Cheers: To The Nikki Kuhnhausen Act. The memory of a Vancouver teen will be kept alive through a law signed this week by Gov. Jay Inslee. The bill, which had broad support in both legislative chambers, will prevent the so-called “panic” defense in cases of violence — a criminal defense based on discovery of a victim’s actual or perceived gender identity or sexual orientation.
Kuhnhausen, 17, was killed last year. A Vancouver man has been charged with second-degree murder and malicious harassment, which is a hate crime in Washington, and authorities allege the killing took place after the suspect learned Kuhnhausen was transgender. “The name of this law honors Nikki’s memory and keeps our focus on addressing the disproportionate amount of violence faced by the LGBTQ community,” Sen. Derek Stanford, D-Bothell, the legislation’s primary sponsor, said. “This law makes it clear that such violence is inexcusable.”
Jeers: To troubled salmon fisheries. Final projections for this year’s return of salmon to Northwest rivers have been released, and they portend a frustrating season for anglers and guides. In one example, the Columbia River coho run is expected to be about 181,000 adults, the lowest total in many years. On the other hand, projections are simply educated guesses; last year’s coho run was expected to be about 900,000, and one-third that many showed up. Other years have exceeded expectations.
Declining salmon runs are the result of many factors, including ocean acidification and warming temperatures, which play havoc with habitat in the Pacific Ocean. Ensuring the survival of the species will require quick action.
Cheers: To “Green Eggs and Ham.” Vancouver restaurateur Mark Matthias continued a tradition in honor of Dr. Seuss. In keeping with the theme of one of the author’s best-loved books, Matthias delivered green eggs and ham to schoolchildren to help promote the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day.
Bolstered by a team of volunteers, Matthias has run the program at local schools for 25 years. In addition to the colorful and delicious meal, many students also received books thanks to the program’s community partners. The effort is a creative way to remind students that reading is fun.
Jeers: To petty complaints. The fish-and-chips walk-up window at The Waterfront Vancouver has changed its name to What a Catch after another company complained about trademark infringement. The outlet, managed by WildFin American Grill, previously was known as The Daily Catch.
WildFin officials said an East Coast company complained about the name, forcing the change. The company has a right to complain, but the issue seems overly protective. The Daily Catch is hardly original or inventive, and we are guessing that WildFin is not the first seafood vendor to copy it. We’re confident What a Catch will be successful — assuming that name is not already trademarked.
Cheers: To a new arrival. Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo has welcomed its first baby gorilla since 2015. The unnamed male is the first baby born to 12-year-old Uzumma, and zoo officials say the mother is showing good maternal instincts after months of training and prenatal care.
Kwame, the father, came to the zoo in 2018 as part of a conservation program — the Gorilla Species Survival Plan. Western lowland gorillas are considered critically endangered in the wild. For now, mother and baby are in a private enclosure for bonding and staff monitoring; they are expected to be available for public viewing in a few weeks.
