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The fate of future endangered species could hinge on a semantic argument

Among a series of changes to the Endangered Species Act recently proposed by Trump administration officials is a provision that would define the “foreseeable future” as the time period extending “only as far as they can reasonably determine that both the future threats and the species’ responses to those threats are probable.”

Rodney Sayler
Sayler

Environmental groups and scientists see the proposed changes as an attempt to limit the protections extended to new species.

“It is difficult to place any trust whatsoever in an administration that so openly disdains data, logic, information, reason, and the critical role of science in informed decision making,” says Rod Sayler, associate professor of environmental science at Washington State University. “By opening the door to interpreting what ‘foreseeable future’ means, people may discount potential longer-term threats (such as those from climate change) and argue for shorter-term perspectives and more immediate benefits of development activities.”

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Popular Science

The ‘Fire Problem’ Is climate change fueling fires?

WSU, UI professors say the answer is yes

Matthew Carroll.Fire seasons are getting longer, unleashing the potential for a higher frequency of blazes and more damaging fires, according to Matt Carroll, a professor in the School of Environment at Washington State University.

“We talk about the ‘Fire Problem,’ not so much about how many acres burn or how many fires are burning, but where fires burn in the way we don’t want,” he said.

Carroll said there are three factors that influence the Fire Problem—past fire exclusion leading to pine fuel build up, climate change and where people choose to build houses.

“The literature suggests that fire seasons have gotten longer as a result of climate change,” Carroll said. “There’s a longer window now when unwanted fires can do unwanted things.”

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Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Washington state Democrats raising more money than in recent past, but winning in November remains an uphill climb

The metaphorical pocketbooks of several local political campaigns are feeling Democrats’ “anger” toward the White House.

More liberal voters are mad—ticking off a litany of frustrations including failing to take a definitive stance against alt-right supporters who engage in racist rhetoric, separating children from their parents at the southern U.S. border and what many say are numerous political gaffes by President Donald Trump since he took office. Those issues paired with the seeming unwillingness of many sitting members of Congress to denounce those actions, have encouraged many Democrats to reach into their pockets and support candidates they think better align with their values.

And, in Washington state, that ire is resonating—four of the state’s 10 Congressional districts so far this year have seen more money raised by Democrats than in the past three elections.

Travis Ridout.
Travis Ridout

With America more polarized than ever, the impact is more tangible and the door open larger to candidates from another party, said Washington State University political science professor Travis Ridout.

As a result, more formidable candidates not in the president’s party enter the political sphere in midterm years because statistics show they have a better chance of winning. Because of their apparent abilities, they raise more money and ultimately earn more votes than similar candidates in presidential years who generally don’t put as much time and effort into campaigning.

And what seems to be a significant amount of money for Democrats in Central Washington, who have barely had any presence in past years, still doesn’t compare to normal Republican fundraising—the Republican National Committee routinely raises millions more than its Democrat counterpart—Ridout said.

“There is a minimum level you need to run a successful House campaign,” he said. “Five hundred thousand dollars may seem impressive when the previous candidate only raised $50,000. But that doesn’t mean it’s enough to beat an incumbent.”

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Yakima Herald

There might once have been life on the moon, study finds

Today, the surface of the moon is dry, dusty and uninhabitable—but in its distant past, our satellite might have had pools of water on the surface… and alien life.

Dirk Schulze-Makuch.
Schulze-Makuch

In fact, there are two times in the moon’s early history when there could have been life on the surface, says Dirk Schulze-Makuch of Washington State University’s School of the Environment and lead author of newly published research in Astrobiology.

During those periods, there might have been pools of liquid water on the surface—where life could have thrived.

The collaborative research centered on two periods: just after the moon formed from a debris disc four billion years ago, and during a peak in lunar volcanic activity around 3.5 billion years ago.

During both periods, planetary scientists think the moon was spewing out large quantities of superheated volatile gases, including water vapor, from its interior.

“It looks very much like the moon was habitable at this time,” Schulze-Makuch said.

“There could have actually been microbes thriving in water pools on the moon until the surface became dry and dead.”

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Group: Many Native students not counted

Tribal organization says students missing out on funding for education

A new organization in Clark County is pressing area school districts to improve identification and counting of Native American students and to reinstate funding for their educational programs.

The Pacific Northwest Center for Cultural Education is a group of tribal members and educators pushing to improve educational opportunities for American Indians and Alaskan Native children. The recently founded organization is still in the process of securing 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, but hopes to make inroads with area school districts this summer.

Steven Fountain.Steven Fountain, a Washington State University Vancouver professor of history and coordinator of Native American programs for the campus, is among those working with the organization.

“There’s a whole lot of kids who aren’t being served,” Fountain said. “That’s where this larger issue of the under-counting for our Native American community comes in.”

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The Columbian