News | The Daily Chronicle

Jon William Day, 65, of Rainier, left, appears virtually in Thurston County Superior Court from the Thurston County Jail alongside Public Defense Attorney Diana Wildland, right, on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.

Thurston County judge finds probable cause for charges against man involved in seven-hour standoff

A Thurston County Superior Court judge has found probable cause for charges against the man involved in a seven-hour standoff Tuesday night in Rainier. Jon William Day, 65, of Rainier, was … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com | 9/4/26

Ferguson moves to prepare Washington state for looming Medicaid changes

Major changes to Medicaid coverage will land in Washington as soon as next month, pushing the state’s top public officials and health leaders on Thursday to announce a plan to try to soften the … more

Elise Takahama / Seattle Times | 9/4/26

State Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, listens as his fellow legislators discuss the upcoming legislative session during the 2025 Legislative Roundtable at the Lewis County Courthouse on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

Rep. Joel McEntire says he won’t challenge ethics board fine

Washington state Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, owes a $500 fine to the Legislative Ethics Board for his conduct on social media. The punishment was handed out specifically because of an … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 9/4/26

The Secretary of State’s office in the Montana State Capitol in Helena on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.

Legislators to subpoena Secretary of State on voter roll question

Members of a legislative oversight committee voted 10-1 this week to subpoena Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen for the type of information her office turned over to the U.S. Department of Justice. … more

Keila Szpaller / Daily Montanan | 9/4/26

Ashleen Aldape, Juan Miguel Aldape’s daughter-in-law, speaks to a crowd of community members on Sept. 3, 2026, at the Chehalem Cultural Center in Newberg, Oregon.

‘There will be another family’: Oregon family scrutinizes feds over father’s detention

Juan Miguel Aldape pays his taxes annually, he is a devout Catholic and he is a caregiver for his youngest son with autism, his relatives say. He has lived with his wife for 22 years in Newberg, the … more

Mia Maldonado / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 9/4/26

Karen Kost took part in the North Dakota primary election early voting available June 3, 2026, at City Hall in Casselton, North Dakota.

Election experts see few legal options for Trump to meddle with polling places

President Donald Trump said earlier this year he’d “do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections” this fall, declining to rule out sending the National Guard or federal law … more

Jennifer Shutt / States Newsroom | 9/4/26

U.S. Army Col. Stephen Arnett speaks with members of the Idaho National Guard, assigned to the Joint Task Force-District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, at the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial in Washington, on June 16, 2026. About 3,000 National Guard members are supporting the mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan Police Department to help ensure the safety of residents, commuters, and visitors throughout the District.

ACLU of Idaho calls on Gov. Brad Little to pull back Idaho National Guard from DC

The ACLU of Idaho has joined the national American Civil Liberties Union in calling on leaders to pull back National Guard members from Washington, D.C. Idaho leaders indicated the deployment in D.C. … more

Laura Guido / Idaho Capital Sun | 9/4/26

Computers line the walls of a reentry center inside the Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia, Mo. Incarcerated women preparing for release can use the computers to search for employment and other resources while on parole.

Women on parole face higher rates of mental health, housing challenges

Women on parole report higher rates of housing instability, poor health and serious mental health and substance use disorders than men on parole and women who weren’t on parole, according to a new … more

Amanda Watford / Stateline | 9/4/26

Three states this year have enacted laws that require or allow schools to use panic alarms to quickly summon emergency responders. Ten other states have such laws and a dozen more are considering them.

More states are putting panic alarms in schools

Three states this year have enacted laws that require or allow schools to use mobile, wearable, wireless or silent panic alarms to quickly summon emergency responders. The new laws in Illinois, … more

Robbie Sequeira / Stateline | 9/4/26

The Washington state Supreme Court building in Olympia. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

Voters will see statement on Washington state income tax measure’s budget effects

A last-ditch legal effort nearly succeeded Thursday to knock a statement off ballots that characterizes how repealing Washington’s new income tax on high earners would affect the state budget. … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 9/4/26

Wildfire risks are driving up costs for PNW utilities

When power lines are blamed for starting a wildfire, costs to utilities can stretch into the billions and trickle down to consumers. Earlier this year, PacifiCorp settled a federal lawsuit … more

By Aspen Ford / The Washington State Standard | 9/4/26

Let’s Go Washington founder Brian Heywood discusses his beliefs on Washington’s financial state outside the Washington Secretary of State’s office building in Tumwater on Thursday, July 2.

Washington Supreme Court denies appeal in income tax repeal fight

The Washington State Supreme Court on Thursday denied an appeal to a challenge for the Public Investment Impact Disclosure (PIID) statement to accompany I-645 on the Nov. 3 ballot. I-645 , … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 9/3/26

Political commentator Brandi Kruse speaks to attendees during the Lewis County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner in Chehalis on Saturday, April 11.

Independent journalists in Washington claim victory in press credentials fight

A victory for press freedom was announced Thursday morning in a case over reporters being denied credentials to cover the Washington legislature. Under the settlement agreement, the Washington … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 9/3/26

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist examines macroinvertebrates at the National Elk Refuge near Jackson Hole, Wyo. The agency has lost 1,900 scientists due to early retirements, buyouts and cuts under the Trump Administration.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff down more than a third nationwide; PNW sees steep cuts

The number of people staffing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has dropped by 3,600 during President Donald Trump’s second term, according to federal data obtained by the nonprofit conservation … more

By Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 9/3/26

Suspect in murder of Centralia woman in custody in Idaho

Nearly a month after a woman was found gunned down in her Centralia home, the suspect is in custody in Idaho and is expected to be extradited back to Lewis County to face charges. Douglas … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/3/26

The Thurston County Courthouse is pictured on Monday, April 21.

Public counter services at Thurston County Clerk’s Office to resume Sept. 21

Part-time in-person services at the Thurston County Clerk’s Office will resume on Sept. 21, the county announced this week. Starting Sept. 21, the public service counters at Family and … more

By Thurston Chronicle staff | 9/3/26

FILE PHOTO — The Thurston County Board of Commissioners meet on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Thurston County approves regional contract to prepare for Home Energy Score program rollout

The Thurston County Board of Commissioners have approved a two-year $169,000 contract with Oregon nonprofit Earth Advantage to develop, launch and implement a regional Home Energy Score (HES) … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com | 9/3/26

A Longview Police Department patrol vehicle sits behind crime scene tape last April at the scene of a shooting that left two dead during an event attended by around 200 people at the AWPPW Hall in the 700 block of 15th Avenue.

Twice-deported man sentenced to life without parole after pleading guilty to double-murder in Cowlitz County

A Kelso man who has twice been deported from the United States pleaded guilty to killing two men outside a Longview quinceañera in April and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility … more

By Cade Barker / For The Chronicle | 9/3/26

Medical care is given to Hannah Petty, 34, of Clayton after a wheel dislodged from a car traveling on U.S. Highway 395, rolled off the road and struck her while she was working outside a local coffee stand in Deer Park on Tuesday morning, September 1. She broke her femur and pelvis.

Car loses tire on highway and strikes, seriously injures Eastern Washington coffee stand employee in 'freak accident'

A Deer Park coffee stand employee broke her femur and pelvis after a wheel dislodged from a car traveling on U.S. Highway 395, rolled off the road and struck her while she was working outside the … more

Garrett Cabeza / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 9/3/26

Software maker Qualtrics cuts 117 jobs in Seattle

Qualtrics is laying off 117 employees in Seattle after it acquired a similar software company in a multibillion-dollar deal. Employees at the Seattle-based company, which specializes in software … more

Alex Halverson / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 9/3/26