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The cast of Rochester High School’s spring musical "Out of Towners" poses for a photo ahead of a dress rehearsal at Rochester High School on Monday, May 13.

‘Out of Towners’: Rochester High School’s spring musical highlights graduating seniors

With nearly half of its theater students graduating this year, Rochester High School is using its spring production, “Out of Towners,” to highlight the drama program’s past … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 5/14/24

Chehalis man convicted Tuesday for repeat voting in the 2022 general election

A Chehalis man charged in late 2023 for voting twice — once in Oregon and once in Washington — during the 2022 general election was found guilty of a felony repeat voter charge in Lewis … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 5/14/24

Relay for Life attendees begin the final event of the night at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Lewis County in 2023.

Relay for Life of Lewis County set for Saturday at Southwest Washington Fairgrounds

The Relay for Life of Lewis County will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds. All ages are welcome. Admission is free, though a … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/14/24

Brooklynn Swenson and Katie Qualls embrace during a contest against Tenino on March 26.

Rainier mother-daughter duo growing bond through fastpitch

When Brooklynn Swenson, a junior shortstop at Rainier High School, steps up to the plate, she looks to her left for advice from the only person who has ever driven her to practice in any of her … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylan@yelmonline.com | 5/14/24

Michael Meyden, left, stands next to his attorney Jeff Turnoy in the courtroom of Judge Katherine Weber at the Clackamas County Circuit Court in Oregon City, Oregon, on Monday, May 13, 2024.

Oregon dad accused of drugging girls at sleepover placed on GPS monitoring

A man accused of plying his daughter’s sleep-over friends with sedative-laced smoothies must be monitored by GPS tracking, a Clackamas County judge ruled Monday. The Clackamas County … more

Noelle Crombie / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 5/14/24

Zachary Hackman, now 24, was sentenced to 19 years in state prison during a hearing Monday, May 13, 2024.

Killer in Oregon beat, strangled girlfriend’s father and then went on family vacation; gets 19 years

Zachary Hackman jogged down the Seaside beach, scooping up sand dollars and tossing them into the waves on a vacation with his girlfriend’s family in October 2022. It didn’t appear … more

Zane Sparling / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 5/14/24

Washington state to acquire 9,700-acre forest near Cle Elum thanks to federal grant

SEATTLE — As Darcy Batura often wanders Cle Elum Ridge, she cherishes the ponderosa pine bark glowing red in the sunshine, releasing a sweet aroma that permeates the forest. A blanket of lupine … more

Isabella Breda / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 5/14/24

Eastern Washington paraeducator jailed, accused of sex crimes against teens

A Riverside Elementary School paraeducator and high school coach admitted to recording himself engaging in sex acts with underage boys and sending the videos to other children, court records say. … more

Alexandra Duggan and Elena Perry / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 5/14/24

Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson smiles and waves as he enters the House Chambers in Olympia on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, prior to the beginning of the State of the State speech.

Two of the three candidates for governor named Bob Ferguson drop out of Washington's race

OLYMPIA — Drama that ensued last week when three people named Bob Ferguson all filed to run for Washington's governorship appeared to have settled down Monday when two of the trio of Bobs … more

Ellen Dennis / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 5/14/24

71-year-old Yakima man killed after dispute with neighbors, police say

Yakima police are investigating the shooting death of a 71-year-old man during a dispute Saturday afternoon. The accused shooter, a 27-year-old man, is not in custody, according to a YPD news … more

Donald W. Meyers / Yakima Herald-Republic (TNS) | 5/14/24

FILE PHOTO — A passenger in a vehicle was found deceased along Bunker Creek Road in Adna after another vehicle pulled out and struck the SUV in February 2023.

Washington state road deaths jump 10%, reaching 33-year high

Washington recorded another grim milestone this week, with numbers from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission showing yet another year of increasing fatalities on the state's roads. … more

Nicholas Deshais / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 5/14/24

Five years after fatal encounter, jury to hear murder case against Washington cop

SEATTLE — The evening of May 31, 2019, a troubled 26-year-old man and an Auburn police officer with a violent history came together in a fateful, fatal 67-second encounter outside a … more

Mike Carter / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 5/14/24

Hues of purple, red and green glow in the skies over Salkum on Friday, May 10, as the Northern Lights were visible during a powerful geomagnetic storm.

Missed the aurora borealis? Watch for these upcoming celestial sights

Like a thief in the night, the aurora borealis arrived suddenly — and seemingly unannounced, if you weren't paying close attention — across the upper half of the globe this past weekend. … more

Vonnai Phair / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 5/14/24

Mount St. Helens Institute executive director steps down after more than a decade

After 13 years, Amboy-based Mount St. Helens Institute has a new director. Ray Yurkewycz’s last day was April 30, after serving since 2011 as the executive director of the nonprofit that … more

By Hayley Day / The Daily News | 5/14/24

Boeing firefighters on the picket line in Auburn.

Boeing firefighters locked out by company say safety is being compromised

Friday marks the sixth day of Boeing firefighters being locked out by the aerospace company in a contract dispute. Negotiations between Boeing and the International Association of Fire Fighters … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 5/14/24

Gov. Jay Inslee and Trudi Inslee pose for a photo on the last day of the 2024 Legislature at the state Capitol on Thursday, March 7.

Inslee makes his case for voters to preserve Climate Commitment Act

At a Monday morning press conference regarding the results of the state’s Climate Commitment Act, Gov. Jay Inslee sought to make a thinly veiled case for why voters should reject an initiative … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 5/14/24

‘This is serious’: Violent crime in unincorporated Pierce County alarms officials

Gun crime trends in unincorporated Pierce County have officials worried. According to data presented to the Pierce County Public Safety Committee, in 2024, there have been 58 crimes … more

By Spencer Pauley / The Center Square | 5/14/24

The Chronicle - May 14, 2024

5/14/24

W.F. West’s Natalie Eklund sends the ball to the green during a high school girls golf tournament at Riverside Golf Club on Monday, May 6.

W.F. West’s Eklund leading the way at district tournament

W.F. West’s Natalie Eklund was the best golfer on the course at Three Rivers in Kelso on Monday, as the defending district champion shot even par and leads by 13 strokes heading into Day 2 of … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/13/24

Napavine’s season ends in opening round of district tournament

The Napavine softball team’s season came to an unceremonious end on Monday, as the Tigers were defeated by Raymond-South Bend 12-3 in the opening round of the district tournament. The … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/13/24