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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Gov. Jay Inslee and the staff of the Office of the Governor.

News you might have missed:

WDVA volunteers decorate graves at the State Veterans Cemetery The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs leads a holiday tradition to hang holiday wreathes over the gravestones at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, the Washington Soldiers Home Cemetery in Orting, and the Washington Veterans Home Cemetery in Port Orchard. These cemeteries are home to the remains of thousands of Washingtonians who served their country as members of the United States Armed Forces.

Travel safe and plan for traffic AAA predicts that this year?s holiday will be the second-most traveled since 2000. That may mean highway traffic and lines at the airport. Plan ahead with help from WSDOT. The State Department of Transportation?s holiday charts predict peak times so you might plan around them and save valuable family time. (Image courtesy of the Seattle Department of Transportation)

Deschutes Estuary to be restored in Olympia Capitol Lake is an artificial reservoir in Olympia created to mirror the capitol building. It?s overwhelmed by invasive species, and it?s been unusable for recreation since 2009. This week, the state and city began the process to restore the Deschutes Estuary, boosted by $7 million in Climate Commitment Act funds. The estuary will shelter salmon and other creatures. Invasive species will be destroyed and recreation restored. Lands inhabited by ancestors of Squaxin Island Tribal people will return to a more natural state. Deschutes Estuary Restoration project manager Anne Larson recently detailed the project with TVW.

Graduation rates, college preparedness on the rise Washington state posted a record-high 4-year graduation rate of 83.6% in 2022, and state data shows an increasing trend of high school students taking dual-credit courses that accrue both high school and university-level credits. More students are graduating, and graduating students are more ready for the rigor of college.