The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that air quality in La Conner and the Swinomish Reservation is currently moderate, driven by elevated levels of PM2.5, or fine particulate matter. At this level, air quality is generally acceptable for most people. The EPA advises that everyone can safely open windows and spend time outdoors if there is no visible smoke or noticeable odor.
However, people who are unusually sensitive — including those with asthma, heart or lung conditions, older adults, and children — may want to keep outdoor activities light and brief. Anyone experiencing symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, or throat irritation should consider going indoors to cleaner air.
Residents are encouraged to monitor conditions, especially if air quality changes, and to take precautions that best support their health.
For the first time, Skagit County’s Superior Court judges are all women. Mary Crandall was appointed by Gov. Bob Ferguson effective Dec. 31, replacing the now retired Thomas Verge until the end of his term in 2028, after which she will have to run for election. Crandall joined Elizabeth Neidzwski, Laure Riquelme and Heather Shand.
At their Jan. 26 meeting, La Conner School Board members approved the district’s annual Indian Education Policies and Procedures (IPP) for the 2026–27 school year, heard presentations on student-focused Pre-K and after-school programs, and announced the retirement of longtime elementary teacher Becky Swanson. The board unanimously adopted the six-point IPP—required for roughly $2 million in annual federal impact aid and Native American education funding—which affirms equal access for Native American students and supports ongoing collaboration with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, including through the Native American Parent Advisory Committee. Swinomish Senator Fred Cayou and board member J.J. Wilbur encouraged expanded community outreach and joint advocacy to rename the IPP, citing the title’s painful associations for some tribal members. The board also praised Pre-K teacher Faith McIntosh and Braves Hub coordinator Jess Pedroza for their work supporting students’ academic and social-emotional growth, and recognized Swanson’s 36 years of service as the district prepares to hire an interim third-grade teacher.
On Monday, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and Attorney General Nick Brown say they are preparing legal action if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) violates the constitutional rights of Washington residents, following an aggressive federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota that has resulted in multiple civilian deaths and national protests. While acknowledging the state cannot prevent ICE from operating, both leaders condemned tactics such as masked agents detaining people in public and entering homes without judicial warrants, calling them unconstitutional and “deeply un-American.”
Their response comes amid revelations of a leaked ICE memo asserting agents can forcibly enter homes based on administrative warrants alone, a sharp break from long-standing constitutional protections. Ferguson and Brown said Washington will pursue lawsuits, support legislation banning masked law enforcement officers, elevate immigration oversight within state government, and consider deploying the National Guard as a buffer if federal operations escalate, emphasizing the critical role of community documentation and accountability in the face of federal misinformation and overreach.
