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Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson is tapping a Biden Administration official to lead the state’s Department of Ecology and to keep Washington at the forefront of the nation’s fight against the damaging effects of climate change. Ferguson named Casey Sixkiller, regional administrator of the federal Environmental Protection Agency, to guide the department responsible for carrying out the state’s ambitious climate policies enacted under outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee. “Casey has the ability to craft practical solutions to complex problems, which will be critical to getting big things done and moving our state forward,” Ferguson said in a statement. Also this week, Ferguson named Tim Lang, a senior assistant attorney general, as the next secretary of the Department of Corrections. Lang is the department’s chief legal counsel and a member of the agency’s executive strategy team. Lang, who has been with Ferguson throughout his tenure as attorney general, will succeed Secretary of Corrections Cheryl Strange. “His extensive background in legal matters concerning corrections, coupled with his understanding of the challenges facing our state’s facilities, makes him the ideal candidate to lead the Department of Corrections,” Ferguson said in a statement. With the two appointments, Ferguson has now chosen six department heads ahead of his inauguration on Jan. 15. President Joe Biden appointed Sixkiller in 2022 as the EPA administrator for Region 10, which covers Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and 271 tribal nations. He will succeed Laura Watson who will be chief deputy attorney general for the next attorney general, Nick Brown. Prior to the federal appointment, Sixkiller served as deputy mayor of Seattle and chief operating officer of King County. He is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Inslee praised the selection of Sixkiller. “I’ve known Casey for a long time. I have a huge respect for him personally. He’s done a great job for EPA and I’m happy he’s going to be able to carry on the great work at Ecology,” he said Wednesday. Sixkiller is the first person Ferguson has named to lead a department who is not currently working for the state. Ferguson has said he will re-appoint Marcus Glasper as director of the Department of Licensing and David Puente Jr. as director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. Both men were named to their positions in 2023 by Inslee. Strange is delaying a planned retirement to serve as acting secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services in the next administration. She ran the agency from 2017 to 2021. Ferguson previously named K.D. Chapman-See as his director of the Office of Financial Management. She will be the point person helping him construct state spending plans under the threat of a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall. Washington State Standard is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: info@washingtonstatestandard.com . Follow Washington State Standard on Facebook and X .There is no question that Nebraska is a Republican state. Our Legislature is controlled by Republicans. Our state governor has been a Republican since 1999. The people of this state have clearly chosen to elect Republicans up and down the ballot. Presumably, voters elected these folks because they viewed Republican candidates as more likely to govern in ways that will better their communities and lives. So my question is: given that Republicans have had complete political control, why have we been forced to resort to the ballot initiative process over the last decade to actually implement the vision voters have on the most important economic issues facing everyday Nebraskans? In 2018 voters, decisively approved a minimum wage increase, and in 2022, voters passed Medicaid expansion — protecting rural hospitals and paving the way for new ones like that in Central City — because their Republican elected state representatives wouldn’t do it. And this November voters overwhelmingly passed initiatives demanding medical marijuana and paid family leave, while repealing a school voucher plan that would have decimated rural schools to benefit primarily wealthy families in Omaha, because their Republican elected representatives had other ideas. It should not be too much to ask that the people we vote into office implement common-sense policies that would impact normal people and are supported by a significant majority of Nebraskans. Going forward, I hope people ask their elected representatives (and themselves) a couple of very simple questions that go to the heart of public service: Why aren’t our Republican elected officials passing the laws we Nebraskans clearly want? And if they are not going to pass the laws we want, why should we keep voting for them? Mark Porto Grand Island We live in a fast-paced, high-tech, push-button world with instant information at the touch of a finger. Some good, some not so good. The technical achievements are miraculous. Having said that, I sometimes wonder if that is drawing us away from our creator Almighty God. Maybe it’s time to access where we are and how we got here. None of the technical achievements would have been possible if God hadn’t put the elements, resources and talented men and women here to build technology. So, before we pat ourselves on the back too much, we should praise the Lord our God who created the universe and all that’s in it — including mankind — and controls and keeps it together. He gave us the Bible, his word, to guide and direct us through life and teach us the way of salvation. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2nd Timothy 3:16 Sin is what separates us from God, but in his endless love and mercy for us, he sent his one and only son, Jesus Christ, to be crucified on a cross, who died and was buried and rose again for the forgiveness of the sins of the world. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 All we have or ever will have comes from God whether you believe it or not. We need to turn to God, not away from him. What an awesome God he is in spite of our disobediences and rebellion. God help and have mercy on us. Don Scholz Grand Island As Thanksgiving comes to a close and Advent begins, I can’t help but reflect on how humbled I am to be a part of the Hall County community. This year Project Hunger organized, assembled and distributed over 1,300 Thanksgiving meal boxes to families the weekend before the holiday. This huge endeavor is made possible by volunteers of all ages and the following generous sponsors: The Bud & Gloria Wolbach Foundation, Woodhouse Toyota Honda, Tom Dinsdale Chevrolet Cadillac GMC, Fonner Park, Hiland Dairy Foods, Tilley Sprinklers & Landscaping, Third City Christian Church, Lone Tree Towing & Recovery, Copycat Printing & Signs, NRG Media, Brandon Built Furniture and CHI Health St. Francis. I know that people give without wanting anything in return and without needing recognition. I just want to thank them and let them know thousands in our community have been blessed because of them. I truly believe that both stomachs and souls were fed this Thanksgiving. Amy McDonald Rockville Get local news delivered to your inbox!Apple’s plan to use in-house 5G modem leaks in iPhone roadmap
Shopping on Shein and Temu for holiday gifts? You're not the only one
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Republican U.S. Sen.-elect Tim Sheehy this week claimed a firework-ignited grass fire set near his campaign sign west of Livingston was a politically motivated arson. The Park County Sheriff's Office, however, said it has no evidence that this was a politically motivated incident and is not investigating it as such. A Park County sheriff’s deputy on Dec. 21 notified dispatchers of a fire near Interstate 90 and West End Road. On social media, the sheriff’s office said winds that night were clocked at 50-to-60 mph and helped push the fire out to 26 acres. Image of the area west of Livingston burned by someone discharging fireworks into the grass on Dec. 21, 2024. (courtesy Park County Sheriff's Office) Authorities issued evacuations for the nearby residents and firefighters knocked the blaze down in roughly an hour and a half, according to the sheriff’s office post. The fire "definitely" started near a Sheehy campaign sign, Park County Rural Fire District Chief Dann Babcox told the Livingston Enterprise. No arrests had been made or charges filed in response to the fire as of Friday. The Park County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook on Monday it had obtained video evidence of a person shooting a firework out of a moving vehicle and igniting the dry grass before heading west on I-90. What’s open and closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2024? Is John Dutton real? Meet the powerful rancher seemingly inspiring the 'Yellowstone' legend Audit initiates 100 complaints against Montana guides, outfitters Victor student with spine disorder pursuing nursing to give back Montana State Bobcats return to FCS title game with commanding win over South Dakota Coyotes Speed limit drops to 55 mph at Bell Crossing; roundabout still in works State lottery announces the 4 winners of Montana Millionaire 1976 Montana State Bobcats: Who were these hicks? National champions and 'a people story' 'I thought he was helping me': Patient endured 9 years of chemotherapy for cancer he never had Postal Service plan's impact on Ravalli County still up for debate Bill Speltz: Could a USC backup quarterback ignite Griz football? It's surely worth a spin How to protect your communications through encryption Ukraine dairy sector still investing Live updates: No. 1 Montana State Bobcats host No. 4 South Dakota in FCS semifinals PHOTOS: Santa spotted on Main Street in Hamilton Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy addresses supporters early Wednesday morning at the Kimpton Armory Hotel in Bozeman. JOSEPH SCHELLER ,The Montana Standard On Tuesday Sheehy appeared near the scorched scene and issued a social media post of appreciation for the responders, which, according to the Enterprise, included neighbors to the threatened properties. He also posted a picture with two Montana Department of Transportation employees, whose facility was adjacent to the burned area, as well as a photo of a blackened building. Initial reports from the sheriff’s office did say the incident was being investigated as a criminal act but did not imply political motivations, although Sheehy appeared certain of it in a video posted to his social media. "We just visited with the Jensen family here, four beautiful young kids, it was actually their third daughter’s birthday the night that these arsonists started the fire to burn down our sign and started about a 30-acre wildfire, burned their grazing land, harmed their property and its just sad that would happen here," Sheehy said. "We can still disagree, we can still respect each other in this country. We don't have to do things like this." Sgt. Ryan Call, the fire-arson investigator for the Park County Sheriff's Office, told the Montana State News Bureau on Friday the office had not identified anyone responsible for the fire. However, given the information law enforcement is working with, he said it's not clear that this was a political act. "We can't say for 110% it was politically motivated," Call said. For example, its unclear from the video law enforcement obtained whether the person shooting the fireworks was aiming at another vehicle on the roadway, Call said. Additionally, Sheehy described no political threats or similar incidents to the fire near his campaign sign when talking to law enforcement about the Dec. 21 fire, Call said. "None of that has happened," he said. Call said he is not investigating the incident as a politically motivated attack and asked anyone who was in the area or may have more information to contact the Park County Sheriff at 406-222-2050. This story has been updated with additional comment from the Park County Sheriff's Office. Author twitter Author email
A pop-up spinning wheel offers the chance to win a coupon. Rotating captions warn that a less than $2 camouflage print balaclava and a $1.23 skeleton hand back scratcher are “Almost sold out.” A flame symbol indicates a $9.69 plush cat print hoodie is selling fast. A timed-down selection of discounted items adds to the sense of urgency. Welcome to the new online world of impulse buying, a place of guilty pleasures where the selection is vast, every day is Cyber Monday, and an instant dopamine hit is always just a click away. By all accounts, we’re living in an accelerating age for consumerism, one that Temu, which is owned by the Chinese e-commerce company PDD Holdings, and Shein, its fierce rival , supercharged with social media savvy and an interminable assortment of cheap goods, most shipped directly from merchants in China based on real-time demand. The business models of the two platforms, coupled with avalanches of digital or influencer advertising, have enabled them to give Western retailers a run for their money this holiday shopping season. Software company Salesforce said it expects roughly one in five online purchases in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada to be made through four online marketplaces based or founded in Asia: Shein, Temu, TikTok Shop — the e-commerce arm of video-sharing platform TikTok — and AliExpress. Analysts with Salesforce said they are expected to pull in roughly $160 billion in global sales outside of China. Most of the sales will go to Temu and Shein, a privately held company which is thought to lead the worldwide fast fashion market in revenue. Lisa Xiaoli Neville, a nonprofit manager who lives in Los Angeles, is sold on Shein. The bedroom of her home is stocked with jeans, shoes, press-on nails and other items from the ultra-fast fashion retailer, all of which she amassed after getting on the platform to buy a $2 pair of earrings she saw in a Facebook ad. Neville, 46, estimates she spends at least $75 a month on products from Shein. A $2 eggshell opener, a portable apple peeler and an apple corer, both costing less than $5, are among the quirky, single-use kitchen tools taking up drawer space. She acknowledges she doesn’t need them because she “doesn’t even cook like that.” Plus, she’s allergic to apples. “I won’t eat apples. It will kill me,” Neville said, laughing. “But I still want the coring thing.” Shein, now based in Singapore, uses some of the same web design features as Temu’s, such as pop-up coupons and ads, to persuade shoppers to keep clicking, but it appears a bit more restrained in its approach. Shein primarily targets young women through partnerships with social media influencers. Searching the company's name on video platforms turns up creators promoting Shein's Black Friday sales event and displaying the dozens of of trendy clothes and accessories they got for comparatively little money. But the Shein-focused content also includes videos of TikTokers saying they're embarrassed to admit they shopped there and critics lashing out at fans for not taking into account the environmental harms or potential labor abuses associated with products that are churned out and shipped worldwide at a speedy pace. Neville has already picked out holiday gifts for family and friends from the site. Most of the products in her online cart cost under $10, including graphic T-shirts she intends to buy for her son and jeans and loafers for her daughter. All told, she plans to spend about $200 on gifts, significantly less than $500 she used to shell out at other stores in prior years. “The visuals just make you want to spend more money,” she said, referring to the clothes on Shein's site. “They're very cheap and everything is just so cute.” Unlike Shein, Temu's appeal cuts across age groups and gender. The platform is the world’s second most-visited online shopping site, software company Similarweb reported in September. Customers go there looking for practical items like doormats and silly products like a whiskey flask shaped like a vintage cellphone from the 1990s. Temu advertised Black Friday bargains for some items at upwards of 70% off the recommended retail price. Making a purchase can quickly result in receiving dozens of emails offering free giveaways. The caveat: customers have to buy more products. Despite their rise, Temu and Shein have proven particularly ripe for pushback. Last year, a coalition of unnamed brands and organizations launched a campaign to oppose Shein in Washington. U.S. lawmakers also have raised the possibility that Temu is allowing goods made with forced labor to enter the country. More recently, the Biden administration put forward rules that would crack down on a trade rule known as the de minimis exception, which has allowed a lot of cheap products to come into the U.S. duty-free. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to slap high tariffs on goods from China, a move that would likely raise prices across the retail world. Both Shein and Temu have set up warehouses in the U.S. to speed up delivery times and help them better compete with Amazon, which is trying to erode their price advantage through a new storefront that also ships products directly from China.Cannabis Reform 2024: The Year Of All Talk And No Action
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