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Cascadia votes!
Tomorrow, Tues. Nov. 6 is election day in the United States, and we’ll be closely monitoring and reporting results from across Cascadia. MAKE SURE TO VOTE. Oregon and Washington both have elections by mail, and ballots must be postmarked by tomorrow. In addition, British Columbia is in the middle of a mail-in ballot election on the issue of proportional representation — ballots in that election are due November 31.
You can follow election results from across Cascadia on Twitter at @CascadiaDaily
Election day is tomorrow across Cascadia
Thanks to vote-by-mail, turnout is already high in Oregon and in the greater Seattle area— and studies show vote by mail increases turnout dramaticall . It’s a pivotal election, with the US Congress and legislatures and governor’s mansions in the balance, and Oregon’s governor Kate Brown is in a surprisingly close election. Campaign donors to Washington legislator Matt Shea of Spokane Valley are asking for their money back after it was revealed the candidate put out an extreme biblical war manifesto.
Washington’s carbon fee measure 1631 is getting a lot of national attention as the first statewide measure that would seriously fight climate change. And opponents of 1631 are under investigation for a deceptive ad mailer that included endorsements from Latino businesses that didn’t give their consent. Crosscut reports on efforts by Native American tribes on the Olympic peninsula urging members to get out and vote for the carbon fee. Oregon’s measure that would ban use of public funds for abortion is getting attention from the former director of Planned Parenthood, and Idaho voters may bring Medicaid expansion to a very red state.
Trudeau issues formal apology to BC First Nation
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau traveled to central British Columbia for a ceremony officially apologizing to the Tsilhqot’in First Nation for the hanging of five chiefs by the Canadian government in 1864.
Moses Lake high tech plant a victim of Trump’s trade war
The Seattle Times reports on a high-tech manufacturing plant in Moses Lake, in central Washington that is facing hard times because of the brewing trade war between the US and China. The plant manufactures polysilicon, a key component of solar panels, which now face high tariffs thanks to Trump administration policies.
Coho salmon return to Oregon’s Lostine River
OPB reports on the return of coho salmon to eastern Oregon’s Lostine River for the first time in forty years. The Nez Perce tribe is thrilled to see the coho, which were raised in hatcheries, but because of dams on the Snake and Columbia, continued survival and return next year is in doubt.
A massive art installation in Portland by Abigail DeVille
OPB has a great profile of a massive new installation at Portland Institute of Contemporary Art, “The American Future” by acclaimed artist Abigail DeVille. DeVille spent over a year in Portland doing research for the piece, which includes a giant US flag made from bullet holes, historical artifacts from Portland’s historically black Albina neighborhood, and huge stacks of the city’s homeless newspaper, among many other immersive installations. The exhibit runs at PICA through January 12, 2019.
Lindy West shouts her abortion
Seattle-based writer and humorist Lindy West has an essay at Salon that expresses the relief she felt when she had an abortion — an experience shared by 95 percent of the women who get them. Her essay is part of new book, Shout Your Abortion, which grew of the movement — which started in Seattle — to assert that abortion is a normal and important part of women’s health and economic security.
That’s today’s selection of news, arts, and culture from all around the Cascadia bioregion. Have a great evening, be sure to vote by tomorrow, and stay tuned for our detailed election coverage. –Andrew Engelson
Photo credit: Portland March for Science by Wikimedia Commons user Another Believer CC BY-SA 3.0