Archives for category: Newspeople Remain Silent

How did 1.7 tons of meth for outbound shipment enter Long Beach California?

February 11, 2019 //

State-run media update:

February 7, 2019 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

U.S. and Australian Authorities Intercept 1.7 Tons of Meth Bound to Australia from LA/Long Beach Seaport

When the news is created by federal employees, there’s no need to deal with any awkward/real questions from the press.

Unfortunately, it may be difficult to find stories from the US free press that ask questions about this big bust.

How did the 1.7 tons of meth enter the US?

Were US troops at the border, strict post 911 security protocols and a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security at all relevant in keeping 1.7 tons of meth out of Long Beach?

February 8, 2019 Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Police allege $1.29bn ‘tsunami of ice’ seizure shows Mexican cartels are targeting Australians

How were “powerful and violent” Mexican drug cartels able to move a “tsunami of ice” into Long Beach, California?

February 8, 2019 The Straits Times

Massive drug bust exposes cartel ties between Mexico and Australia

“The investigation appeared to reveal cooperation between Mexican cartels and Australian biker gangs, developing what the authorities say is a worrying new vector for drugs to arrive to Australia.”

Will the big Long Beach bust result in any shortage of cartel-sourced heroin, cocaine, meth or fentanyl anywhere in the US?

January 31, 2019 ABC7 Chicago

Meth deaths skyrocket as new drug cartel fueled threat hits Chicago area streets

“DEA Chicago Special Agent in Charge Brian McKnight says his agents have seen a local shift from the homemade dirty street product to extremely pure meth imported by cartels from Mexico.”

Newspeople Remain Silent – Missing A Chance To Ask Questions

Leadership In The Classroom – Truth is Controversial

Newspeople Ask Questions If It’s A Sports Story

Port Angeles Heroin – Newspeople Remain Silent

Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

Photo-

South entrance- Port Townsend Ship Canal

Categories Just Be Honest, Meth, Newspeople not asking questions, Newspeople Remain Silent, The Business of Keeping People informed

Newspeople Remain Silent – Missing A Chance To Ask Questions

February 8, 2019 //

Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.

A few local stories where newspeople seem to refrain from asking questions are described here. Would these make a good news tip or story idea?

Another month with an R

Background: Oak Harbor – State Of The Art Sewage Treatment Plant

How long has Oak Harbor been an unsafe location for recreational shellfish harvesting?

US Border Patrol, Port Angeles, WA

An upgrade in staff requiring a new, $11.9 million, 50 agent facility. Secret arrest statistics, denied FOIA requests, heroin in the community, no cross-border USBP arrest in more than 8 years, fraudulent overtime claims, 1,200-horsepower interceptor boats and zero questions from the press.

Has Port Angeles CBP been able to intercept any inbound meth or heroin?

Even one time?

Newspeople remain silent.

Background: Port Angeles Heroin – Newspeople Remain Silent

Whidbey Island

2014-

Island county to purchase new patrol boat to help with Puget Sound security:

Federal grant money goes to “…gain a better grasp on cross border activity and to prevent illegal crossings.”

“Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”

Has there been any post 911 history of maritime “cross-border activity” on Whidbey Island?

Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been involved in any arrest or seizure related in any way to the US/Canada border?

Background: Whidbey Homeland Security Grant Money- Newspeople Remain Silent

JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society:

More here:

Leadership In The Classroom – Truth is Controversial

Newspeople Ask Questions If It’s A Sports Story

Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

Photo- The Seal Rock oyster

Categories Heroin, Hometown Pride, Just Be Honest, Meth, Newspeople not asking questions, Newspeople Remain Silent, The Business of Keeping People informed

Leadership In The Classroom – Truth is Controversial

February 5, 2019 //

Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.

Feb 2, 2019 Omaha World-Herald

Student journalists testify in favor of bill that would give student publications greater freedom

“Speaking today makes me nervous for my job security,” said Lori Larson, the North Platte High School journalism teacher.

“I do not want to dumb down the curriculum just to make everything look great,” she said.

“Proponents of LB 206 argued that young journalists should be taught to speak truth to power, not that it’s OK to censor.”

Love to see more press freedom for hometown pride-oriented small town papers, large newspapers and TV news folks. Unfortunately, they seem to have moved away from asking questions.

Local stories where questions go unasked:

Oak Harbor – State Of The Art Sewage Treatment Plant

How long has Oak Harbor been an unsafe location for recreational shellfish harvesting?

If the state of the art sewage treatment plant went online in November- how was sewage being processed last summer or last year?

Feb 3, 2019 Peninsula Daily News

Troopers use CPR, naloxone to save a life

A life and death situation. No time for newspeople to report later on what drug or drugs were involved here.

The press informs less on opioids – more on salads:

CBS News Jan 25, 2019

Whole Foods recalls products with spinach due to salmonella risk

Very specific info on what to avoid and how to stay safe.

US Border Patrol, Port Angeles, WA

Has Port Angeles CBP been able to intercept any inbound heroin?

Even one time?

Newspeople remain silent.

Port Angeles Heroin – Newspeople Remain Silent

Public School Lockers- teaching students to have a chip on their shoulder

Newspeople Ask Questions If It’s A Sports Story

JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society:

Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

Photo-

Early winter morning- Point Wilson, Washington

Categories Hometown Pride, Just Be Honest, Newspeople not asking questions, Newspeople Remain Silent, The Business of Keeping People informed

Port Angeles Heroin – Newspeople Remain Silent

January 18, 2019 //

Recovery, rehab, treatment, & addiction are important parts of this story.

What part of the story is missing?

Has anyone ever seen the press question the US Dept. of Homeland Security/CBP on their role in keeping heroin away from the Puget Sound area?

Background:

US Border Patrol, Port Angeles, WA

August 2, 2011 Seattle Times

Border Patrol agent says Port Angeles ‘Black Hole’

“The agency is building a $5.7 million headquarters at 110 Penn St. in Port Angeles that can house up to 50 agents.”

If you run a government operation- these are the reporters you want to see on interview day:

More here:

News tip/story idea

A Secretive, Wasteful, Dishonest & Ineffective US Dept. of Homeland Security

Question for newspeople:

What role do 1,200-horsepower Border Patrol Interceptor boats play in keeping heroin away from the Puget Sound area?

2011-

“… their main interaction with the boating public: Boarding boats and checking for ID, getting a “vibe,” as Jeff P. called it, for what’s up.”

2013-

Heroin epidemic gripping Port Angeles

2015-

Port Angeles residents fed up with heroin problem

2017-

“Residents who filled the Port Angeles City Council chambers and lobby Tuesday night said they were fed up with the heroin epidemic in Clallam County and asked what is being done to stop opioid abuse and what they can do to help.”

2019-

“Jail staff are now using medication to help addicts detox from heroin while in custody.”

Has Port Angeles CBP been able to intercept any inbound heroin?

Even one time?

Newspeople remain silent.

Possibly of interest-

Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs personnel during Operation Macho Swagger– a ride-along to let us know what is being done to keep the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca safe from B.C. incursions: Operation Macho Swagger & Port Angeles Heroin

Love to see newspeople schedule an interview with the US Dept. of Homeland Security & ask:

Are passports/enhanced/Real IDs effective in keeping cartel-sourced heroin and meth out of the US?

Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.

More here:

WA – Real ID

Opioid or Heroin? Meth or Amphetamine?

Newspeople Ask Questions If It’s A Sports Story

Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

Photo- A symbol of the free press, federal government credibility and newspeople asking questions.

Categories Heroin, Just Be Honest, Newspeople Remain Silent, Olympic Peninsula Border Patrol, The Business of Keeping People informed

Oak Harbor – State Of The Art Sewage Treatment Plant

December 2, 2018 //

November 16, 2018 Whidbey News-Times

Oak Harbor’s sewage plant up and running

Article indicates the cost of the project is $142 million.

November 30, 2018 Whidbey News-Times

Ceremony celebrates sewage treatment plant coming online

“…ribbon cutting Thursday for the city’s new, state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant.”

Image at top of page:

Washington State Dept. of Health status updated Dec 2nd, 2018.

Source: Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife OAK HARBOR BEACH PARK

“State Dept. of Health cautions that Clams, Oysters and Mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”

“Water Quality Comment: This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

As the months go by, we’ll watch and see how local conditions change. We’ll look for newspeople to ask public policy questions Re:

How long has Oak Harbor been an unsafe location for recreational shellfish harvesting?

If the state of the art sewage treatment plant went online last month- how was sewage being processed last summer or last year?

When did the sewage treatment plant project begin?

If the old sewage treatment system was failing- when did it begin to fail?

Will the new sewage treatment plant allow for safe recreational shellfish harvesting at Oak Harbor? If not, why not?

How long will it take for recreational shellfish harvest conditions to become safe related to sewage treatment plant outfall?

Over at Penn Cove-

A situation linked to or separate from the Oak Harbor sewage treatment plant? Waiting for newspeople to let us know.

Monroe Landing

Love to see newspeople get out and ask questions about why:

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Sounds like the sewage treatment plant is sending unsafe product into Penn Cove?

“State Dept. of Health cautions that Clams,Oysters and Mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”

Coupeville

“State Dept. of Health cautions that Clams,Oysters and Mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”

Looks like the sewage treatment plant issue may be seen as routine or ongoing. Any sense of urgency in reporting details or background on this?

Routine or ongoing? So much so, that WDFW has posted a permanent sign indicating a dark shaded area in the eastern part of Penn Cove:

Image source: Photo posted by WDFW here.

Possibly of interest:

Dec 23rd, 2018 GoSkagit.com

Study finds littleneck clams declining in Salish Sea, West Coast

More here:

Temporary Kitsap Wastewater Spill

NW Beach Water Quality

Whidbey recreational (sport) harvest of shellfish

Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

Categories Hometown Pride, Just Be Honest, Newspeople not asking questions, Newspeople Remain Silent, Oak Harbor, The Business of Keeping People informed

Whidbey Homeland Security Grant Money- Newspeople Remain Silent

August 6, 2017 //

2014-

Island county to purchase new patrol boat to help with Puget Sound security:

Federal grant money goes to “…gain a better grasp on cross border activity and to prevent illegal crossings.”

“Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”

If public meetings were held on Whidbey Island & people were asked to state their top law enforcement priorities- would a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat show up anywhere on the list?

If the Sheriff was interviewed & asked for his wish list- is there any possibility that it would include a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat?

Took a quick look on the web to see if there is a post 911 history of maritime “cross-border activity” on Whidbey & could not find anything. If anyone has info, please post in comments.

Recommendation-

Let the Sheriff & the people he serves set funding priorities for the Island County Sheriff’s Department.

Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been able to intercept any inbound heroin?

Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been involved in any arrest or seizure related in any way to the US/Canada border?

Newspeople remain silent.

More here:

Coast Guard comes home to Heroin at Port Angeles

Operation Macho Swagger & Port Angeles Heroin

Heroin in Washington’s 6th District – Welcome Home Troops

Heroin Racket Rolls On

Puget Sound Coastal Patrol Boats

JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society: