New this week at the Anacortes Cinemas: Fame. The other 2 films, The Informant and 9, are holdovers. I hope they book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Representatives of NOAA Fisheries Service got an earful from dozens of sport fishermen and whale watch operators over proposed new regulations designed to keep boats further away from Orcas than is current allowed.

The Chamber of Commerce is opposed to implementation of rules which would keep whale watch boats further from orca pods. The Chamber says "The damage done to a key regional economic driver would potentially be severe."

Anacortes resident and former Skagit County Commissioner Don Munks has been chosen as the new County Assessor, ending a nine-month withdrawal from politics for health reasons.

The state Health Department has added Samish Bay to the list of area closed to recreational shellfish harvesting. The reason: poisonous algal blooms in the area. The state has found elevated levels of toxin in shellfish there.

The City Council Monday night approved the proposed Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan after reviewing new changes proposed by Parks Director Gary Robinson.