A fast-moving wildfire west of Winthrop prompted officials to issue a Level 3 “Go Now!” evacuation order Sunday afternoon for the town’s main streets as strong winds pushed the estimated 50-acre Hamilton Fire toward the community. Highway 20 was briefly closed about five miles east of town before reopening. Residents east of the Spring Creek pedestrian bridge remained under a Level 2 “Get Set” evacuation notice, meaning they should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. The National Weather Service warned that gusty winds and dry conditions could continue to fuel the fire, with little chance of rain in the coming days.
Last Tuesday, the La Conner Town Council approved the adoption of a Public Records Act policy to help its small staff manage requests without taking away time from other essential responsibilities. The vote came after Town Administrator Scott Thomas reported some time-consuming requests, including one that took over 20 hours of digging through documents. The policy would include specific instructions for inquirers to avoid any confusion, and limit the amount of time staff can devote each month to addressing the requests.
The Council also voted to allow Mayor Marna Hanneman and Town Administrator Scott Thomas to sign a “Working Together Agreement” with the Skagit Beach Community Association, which represents the Skagit Beach neighborhood located north of La Conner. Under the agreement, the Town commits to involving and sharing updates with the Association that pertain to the replacement of the 60-year-old Channel Drive waterline, which is expected to cost $3.4 million. The contract is meant to address communication concerns voiced by the Association. The Town, which is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the waterline, is currently seeking funding opportunities to minimize the financial burden on the neighborhood’s residents, many of whom are on fixed income.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked key portions of President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting mail-in voting, ruling that the president exceeded his constitutional authority over elections. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani halted requirements that states provide the U.S. Postal Service with advance lists of mail voters and stopped the Department of Homeland Security from compiling state-by-state lists of voting-age citizens, finding those powers belong primarily to the states and Congress, not the president. The ruling, which is expected to be appealed, marks the latest legal setback for the administration’s election policies as states continue preparing for the November midterm elections. White House officials said they remain confident the order will ultimately take effect, while supporters of the lawsuit called the decision a victory for voting rights.
Skagit County and the union representing about 70 Public Works employees remain in mediation after contract negotiations stalled, leaving workers without a new labor agreement since their previous contract expired on Dec. 31, 2024, the Skagit Valley Herald reported. The county and AFSCME Council 2 began bargaining in June 2025, with mediation through the Public Employment Relations Commission starting in March. Union leaders say employees have struggled to keep pace with rising living costs and are seeking a contract comparable to one recently negotiated for the county’s ferry workers, while county commissioners say they are negotiating in good faith but cannot discuss details during mediation. A second mediation session is scheduled for July 30.
