News | The Daily Chronicle

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, looks through documents during the legislative session at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Friday, April 25.

Braun bill addresses transportation issues in rural school districts

The Washington state House of Representatives passed a bill Monday, April 14, that provides flexibility to schools struggling to fund transportation for their students. The Senate approved … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 4/30/25

State Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, speaks on the state House floor in this photo provided by House Republicans.

Abbarno bill signed into law, simplifies process to serve eviction notices

The Washington state Senate passed a bill unanimously on Thursday, April 3, that updates language in Washington state's Unlawful Detainer Act, which was first signed into law in 1890. House Bill … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 4/30/25

Tumwater School District parents, educators continue to lobby in support of trans student rights

Parents and educators in the Tumwater School District are continuing to lobby the school board to support trans student athletes’ rights, and at least one board member has been persuaded. … more

By Ty Vinson / The Olympian | 4/30/25

The Washington State Capitol complex is seen in an aerial view in Olympia, Washington on January 9, 2025.

A breakdown of Washington’s new $78B two-year state budget

Washington state lawmakers on Sunday approved a $77.8 billion two-year budget to fund schools, state prisons, mental health services, homeless services and more. The final package includes new … more

Laurel Demkovich / Cascade PBS | 4/30/25

New Washington state energy chair’s industry ties raise ethics questions

Kurt Beckett’s second meeting as chair of Washington’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council went smoothly, once he figured out how to turn on his microphone. Beckett named various … more

Brandon Block / Cascade PBS | 4/30/25

Washington state joins lawsuit against Trump to stop AmeriCorps cuts

Washington joined 23 other states and Washington, D.C., on Tuesday in filing a lawsuit to try to prevent the Trump administration's dismantling of AmeriCorps, the agency that conducts community … more

David Gutman / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/30/25

Washington state adds public defender dollars but 'nowhere near' enough, counties say

Washington will more than double the money it sends to counties for public defenders in an attempt to reduce strain on the legal system, state lawmakers decided in the two-year budget they passed … more

Daniel Beekman / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/30/25

Convicted murderer accused of killing cellmate in Washington state prison

A 36-year-old Coyote Ridge inmate serving time for murder is accused of killing his cellmate early Tuesday. Investigators believe Christopher D. Yacono was high when he attacked Justus Cyr, 41, … more

Cameron Probert / The Olympian (TNS) | 4/30/25

A family from Washington was murdered in cold blood 26 years ago. The man convicted for the killings now faces execution

Former Deer Park resident Jeffrey Hutchinson, a Gulf War veteran, will be put to death Thursday by the state of Florida for the 1998 killings of his girlfriend and her three children. For the … more

Alexandra Duggan / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/30/25

Governor-elect Bob Ferguson sat down for an interview at Cafe Javasti in Maple Leaf to address questions about his political agenda, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in Seattle.

Increasing use of emergency clause in bills has some Washington lawmakers worried

With Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson signing bills into law, critics of the overuse of emergency clauses in bills are watching to see if the governor uses his veto power to remove any of those … more

Carleen Johnson | The Center Square | 4/30/25

Report: Washington state wealth tax would not cause 'mass exodus of millionaires'

A novel tax proposal out of Washington state could perform better than expected after a report published Monday disputed claims that higher rates would drive millionaires out of the area. … more

Tim Clouser | The Center Square | 4/30/25

U.S. Border Patrol agent dies in off-duty crash in Washington state

A 36-year-old U.S. Border Patrol agent died Friday night after driving off state Route 31 and crashing into a street sign while off duty just south of Metaline in Pend Oreille County, officials said. … more

Garrett Cabeza / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/30/25

Five takeaways from the final budget approved by the Washington state Legislature

If you haven't had time to read the entire 1,366-page $78 billion operating budget bill released in its finality on Saturday, you are not alone. The public, and even some state lawmakers, had … more

Shauna Sowersby / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/30/25

41-year-old Washington state man dies after striking moose on Highway 395 outside Chewelah

A 41-year-old Valley, Washington, man died after striking a moose on Monday night on U.S. Highway 395 near Chewelah, according to Washington State Patrol. Shortly after 9 p.m., Nathan R. … more

Garrett Cabeza / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/30/25

An Alaska airliner docks at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona.

Why Alaska Air wants Portland to be its Sea-Tac 'relief valve'

As Alaska Airlines embarks on its mission to become a trans-Pacific carrier, connecting the West Coast to Asia, its Seattle hub will be the center of connections. Neighboring Portland, then, … more

Lauren Rosenblatt / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/30/25

Washington state Legislature passes bevy of housing bills: ‘A good step forward’

From a cap on annual rent hikes to multiple supply bills, fixing Washington’s housing crisis was among lawmakers’ top concerns throughout the 2025 legislative session that ended Sunday. … more

Simone Carter / The Olympian (TNS) | 4/30/25

Woman who crashed her vehicle on Littlerock Road and died has been identified

A 52-year-old woman who died last week in a single-vehicle wreck on Littlerock Road has been identified, according to the Thurston County Coroner. About 4 p.m. Thursday, April 24, Thurston … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 4/30/25

CJ Ripley and the Defenders of the Coast show off their collected trash along state Route 109 on the way to Ocean Shores.

Defenders of the Coast collect 4.5 tons of trash in 4 months

Defenders of the Coast, a grassroots cleanup effort based in Ocean Shores, has removed more than 4.5 tons of trash from highways, streets, trails and beaches during the last four months according to … more

By Jerry Knaak / The Daily World | 4/30/25

Paul Dunlap, who works for Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, clips fins so the fish can’t be turned in twice for a reward.

Paid pikeminnow season starts Thursday in Southwest Washington

Anglers can get paid to fish for Northern pikeminnow starting Thursday at sites along the Columbia and Snake rivers, including the Kalama Marina, Ridgefield Marina and the boat ramp at the Port of … more

Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 4/30/25

The Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River is seen May 15, 2019, from the air near Colfax, Wash. The Columbia River Basin was once the greatest salmon-producing river system in the world. But salmon runs are threatened, and conservationists say the dams are a main culprit.

Feds put review of Columbia River hydropower system on ice

A move by federal water managers to pause a landmark environmental review of the Columbia River hydropower system has become a Rorschach test that leaves utilities, salmon advocates, commercial … more

Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 4/30/25