A display put up by the North Olympic Orca Pod at the State Capitol symbolizes the remaining Southern Resident orcas. The group also put up a “ghost fin” display to represent those that have died since 2005. (Emma Epperly/WNPA Olympia News Bureau, file)

A display put up by the North Olympic Orca Pod at the State Capitol symbolizes the remaining Southern Resident orcas. The group also put up a “ghost fin” display to represent those that have died since 2005. (Emma Epperly/WNPA Olympia News Bureau, file)

Snohomish woman ends fast that focused on plight of orcas

Lanni Johnson had urged elected leaders to embrace removing dams on Snake River as one solution.

OLYMPIA — Lanni Johnson of Snohomish on Wednesday concluded a 17-day fast that she undertook to bring greater attention to the plight of Southern Resident orcas.

A focus of her solo protest was on the lack of available food, chiefly salmon, for the killer whales. She called on elected state and federal officials to support removal of four dams on the lower Snake River to get more salmon to orcas and reduce the threat of any dying from starvation.

Johnson, 71, began her water-and-salt-only diet April 1. She spent several hours each day seated in a lawn chair either at the base of the steps on the Capitol’s north side or in the foyer of the domed structure.

The Seattle Times reported Saturday that budgets passed by the House and Senate so far contain no funding to continue the governor’s task force on orca recovery, and no agreement yet on funding the governor’s proposed panel to consider the effects of breaching the Lower Snake River dams.

Talk to us

More in Local News

This photo provided by OceanGate Expeditions shows a submersible vessel named Titan used to visit the wreckage site of the Titanic. In a race against the clock on the high seas, an expanding international armada of ships and airplanes searched Tuesday, June 20, 2023, for the submersible that vanished in the North Atlantic while taking five people down to the wreck of the Titanic. (OceanGate Expeditions via AP)
A new movie based on OceanGate’s Titan submersible tragedy is in the works: ‘Salvaged’

MindRiot announced the film, a fictional project titled “Salvaged,” on Friday.

Craig Hess (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Sultan’s new police chief has 22 years in law enforcement

Craig Hess was sworn in Sep. 14. The Long Island-born cop was a first-responder on 9/11. He also served as Gold Bar police chief.

Cars move across Edgewater Bridge toward Everett on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edgewater Bridge redo linking Everett, Mukilteo delayed until mid-2024

The project, now with an estimated cost of $27 million, will detour West Mukilteo Boulevard foot and car traffic for a year.

Lynn Deeken, the Dean of Arts, Learning Resources & Pathways at EvCC, addresses a large gathering during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Cascade Learning Center on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
New EvCC learning resource center opens to students, public

Planners of the Everett Community College building hope it will encourage students to use on-campus tutoring resources.

Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman announces his retirement after 31 years of service at the Everett City Council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett police chief to retire at the end of October

Chief Dan Templeman announced his retirement at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. He has been chief for nine years.

Boeing employees watch the KC-46 Pegasus delivery event  from the air stairs at Boeing on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Boeing’s iconic Everett factory tour to resume in October

After a three-year hiatus, tours of the Boeing Company’s enormous jet assembly plant are back at Paine Field.

A memorial for a 15-year-old shot and killed last week is set up at a bus stop along Harrison Road on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Teen boy identified in fatal shooting at Everett bus stop

Bryan Tamayo-Franco, 15, was shot at a Hardeson Road bus stop earlier this month. Police arrested two suspects.

A memorial for a 15-year-old shot and killed last week is set up at a bus stop along Harrison Road on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Rival gang members charged with killing Everett boy, 15, at bus stop

The two suspects are accused of premeditated first-degree murder in the death of Bryan Tamayo-Franco, 15.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Witnesses contradict gunman’s account of killing Monroe prison officer

Dylan Picard, 22, was driving on South Machias Road when Dan Spaeth approached his car to slow it down to avoid hitting a deer.

Most Read