a rounding error of $700 million.”

The Hill: McConnell aims to sidestep GOP drama over Trump

Truthout: Trump, While Golfing, Describes Himself as “45th and 47th” President

*** REGIONAL NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

+ The Olympian: South Sound region’s blood supply at crisis levels. Centers plead for donations – A confluence of circumstances has left supply at one-day reserves.

+ The Seattle Times: King County omicron cases decline as ‘second chapter’ of surge gains steam in Eastern Washington

+ The Seattle Times: ‘Sold by Amazon’ program shut down after WA attorney general’s investigation – Amazon is shutting down its “Sold by Amazon” program after an investigation from Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson found it was anticompetitive and violated antitrust laws.

*** NATIONAL NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

The New York Times via The Seattle Times: Stephen Breyer to Retire, Setting Up Battle for Supreme Court Seat – President Biden has promised to nominate a Black woman for his first pick. Republicans won’t be able to use the filibuster, but his pick isn’t guaranteed an easy confirmation.

NBC News: Support your children if they are gay, pope tells parents – Pope Francis’ message comes a year after the Vatican’s doctrinal office issued a document saying that Catholic priests cannot bless same-sex unions.

Airliner Watch: First Boeing 737 MAX jet lands in Antarctica. Click here for the 1st-ever Boeing 737 MAX landing in Antarctica.

NBC News Los Angeles: Pelosi to Seek Reelection With Democratic Majority at Risk – By announcing she would seek a 19th term, Pelosi avoids becoming a lame duck in a year when Democrats are clinging to a fragile majority in the House.

*** VIRUS NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

KING-5 TV, NBC Seattle: Biden administration withdraws COVID vaccine mandate for businesses –
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority all-but-struck down OSHA’s requirement that would’ve applied to about 84 million people.

The Washington Post: PCR covid tests are not very useful. Focus on rapid antigen tests instead.

*** TRUMP NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

Business Insider: NY Attorney General Tish James says Trump changed his mind about her investigation into his company only after being subpoenaed for a deposition

The Seattle Times: Biden administration cancels two mining leases near Minnesota’s BWCA wilderness, in reversal of Trump-era decision

*** REGIONAL NEWS FROM TUESDAY ***

+ The Olympian: Judge dismisses cases against 4 of 5 defendants charged in wind farm worker’s death – The remaining defendant is scheduled to stand trial in March.

+ JOLT News: Port commissioners authorize independent probe into Evans’ alleged conflict of interest

+ KING-5 TV: ‘Out of our control’: 5G, weather blamed for potential flight cancellations out of Everett’s Paine Field – Alaska Airlines warns flights into and out of Paine Field may be delayed or canceled due to heavy fog and 5G signal disruptions.

+ JOLT News: Thurston Commissioners create a county-wide Home Fund – extending the 0.1 percent increase Olympia added to its retail sales taxes to the rest of the county in a bid to fund affordable housing.

+ The Points Guy: Is a single beverage service enough for a 6-hour flight? It will be on American and Alaska [Ed. note: Be prepared when flying domestic long-haul flights from Seattle.]

*** NATIONAL NEWS FROM TUESDAY ***

CNN Exclusive: Federal prosecutors looking at 2020 fake elector certifications, deputy attorney general tells CNN

The Washington Post: Manufacturers have less than five days’ supply of some computer chips, Commerce Department says – Wafer-thin inventories leave factories vulnerable to shutdowns if their chip deliveries are interrupted by weather or covid-19

CNBC: Alabama’s new congressional districts map blocked by federal judges

AP: Democrats make surprising inroads in redistricting fight

*** VIRUS NEWS FROM TUESDAY ***

Independent Sentimental: Biden’s FDA Suddenly Bans Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Two Monoclonal Antibodies Without Providing Clinical Data. Click here for the FDA announcement.

The Defender: A study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology — and funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Research on Women’s Health — confirms an association between menstrual cycle length and COVID-19 shots. Click here for the Obstetrics & Gynecology study.

*** TRUMP NEWS FROM TUESDAY ***

Reuters via MSN: Dominion Voting Systems Corp has told a court there is “no realistic possibility” that the voting machine manufacturer will reach settlements in its billion-dollar defamation lawsuits against Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, lawyers who worked for former President Donald Trump.

The New York Times via Yahoo! News: What the Trump Documents Might Tell the Jan. 6 Committee

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow: Trump is clearly unnerved by Georgia criminal probe. Here’s how to tell.

NBC News: Alex Jones says he spoke to Jan. 6 committee and pled the Fifth ‘almost 100 times’

Daily Kos: Ukraine would not be on the brink of invasion were it not for Paul Manafort and Donald Trump

MSNBC’s The Beat With Ari Melber: Trump electors plot implodes: Giuliani and the admission that may haunt 45

Truthout: State Attorneys General Ask Feds to Investigate Fake Electors Scheme Led by Trump Campaign

*** REGIONAL NEWS FROM MONDAY ***

+ KING-5 TV: Air quality in Puget Sound region isn’t ‘too bad yet’ – Air quality could degrade due to stagnant air. The National Weather Service recommends people avoid any unnecessary burning.

+ KING-5 TV: Washington attorney general to sue Google for ‘secretly tracking’ customer locations

+ KING-5 TV: National Guard heading to some western Washington hospitals Tuesday amid 6th wave of pandemic

*** NATIONAL NEWS FROM MONDAY ***

NBC News: Supreme Court denies Republican leader McCarthy’s challenge to House proxy voting

The Washington Post: Google deceived consumers about how it profits from their location data, attorneys general allege in lawsuits – The complaints allege the company has deployed ‘dark patterns,’ design tricks that can subtly influence users’ decisions in ways that are advantageous for a business

Bloomberg: Why Are U.S. Grocery Shelves Out of Everything Again? Just as omicron made supply issues worse, customers got back to panic buying and stocking up on baking supplies.

CNBC: One year after the 737 Max’s return, Boeing is still trying to get back on course

Newsweek: Joe Biden Will Be Impeached in November, Steve Bannon Says [Ed. note: Oh sure, as if Bannon has any credibility anymore. Bannon just throws spaghetti at the wall and see if it sticks. Yet I predict Bannon will be jailed after the DOJ criminal referral.]

NBC News: WikiLeaks’ Assange can take extradition appeal to U.K.’s top court – In December, the High Court in London overturned a lower court’s ruling that Assange should not be extradited due to mental health concerns.

Salon: Liz Cheney fires back at Newt Gingrich after he suggests throwing Jan. 6 committee in jail

*** VIRUS NEWS FROM MONDAY ***

The Defender: More than 30,000 people attended the “Defeat the Mandates” rally Sunday in DC, calling for an end to vaccine mandates and government overreach.

The Washington Post: Stressed hospitals are asking workers with covid to return — even if they may be infectious

The Street: Covid Omicron Strains Food Supply as Workers Are Sickened – Food-industry executives say the pressure could continue for some time

The Points Guy: UK ends COVID-19 testing for vaccinated arrivals and reduces testing for unvaccinated

CNN: Judge in Texas blocks enforcement of federal employee vaccine mandate nationwide

• Editor’s note: Blog readers know I have repeatedly said THIS is the best case to get Trump indicted, in my opinion.

*** TRUMP NEWS FROM MONDAY ***

CNBC: Georgia judge approves special grand jury for Trump election interference probe

Truthout: [Jan. 6th Committee] Subpoenas Could Show Trump Administration’s Link to Openly White Supremacist “Groypers”

The New York Times via The Seattle Times: Trump supporters who protested outside the Capitol on Jan. 6 are organizing and running for office.

Politico: Trump followers zero in on secretary of state campaigns

MSNBC’s Ali Velshi: Fmr. Pence advisor says time for ex-VP to come forward and tell Americans what he saw – A new group of reportedly dozens of former Trump staffers are banding together to go to battle against the anti-democracy efforts of their once-boss.

Politico: Kerik told Jan. 6 panel that former Army colonel came up with idea to seize voting machines

Daily Kos:Why Ann Coulter is 100% right about Trump being finished …

The New York Times: Dollar stores sell expensive, inefficient light bulbs, a result of the Trump administration’s efforts to weaken climate rules.

The Independent (UK): Trump mocked over video that shows him ordering applause at Mar-A-Lago brunch

The New York Times via Yahoo!News: For Many Who Marched, Jan. 6 Was Only the Beginning (they “are organizing and running for office.”)

Daily Kos: Anyone ‘aiding and abetting’ Jan. 6 panel won’t be eligible for legal fund aiding Trump allies