Washington governor proposes $1.1B to help starving orcas

OLYMPIA, Wash. —Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is proposing $1.1 billion in spending — and a partial whale-watching ban — to help support the recovery of Puget Sound’s critically endangered orcas.
Inslee detailed the plans as part of his announcement Thursday of his priorities for the 2019-2021 state budget cycle. He says the money will go toward protecting and restoring habitat for salmon, the orcas’ favoured prey; boosting production from salmon hatcheries; storm-wate