News | The Daily Chronicle

Khalil Jafar Zahir, 40, of Centralia, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Friday, May 1.

Bail set at $75,000 for man accused of starting dumpster fire at Centralia apartment

A man accused of starting a dumpster fire at a Centralia apartment building last month is facing a felony arson charge. The fire was reported outside Candlewood Apartments at 2:26 a.m. on … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/1/26

Gov. Bob Ferguson speaks during a press conference, Jan. 9, 2026.

Gov. Bob Ferguson admits to state ethics violations in signed agreement

Gov. Bob Ferguson conceded this week to violating state ethics law, agreeing to accept a $4,000 fine for letting his former chief strategy officer take a taxpayer-funded flight with him last year. … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 5/1/26

The Washington Capitol building is lit up against the night sky in Olympia.

Opponents of new anti-sheriff bill in Washington score another court win

On Friday, the second lawsuit against the new sheriff decertification bill that took effect in part on Thursday received a motion hearing before the same Thurston County Superior Court judge who … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 5/1/26

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dave Reichert looks on at the crowd during a rally at Merten Ranch in Toledo on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024.

Retired Washington cops, firefighters sue to protect pension fund

Retired police officers and firefighters in Washington are suing the state, trying to block an attempt to access their pension fund that the legislature wants to use to offset ongoing budget … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 5/1/26

A sign reading "Ladies" is seen on a restroom door.

Education watchdog files Title IX complaint over UW's gender-inclusive policies

A national parental rights and education watchdog group has filed a federal civil rights complaint against the University of Washington for “forcing” women to use bathrooms with men. … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 5/1/26

Lewis County sheriff candidate Tracy Murphy answers a question during a candidate forum hosted by The Chronicle at Jester Auto Museum in Chehalis on Thursday, April 2.

Inside the anonymous complaint and internal investigation that led to the firing of Tracy Murphy

Tracy Murphy, one of five candidates for Lewis County sheriff and a now former police sergeant, was fired from the Centralia Police Department Wednesday after 30 years with the agency. He had … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 5/1/26

Retangle Gallery & Creative Space owner Jan Nontell talks during public comment at the Tuesday, March 25, 2025, Centralia City Council meeting.

Centralia City Council set to interview two candidates for vacancy

Centralia officials will take another swing at filling a vacant city council position starting next week with another round of public interviews. The Centralia City Council announced Thursday … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 5/1/26

Ecology would not provide an exact location of the contamination but said that it occurred “on land in Lewis County adjacent to the Chehalis River” and that it may have also impacted nearby groundwater and surface water.

Chehalis business fined $876,000 for alleged illegal dumping near the Chehalis River

By The Chronicle staff The Washington state Department of Ecology will fine a farm and business with a Chehalis address nearly $1 million for alleged illegal dumping near the Chehalis River. … more

5/1/26

Crews work on repairing a section of Spirit Lake Memorial Highway near mile marker 49 in Skamania County on Thursday, April 30. This section of the highway has been closed since May 14, 2023 when more than 300,000 cubic yards of debris slid around 2,000 feet down the hillside and destroyed the bridge.

Work begins to restore road to Mount St. Helens

Three years after a landslide cut off access to the upper stretch of state Route 504, also known as Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, work has begun to restore a key connection to one of Washington’s … more

5/1/26

A concept design for a renovated Fuller's Twin City Skate Park presented to the Centralia City Council during its business meeting on Tuesday, April 28.

Centralia follows through, submits funding request for skate park makeover

Roughly nine months after Twin Cities youth signed a petition to call attention to the crumbling Fuller’s Twin City Skate Park, Centralia city staff have followed through on a promise to seek state … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 5/1/26

Kevin R. Kemp, 45, Centralia, made a preliminary appearance April 29 for one count of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance following a reported Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team investigation. A judge set bail at $5,000 cash or bond. Kemp pleaded not guilty during an arraignment on April 30.

Sirens: Man charged after JNET arrest; road rage results in assault; men cited after fist fight

LEWIS COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT Preliminary appearances • Kevin R. Kemp, 45, Centralia, made a preliminary appearance April 29 for one count of possession with intent to manufacture or … more

5/1/26

Body cam footage from the Thurston County Sheriff's Office shows deputies care for a baby who was found inside a stolen vehicle that was being driven by a fleeing suspect on Thursday, April 30. The child has since been picked up by Child Protective Services.

Law enforcement safely stop suspect fleeing with a baby in a stolen vehicle in Thurston County

Law enforcement in the Olympia area stopped a suspect fleeing with a baby in a stolen truck on Thursday, April 30. The baby was unharmed. Olympia Police Department officers and Thurston … more

By Thurston Chronicle staff | 5/1/26

Ross Nielson will seek to retain his seat as Lewis County assessor

The Committee to Elect Ross Nielson announced Friday morning that the current Lewis County assessor will run for reelection. Nielson is currently serving his first term as the county assessor after … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/1/26

Work to start May 4 on Littlerock Road bridge

Thurston County Public Works is notifying residents of the initiation of the Littlerock Road Southwest and 113th Avenue Southwest Bridge Replacement and Intersection Improvements Project. Work … more

By Thurston Chronicle staff | 5/1/26

Local columnist and author Brian Mittge speaks about the history of Centralia founder George Washington during a Founder’s Day event at George Washington Park in Centralia on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024.

Brian Mittge: What I did during my device-free vacation

"However little television you watch, watch less." - David McCullough Those words from historian and author David McCullough (I’m re-reading his brilliant “1776” during this … more

5/1/26

"Mayfield Lake Carnival Popular: A huge crowd of more than 3,000 crowded the shores of Mayfield Lake Sunday for the first annual Mossyrock Lions Water Carnival. Some 70 hydroplanes from Washington and Oregon battled for honors on the lake under clear, warm skies as spectators lined the beach. In addition, skydivers and water skiers performed as the two-day event ended. Stiff winds finally ended the racing shortly after 5 p.m." — originally published by The Daily Chronicle Aug. 30, 1965

A Look Back in Time: Centralian’s death ruled suicide; Hydroplanes race at Mayfield Lake; Last East Lewis County egg farm prepares for closure

In this installment of A Look Back in Time, the Wednesday, May 2, 1956, edition of The Chronicle featured a story about investigators ruling the death of Centralia resident Walter Norquist a suicide … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 5/1/26

Victor poses for a photo with the Centralia Tiger after committing to attend kindergarten at Oakview Elementary School during Kindergarten Signing Day at Tiger Stadium on Friday, May 1.

In Focus: Centralia’s youngest learners make it official at Kindergarten Signing Day

The Centralia School District held its first Kindergarten Signing Day on Friday at Tiger Stadium, inviting its youngest learners to celebrate the first big step in their education. “What … more

5/1/26

Thurston County sheriff’s deputies block off traffic near the intersection of Hoffman Road Southeast and Morse-Merryman Road Southeast in Olympia during a reported officer-involved shooting on Tuesday, April 28.

Deputies and deceased identified in Thurston County officer-involved shooting

The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) on Friday identified the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) deputies who shot and killed a man following a police pursuit in the … more

By Thurston Chronicle staff | 5/1/26

DNR Lewis District Manager Andy Aschenbrenner discusses DNR managed lands in Lewis County during a special meeting about state trust lands at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis on Wednesday, April 22.

In Lewis County meeting, DNR officials say forest land protections will have minor impact on revenues

Last week, state officials attempted to calm local fears that new protections for 77,000 acres of Washington state forestland will jeopardize timberland revenues for Lewis County. Proceeds from … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 5/1/26

Members of the Mossyrock City Council along with city staff listen to concerns raised by locals about proposed ordinance amendments revolving around living in RVs and owning livestock within city limits during an open public workshop on Monday, April 27, inside the Mossyrock Community Center.

Mossyrock residents raise concerns over proposed changes to city code on living in RVs, owning livestock, and more

With over 40 residents in attendance, members of the Mossyrock City Council held an open public workshop at the Mossyrock Community Center on Monday, April 27, to discuss a number of proposed … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 5/1/26