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Members of the Washington Public Employees Association will go without a wage hike for a year. They turned down a contract last fall. They eventually ratified a new deal in March, lawmakers chose not to fund it in the budget. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

Thousands of Washington state workers lose out on wage hikes

Nearly 5,300 state government and community college employees in Washington won’t be getting a 3% pay raise in July when most other state workers will. That’s because those members … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 4/30/25

QTS Data Centers in Hillsboro on Oct. 11, 2024. Data centers are driving near-term energy demand in the region, according to a new regional power forecast from the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. (Photo by Rian Dundon/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Electricity demand in Northwest could double in next 20 years, forecast finds

Demand for electricity in the Northwest could double by 2046, according to a new energy forecast from regional experts. Over the next two decades, demand could increase by between 1.8% and 3.1% … more

By Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 4/29/25

Morton adjusts as city’s insurance denies full claim for $937,548 allegedly embezzled by former clerk

Among the many business items on the Morton City Council’s agenda for its monthly meeting on Monday, April 28, were several items brought about as continued fallout from the nearly … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/29/25

FILE PHOTO — The top 25 2024 Centralia High School students pictured at the Rob Fuller Luncheon at Jester Auto Museum in Chehalis on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

Top 25 Centralia and W.F. West students to be honored at Rob Fuller Scholarship Luncheon

The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce has announced the top 25 students from Centralia High School and W.F. West High School for the class of 2025. The students will be honored at the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/29/25

Advocates who urged the Oregon Legislature to increase child care funding in January 2024 hung onesies and other children’s clothes on a tent outside the Capitol in Salem. They planned to donate the clothes after Thursday’s demonstration. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Thousands of Oregon, Washington children at risk if Head Start ends, lawsuit alleges

More than 25,000 children in Oregon and Washington will lose the child care and early education their families rely on if the Trump administration continues its attempts to dismantle Head Start, say … more

By Julia Shumway / The Oregon Capital Chronicle | 4/29/25

Trevor R. Horner, 19, of Pe Ell, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Tuesday, April 22.

Pe Ell man jailed for fleeing from police with baby, teenagers and gun in vehicle now charged for January chase

The Pe Ell man arrested Friday, April 18, for allegedly driving recklessly and fleeing from police in Lewis County while drunk with a baby, two teenagers and a handgun in the vehicle has been charged … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/29/25

Woman who died after being shot in Capitol Forest identified as Olympia woman

A 62-year-old woman who was shot in Capitol Forest last week and died before she could be airlifted to an area hospital has been identified by the Thurston County coroner. About 6:30 p.m. … more

By Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 4/29/25

State lawmakers launch group to spur ‘guaranteed income’ cash to residents

To California Democratic state Sen. David Cortese, the idea of gaining Republican support for a bill to provide cash to certain residents would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. But … more

Kevin Hardy / Washington State Standard | 4/29/25

A female spotted owl sits perched on a branch of a tree among old growth near Mount Rainier forest land in Washington state on June 27, 2008. Rat poison from marijuana farms is harming the threatened birds. (Chris Joseph Taylor/Seattle Times/TNS)

Proposed change could reshape Endangered Species Act. Here’s how it affects Washington state

A big change could be coming to U.S. wildlife conservation policy. In mid-April, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to … more

Daniel Schrager / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/29/25

Legislative leaders reflect on 'challenging' 2025 session in Washington state as it comes to a close

After Republicans and Democrats spent three and a half months hashing out policy differences in the state capital, debates that have frequently lasted into the early hours of the morning, it was … more

Mitchell Roland / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/29/25

Located at 111 S. Ash street just south of the Centralia College campus, the CHI apartments are pictured on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Washington state college officials want this financial aid trend to grow

The number of students filling out the federal student financial aid form in Washington is rebounding. As of March, 38 percent of high school seniors have filed the Free Application for Federal … more

Dahlia Bazzaz / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/29/25

Deputies defy Washington state sheriff’s order to take guns from jail. He calls it ‘mutiny’

Franklin County sheriff’s office commanders and deputies want their boss to stop telling them to violate court orders. He’s responded by calling it a “mutiny.” The unions … more

Cameron Probert / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 4/29/25

Stronger labor protections for Washington state youth now law

Washington’s youngest workers are getting stronger labor protections under a bill that Gov. Bob Ferguson signed into law Monday afternoon. Ferguson signed House Bill 1644 at a news … more

Simone Carter / The Bellingham Herald (TNS) | 4/29/25

The 2B Girls State Championship game at the Spokane Arena on Saturday, March 8.

Tumwater 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

Ty Vinson / The Olympian (TNS) | 4/29/25

Washington state lawmakers vote to hit litterbugs in their wallets

People caught littering in Washington can expect to pay fines that may be more than double the current amount starting this summer. A bill that Rep. Mark Klicker introduced in the the Washington … more

Tri-City Herald staff / The Olympian (TNS) | 4/29/25

Washington state becomes twelfth state to restrict circus animal use

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has signed a bill making Washington the twelfth state in the country to restrict the use of animals in traveling circuses, exhibits and other shows. Washington … more

Karlee Van De Venter / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/29/25

Lawmakers from 18th, 20th districts to hold joint town hall in Battle Ground

The community is invited to attend a joint town hall, hosted by legislators from Washington’s 18th and 20th districts, from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 3, at Battle Ground City Hall, … more

The Reflector | 4/29/25

A general view of the Seattle Space Needle and downtown skyline with Mount Rainier in the background in Seattle.

Trump orders list of ‘sanctuary cities’ to target for funding freeze

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday evening signed executive orders targeting so-called sanctuary cities by threatening to revoke federal funding and providing legal services and … more

By Ariana Figueroa / States Newsroom | 4/28/25

The Washington state Capitol is pictured in Olympia on Friday, April 25.

Five tax bills lawmakers passed to underpin Washington state’s next state budget

A small pile of significant tax bills is getting delivered to Gov. Bob Ferguson. Collectively, they form the financial linchpin to the state’s next budget and would generate … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 4/28/25

Four suspects accused of running Coinstar scam at Centralia WinCo face felony charges

Four people are facing felony forgery charges for allegedly attempting to steal $388 from the WinCo Foods in Centralia by attempting to cash forged coin machine receipts on Saturday. The … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/28/25