State Sen. Ron Muzzall believes that caring for Washington’s environment is a collaborative effort, needing private landowners to fill in gaps. The state’s Forestry Riparian Easement Program was designed to compensate landowners with small forests for the value of trees unharvested to protect critical habitat. The Senate today passed Muzzall’s...

Earlier this week the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that a member of their team tragically passed away in the performance of her duties. After failing to check back with her team on the night of Jan. 23, Mary Valentine was reported missing the next morning to the...

Who is responsible for cleaning up aquatic ruins like dilapidated piers or crumbling bulkheads? The state Department of Natural Resources is tasked with the job, but the process is still murky. Senate Bill 5433, sponsored by state Sen. Ron Muzzall, is focused on shoring up the program to keep state-owned...

Today, the state Senate approved legislation sponsored by state Senator Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor, aimed at helping dislocated workers in the 10th District. The bipartisan measure, Senate Bill 5621, would redefine dislocated workers for the purposes of unemployment insurance for the specific purpose of helping now jobless residents when the...

Ensuring a robust salmon recovery has become a daunting and politicized task.The latest proposal championed by the Office of the Governor is an example of the bad practice of creating more conflict rather than offering real solutions. The legislation amounts to an unethical taking of private property that will do...

Ensuring the robust recovery of salmon has become a daunting and politicized task. The latest policy proposal championed by the Office of the Governor is facing sharp criticisms from Skagit County-area lawmakers who view it as an unconstitutional taking of private property that will do nothing to aid the salmon...

In a televised, private ceremony due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Gov. Inslee signed legislation sponsored by state Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor this past Friday. The new law revives a popular and effective farm internship program administered by the state Dept. of Labor and Industries that recently expired. “Restarting this...

The House of Representatives gave its unanimous approval Wednesday to legislation sponsored by state Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor, to extend a valuable farm internship program. Clearing its final hurdle, Senate Bill 6421 now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. “I’m pleased that we’ve been able to revive...

Farms across the country are facing challenges recruiting the next generation of farmers. Under legislation introduced by state Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor and approved today by the state Senate, the state would revive a pilot program to expose young workers to the agricultural industry through farm internships. “Young folks...