While many folks were begrudgingly returning to work after last week’s Memorial Day holiday, Thunderword reporters & photographers had the chance to join the Marine Science & Technology Center (MaST) during a specimen collection trip. 

Typically, these trips are reserved for MaST employees. They are crucial to the center, as they allow them to diversify and reinforce their existing aquarium population.

Through every season, tide cycle, and rainy day the circle of life endures. If a whale dies, and washes up on your local shore, how do the powers that be preserve it?

According to four-time whale conservator and marine biologist Rus Higley, step one is simple. Higley runs Highline’s Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST), as an educator he knew the power of having a local whale on display.

Highline’s Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST) is more than just an aquarium with hundreds of species of native marine life, it is a view into the greater oceanic world around us. 

Rus Higley, MaST’s director and knowledgeable caretaker, is a professor of marine biology. His work at the center allows all who enter a chance to have a deeper connection with these creatures living in the Puget Sound.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or the SAVE Act, is the newest G.O.P. lead bill that would redefine eligible voters to those with specific citizenship documents. This bill would not have passed in the House without the support of four democrats, including Washington State House member Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

In an official statement to the press, Perez stated her vote was based on the following, “I do not support noncitizens voting in American elections.”

Since the beginning of this year, 300 student visas have been revoked by the current executive administration. This may lead to many visa bearing students asking what protections they have on and off campuses.  

Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk and Alireza Doroudi – if you’re a student on an F-1 or J-1 visa these names might be uncomfortably familiar to you. Without prior official notification, or request to appear before a judge, these students were detained by government officials.

Over the course of 25 hours and five minutes, Senator Cory Booker completed the longest speech in Senate history. The record, previously held by Strom Thurmond, was once used to block the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

During Sen. Booker’s impassioned speech, he championed the opposite, and left anyone watching with the firm belief of hope and optimism in America.