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Lower Columbia Estuary project Executive Director Elaine Placido, left, Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, middle left, Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) Communications Coordinator Austin Bernales, middle right, and BEF Watersheds Senior Program Director Kas Guillozet, right, pose outside of Abbarno's Centralia law firm along West Magnolia Street in downtown Centralia on Tuesday morning.

Abbarno named Friend of Floodplains for legislative work funding

Washington state Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, received the Friend of the Floodplains Award from the Floodplains by Design program this week. The award, presented by Bonneville Environmental … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/12/26

Chanelle Arnold, her daughter, Summer, descendants of Kenneth Arnold, and former Lewis County Historical Museum Director Jason Mattson continue to throw mini frisbees out to the crowd in front of the museum to celebrate the Chehalis Flying Saucer Party. These saucers, unlike the ones Arnold saw in skies above Mt. Rainier on June 24, 1947, were identifiable.

‘Party on!’: Chehalis Flying Saucer Party to commemorate Kenneth Arnold’s historic 1947 sighting once again

After an initial announcement in June that the annual Chehalis Flying Saucer Party was cancelled, a small group led by Lewis County Historical Museum Interim Executive Director Doug DeVany announced … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/12/26

Winlock City Councilor Chuck Camps, on the left alongside Councilor Jess Bowers, breaks down his proposal to start future meetings with a voluntary invocation during the Winlock City Council meeting inside Winlock City Hall on Monday, Aug. 10.

Winlock city councilor proposes invocations before meetings

Members of the Winlock City Council convened on Monday, Aug. 10, for their first regular meeting of the month to discuss a number of different agenda items. Among these items included a proposal … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/12/26

Firefighters continue work on Backbone Fire in East Lewis County

Firefighting crews on Tuesday continued suppression efforts at the site of the Backbone Fire in East Lewis County, according to a joint statement from the Washington state Department of Natural … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/12/26

Chehalis City Council approves purchase of new fire vehicles after annexation

Chehalis is poised to acquire three service vehicles for its fire department in order to serve an expanded city limits after its recent annexation. The Chehalis City Council approved a request … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 8/12/26

Lacey City Councilmember Nic Dunning announces his resignation during a Lacey City Council work session on Aug. 11.

Lacey City Council member resigns to focus on Thurston County Commissioner election bid

The Tuesday, Aug. 18 Lacey City Council meeting will be first-term City Councilmember Nicolas “Nic” Dunning’s last. Dunning, fresh off a primary win in his bid for the Thurston … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com | 8/12/26

A firefighter responds to the Old Trails Fire in Spokane on August 1.

EPA to begin hazardous material cleanup next week for fire-damaged homes

The Spokane Regional Health District announced Tuesday that household hazardous material cleanup operations have begun under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency for fire-damaged … more

Julia Pentasuglio / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 8/12/26

Answers in city’s response to Bite of Seattle shooting promised later this year

Answers about the lengthy delay in informing the public during the police response to the Bite of Seattle shooting scene were elusive Tuesday, with promises of a full review into the communication … more

Sara Jean Green / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/12/26

Seattle City Council bans ‘junk’ rental fees

The Seattle City Council voted to ban most types of rental fees on Tuesday — a move welcomed by tenants' advocates, who argue that tacked-on charges make housing more expensive and obscure its true … more

Jessica Fu / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/12/26

Orca sighting at Ballard Locks is great news for salmon

Several shiny black fins emerged from the water near the Ballard Locks just after 5 p.m. Monday, as onlookers snapped photos and videos. They belonged to transient orcas, or Bigg’s killer whales, … more

Ann Duan / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/12/26

An InvestigateWest review of law enforcement employment records illuminates limits to Washington’s landmark police certification law.

A 2021 law expanded Washington’s power to decertify police officers. Records show cops still avoid consequences

In 2021, Washington lawmakers expanded the state's power to strip cops of their certification. In an effort to keep officers fired for certain types of misconduct out of law enforcement, they passed … more

By Melanie Henshaw/InvestigateWest | 8/12/26

How the pandemic permanently scrambled Seattle’s commuter map

In Seattle, as in most big cities, the population swells on weekdays as commuters flood into town for work — a key part of what's called the daytime population. But recent census data shows that in … more

Gene Balk / FYI Guy / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/12/26

Tick Licker Firearms is a gun shop in Salem, Oregon’s capital city. A new study shines light on an increase in gun purchases related to the passage of gun control measures in the state.

Measure 114’s passage spurred Oregonians to purchase thousands of guns, new study finds

Oregon voters’ narrow passage of some of the nation’s strictest gun control restrictions in 2022 prompted thousands of new gun purchases in the state despite the restrictions never going into … more

Shaanth Nanguneri / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 8/12/26

Arctic sea is seen in 2018 by Demarcation Bay off the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastline. The Arctic Report Card, which has been issued annually by the Naitonal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration since 2006, describes the rapidly changing features of the Arctic, including sea ice, glaciers, permafrost and boreal forests.

Trump administration ends NOAA support for annual Arctic Report Card

The Trump administration has pulled federal support from the Arctic Report Card, an annual, peer-reviewed report that has been published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration since … more

Yereth Rosen / Alaska Beacon | 8/12/26

Yellowstone National Park sign at the North Entrance; Jim Peaco; October 1992

Yellowstone National Park visitation ticks down slightly, on pace for third busiest year

Yellowstone National Park is on pace for its third busiest season on record, falling just off record pace during July. Park officials released the latest monthly and year-to-date statistics … more

Micah Drew / States Newsroom | 8/12/26

Roaming domestic goats are a multi-year source of friction in a Pacific County neighborhood. (Ladislav Luppa/Wikimedia Commons)

A feud to bleat about: Goats lead to barricade incident in Pacific County

PACIFIC COUNTY — After nearly four years of ongoing issues with “roaming goats” on Nelson Road in Raymond, the situation came to a head. It was not because a man snapped several months ago over … more

By The Chinook Observer | 8/12/26

A second grader at Brooklyn Primary School in Baker City raises his hand during a phonics lesson.

Oregon education funding committee recommends increasing school spending by $2.5B to $5B

Oregon’s schools will need nearly $2.5 billion more to maintain the status quo of service for the 2027-29 school years, and nearly $5 billion more to help students meet new accountability and … more

Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 8/12/26

At left, Mary Johnson carries her daughter, Malea, as they dance with Leanne Dague during the Chinook Indian Nation's First Salmon Ceremony at Tansy Point earlier this year. (Amiran White/Observer file photo)

Chinook Indian Nation carries history forward at Tansy Point

On the land along Tansy Creek, an old Sitka spruce stands as a witness. The tree was already growing when Chinook leaders gathered at Tansy Point 175 years ago to negotiate treaties with the United … more

By Aislin Tweedy / The Chinook Observer | 8/12/26

Baltija Scherl cuts an albacore tuna last week at Tre-Fin Seafood Market in Ilwaco. Commercial tuna landings and participation are down dramatically this season in Washington.

Coastal tuna fishery flounders under high fuel prices

The 2026 commercial albacore tuna season is off to a limping start, beleaguered by high fuel prices, sporadic fishing and fewer fishermen. “Our expenses have gone up over 30% overall,” said … more

By Luke Whittaker / The Chinook Observer | 8/12/26

Reed supporters begin staging the convoy at the Quigg’s shop in Aberdeen.

Community convoy honors Grays Harbor County man

What began as a truck convoy from Aberdeen to Elma to honor Jason Reed , who passed away in a tragic accident July 28, turned into a major event of community support for Reed’s friends and … more

By T. Michaels / The Daily World | 8/12/26