SEATTLE – A kidney disease is killing sea lions up and down the West Coast, a fisheries official says.
The disease – leptospirosis – appears to be at the peak of its cycle right now, said Brian Gorman, a National Marine Fisheries Service spokesman.
The incidence of death varies from year to year in California, Gorman said. But in the last two months, 30 dead or dying sea lions have been found along the Washington coast and 14 were found along the Oregon coast.
Six of the animals were tested and all six had the kidney infection, Gorman said.
The overall California sea lion population is healthy and there is little risk to humans, he said.
Associated Press
Spokane: Police find body in a freezer
What should he do about the dead woman in the freezer? the 59-year-old man inquired of Spokane police. Detectives who responded to the Chateaux Apartments found the body of a 57-year-old woman inside a chest-style freezer, Capt. Bruce Roberts said. Police did not identify the man, but said he was the woman’s caregiver. He told them he arrived at the woman’s apartment about a week ago and found her dead, then placed her in the freezer. “His underlying motivation, at least what he told us, was he wanted to preserve her dignity,” Roberts told The Spokesman-Review. “It’s unique and unusual, but at this point there is nothing criminal.” The man was sent to a local hospital for a mental evaluation. Detectives couldn’t remove the woman, so they “took the whole freezer,” Roberts said. There were no obvious signs of foul play but an autopsy was planned once the body thawed.
Associated Press
Alaska: Buoys will aid in oil spill emergencies
Six oceanographic buoys will be installed in Prince William Sound in the spring for use by emergency responders if there is another big oil spill. The six underwater buoys – two each on three strings – will be anchored to the ocean floor at Hinchinbrook entrance and Montague Strait in Prince William Sound. The sound is the site of the nearly 11 million-gallon Exxon Valdez tanker oil spill in 1989. Data collected from the buoys will provide a map of water exchanges between the sound and the larger Gulf of Alaska. The information is vital for running a computer model in the event of another spill.
Associated Press
Bellingham: Council puts pipeline on hold
The Whatcom County Council decided Tuesday to take no action on the Georgia Strait Crossing natural gas pipeline project until pipeline backers submit a major project application. David Grant, an assistant Whatcom County prosecuting attorney, told council members that under county land-use laws, they could not act until the pipeline backers submit that application. The pipeline, known as GSX, is a project of Williams Pipeline Co. It wants to cross 33 miles of the county from Sumas to Cherry Point before going underwater to supply fuel for proposed generating plants on Vancouver Island.
Bellingham Herald
Ellensburg: Panel rejects wind farm
The Kittitas County Planning Commission on Tuesday voted 7-0 to recommend rejection of the Desert Claim Wind Power Project proposed for eight miles north of Ellensburg. The unanimous vote came after a four-hour hearing during which wind farm supporters testified about the positive aspects of the 120-turbine project and opponents said it should not be planned in an agricultural area that is quickly developing into rural residential home sites. The project, proposed by EnXco USA Inc. of Palm Springs, Calif., would be located on more than 5,200 acres of land owned by eight families.
The Daily Record
Kirkland: Woman saw Red Sox win in 1918
Marion Steiner can be forgiven for not remembering the finer points – whether she saw Babe Ruth, where her seat was or what the final score was the day the Boston Red Sox last won the World Series. But Steiner can at least say she was there.
“Forget the curse and pray for them to win,” said Steiner, 98. “They’ll raise hell in Boston.” Steiner was at Fenway Park for game 6 of the World Series on Sept. 11, 1918, the day the Red Sox beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 to win the series four games to two.
King County Journal
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