News | The Daily Chronicle

From the left, Washington Orthopaedic Center surgeons Lucas Harvey, Keith Birchard, Chad Bender and Joseph Brown pose for a photo during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated office in Centralia on Wednesday, April 23. The office experienced flooding in January requiring the entire first floor to be rebuilt.

In focus: Washington Orthopaedic Center celebrates renovated office in Centralia

4/25/25

Elijah S. Molina, 21, of Chehalis, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

Second Fort Borst Park robbery suspect sentenced to eight years in prison

The second suspect convicted for his involvement in kidnapping and robbing a juvenile at gunpoint in December was sentenced Wednesday to eight years and five months in prison. Elijah S. Molina, … more

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

A sign warns drivers of future closures on the Interstate 5 Exit 77 southbound on-ramp in Chehalis on Friday, April 25.

Nighttime on-ramp closures set for I-5 in Chehalis and Centralia May 1

Travelers who use on-ramps to Interstate 5 in Lewis County should plan for overnight closures and delays on Thursday, May 1. Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) contractor … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/25/25

Centralia council to hold special meeting Monday morning

The Centralia City Council will hold a special meeting to discuss goal setting on Monday, April 28, at 8 a.m. in council chambers located at Centralia City Hall, 118 W. Maple St. This meeting is … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/25/25

A roundabout decorated with items of significance for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation is illuminated along Anderson Road near Oakville on Friday, July 7, 2023.

Commerce awards Clean Energy Community Grants for solar projects in Thurston, Grays Harbor counties

The Washington state Department of Commerce announced 38 grants totaling $36.6 million to support the planning, design and implementation of clean energy projects across the state. These projects, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/25/25

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Director Jennifer Freheit and Senior Program Manager Thomas Webster detail the expected funding for the Rights of Way Initiative during a Wednesday, April 23 Board of County Commissioners check-in meeting.

Thurston County anticipating $5.5 million in state funding for Rights of Way Initiative

Three months after the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners found that critical funding for its Rights of Way (ROW) Initiative appeared to be excluded from Gov. Bob Ferguson’s budget, … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 4/25/25

Live video is recorded as election results appear on screens in August 2022 at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis.

Lewis County announces candidate filing week for local elections in the fall

Candidate filing week will take place May 5 through May 9 for the upcoming primary elections on Aug. 5, according to a news release from the Lewis County Auditor’s Office. During that … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/25/25

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs (center) and volunteers for the Well Fed, Well Read donation center pose for a photo.

Food, books for children donations increase for Well Fed, Well Read campaign

Washington state employees increased their donation levels of non-perishable food, books and money during the Washington state Combined Fund Drive’s (CFD) 2025 Well Fed, Well Read campaign. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/25/25

Thurston County Public Works Director Karen Weiss, right, and Solid Waste Manager Jeff Bickford, left, present a brief overview of the Waste and Recovery Center reconfiguration project at a Board of County Commissioners agenda-setting meeting on Tuesday, April 22.

Major upgrades coming to Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center in Lacey

The Thurston County Public Works Department is preparing to send a request for qualifications (RFQ) for services for its upcoming Waste and Recovery Center (WARC) reconfiguration design-build … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 4/25/25

This bridge, located near Crystal Springs Road Northwest in Yelm, has a weight capacity rating that is too low for local fire engines and other heavy service vehicles to cross over.

Centralia City Council votes to improve five Yelm bridges along Centralia Canal

The City of Centralia will repair five bridges it maintains across the Centralia Canal in Yelm through the Yelm Hydroproject thanks to a unanimous vote by the city council Tuesday night. Yelm … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 4/25/25

"When Mossyrock Dam is completed in 1967, the ramified channels of the Cowlitz River east of the construction site will slowly rise, converging until the whole valley is covered. In the far foreground is what was Riffe, the community whose residents have moved away because of the Dam. The White Pass Highway, which now travels to the right of the river, will be rerouted through Morton. Work on the road is continuing as the dam is being built." — originally published The Daily Chronicle on Dec. 10, 1966

A Look Back in Time: Tacoma moves to purchase Mayfield Dam land; Construction begins on Mossyrock Dam; NASA engineer from Pe Ell arrives in Soviet Union

In this installment of a Look Back in Time, U.S. Army soldiers were due to arrive and camp out overnight at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds during their annual 150-mile trek from Vancouver up to … more

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

Former Cowlitz Tribal Public Safety Interim Chief Charles Gardiner

Cowlitz Tribe’s interim police chief dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound near scene of burglary

Cowlitz Indian Tribal Public Safety Department’s interim chief, Charles Gardiner, was found dead in a vehicle after he allegedly fled a northeast Vancouver residence where a burglary was … more

Cade Barker / cade@thereflector.com | 4/25/25

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

Debate continues after Washington state amendments dealing with transgender athletes fail

A few days after the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association decided not to approve two advisory-only amendments to ban transgender student-athletes from competing against girls, Washington … more

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

The main entrance sign to Lewis and Clark State Park is pictured on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Washington state Legislature approves hiking Discover Pass price to $45

The price for a Washington state Discover Pass would rise by $15 later this year, under a bill headed for Gov. Bob Ferguson’s desk. Senate Bill 5390 would raise the price of the … more

Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / Washington State Standard | 4/25/25

Parental rights overhaul gains final approval in Washington state Legislature

Lawmakers in the Washington state House advanced a bill addressing student and parental rights on Thursday, clearing the way for it to reach the governor’s desk. Debate around the … more

Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / Washington State Standard | 4/25/25

Lawmakers poised to make lottery winners anonymous in Oregon. They’re gambling the decision won’t backfire

The Oregon Senate is set to take a final vote as soon as Monday on a bill that would allow all winners of Oregon Lottery games to remain anonymous, eliminating what was once considered a key … more

Ted Sickinger / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 4/25/25

Tacoma man charged with damaging energy facilities across Washington state

A former Tacoma resident accused last year of damaging electricity substations in the Portland area was indicted this month for conspiring to destroy energy facilities in Washington as part of a … more

Peter Talbot / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/25/25

Second California man sentenced for smuggling people across border into Washington state

A Santa Rosa, California resident was sentenced to five months in prison Wednesday for his role in illegally smuggling noncitizens across the northern border, according to the U.S. Attorney’s … more

Hannah Edelman / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/25/25

Lenticular “cap” clouds appear above Mt. Rainier at sunset on Easter Sunday March 31, photographed from Crego Hill Rd. in Adna.

How is this permanent bridge closure going to affect Mount Rainier visitors?

Officials are still grappling with the complications that come from closing the Carbon River Fairfax Bridge – a 103-year-old bridge that was the only way to access key areas of Mount Rainier … more

Isabela Lund / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/25/25

Expect backups on I-5 near Nisqually Saturday, Sunday mornings. Here’s why

Travelers crossing into Thurston County on Interstate 5 from the north should expect traffic delays Saturday and Sunday mornings, April 26-27. Work crews will close one lane of southbound I-5 … more

Martín Bilbao / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/25/25