News | The Daily Chronicle

WIAA will not change policy on transgender student athletes

Transgender female athletes will continue to play on girls teams in Washington school sports despite some school boards' efforts to switch them to boys teams or create a league of their own. The … more

Elena Perry / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/8/25

Washington state Senate unanimously passes $7.3B capital budget

In a show of bipartisanship in Olympia, the Washington Senate has unanimously passed a $7.3 billion capital budget for 2025-27 that focuses on projects across the state. The House of … more

Brett Davis / The Center Square | 4/8/25

Washington state bill to cap rent increases passes out of Senate Ways & Means Committee

Controversial legislation to cap rental increases cleared another hurdle Monday in the Washington State Legislature, moving out of executive session in the Senate Ways & Means Committee with a … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 4/8/25

Dementia care facilities would have to meet new state standards under Washington state bill

Washington lawmakers are looking at requiring assisted living facilities to be certified to take care of people with dementia. Senate Bill 5337 , sponsored by Sen. Tina Orwall, D-Des … more

By Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / The Washington State Standard | 4/8/25

Crews work on the Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River in 2019. (Oregon Department of Transportation)

Inflation worries drive Washington state lawmakers to jack up I-5 bridge borrowing plan by $900M

Washington state lawmakers on Monday backed a huge increase in the amount of toll revenues they’ll count on to help pay for construction of a replacement bridge on Interstate 5 across the … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 4/8/25

Jess Clevenger picks up a razor clam he dug up at Grayland Beach on Friday, March 8, 2024.

WDFW approves seven more days of coastal razor clam digs starting April 12

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers have confirmed seven days of razor clam digs on coastal beaches beginning Saturday, April 12. “We’ve had a great … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/8/25

This large bull elk, pictured in Packwood in 2023, has shed his velvet and is nearing the rut, when bulls become more aggressive as they search for “cows,” female all, to mate with.

Proposed fee hike may push hunting, fishing out of reach for some Washington state families

With less than three weeks left to fill a $16 billion shortfall, House Democrats advanced a bill on Saturday to increase the price of hunting and fishing licenses for the first time in over a decade. … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 4/7/25

A gray wolf. (Gary Kramer/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Washington state’s wolf count declines for first time in 16 years

Washington’s wolf population is down for the first time since resident packs were confirmed to be returning to the state about 16 years ago, new figures show. The state and tribes counted … more

By Bill Lucia / The Washington State Standard | 4/7/25

Gov. Bob Ferguson signs a bill on Friday, April 4, 2025. On Monday, he signed more legislation into law, including a bill to prohibit the sale of sodium nitrite. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

Washington state restricts lethal chemical previously sold on Amazon

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. When a package from Amazon arrived at her Clark County home in November 2020, … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 4/7/25

Shoppers enter the newly built store for the first time during opening day of the Centralia WinCo Foods on Monday, April 7.

Hundreds show up as WinCo Foods opens new location in Centralia

Shoppers in Lewis County and the surrounding area now have a new grocery option as the WinCo Foods in the new Centralia Station shopping center officially opened for business on the morning of … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/7/25

Christopher Reese holds his nephew Killian while they look at the Moose Creek Logging Company's On30-scale modular diorama alongside his Reese' nieces Kyleigh, center, and Tatum, left, during the Lewis County Model Railroad Club's annual spring train show and swap meet at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Saturday, Apr. 5.

In focus: Model train lovers descend on Southwest Washington Fairgrounds for show and swap meet

Hundreds of model train enthusiasts young and old descended upon the Blue Pavilion at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds over the weekend for the Lewis County Model Railroad Club’s annual … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/7/25

From left, state Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and state Reps. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, and Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama.

20th District lawmakers demand immediate mitigation for game farm contamination in letter to WDFW director

State Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and Reps. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, and Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, called for the immediate relocation of pheasants off the Bob Oke Game Farm in Centralia to help … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/7/25

Signs are held in the air by protesters at the Washington state Capitol Campus on Saturday, April 5. Security staff estimated that a crowd of about 5,000 people were in attendance at the protest, which was aimed at recent moves by the Trump Administration. The protest was part of the nationwide “Hands Off!” protests on Saturday.

In focus: Thousands fill Capitol Campus to rally against Trump

Thousands of people streamed onto the Capitol Campus in Olympia on Saturday afternoon to protest a plethora of actions President Donald Trump and special government employee Elon Musk have taken … more

By The Olympian staff | 4/7/25

Sirens: Narcotics located after woman passes out in vehicle; counterfeit $100 bills reported; arrest made after officers kicked; children left alone in vehicle

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Drug violations • A 43-year-old Centralia resident was cited for possession of a controlled substance in the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue just before 7:35 … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/7/25

Spencer Schwiesow, left, and Jesse Berry are pictured in this photo provided by the Riverside Fire Authority.

Riverside Fire Authority promotes a new captain and lieutenant

The Riverside Fire Authority announced Friday that two of its members recently received promotions. Jesse Berry, a lieutenant since 2016, was recently promoted to captain; and Spencer Schwiesow … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/7/25

A medical unit from the Riverside Fire Authority helps to treat a homeless man with a knee injury during a Destination Hope and Recovery and Centralia Police Department outreach event at George Washington Park in Centralia on Friday, April 4.

Recovery Navigator: Tried and true local resource faces an uncertain future with budget cuts looming

The Washington state Legislature is struggling to balance its checkbook, and with at least $6 billion in cuts ahead, funding for many state programs is on the chopping block. One such program is … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 4/7/25

Jaina Crews, 8, explains elements of her art piece to an attendee at the opening gala for the Rectangle Gallery's 2025 Young Artists Exhibition in Centralia on Friday, April 4.

Rectangle Gallery’s ninth annual Young Artists Exhibition opens in downtown Centralia

Twenty-six young artists showcased their talent to their community on Friday as the Rectangle Gallery and Creative Space in downtown Centralia opened its ninth annual Young Artists Exhibition. … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/7/25

United Way of Lewis County Executive Director Annie Oien leads a tour of the United Learning Center’s construction with Centralia city officials on Friday, April 4.

Centralia council to consider $1.5 million for United Learning Center

With construction currently halted on the United Learning Center (ULC), the City of Centralia is considering providing funding to get work back underway. At its Tuesday, April 8, meeting, the … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/7/25

Kain Sills reacts to being asked to use the golden scissors while his mother, Mad Hatter Play Cafe owner Lisa Sills, puts a hand over her heart outside of the Mad Hatter Play Cafe on South Tower Avenue in Centralia during a Centralia Chehalis Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, April 7.

Mad Hatter Play Cafe moves to downtown Centralia, collaborates with Dandelion Creative Space studio

The Mad Hatter Play Cafe — where parents can enjoy a cup of coffee as their children play — now has a new home in downtown Centralia. It’s a home that is shared with the … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/7/25

The Lewis County Fire District 9 fire engine leads Mineral's Labor Day parade on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, on Front Street.

Mineral fire department receives donated LIFEPAK monitor from Eastern Washington

Lewis County Fire District 9, also known as Mineral Fire and Rescue, received a new LIFEPAK 12 cardiac monitor and defibrillator for its aid truck via a donation by the Pend Oreille County Fire … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/7/25