The Daily Chronicle

Anti-vaccine rally protesters hold signs outside of Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, on June 26, 2021. (Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

Delta Has Hospitals Across US Down to Their Last ICU Beds

Hospitals across the U.S. are parceling out beds for COVID patients, hunting for doctors and nurses as the delta variant sweeps coast to coast. The disease is outstripping any mitigation measures. … more

By Angelica LaVito, Jonathan Levin and Francesca Maglione / Bloomberg News (TNS) | 8/10/21

Elizabeth Prelogar, an appellate lawyer, has served as the Justice Department’s fourth-ranked attorney on an acting basis since January, arguing two cases before the justices in that role last term. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

White House Vetting Acting Solicitor General to Take Role Permanently

The White House is vetting acting Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar to be nominated for the job on a permanent basis, according to two former SG’s office attorneys. Prelogar, an appellate … more

By Kimberly Strawbridge Robinson / Bloomberg News (TNS) | 8/10/21

Chicago police officers salute as the ambulance carrying the body of Officer Ella French arrives at the Cook County medical examiner in the early morning hours of Aug. 8, 2021. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

Brothers Charged in Weekend Shooting That Killed Chicago Police Officer, Wounded Second Cop

A pair of Chicago brothers were hit with felony charges Monday after a traffic stop Saturday night in West Englewood ended in tragedy, with Chicago police Officer Ella French fatally shot and her … more

By Jeremy Gorner / Chicago Tribune (TNS) | 8/10/21

In this handout provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Jeffrey Epstein poses for a sex offender mugshot after being charged with procuring a minor for prostitution on July 25, 2013 in Florida. (Florida Department of Law Enforcement/Getty Images/TNS)

Jeffrey Epstein Victims Receive Nearly $125M Through Out of Court Program

NEW YORK – A stunning 150 victims of Jeffrey Epstein have received nearly $125 million through an out of court claims program. The Epstein Victims’ Compensation Program, which … more

By Stephen Rex Brown / New York Daily News (TNS) | 8/10/21

Burned trees rise above a truck destroyed by the Dixie Fire in the town of Greenville. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

As California's Dixie Fire Nears Half a Million Acres, Containment is Still Weeks Away

It has been 26 days since the Dixie fire ignited in the dense forest of Northern California's Plumas County. It has destroyed more than 400 structures and sent tens of thousands of residents fleeing … more

By By Hayley Smith / Los Angeles Times (TNS) | 8/10/21

Inslee Announces Vaccine Mandate for State Employees, Health Care Workers

Tens of thousands of Washington state employees — along with many private-sector healthcare workers — will be required to receive COVID-19 vaccinations or face firing, according to a … more

By Jim Brunner / The Seattle Times | 8/9/21 | 4 comments

Little Miss Friendly Finalist are briefed before an event Friday inside the Vernetta Smith Chehalis Timberland Library.

Five Confident Girls Vie for Little Miss Friendly Title

If you walked into the Vernetta Smith Timberland Chehalis Library’s conference room on Friday, you might’ve assumed you stumbled into a meeting of the G7. Sitting around the fancy … more

By Claudia Yaw / cyaw@chronline.com | 8/9/21

American Behavioral Health Systems is located at 500 SE Washington Ave. in Chehalis.

At Least 53 COVID-19 Cases Associated With Chehalis Rehab Facility Outbreak

Fifty-three people are suspected of having COVID-19 at a Chehalis rehab facility, the latest local outbreak of the disease amid what Lewis County’s public health director is calling an … more

By Claudia Yaw / cyaw@chronline.com | 8/9/21 | 2 comments

Community members gather as fiddlers, bagpipers and other musicians join in playing tunes around the Borst Park Pioneer Church in Centralia Saturday morning. On Sept. 18, the replica church will have a grand opening and celebration to thank donors. To celebrate the near completion of the project in the meantime, Jean Bluhm asked Beverly York to host a bagpipe concert at the museum with her band, the Olympia Highlanders Bagpipes and Drum Corps.

Photos: Music From Bagpipes and Fiddles Fills the Air at Borst Pioneer Church

8/9/21

Visitors to downtown Centralia view items under a canopy during Antique Fest on Friday.

Photos: Antique Fest Draws Crowds to Downtown Centralia

8/9/21

First Case of West Nile Virus in 2021 Reported in Washington

A Tri-Cities area woman has been diagnosed with West Nile virus, the Benton Franklin Health District said Friday. The Washington state Department of Health lists no other cases in humans so far … more

By The Tri-City Herald | 8/9/21

Hay is removed from a truck sparking flames on Highway 603 at the intersection of Tune Road west of Chehalis on Saturday.

Photos: Firefighters Respond After Hay Truck Catches Fire on Highway 603

8/9/21

Ribbon is cut at a ceremony Friday afternoon before Music in the Park and during the grand opening for Penny Playground and the Chehalis Sports Complex.

Photos: Opening of Penny Playground, Chehalis Sports Complex Celebrated

8/9/21 | 1 comment

TransAlta's Centralia plant as seen from the air in October 2019.

TransAlta Announces $30,000 Grant to Help People With Disabilities Through Morningside

The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic and Community Development Board on Monday announced it has approved a grant award of $30,000 to the Morningside organization. “The grant will … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/9/21

Sirens: Threat to Kill at Hospital; Expensive Tracksuit Stolen; Woman Shoots Boyfriend With BB Gun

Centralia Police Department Threat to Kill at Hospital • Nathan D. Marks, 21, of Port Angeles, was arrested in the 900 block of Scheuber Road at about 11:20 a.m. on Aug. 8 and booked into … more

8/9/21

FILE PHOTO — A letter board in front of the Lewis County Public Health building urges travelers to get vaccinated last year.

Water Damage Closes Public Health Water Laboratory for Two Months

Lewis County’s public health headquarters experienced major water damage over the weekend, and officials are directing individuals to go elsewhere for water testing services. In a news … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/9/21

A slide shown by National Park Service staff Thursday shows potential shuttle routes at Mount Rainier National Park.

Mount Rainier National Park Considering Shuttles Along Nisqually Corridor

Visitors to the ever-popular Paradise area at Mount Rainier National Park might have a new transportation option in the coming decade. The National Park Service is in early consideration to look … more

By Eric Rosane / ericr@chronline.com | 8/9/21

One of the walls where murals will be painted is pictured in this photograph from the Chehalis Community Renaissance Team.

Artists Sought for Two New Murals in Downtown Chehalis

The Chehalis Community Renaissance Team (CCRT) is planning to commission two new murals. The organization, which hosts ChehalisFest and other community projects, aims to beautify the town and … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/9/21

Gov. Jay Inslee Expected to Announce COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Washington State Employees

Gov. Jay Inslee will hold a news conference Monday in Seattle in which he is expected to announce a vaccine mandate for state employees. The news conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Kaiser … more

By Jim Brunner / The Seattle Times | 8/9/21

Judge Grants Attorney General’s Request to Place Lewis County Sex Offender in Special Commitment Center

A Lewis County Superior Court judge on Friday entered an order to civilly commit a sex offender after the Washington Attorney General’s Office filed a petition to remove him from community … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/9/21