News items for November 18, 2024
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1. The power of a logjam: A vision of the Northwest’s rivers of old
In their natural state, Puget Sound rivers are a braided mess of forested islands, jammed with downed wood and surging with salmon. Now work is underway to restore the lower Elwha to a version of its past — in part by building giant logjams.
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2. Food insecurity rising among Oregonians amid looming cuts to food stamps, report finds
The number of people struggling to afford food more than doubled in some rural areas.
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3. Salmon return to lay eggs in historic habitat after dam removal on Klamath River
Through protests, testimony and lawsuits, local tribes showcased the environmental devastation caused by the dams, especially to salmon, which were cut off from their historic habitat and dying in alarming numbers because of poor water-quality.
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4. After months of negotiations, Idaho farmers reach new long-term water agreement
Idaho’s new water mitigation breaks water allotments into four-year increments and requires farmers to conserve water.
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5. To protect vast expanses of ocean beyond all national boundaries, 60 nations must ratify the Treaty of the High Seas
After the treaty was adopted last year by the United Nations, more than 100 countries have signified their intent to ratify it, but so far only 14 countries have. Only around 8 percent of the oceans are currently considered protected.
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6. Podcast: Oregon’s old forests keep getting cut down, despite Biden’s promise to protect them
In 2022, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to protect mature and old growth forests on federal lands. So why are they still being cut down?
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7. Ranked choice voting faces cloudy future after election setbacks
Voters in five states, including Idaho, rejected the voting system in the 2024 general election, while D.C. voters approved it.
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8. Trump’s Republicans at COP29: We’re in charge now
In a swaggering press conference at COP29, House Republicans delivered an aggressive message in support of oil, gas, and coal — but kept their options open.
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9. Three households, disenrolled from Nooksack Tribe, receive eviction notices in court order
Tribe says residents don’t meet requirements to live in tribal housing. Family spokesperson says they’ve been wronged.
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10. US Forest Service proposes increased logging to fight wildfires
Federal officials say in light of worsening wildfires, Pacific Northwest forests need more active management.