East Washingtonian - Your Hometown News Source

Restricted area on West Capitol Campus no longer in place; fence to be removed

OLYMPIA–An order restricting access to portions of West Capitol Campus since January is no longer in place, and that means fencing surrounding the area will come down. Removal work is scheduled for Tuesday morning May 4.

Moffitt, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

WASHINGTON D.C.–Jenny Moffitt, who presently serves as Undersecretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, will be nominated to serve as United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. This move demonstrates the USDA commitment to putting the perspective of our producers at the heart of what we do.

USDA incentivize fruit and vegetable purchase

WASHINGTON D.C.–Participants in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may soon see a temporary increase to their benefits for the purchase of fruits and vegetables. With $490 million provided by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, USDA has offered states, tribal nations and territories the option of boosting the cash-value voucher benefit by more than three times the current amount for up to four months to provide additional relief during this difficult time.

USDA Hosts First-Ever Virtual Fair on Food Waste Reduction Innovations and Leaders

WASHINGTON D.C.–The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host the first-ever Food Loss and Waste Innovation Fair on May 26 (12 - 4 p.m. ET), to showcase USDA investments and business leadership in reducing food loss and waste throughout the food system.

Mexico Supreme court ruling in favor of U.S. potato growers

WASHINGTON D.C.–Mexico’s Supreme Court’s final unanimous ruling puts U.S. fresh potatoes one step closer to finally gaining access to Mexico following nearly 20 years of negotiations. This decision postures a bilateral relationship between the United States and Mexico. U.S. industry representatives estimate that implementation of full market access for U.S. potatoes could increase U.S. exports from approximately $50 million in 2020 to $150 million or more.

The American Families Plan Honors America’s Family Farms

WASHINGTON D.C.–The American Families Plan encourages family farms to stay in the family and does not tax farm and asset transfer to family members upon death. It includes critical tax reform to ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes in order to finance essential investments in workers and families, including childcare, nutrition, higher education and more. One of those reforms is a change in the way capital gains are treated in our tax system so that, for people making over $1 million, the tax system no longer favors income from wealth over income from work. The plan won’t raise taxes on anyone making less than $400,000 a year.

USDA, RESTORE Council invest $31 million in gulf states

WASHINGTON D.C.–The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invest $31 million in funding to advance restoration work and improve water quality in the Gulf Coast states impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The funds will support three priority programs and related project work approved by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration (RESTORE) Council as part of a multi-year process of collaborative planning and public engagement throughout the Gulf.

Unemployment benefits decreased

OLYMPIA–There were 11,629 initial regular unemployment claims (down 12.0 percent from the prior week) and 408,001 total claims for all unemployment benefit categories (down 1.5 percent from the prior week) filed by Washingtonians, according to the Employment Security Department (ESD) During the week of April 18–April 24.

Trestle closes last major gap along Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail

OLYMPIA–Washington State Parks has opened the Renslow Trestle for non-motorized recreation. The trestle is about six miles east of Kittitas and closes the last major gap on the trail between North Bend and the Columbia River, allowing for roughly 100 miles of unimpeded travel for recreationists.

Funding available to local governments statewide through the Local Records Grant Program

OLYMPIA–Nearly $650,000 in state funding is now available to local governments statewide through the Local Records Grant Program administered by Washington State Archives helps local governments improve records-management processes through technological resource upgrades.

McMorris Rodgers at Spokane VA, announces 24-Hour Urgent Care

SPOKANE–Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) joined Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough on a visit to the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane. Dr. Robert Fischer announced plan to open a 24/7 urgent care center by the end of 2021. Expanding access to urgent care for veterans in Eastern Washington in the form of a 24-hour facility has long been a priority for McMorris Rodgers.

McMorris Rodgers drills EPA administrator on oversight of pollution in Puget Sound

WASHINGTON D.C.–Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) called on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan to hold the State of Washington accountable for pollution in the Puget Sound that is devastating the priority salmon stocks. Puget Sound is dirty because millions of gallons of raw sewage are being dumped into the Puget Sound by over 70 sewage treatment plants every year. into the Sound in King County.