News | The Daily Chronicle

Thurston County deputy struck with motorcycle helmet during arrest, sheriff says

Thurston County deputies tackled and arrested a 60-year-old Lacey man accused of striking a deputy with a motorcycle helmet Monday. The incident occurred Monday evening in a neighborhood just … more

By Martín Bilbao / The Olympian | 5/28/25

Nicole Galyean performs as Milky White the cow during a dress rehearsal of “Into The Woods” at the Evergreen Playhouse in Centralia on Tuesday, May 27.

Evergreen Playhouse’s spring musical ‘Into the Woods’ opens Friday

The Evergreen Playhouse invites audiences to journey with them “Into the Woods” over the next three weekends as it presents the fan-favorite musical as the final show of its 65th season. … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 5/28/25

Salvation Army Captain Steven Pack uses a tractor to spread compost at the Harvesting Hope Farm at the Centralia Salvation Army on Wednesday, May 28.

Centralia Salvation Army prepares to plant crops, hopes to provide 20,000 pounds of fresh food for locals

Members of the Centralia Salvation Army are putting their Washington state Department of Agriculture grant-funded tractor and greenhouse to good use, as the ground is being prepared for planting … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 5/28/25

Morton Police Chief Cole Cournyer talks staffing issues during the Mossyrock City Council's regular meeting on Wednesday, May 21, at the Mossyrock Community Center.

Morton police chief introduces Mossyrock council to new officer as department staffing struggles continue

During the Mossyrock City Council’s regular monthly meeting on May 21, Morton Police Chief Cole Cournyer provided a law enforcement update and touched on a number of issues, the main one being … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 5/28/25

Recent Lewis County Business Academy award winners and instructors pose for a photo with the Lewis County commissioners during a Lewis County commissioners meeting in Chehalis on Tuesday, May 27.

County commissioners honor students for exceptional performance at the Lewis County Business Academy

The Lewis County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday took a moment to honor a group of students who participated in the Lewis County Business Academy in December. The students who were honored … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 5/28/25

Mount St. Helens is seen from the Elk Rock Viewpoint on Wednesday, May 28. Ash from the May 18, 1980 eruption can be seen blowing in the wind below the crater.

Repair work scheduled on Silver Star Road at Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Road repair work is scheduled to begin on Forest Road 4109, or Silver Star Road, at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and District, according to a news release from the U.S. Forest … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/28/25

New report shows signs of progress for Washington state salmon, but many are still on the brink of extinction

A new report released by the Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office shows that several populations of salmon in Washington state have improved, but most still face extinction. Of the 14 species … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/28/25

Chehalis Farmers Market to celebrate 20th anniversary as season opens

The Chehalis Farmers Market’s 20th season begins at 11 a.m. on June 3 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in downtown Chehalis. The ceremony will be followed by the opening bell, signaling the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/28/25

A police car is parked on Galvin Road above the Chehalis River where a man floated in a stolen kayak on Wednesday, June 12.

Centralia Police Department completes rigorous accreditation program

The Centralia Police Department has successfully completed a rigorous accreditation program that certifies it is operating under best practices and standards for law enforcement, the department … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/28/25

“New Land: Southeast Asian Refugees Finding Home in Washington” was written by John C. Hughes and Edward Echtle Jr.

New book honors 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugees arriving in Washington

Fifty years ago, Washington welcomed the first of thousands of Southeast Asian refugees fleeing war and conflict in their home countries. A new book captures 15 stories of first-generation … more

By Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / The Washington State Standard | 5/28/25

A damaged vehicle is seen in the aftermath of a June 2024 crash in Thurston County, in which the driver of another vehicle was suspected of speeding and driving under the influence.

Washington state traffic deaths down after record year

Coming off a 33-year high, deaths on Washington’s roads dropped nearly 10% last year, according to state data released Wednesday. The state saw 731 people die in vehicle crashes in 2024, … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 5/28/25

One of Washington state’s strictest homeless camping bans can stand, court says

The King County Superior Court ruled this month that Burien’s homeless camping ban does not violate the state constitution, a blow to advocates who hoped Washington’s courts could restore … more

By Greg Kim / The Seattle Times | 5/28/25

From the left, Mossyrock City Councilor Juliana Simon, Mayor Randall Sasser, City Treasurer Jessica Bragg and Councilor Teresa Quinlan listen as Mossyrock Area Historical Society member Thomas Meade details a time capsule project during the council's regular meeting on Wednesday, May 21, inside the Mossyrock Community Center.

Roundup: Candidate to fill Mossyrock council vacancy introduced; council votes to donate money to local historical society for time capsule

During the Mossyrock City Council meeting held on Wednesday, May 21, a number of items were discussed, several motions were passed and the sole candidate who applied to fill a vacant council position … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 5/28/25

A plane crashed at Ocean Shores Municipal Airport on Saturday, June 8, 2024. The cause of the crash has been released nearly a year later.

NTSB announces cause of Grays Harbor County plane crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its findings after a 10-month investigation into a plane crash that seriously injured two people, a male and a female, in Ocean Shores … more

By Jerry Knaak / The Daily World | 5/28/25

A meadow of wildflowers in bloom along with native vegetation post-restoration.

WDFW, prisoners release butterflies in South Sound prairies

Last week, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) worked with staff from the Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) to release more than 300 Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies on … more

By The Daily World | 5/28/25

The south side of Mount Rainier from the lookout cabin near Ashford in early 2025. The closed bridge is on the northern side of the mountain.

Key bridge to Mount Rainier 'starting to buckle,' closes indefinitely

The Carbon River Bridge has “permanently closed” to all traffic, cutting off Highway 165 to the northwest of Mount Rainier National Park, according to the Washington State Department of … more

Trevor Lenzmeier / The Seattle Times | 5/28/25

Washington Democrats: GOP Medicaid cuts would gut $2B, threaten coverage for 274K

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said Tuesday that 274,000 Washington state residents could lose healthcare coverage if Republicans approve federal cuts to Medicaid. Congressional … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 5/28/25

Christians gather to demand Seattle mayor apologize for blaming them for clash at Cal Anderson Park on May 27, 2025.

Christian gathering outside Seattle City Hall brings trans rights protesters

More than 500 Christians gathered outside Seattle City Hall Tuesday evening to protest what they say are the anti-faith policies of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and the Seattle City Council, just days … more

By Carleen Johnson and Dan McCaleb / The Center Square | 5/28/25

Water flows out of the Bonneville Dam along the Columbia River, between Multnomah County, Oregon and Skamania County, Washington, on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. Photo by Jordan Gale.The Bonneville Dam system was the first hydroelectric infrastructure built on the Columbia River and is the last dam system downriver before the Columbia’s water meets with the Pacific Ocean. At the time of its construction in 1938, it was the largest water impoundment project of its type in the nation. The Columbia River now exists as one of the most developed river systems in the world. From the headwaters of the river to the mouth, there are more than 60 operating hydroelectric dams that dot the water’s mainstem..

After reaching historic lows, hydropower generation in the Northwest expected to rise in 2025

After dropping to historic levels last year due to ongoing drought and high temperatures, hydropower generated in the Northwest is expected to rise slightly this year from much needed precipitation. … more

Alex Baumhardt / Washington State Standard | 5/28/25

Olympia, Lacey councils now gather for dinner before public meetings. Does that violate law?

Olympia City Council gathered May 20 for its usual regular council meeting. But before they came together in that forum, the council met for dinner at a separate location inside City Hall for a … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 5/28/25