News | The Daily Chronicle

Sgt. Sean Collins smiles while in uniform.

Fundraiser to honor Sgt. Sean Collins with mural in Thurston County reaches goal

Yelm High School class of 2004 graduate Sgt. Sean Collins will soon be honored through a mural at local Yelm business Longshot as the fundraiser to raise $6,900 in order to complete the project has … more

By Jacob Dimond / For The Chronicle | 8/26/25

The extended Lenz family received the State Tree Farmer of the Year.

Grays Harbor County farm honored as Washington State Tree Farmer of the Year

In the nearly 120 years following Henry and Katherine purchasing a farm in the Wishkah Valley, the Lentz Family has built a legacy of growing vegetables, flowers, and trees and raising cattle. … more

By Andrea Watts / The Daily World | 8/26/25

Grays Harbor College President Dr. Carli Schiffner spoke to the crowd of graduates and their supporters on Aug. 14.

Grays Harbor College honors graduates at Stafford Creek Corrections Center

On Aug. 14, Grays Harbor College honored 74 graduates at a commencement ceremony at Stafford Creek Corrections Center. In the past six months, students at Stafford Creek earned 93 educational … more

By The Daily World | 8/26/25

Washington city bans ICE from entering permitted events without a warrant

Despite threats over federal funding, the Spokane City Council voted Monday to ban U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from entering permitted events without a warrant. The move … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 8/26/25

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy rides on a FrontRunner train in Salt Lake City during a media event on Monday, April 7, 2025. (Photo by McKenzie Romero/Utah News Dispatch)

Trump administration threatens to yank state funds over truckers’ English proficiency

Three states are at risk of losing some federal transportation funding because they are not enforcing President Donald Trump’s executive order that commercial truck drivers must be proficient … more

By Jacob Fischler / States Newsroom | 8/26/25

Jarrod R. Phillipi, 34, Centralia, makes a video appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, Aug. 25.

Bail set at $200K for Centralia man accused of violating protection order, assaulting girlfriend

Jarrod R. Phillipi was prohibited by state law from contacting his girlfriend. The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office alleges he violated that no-contact order when he assaulted her … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 8/26/25

James E. Legge, 42, Lacey, makes a video appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, Aug. 25.

Man accused of trying to hit security employee with vehicle outside Chehalis Walmart

On Aug. 23, a Walmart security employee in Chehalis told a loitering man in a white Jeep Cherokee that he needed to leave the parking lot within 10 minutes. Ten minutes passed. The man … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 8/26/25

Washington Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove signs a directive ordering the conservation of about 77,000 acres of older forests on state logging lands, on Aug. 26, 2025, at the High Peak Trailhead on Tiger Peak Mountain. Behind him are Washington Conservation Action CEO Alyssa Macy, left, and Thurston County Commissioner Tye Menser, right. (Photo by Emily Fitzgerald/Washington State Standard)

Washington state lands commissioner moves 77,000 acres of older state forests into conservation

Eight months after Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove entered office and paused logging sales in older forests on state land, Washington’s Department of Natural Resources has identified … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / The Washington State Standard | 8/26/25

Motorcyclist dies after being airlifted from crash outside Morton

Thomas F. King, 57, Tacoma, has died after being airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after losing control of his motorcycle outside Morton on Aug. 23. The Washington State … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/26/25

FBI warns of fake lawyers in this especially cruel scam

The FBI is reminding people already hit by scammers to be on the lookout that the old scammers — or new ones — may circle back for another hit. In this especially cruel scam, the FBI … more

Aimee Green / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 8/26/25

Transportation tax and fee hikes remain controversial ahead of Oregon Democrats’ planned vote to enact them in coming days

Local officials, state workers, union leaders and truckers from across Oregon pushed lawmakers on Monday to better support the state’s roads by raising taxes and fees, while numerous … more

Carlos Fuentes / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 8/26/25

Now, the bottom half of the mural is painted solid green, so that it's easier to repaint over tagging.

After a torrent of graffiti and a provocative sign, what remains of this NE Portland mural?

The Northeast Portland mural was supposed to be a subtle nod to Black communities in the aftermath of Portland’s 2020 racial justice protests. “We’re still here,” it said, set … more

Maddie Khaw / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 8/26/25

A Bridgewater Logging truck drives through the Loggers Jubilee Parade in Morton on Saturday, Aug. 9.

Transportation secretary warns Washington to enforce English proficiency requirements for truckers

California, New Mexico and Washington could risk losing federal funding if they fail to enforce English Language Proficiency requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers, U.S. Transportation … more

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch / The Center Square | 8/26/25

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrest a fugitive in 2020.

Washington state spent more than $23M to hold illegal aliens with ICE detainers in 2024

A group of Washington state Republican senators, including 31st Legislative District Sen. Phil Fortunato of Auburn, are calling for the repeal of a state law that limits law enforcement's cooperation … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 8/26/25

Olympia among cities with ‘very high’ COVID viral activity levels

The start of school is around the corner for many Washington students — just as COVID-19 cases are surging across the state. Among the areas with “very high” viral activity: … more

Simone Carter / The Olympian (TNS) | 8/26/25

Digital equity groups say Commerce Department owes $3.6 million in reimbursements

Tears of frustration welled behind Sharonne Navas’ glasses, her shoulders slumped slightly forward. “Even up until this week, I was just like, ‘Well, no. It’s the … more

Simone Carter / The Olympian (TNS) | 8/26/25

The Washington state Capitol on March 13, 2025. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)

Debate flares over Washington state child welfare law after rise in deaths and injuries

Lawmakers in Washington are divided on whether to dial back a state law critics blame for a sudden spike in deaths and serious injuries among children enmeshed in the state’s child welfare … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 8/26/25

Missing woman’s remains found in storage locker a year after vanishing, Oregon cops say

A missing woman’s remains were discovered in a storage locker in Oregon over a year after she vanished in Washington, police said. Someone reported a “suspicious circumstance” … more

Helena Wegner / The News Tribune (TNS) | 8/26/25

String of homicides linked to members of prominent Tacoma gang

A string of homicides linked to a Tacoma gang prompted the large-scale takedown of a multi-state drug-trafficking ring last week. Sixteen people, some with ties to the Knoccout Crips street … more

Puneet Bsanti / The News Tribune (TNS) | 8/26/25

What does 'right to repair' mean for farming equipment repairs in Washington?

A tractor rests parked on the property of Bountiful Orchards Aug. 19 in Monitor. The state Legislature passed legislation this year to make it easier for individuals and independent businesses to … more

Matteah Davis / The Wenatchee World, Wash. (TNS) | 8/26/25