by Kirk Kirkland Just a few days before appearing before the Pierce County Superior Court judge, CalPortland’s attorney filed a frivolous motion attempting to dismiss our lawsuit. They argued that improper signatures invalidated our land use petition. Instead of focusing on setting the dates for our legal briefs, we found the opposition trying to stop […]
Al Schmauder is the Water Steward for Chambers and Clover Creek Watershed. For over 25 years he has organized work parties to keep the fish ladders open. This year he also maintained the signs at the Chambers Dam and other places along the creek to educate visitors about the effort to keep salmon runs returning. […]
More than 100 local communities around the country have enacted moratoriums on data centers. Washington state and 12 other states are pushing forward with their own statewide moratorium proposals. Washington state lawmakers moved forward this legislative session with Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2515 (E2SHB 2515). It was approved by the house and sent to […]
by Kirk Kirkland We have had huge success in our fundraising effort to stop the CalPortland gravel mine’s expansion from impacting our aquifer. We were quoted $15,000 for an attorney to represent us at the first hearings. Roughly fifty people have stepped forward, many giving small gifts. Now we have contributions of $11,300 — enough […]
by Kirk Kirkland In August voters supported critical county council members elections that have continued the Sea Change that swept a new County Executive and two county council members that has changed the face of Pierce County’s government actions. The priority county government programs have focused on providing compassionate services at an amount not experienced […]
by Brett Johnson As of Monday August 10, over 30% of Pierce County voters have spoken in the August primary election results. Ballots featured several choices including Pierce County Council, State House and Senate seats, various judge positions, and even Precinct Committee Officers. The City of Tacoma also proposed a streets initiative to replace one […]
Bears Ears Monument challenged by Trump to join a long list of court cases that stop him. The Trump administration cut Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument by over 1.2 million acres. The administration claimed the move restored recreational access. President Trump publicly stated that hunting, fishing, and walking were virtually impossible within the site’s boundaries. […]
. Morse Moments From the Morse Force August 2026 Morse Bluebirds Raise Six Young The Preserve hosted another breeding pair this year, and at the end of July, the pair successfully raised six healthy nestlings that all fledged. It’s wonderful to see another year of successful nesting, and an encouraging sign for the future […]
by Kirk Kirkland Whenever I ride my bike through DuPont and Northwest Landing, I appreciate the intentional design. This town features wide bike lanes, active walking trails, and safe paths. Children can walk downtown or ride their bikes safely to the public library. These livable features now face an immediate threat. The CalPortland gravel operation […]
Congresswoman Emily Randall is drafting federal legislation to transfer the ownership of our National Wildlife Refuges on Protection Island and Dungeness Spit to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. This transfer could open the door for industrial aquaculture, allowing commercial oyster bags to cover our local beaches. This land transfer would remove the public’s role of oversight. […]
Your Pierce County mail-in ballot arrived a few weeks ago. The final deadline is August 4th. Because the voting window is so long, ballots are easily lost under a stack of mail or forgotten on the kitchen counter. This election is critical. Your vote will decide the future of our local landscape. If you are […]
“Our vote is the most powerful non-violent tool we have to create a more perfect union.” — John Lewis Join Grit City Community for a Sign-Waving Rally! Saturday, July 18, 2026 • 1:00–3:00 PM Defiant Goldfish (Point Defiance Entrance) 5310 N. Pearl Street, Tacoma
How to Be Hopeful.. Excerpts from Barbara Kingsolver – Commencement Address at Duke University, Twenty years ago, climate scientists first told Congress that unlimited carbon emissions were building toward a disastrous instability. Congress said, we need to think about that. About ten years later, nations of the world wrote the Kyoto Protocol, a set of […]
By Kirk Kirkland On June 11, 2026, the DuPont Hearing Examiner approved the South Parcel gravel mine expansion. The final decision confirms that this gravel project will create significant, irreversible environmental disruptions. The approved permit completely fails to provide adequate mitigation for the following structural impacts: Catastrophic Stream Loss. Active mining will drain the Vashon […]
By Kirk Kirkland The ongoing dialogue in May and June about the proposed Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Land Transfer focused on what the city and County Commissioners could do on the local level. Their concern was to reduce the impact of the decline in taxes and other fees when governance of the Tribe takes over governance […]
Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge by Al Bergstein Published by Olympic Peninsula Environmental News on June 23, 2026 In a surprising statement Monday in a meeting of the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners, Jamestown S’Klallam Chairman and CEO Ron Allen stated that a number of tribes in the Salish Sea and coastal waters seek […]
by Brett M. Johnson, Political Committee Chair Endorsements have been decided for most County Council and State Legislature races. Previous endorsements were carried over to this year for several incumbents. For those who interviewed with us last month, we truly appreciate their time and willingness to discuss important issues. A few of these races were […]
Last November’s election of a new county executive and two councilmembers represented a sea change in county government. It brought a new level of cooperation not seen in decades. Two Democrats needed for a county council majority were elected and Ryan Mello won the County Executive’s seat. This majority has taken on some major reforms […]
July is one of the liveliest months at the preserve, as native plants flourish and young wildlife begins to explore the landscape. Prairie plants, including Showy Daisy, Common Yarrow, and Harvest Brodiaea, can be spotted throughout the preserve. Native berries such as huckleberry and trailing blackberry are beginning to appear, while brilliant pink rose spirea […]
Brenda Lykins is running for Pierce County Council District 7. She seeks to fill an open seat after Robyn Denson decided not to seek a second term. Brenda and Robyn are close friends, and both served on Gig Harbor City Council together before Brenda moved to North Tacoma recently. by Brett Johnson Brenda would serve the […]
