6-17 NWR Helping to Stop Mass Murder

In view of the recent shootings in Orlando and Oakland,U.S. Rep. Greg Walden just announced that a major mental health reform bill to help mentally ill patients and their families was unanimously approved by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, an important step forward for the legislation. "This legislation dramatically improves how the federal government helps when it comes to mental health care," Walden said. "We know that 10 million Americans suffer from mental health diseases and issues, and that, if they get care, they're 15 times less likely to commit a violent act. Meanwhile, over time some 112 programs have been built up in the federal government costing $130 billion dollars, and yet until this law comes along and is enacted these programs aren't peer review they are evidence-based. We're going to change that." And, by the way, whether it's an act of terrorism or retribution or whatever, anyone who commits murder is by definition, mentally ill.

Less ominous, but to some still ominous, Washington state has a new wolf pack, the 19th since the animals began returning to Washington in the 1990s. State wildlife managers say part of a northcentral Washington wolf pack has split away and formed a new group called the Sherman Pack.

The State wolf program manager says the pack roams in the vicinity of Sherman Pass in Ferry County.