News | The Daily Chronicle

Three bills for rural communities pass Washington state legislature, signed by governor

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed 35 bills into law Monday, including three pieces of legislation sponsored by Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake. Dent's bills include topics such as large animal veterinarian care, … more

Nance Beston / Columbia Basin Herald (TNS) | 4/24/25

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

WIAA votes against trans athlete policy changes

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association completed a vote on several different amendments, including two regarding transgender athletes. Both proposed amendments for trans athletes … more

Nance Beston / Columbia Basin Herald (TNS) | 4/24/25

Changes made to Washington state tax plan: What's still in play as end of session nears

With just days left to go in the 2025 legislative session, Washington lawmakers are still mulling over new tax proposals to balance a multibillion-dollar hole in the state's budget while details of … more

Shauna Sowersby / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/24/25

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

Alaska Air lost $166M in three months. What does that mean for expansion?

Alaska Airlines lost $166 million in the first quarter of 2025 but is confident it will weather the impact of tariffs and economic uncertainty as it looks to launch new trans-Pacific nonstop routes … more

Paige Cornwell and Lauren Rosenblatt / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/24/25

FBI seeking information on increased incidents of lasers affecting planes in Washington state

The FBI is seeking information on lasers tracking planes landing at Spokane and Seattle airports, the agency said in a news release Wednesday. Both Seattle and Spokane have seen a "dramatic … more

Alexandra Duggan / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/24/25

The sun shines over a recreation area outside of the new youth detention center during a tour of Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Washington state lawmakers fail to address overcrowding at youth detention centers

Juvenile rehabilitation leaders were banking on changes to state law to relieve an overcrowded and chaotic system that's left youth and staff to fend for themselves. As the legislative session … more

Lauren Girgis / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/24/25

Facing Sunday deadline, lawmakers continue work to adopt Washington state budget

Like watching the winter snow slowly melt off of the peaks of Mt. Rainier in the spring sun, legislators continue their work to adopt a budget, even if the progress is hard to discern with the naked … more

Mitchell Roland / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/24/25

New Washington state law prohibits medical debt reporting on credit scores

Credit scores will soon no longer be affected by medical debt in Washington state under a new bill signed into law Tuesday. Senate Bill 5480, sponsored by Sen. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, … more

Shauna Sowersby / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/24/25

Washington state international students file class action over Trump revocations

Nine more current and former international students filed a class-action lawsuit Wednesday against the Trump administration for revoking their lawful status in the U.S. The lawsuit, filed in … more

Lauren Girgis / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/24/25

Will Washington state lawmakers need a special session? And how much would that cost?

Inside the Washington state Capitol in Olympia, speculation about a potential special session is starting to swell. Sine Die, when the legislature adjourns its 2025 regular 105-day session, is … more

Simone Carter / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/24/25

Fire captain from Washington state rescues toddler swept out to sea off Mexico beach

A fire captain from Washington was vacationing in Mexico when he spotted a family struggling in the ocean, fire officials said. Captain Kevin Smith then leapt into action to help them, the City … more

Helena Wegner / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/24/25

Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, speaks on the House floor in an undated photo. He was among the Republicans who walked out of a House Appropriations Committee meeting this week in protest of a bill that would close a facility in Pierce County for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (Photo courtesy of Legislative Support Services)

Republicans walk out after Washington state House committee votes to close center for people with disabilities

Republican lawmakers walked out of a committee meeting in the Washington Legislature on Wednesday to protest approval of a bill that would close a residential center for people with intellectual and … more

By Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / The Washington State Standard | 4/23/25

Robert Brian Raley, 42, of Centralia, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Wednesday, April 23.

Bail set at $250,000 for Centralia man accused of sexually assaulting young boy

Bail is set at $250,000 for a Centralia man accused of sexually assaulting a boy under the age of 12 for several years. Robert Brian Raley, 42, was arrested and booked into the Lewis … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/23/25

Woman charged for allegedly practicing law in Lewis County from 2021 to 2024 despite being disbarred in 1992

An Oregon woman is facing felony charges in Lewis County Superior Court for allegedly working as an attorney for a woman in Lewis County— taking over $5,000 from her in payment — without … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/23/25

FILE PHOTO — Boxes of ballots sit on shelves as votes are manually recounted in a secured room at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis on Monday, Aug. 26.

Updated tallies have Winlock levy failing by 2 votes; Mossyrock measure trailing by 12 votes

Lewis County special election ballots tallied between the initial election night count and Wednesday’s updated tally have resulted in razor-thin margins for two local school levies. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/23/25

Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, left, and Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia.

School funding bill generates sharp exchange between OSPI's Chris Reykdal and Sen. John Braun

Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, verbally sparred over Engrossed House Substitute Bill 2049 at a Wednesday afternoon … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 4/23/25

Cherry blossoms in bloom at the Washington state Capitol on April 18, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

Democrats in Washington state Legislature wrap up budget negotiations

Democratic budget writers are done hashing out details on a new two-year operating budget for Washington state, key lawmakers said Wednesday. “We have made all the decisions, but … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 4/23/25

Permit-to-purchase bill for gun buyers headed to Washington state governor’s desk

A new state permit requirement for gun buyers is poised to become law, as the Washington House sent the legislation to the governor’s desk late Tuesday. House Bill 1163 would require gun … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 4/23/25

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield (right) and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (left) at a town hall they hosted in Portland April 10, 2025. Nearly 200 people came to discuss concerns about President Trump’s executive orders and cuts to federal agencies. The two states attorneys general are among 23 Democratic attorneys general nationwide who have sued the federal government more than a dozen times in the first three months of Trump’s second term. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Oregon attorney general leads suit against Trump, administration to block tariffs

Oregon is leading 11 other states in suing President Donald Trump and officials in his administration over tariffs that have touched nearly all goods imported into the U.S. The suit, State of … more

By Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 4/23/25

Sirens: Stolen items found in stolen vehicle; pair arrested for arrested for unlawful transit conduct on train; juvenile arrested for assaulting another juvenile

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Malicious mischief • Damage to a vehicle was reported in the 300 block of South Gold Street at approximately 12:35 p.m. on April 21. … more

4/23/25