An unusually large number of gray whales are washing up dead on their northbound migration past the Oregon and Washington coasts this year.

Asparagus cutters bend deep over their work in the early morning light. Colorful plastic bins stack like giant legos amid the scrubby fields north of Pasco, Washington.

Growers in Washington, California and Michigan raise the majority of the nation’s domestic asparagus -- and Washington’s season is on.

But business in U.S. spears is noticeably dwindling.

That’s because there’s increasing amounts of cheaper asparagus from Peru and Mexico coming in: fresh, canned and frozen. And that’s cutting into profits for U.S. growers.

The Washington House today [Wednesday] said yes to a bill that would improve nurses’ working conditions at hospitals and other health care facilities.

The legislation provides uninterrupted rest breaks and meals for registered and licensed practical nurses, except in certain cases. It also forbids hospitals and others from mandating that nurses work overtime.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that she and French President Emmanuel Macron will lead a global effort to stop social media from promoting terrorism in the wake of recent attacks that devastated New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

"This isn't about freedom of expression; this is about preventing violent extremism and terrorism online," Ardern told reporters at a news conference in Auckland on Wednesday.