In the art of writing fiction there's a concept known as the "inciting incident," a moment early in a story when the main character is confronted with a shock or sudden change that then drives the rest of the narrative . It's a useful concept
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Wildfire in Columbia Gorge forces evacuations According to KGW, the Burdoin fire on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge is now burning in more than 11,000 acres and has destroyed a dozen homes, with areas near the towns of Klickitat and Wahkiacus still under evacuation orders. Over the
OR governor calls special session on transportation After the Oregon legislature failed to pass a substantive transportation budget this year, governor Tina Kotek will call a special session in August to try to address the issue, OPB reports. She's delayed 500 layoffs at ODOT, due to a budget
Oil spill kills salmon in Elwha river A gasoline tanker truck went off Highway 101 and crashed into a tributary of the Elwha river on the Olympic peninsula, spilling thousand of gallons of fuel and killing thousand of young salmon, the Washington State Standard reports. Gov. Bob Ferguson visited the
If you haven't yet read A long train of abuses and usurpations, my essay this week documenting Trump's acts subverting the US constitution – and how they justify conversations about Cascadia independence, have a look this weekend. And if you appreciate this newsletter, please take a moment
Opponents look to limit ICE in Cascadia As nine protesters arrested on federal felony charges related to protests against ICE in Spokane pleaded innocent yesterday, activists are ramping up options to limit the federal government's campaign to kidnap and terrorize immigrants in Cascadia. Demonstrators interrupted a Portland city
The day after the Justice Department arrested nine peaceful protesters in Spokane on felony charges, it's now clear that the authoritarian Trump administration is determined to use the institutions of power to crush dissent and silence its opponents. That the movement for Cascadia independence would be sparked in
Nine arrested in Spokane for June protests against ICE In a disturbing escalation of a politicized US Justice Department, federal agents yesterday arrested nine leaders of protests against immigration crackdowns in Spokane, including queer organizer Justice Forral, Jac Archer, co-director of Spokane Community Against Racism and former city council president
The cruelty of mass deportations Washington State Standard (which by the way, is part of the amazing States Newsroom nonprofit news network covering state-level politics across the US) has a well-written and heartbreaking story of real lives turned upside down by the ICE crackdown in Cascadia. Orozco Forero is a
Good morning! I'm just five paid subscribers short of fifty supporters. For just $5 per month, you can help Cascadia Journal continue to cover news, arts and culture in the Cascadia bioregion continue. Thanks! --AE Support Cascadia Journal Feds continue to provoke fights with protesters As protests against
In the frenzy to pass a federal budget that slashes funding for Medicaid, food assistance, and education, Senator Mike Lee, chair of the committee on Energy and Natural Resources, introduced a plan that would have forced the sale of between 2 and 3 million acres of Forest Service and Bureau
First hybrid electric ferry enters service With governor Bob Ferguson and former governor Jay Inslee on board, the Washington state ferry system debuted its first conversion of a ferry to hybrid electric power, Washington State Standard reports. Earlier this month, Ferguson announced it would contract with a Florida company to
WA governor will cover lost Planned Parenthood funding According to the Washington State Standard, Washington governor Bob Ferguson pledged to backfill $11 million in Medicaid funding cuts approved recently by Congress to health services provided by Planned Parentood in the state. The state is suing to recover the funds – none
Good morning, Cascadia! If you appreciate Cascadia Journal, please take a moment to support my work with a paid subscription – it's just $5 a month and every little bit help, thanks! Support Cascadia Journal Cascadia braces for federal cuts Oregon and Washington are just starting to understand the
Farm workers not showing up for harvest As the Trump administration doubles down in its efforts at mass deportations of undocumented workers (US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently implied undocumented workers will quickly be replaced with Medicaid recipients and robots) OPB reports that Oregon cherry farmers are in crisis as
Good morning, Cascadia. Here's your daily roundup of news, environmental reporting, and arts & culture from across the bioregion. If you appreciate Cascadia Journal, please take a moment to support me by signing up for a paid subscription. It's just $5 per month. Thanks! Support Cascadia
Happy independence days to Canada and the US: and what better way to celebrate these complicated holidays by reading my latest piece about future independence for Cascadia. And if you like this newsletter, please help out with a paid subscription. I'm trying to hit 75 paid subscribers by
Today, Sen. Lisa Murkowski did a cowardly thing. Murkowski, a centrist who has flirted with the idea of leaving the Republican party and joining the Democrats, represents a portion of Cascadia in the US Senate (areas of southeast Alaska, including Juneau, are part of the bioregion). Murkowski was apparently very
ICE ramps up assault in Cascadia The Portland Mercury notes that ICE is using email alerts to asylum seekers to ramp of detentions at immigration facilities in Portland, including a trans woman known as OJM who fears threats to her life if returned to Mexico. Meanwhile, in response to aggressive
Good morning! Here's your roundup of news, arts and culture from across the Cascadia bioregion. I'm trying to make a goal of 50 paid subscribers by the end of the month. Help me continue to write about this region we love, thanks! Support Cascadia Journal Idaho
Public land sell-off scaled back but not dead Yesterday, I wrote for Columbia Insight about Utah Senator Mike Lee's proposed plan to sell off up to 3.2 million acres of US Forest Service and BLM lands across the West, including wildlands in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Lee
It was in my early fifties when I came out as bisexual (or, pansexual if you prefer, though I like the definition of bisexuality as being attracted to people of the same or different genders as oneself). When I first lived on Capitol Hill, the heart of Seattle's
Good morning, Cascadia! Here's all the news and culture that's fit to print (and maybe some that isn't). If you appreciate this round up of news from across the bioregion, help me meet my goal of 50 subscriber by the end of June... Support