News | The Daily Chronicle

Students at work in a math class. Oregon students' overall proficiency in key subjects grew by less than 1 percentage point on average from the previous school year, according to the state's most recent data.

Oregon students’ grasp of key subjects slowly grows, but still below pre-pandemic levels

Oregon students continued to make small gains in key subjects over the last year but still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels. They’re also not keeping pace with many of their peers … more

Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 9/24/26

The U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy is seen on Nov. 7, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Coast Guard icebreaker Healy cancels fall voyage to Arctic Ocean after mechanical problem

The Coast Guard icebreaker Healy will not sail to the Arctic Ocean this year. The Healy is one of only two active Arctic icebreakers in the Coast Guard’s fleet and had been scheduled to return … more

By James Brooks / Alaska Beacon | 9/24/26

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, Republican of Alabama, seen at an event in Montgomery in November 2023, was among the Senate Republicans at a hearing on Sept. 23, 2026 pressing for more action to bar transgender athletes from women’s sports. (Photo by Alander Rocha/Alabama Reflector)

U.S. Senate Republicans spotlight trans athletes issue as midterms approach

Republicans on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee used a hearing Wednesday to continue voicing opposition to transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, which the top Democrat on the panel … more

By Shauneen Miranda / States Newsroom | 9/24/26

Let’s Go Washington supporters hold a sign with the total number of signatures received for a petition, 511,408, outside the Washington Secretary of State’s office building in Tumwater on Thursday, July 2.

Voters to decide fate of state taxes this fall

This fall, voters in at least nine states will decide whether to cut, cap or raise taxes through ballot measures that will give them a direct hand in steering state tax policy in a conservative or … more

By Anna Claire Vollers / Stateline.org | 9/24/26

Flock cameras raise constitutional questions, bipartisan U.S. senators say

WASHINGTON — A vast and growing network of artificial intelligence-driven Flock cameras could violate constitutional privacy rights, U.S. senators on a Judiciary Committee subcommittee said during … more

By Ariana Figueroa / States Newsroom | 9/24/26

The podcast room is pictured at The Chronicle in Centralia on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The News Dump and Sports Dump are recorded weekly in the on-site studio.

News Dump Ep. 294 or 295: Sheriff arrested! (For Volstead Act violations)

On the 295th episode (or is it?), host Aaron VanTuyl and Chronicle editor Eric Schwartz discuss a great 1926 news entry in which the Lewis County Sheriff was running liquor and cutting out local … more

9/24/26

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announces his authorization to link Washington state in its carbon market during Climate Week in New York City on Sept. 23, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Department of Ecology)

Washington nears final step in joining California-Quebec carbon market

Taking the stage at Climate Week in New York City Wednesday morning, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his authorization to move forward with linking Washington into its carbon market that’s … more

By Aspen Ford / The Washington State Standard | 9/24/26

An election worker in Thurston County processes ballots on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in Tumwater, Washington. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

Washington voters of color more likely to have ballots challenged, per report

Younger voters and voters of color in Washington state see their ballots challenged for signature issues more often than their older and white counterparts. That’s according to an analysis of … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 9/24/26

Record Washington diesel prices strain local businesses, drive up costs

Washington's average diesel price hit a record $7.47 per gallon Wednesday, while the Tri-Cities reached an even higher $7.53 per gallon, as rising fuel costs put new pressure on transportation, … more

Austin Reed / The Center Square | 9/23/26

From the left, Twin Cities Rotary Club member Val Eckloff, United Way Lewis County Resource Development Director Chris Judd and United Way Lewis County Executive Director Angela French pose for a photo at United Way Lewis County in Chehalis on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

In death, Dolly Parton continues impact on literacy in Lewis County

When Samantha Granquist and her family pull into their long gravel driveway, there is a sense of excitement and suspense in the car as her two young children wait to unwrap a brand new book. … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 9/23/26

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS), not seasonally adjusted.

Lewis and Thurston county unemployment rates rise in August

The Washington state Employment Security Department (ESD) recently released the unemployment rates for August 2026, showing that unemployment rose in both Lewis and Thurston counties from July. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/23/26

A bat that was brought in for testing is shown in this courtesy photo from the DOH.

Bat found in Lewis County tests positive for rabies

A bat found in Lewis County has tested positive for rabies virus at the Washington Public Health Laboratories, according to a news release from Lewis County Public Health and Social Services. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/23/26

Sirens: False report to 911; marijuana mailed to business; juveniles involved in assault

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Scam results in theft • Centralia police responded to the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue for a report of a phone scam resulting in a theft at about 9:41 a.m. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/23/26

John Cooper, 59, is accused of shooting a man in Tenino on Aug. 28, 2026.

Tenino shooting suspect back in jail after firearms, explosives found at his home

The 69-year-old Tenino area man accused of shooting a man in August is back in custody after detectives found firearms and explosives at his residence. John Paul Cooper is accused of shooting a … more

By Thurston Chronicle staff | 9/23/26

Death notices: Sept. 23, 2026

• BETTY LOU ADAMS, 97, Centralia, died Sept. 18 at Three Rivers Care. Arrangements are under the care of Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel in Toledo. • WILLIAM R. BURKETT JR., 83, Centralia, died … more

9/23/26

Catherine Levison reads her Bible at Fred Hess Public Kitchen in Chehalis on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

Winlock woman called to the Quaker faith hopes others might share her passion

One Winlock resident is hoping to grow attendance for a weekly Quaker meeting in Chehalis after years having to travel outside of the county or attend services online to find others of the rare … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 9/23/26

Greater Good Charities staff and pilots walk from a plane after successfully transporting two gray wolves to live at Wolf Haven International in Tenino at the Olympia Regional Airport on Tuesday, June 30.

Public invited to Commercial Aviation Work Group meeting in Tumwater

Washington’s Commercial Aviation Work Group, which evaluates the state’s future needs for commercial aviation and transportation, will host a hybrid public meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/23/26

Civil War re-enactor survived six days without food and water after suffering stroke in Thurston County

What could have very easily been a local tragedy ended up with a storybook ending, as Thomas Goodwin, a 54-year old man who went missing during a Civil War reenactment in Yelm on Saturday, Sept. 5, … more

By Jacob Dimond / For The Chronicle | 9/23/26

Mount St. Helens is seen from the Science and Learning Center in this photo by Neil Gilham.

Mount St. Helens hosts events for National Public Lands Day

The Mount St. Helens Institute (MSHI) will host events in honor of National Public Lands Day Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater, in partnership with the Forest … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/23/26

A shipping container stuck on the edge of the Tilton River near Gus Backstrom Park in Morton is shown here by way of aerial photograph on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Lewis County accepts state funds to remove large debris from the Cowlitz River after flooding last year

Thanks to state military funding, Lewis County will soon be able to remove two Conex storage containers, up to six recreational vehicles and a heap of smaller debris left in the Cowlitz River after … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 9/23/26