Wildfire & weather watch: Washington officials issued a Pinpoint Alert for the weekend as hot, dry conditions persist and thunderstorms could spark new fires; the state reports 11 large fires burning over 500,000 acres. Algae toxin alert: Testing at Toad Lake found microcystins at levels that may harm people and pets, with guidance to avoid algae mats and keep animals away from blooms. Forest policy shift: The Trump administration proposed repealing the 2001 Roadless Rule, opening a public comment period through Sept. 21 that could affect roadless areas in Skagit and Whatcom counties. Local oversight of ICE flights: King County hired a full-time “Flight Monitoring and Outreach Coordinator” to track ICE charter activity at Boeing Field, aiming for more transparency. Energy grid pressure: A new argument warns the Northwest is drifting toward an energy crisis as demand rises faster than generation and transmission capacity. Data center permitting pushback: Locals urged Ecology to reassess Sabey Data Center’s air quality permit analysis. Transportation impacts: WSDOT extended an I-90 Exit 70 off-ramp closure by another week, with a detour via Exit 71. Community & equity: Seattle’s Racial and Social Equity Index won an Esri GIS award for using mapping to guide resource allocation. Manufacturing grants: Commerce awarded $1 million to seven businesses and groups to expand manufacturing and workforce development statewide.