SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE NEWSLETTER

Cascadia leaders come together to urge action on climate change

CBC reports on a new initiative called the Pacific Coast Collaborative, an effort by West Coast states and provinces of North America to work collectively on climate and other issues neglected by national governments. “On the West Coast, we know that climate change is not a hoax. It doesn’t matter what foolishness comes out of the White House, the leaders on the West Coast are united in understanding science,” said WA governor Jay Inslee. At the same meeting, Inslee voiced support for BC premier John Horgan’s fight against the proposed KinderMorgan pipeline that would increase tanker traffic in the Salish Sea seven times over.

British Columbia to fund study of high-speed rail across Cascadia

According to a report in the Tyee, BC premier John Horgan announced the province will contribute $300K to study construction of a high speed rail corridor between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver. Governor Kate Brown, participating in the Pacific Coast Collaborative meeting, also pledged support. “It’s a physical link between our two jurisdictions” Horgan said, “and one that will get cars off of the road and will move people and goods in a fast and effective way.”

Pediatricians increasingly rare in rural WA

KNKX reports from Aberdeen, Washington that pediatrician are closing offices because of declining payments from the state’s Apple Care Medicare program. Even though the legislature increased funding this session, budget cuts at the federal level are making it harder for medial specialists such as pediatricians to stay open in rural communities.

Spokane looking at creating public broadband system

In the wake of concerns about net neutrality and internet providers local monopolies on service, the Spokane city council is investigating funding a public broadband system, according to an article at the Inlander. “The talent is here,” said one supporter, “Spokane has always been about self-determination.”

Emily Strelow, from Oregon, talks about her novel The Wild Birds

“That is the beauty in writing fiction — stretching your mind and heart to fit into a fictional other being,” writes novelist Emily Strelow at Powell’s Books about her debut novel, The Wild Birds. Reflecting on Virginia Woolf’s claim that all a woman needs to write is a room of one’s own, Strelow (who’s from the Willamette valley) reflects on creating a novel about women dedicated to preserving the natural world.

Matthew Dickman’s Transubstantiation

Portland-based poet Matthew Dickman has a poem, “Transubstantiation,” available online at the American Academy of Poets:
“…The pyramid
of canned beans in front of me
is so perfect
I can’t imagine anyone needing beans
bad enough
to destroy it…”
Read the full poem here. You can also read a review of Dickman’s latest collection, Wonderland, at the Stranger. That’s all for today from Cascadia Daily. –Andrew Engelson Photo credits: governor Jay Inslee and premier John Horgan courtesy of the office of the BC premier, image of Taiwan high speed rail by Yali Shi, CC BY-SA 2.0, cover of The Wild Birds courtesy of Rare Bird Books.