Salish Sea News Week in Review August 7 2026

 

History.com

Aloha Beer Friday!

Beer making can be traced to about 6,000 years ago in ancient Sumeria. At the time beer was cloudy because of lack of filtering, and it was drunk through a straw. By 2000 BCE, the Babylonians were brewing 20 types of beer. The Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans made beer, although wine became much more popular with the Romans. They considered beer to be the drink of the Barbarians; beer was only popular on the edges of the Empire. Germanic groups were brewing beer by 800 BCE. Beginning in the ninth century, in Germany, hops began being introduced, standards were set up for beer, and it began being mass-brewed. The 1516 Beer Purity Law—Reinheitsgebot—said a certain level of quality must be met for German beer. All beer could only be made with water, hops, malted barley, malted wheat, and yeast.

Pacific Northwest Wildfire Tracker
Wildfire potential is tracking above normal through September in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center.  

Snohomish County is building the state's largest battery plant
The battery system will add capacity to the electric grid, support renewable energy and help keep prices down. But other such Washington plants have stirred controversy. 

B.C. researchers discover deadly bacterial disease in wild chinook
The new study, by scientists at UBC and the Pacific Salmon Foundation and published in Scientific Reports, says tenacibaculosis — a bacterial disease that causes lesions and death in fish — was found in 16 per cent of the 99 chinook sampled. Tenacibaculosis has been well documented in farmed Atlantic salmon, but not found in wild-caught Pacific salmon until now.

Fish and Wildlife Commission probe finds wrongdoing, doesn’t recommend punishment
The monthslong investigation into the Washington state panel found a group of commissioners flouted transparency laws and conflict of interest rules. 

'Ceremonies change lives' Nisqually youth learn and guide through paddling
Tribal families from around the Northwest paddled to Nisqually for this year's canoe journey. “It teaches a lot of our youth that we still have culture,” said youth skipper Aliya Choke. 

Appeals Court Says E.P.A. Cannot Block Billions in Climate Grants
An appeals court on Tuesday handed a victory to a group of federal grant recipients that the Trump administration has prevented from spending billions of dollars in climate funding for over a year. 

Ottawa moves to list Alberta-backed West Coast pipeline as national interest project
Naming a project in the national interest under the Building Canada Act allows the government to fast-track approvals and skirt some environmental laws.

Big oil companies continue to post banner profits as fighting in Iran drives prices higher
Six of Europe’s largest oil companies posted combined first-quarter profits of $22 billion, more than 40% higher than last year. Profits at BP, based in London, more than doubled to $3.9 billion in the second quarter, the company said Tuesday. 

Ferry construction begins in Florida on WA’s new hybrid-electric vessels
The first delivery is still estimated for 2030, testing the patience of ferry riders. 

These news clips are a selection of weekday clips collected in Salish Sea News and Weather which is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe at no cost to the weekday news clips, send your name and email to msato(at)salish-current.org .Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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