News | The Daily Chronicle

The newly constructed CHI apartments are photographed on March 28.

Lewis County donates $35,000 to project to house homeless Centralia students

The Board of Lewis County Commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday to provide $35,000 to a project to house homeless students in the Centralia School District. The move comes after the Centralia … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com | 4/3/24

Thurston County Commissioners meet at 3000 Pacific Avenue Southeast in Olympia.

Thurston County homeless census counts more people in 2024; here’s what the data shows

The number of people counted in Thurston County’s 2024 homeless census increased compared to 2023, continuing an upward trend. Preliminary data released Monday shows 864 people were … more

By Martín Bilbao / The Olympian | 4/3/24

Brian Dennis holds biochar, a charcoal-like substance used as a soil amendment, in Toledo in 2022.

Legislation addressing biochar production allows Toledo-based Rake Force to improve operations

Thanks to a bill signed by Gov. Jay Inslee last month, Toledo-based agroforestry and conservation startup Rake Force can now use flame cap kilns to produce biochar. The legislation, Substitute … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/3/24

Man shot and killed by police Sunday after West Central house fire identified, suspected arsonist arrested

The man who police killed after they say he shot at them Sunday night following a West Central house fire was identified Tuesday as Alan Jenks. Jenks, 38, died from multiple gunshot wounds, … more

By Emma Epperly / The Spokesman-Review | 4/3/24

Man sentenced to 10 years in prison for 2020 shooting in Mabton

A Mabton man was sentenced last week to 10 years in prison for a shooting that wounded a man in 2020. Rudy Anthony Peralez, 43, had entered an Alford plea in December to a charge of first-degree … more

By Donald W. Meyers / Yakima Herald-Republic | 4/3/24

Sirens: Injured eagle captured; public urination; missing person found

CHEHALIS POLICE DEPARTMENT Death investigation • An “undetermined death” reported in the 1900 block of Southeast Cypress Road at approximately 7:50 a.m. on April 1 is under … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/3/24

Cosmic Carrot Farm's new alley-cropping system will allow the Yelm farm to grow berries, including elderberry, aronia, and goumi berry, with the highest levels of antioxidants. The agroforestry practice of alley cropping is also good for the environment.

Nisqually Valley farm growing new crops, fighting climate change at same time

For one Thurston County farmer, taking on climate change isn’t too big of a challenge. In 2020, Warren Neth, the owner of Cosmic Carrot Farm in Yelm lobbied for the grant monies from the … more

By Dylan Reubenking / For The Chronicle | 4/3/24

Washington GOP wants candidates to drop out ahead of primary election to boost odds of victory

Worried that crowded fields of Republicans could dilute the primary election vote in races across Washington state this year, the state party wants to handpick candidates months before voters can … more

By Emry Dinman / The Spokesman-Review | 4/3/24

WA timber sale blocked as judge orders climate change study

Washington state can’t auction an East King County forest for logging without first analyzing the local project’s climate change impacts, a judge ruled last week, blocking the … more

Daniel Beekman / The Seattle Times | 4/3/24

Direct flights from Sea-Tac Airport to the Philippines start this fall

Starting this fall, travelers can fly directly from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Manila, Philippines. The Philippine Airlines’ nonstop service from Seattle, which marks the … more

Vonnai Phair / The Seattle Times | 4/3/24

Voters in South Thurston County currently represented in the 20th Legislative District will be absorbed into the Second Legislative District after a federal judge approved a new legislative map.

Supreme Court declines to stay new legislative maps

New legislative maps necessitated by a federal lawsuit will officially be used in the November election. On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to stay a legislative map that shifts voters … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com | 4/3/24

The staff of La Doña Mexican restaurant in Chehalis, From left, Serena Taylor, Petra Guillermo, and Evelina Castro, stand for a photo on Tuesday, April 2.

La Doña: Centralia resident fulfilling dream with Mexican eatery in Chehalis

Originally from Tecoanapa — a small city in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero on the Pacific Ocean — Petra Guillermo came to the U.S. in 2002 to raise her family and pursue her … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/3/24

Washington officials want Biden to declare January storms a federal disaster

Washington officials are looking to the White House for federal assistance after severe winter storms ravaged the state in January. Federal and state lawmakers from both sides of the aisle sent … more

By Vonnai Phair / The Seattle Times | 4/3/24

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

Study says Washington state is home to four of the healthiest cities in the country

Have you ever wondered if or how where you live affects your health? A new study conducted by Wallethub found that where you live does matter when it comes to health, and depending on the … more

By Rosemary Montalvo / The News Tribune | 4/3/24

The southern residents put on a show in their core summer habitat of the San Juan Islands.

Extinction risk to southern resident orcas accelerating as researchers raise alarm

Orca scientist Rob Williams always thought that conservation was a knowledge problem, that once science showed why a species was declining, people would fix it. But new research published … more

By Lynda V. Mapes / The Seattle Times | 4/3/24

A dozen U.S. senators call on ICE, DHS to end misuse of solitary in immigration detention

Both of Washington’s senators and 10 of their colleagues sent a letter Friday to top immigration and homeland security leaders calling for an end to the misuse of solitary confinement in … more

By Peter Talbot / The News Tribune | 4/3/24

Are potatoes vegetables? Yes, but a national committee is hashing out that classification

Boil ‘em. Mash ‘em. Stick ‘em in a stew. Feed them to your picky toddler who won’t eat anything else. Steal them off of your partner’s plate after you’ve … more

By Ellen Dennis / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/3/24

Mom kills 4-year-old son as grandmother was trying to get custody, police say

A 27-year-old woman is accused of killing her 4-year-old son as the child’s grandma tried to get custody of him in Washington, police said. Janet Garcia was arrested on suspicion of … more

By Helena Wegner / The Olympian | 4/3/24

Victim of fatal hit-and-run crash on I-5 in Tacoma Saturday identified by state patrol

A 39-year-old Texas man killed in a hit-and-run collision on Interstate 5 in Tacoma early Saturday morning has been identified as Lance E. Melder, according to the Washington State Patrol. The … more

By Becca Most / The News Tribune | 4/3/24

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders, right, shakes Christopher Burbank’s hand in this photo posted to the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Burbank was one of three officers acquitted in December of the shooting death of Manny Ellis in 2020 in Tacoma. Burbank was hired as a lateral patrol deputy. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that Burbank had resigned after the department faced backlash for hiring him.

Officer acquitted in Manny Ellis trial resigns from Thurston County Sheriff’s Office

Less than a week after the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) swore in controversial former Tacoma officer Christopher Burbank as a patrol deputy, Burbank has resigned from the position. … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/3/24