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Sheriff Rob Snaza listens while Centralia’s Chief of Police, Andy Caldwell, discusses emergency vehicle budgets during a meeting with the Lewis County 911 Communications Executive Board at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis on Aug. 20, 2025.

An explainer: How a Washington state bill would change how sheriffs are removed

The state's Criminal Justice Training Commission could remove Washington sheriffs not fit to hold office under a bill heard in the House Community Safety Committee on Monday. Under the bill: … more

By Lucille Stutesman / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 3/2/26

WSP: Driver in Interstate 5 crash pulls gun on stranger who stopped to help

A driver of a car that rolled over on Interstate 5 early Sunday morning pulled a gun on a passerby who stopped to help, according to the Washington State Patrol. The incident happened around 4 … more

By Caitlyn Freeman / The Seattle Times | 3/2/26

Cowlitz County driver who hit, killed pedestrian in 2025 gets 5 years in prison

A Kelso man was sentenced Thursday to five years for striking and killing a pedestrian in 2025 . Larry M. Hole, 46, said the collision was "100% avoidable," and sobbed openly in court. He … more

By Matt Esnayra / The Daily News | 3/2/26

The Katerina bulk ship passes under the Astoria Megler Bridge on Oct. 6, 2025.

State, feds consider action to lower risk of ship striking Lewis and Clark Bridge

Washington state and the federal government are considering actions to lower the ever-increasing risk of a container ship striking Longview’s Lewis and Clark Bridge , potentially causing the … more

By Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 3/2/26

State Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, answers a question during a Legislative Media Day at the Washington state Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Olympia.

Did anti-fraud crackdown kill Washington childcare licensing reform?

Legislation to update how Washington state handles childcare licensing and to provide fraud protections and accountability within the Department of Children, Youth & Families is apparently dead … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 3/2/26

Advocates protest Washington state bill targeting pension plan funds

A Washington state bill that would dissolve a pension plan created in the 1960s and closed to new members in 1977 took a barrage of criticism during a Feb. 26 public hearing in the Senate Ways & … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 3/2/26

Washington passes legislation requiring no-cost insurance for state-recommended vaccines

No-cost insurance coverage for vaccines in Washington state will soon hinge on a recommendation from the Department of Health rather than federal guidance under a bill passed by the Legislature on … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 3/2/26

A tree-lined street in Tumwater. The City of Tumwater is part of a group of more than a dozen communities to get money from the federal government to boost their urban tree canopy. (Laurel Demkovich/Washington State Standard)

Urban tree funding axed in Washington state House budget proposal

Funding that helps Washington communities plant and sustain trees is on the chopping block in the state Legislature. House budget legislation would cut funding for the Department of Natural … more

By Aspen Ford / The Washington State Standard | 3/2/26

Rivian vehicles lined up at one of the company’s manufacturing facilities. (Photo courtesy of Rivian)

For Rivian and Lucid, path finally emerges for direct-to-consumer car sales in Washington

Legislation allowing luxury electric vehicle makers Rivian and Lucid to join rival Tesla in selling directly to Washington customers is on a fast track for action in Olympia. And if it crosses … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 3/2/26

Central Command Reports Three U.S. Service Members Killed, Five Others Wounded

The U.S. Central Command reported Saturday that three U.S. service members have been killed and five others seriously wounded during ongoing operations in the Middle East. In a statement released … more

Brandon Hansen / The Chronicle | 3/1/26

A couple sits with their newborn inside their Bentonville, Arkansas, home earlier this month. Nearly a quarter of pregnant women aren’t getting prenatal care in the early stages of pregnancy, according to a new analysis from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Early prenatal care declines across US, reversing years of progress

Nearly a quarter of pregnant women aren’t getting prenatal care in the early stages of pregnancy, according to a new analysis from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The … more

Anna Claire Vollers / Stateline | 3/1/26

Suspect in teen’s death caught after hours-long search in Southeast Portland

A 25-year-old man accused of fatally shooting a 14-year-old boy and wounding three others last November was arrested Friday morning after an hours-long search in Southeast Portland. Aquize … more

Maxine Bernstein / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/1/26

‘Hands Off Iran’ protesters in Portland call for end to U.S.-led attacks

A small group of demonstrators gathered in downtown Portland Saturday afternoon to protest the United States and Israel’s surprise attack on Iran. The airstrikes early Saturday came after … more

Allison Barr / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/1/26

A recycling company improperly dumped 17 tons of plastic in a landfill. It has millions of dollars in government contracts

The Metro regional government is scrutinizing the work of a prominent Portland disposal company it hired to sustainably manage garbage and recycling from the Oregon Convention Center after … more

Austin De Dios / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/1/26

Top Washington Democratic lawmakers call for transparency, peers to assert congressional authority following strikes on Iran

Washington's top Democratic lawmakers say the joint U.S.-Israel military action against Iran early Saturday morning shirked congressional authority, and are calling on their peers to reconvene "to … more

Nick Gibson / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 3/1/26

FIFA, Seattle officials monitoring Iran’s participation in World Cup

The attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran could have an impact on the FIFA Men’s World Cup and at least one match scheduled to be played in Seattle at Lumen Field. Iran’s … more

Tim Booth / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/1/26

To many Washington state Iranians, U.S. attack signals either freedom or imperialism

The U.S. and Israel's airstrikes on Iran drew conflicting responses in Western Washington, including among Seattle-area Iranian Americans who praised the military action and others who condemned the … more

Caitlyn Freeman Ryan Nguyen and Jim Brunner / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/1/26

FBI raises terrorism alert over fears of retaliation by Iran

FBI Director Kash Patel said he put the bureau’s counterterrorism and counterintelligence teams on high alert Saturday after the U.S. and Israel launched a sweeping military assault on Iran. … more

Myles Miller / Bloomberg News (TNS) | 3/1/26

Iranians on Khamenei’s death: mourning on state TV, public joy

Millions of Iranians have lived their entire lives under the thumb of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran. When reports of his demise began to trickle in, the response in the streets … more

Arsalan Shahla / Bloomberg News (TNS) | 3/1/26

Iran’s missile barrage tests whether US has enough interceptors

The ability of the U.S., Israel and gulf Arab states to weather Iran’s retaliatory strikes will depend on how many missile interceptors they have — and stocks are most likely dangerously low … more

Gerry Doyle / Bloomberg News (TNS) | 3/1/26