Colville, WA - Northeastern Washington is getting $968,000 in federal funds for forest restoration work, as part of a larger effort announced on Thursday by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Twenty-three projects nationwide will focus on improving forest health and hiring local workers to do it. Washington's winning project is on the Colville National Forest and nearby lands.

Getting the news was a big relief, says Mitch Friedman, executive director of Conservation Northwest, part of the Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition, because the competition for this funding is tough.

The project is part of a multi-year plan that's expected to support more than 500 jobs in Ferry and Stephens counties.

Aberdeen, WA - The Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority, which operates the tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, is inviting Grays Harbor residents who remember the early days of the Seaport to a historical roundtable. The discussion is scheduled for noon, February 15 at the Historical Seaport's headquarters, 712 Hagara Street, Aberdeen.

Bring photos, documents, and stories to share as the Seaport prepares for its "25th Birthday Bash!" June 9. The group formed at this event will meet monthly on the 15th of each month through June.

During the one-hour session, participants and Historical Seaport staff will discuss the Seaport's 25-year history, as well as other Grays Harbor history subjects and genealogy. Guests are invited to bring their family trees and stories or historical questions. Participants will also discuss research projects and ways to collaborate with other local history enthusiasts.

Hoquiam, WA - Fresh off the airplane and their trip to Hawaii (Jan 26-30) where they cheered in the halftime show at the Pro Bowl, the Hoquiam High School cheer team learned that they’ve been selected by State Farm Insurance to win a $2000 “Project Ignition” grant, one of only 25 awarded throughout the United States and Canada.  The grant, while sizable, also puts the Cheer Team in line to receive another $5000 and a chance to compete with only 24 other schools for national placement and an all-expense-paid opportunity to travel to a national conference.

Funded by State Farm, the Project Ignition grants are managed by the National Youth Leadership Council. Shelton High School’s SADD Club was a winner last year and advisor Gerry Apple and his team recently participated in an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. and a luncheon with US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. SADD stands for Students Against Destructive Decisions.

...said Hoquiam High School Principal Jamie Huizinga.

Washington D.C. - On Thursday, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) were joined by 24 of their Senate colleagues in calling on Ambassador Nancy Brinker, Founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, to reconsider her organization’s decision to stop funding breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood.

Cantwell and Murray were joined by Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Begich (D-AK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jon Tester (D-MT), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Max Baucus (D-MT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), John Kerry (D-MA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM).