By Jake Goldstein-Street | Reporter
Proponents of a years-in-the-making proposal to bring a Scottish links-style golf course to Westport Light State Park say the course will be an economic boost for the small town, while opponents fear environmental disruption despite commitments from the developer to be a steward of the park’s habitat.
The developers face an uphill battle to get the go ahead from state parks commissioners.
Also in today’s edition…
• Why the state needs to hold off on spending the proceeds from penalizing Meta.
• The Northwest’s largest gas pipeline network eyes expansion.
• And, the cost of employer-sponsored health plans increase.
News tips, feedback, questions? Email us: [email protected]
By Jake Goldstein-Street
The city of Westport is neutral on the golf course idea, but Mayor Ed Welter is frustrated with the “delays, exhaustion and division” that have surrounded the project. Parks commissioners expressed skepticism, or downright opposition, this week.
“I don’t know how to move forward on this proposal as it’s currently configured,” said Scott Merriman, the commission’s vice chair. “But I know we can’t spend much more time on it. We don’t have the staff resources. We don’t have the budget to do it.”
Chair Holly Williams said “work on the project should be discontinued.”
A final decision could come next month.
Facebook parent company Meta recently paid Washington state $51 million in penalties for violations of campaign finance law. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
By Jake Goldstein-Street
Meta recently transferred more than $51 million to Washington state to pay a record-setting campaign fine, which started at $24.6 million in 2022 but has been rising with interest. But officials are urging state budget writers not to spend the money yet, as the Facebook parent company is expected to appeal the penalty to the U.S. Supreme Court. If Meta succeeds, the state will need to return the money.
By Alex Baumhardt
Pipeline company Williams, owner of the 4,000-mile-long Northwest Pipeline system that brings fracked gas from Rocky Mountain states to Idaho, Washington and Oregon, last month submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission paperwork to build a new pipeline called the Silver Spur between two existing gas transmission lines in Idaho and Nevada.
If approved, the 88-mile pipeline would carry up to 275 million additional standard cubic feet of natural gas per day to the Northwest, while states like Oregon and Washington simultaneously try to drive down gas consumption through policies and pollution caps meant to slow the growing threat of climate change.
By Jennifer Shutt
The price health insurance companies charge for employer-sponsored plans increased again this year, as did the deductible many people must pay before those plans begin covering most healthcare costs, according to a survey released Thursday by the nonpartisan health organization KFF.
“We have been hearing a lot about Affordable Care Act and Medicaid cuts,” KFF President and CEO Drew Altman said in a statement. “Now add a 9% increase in what workers with employer coverage paid toward family premiums in 2026 to the reasons voters are so concerned about their health care costs.”
ICYMI
Thanks for reading The Daily Standard. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.