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Attendees mingle and munch during the annual member barbecue hosted by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce at Dick’s Brewing on Thursday, Sept. 14, in Centralia. The food was provided by Lucky Eagle Casino and Hotel while the space for the event was provided by Dick’s Brewing.

In focus: Chamber members mingle and munch during annual barbecue at Dick’s Brewing

9/15/23

Hundreds of vehicles waiting in line for a gas tax holiday event in Kent. The event, which reduced gas prices to $3.82 per gallon was sponsored by Future 42 and the Washington state chapter of Americans For Prosperity.

$3.82 a gallon gas at Western Washington station rallies support against Washington's carbon tax

One gas station in Kent, Washington got more than its fair share of business Wednesday morning in hosting an event that gave motorists a gas tax holiday of sorts. Approximately 200 drivers got … more

By Timothy Schumann / The Center Square | 9/15/23

Lacey Fire District 3 crews fight a mobile home park fire Friday, Sept. 8, near Lacey.

Thurston County man allegedly admits to starting mobile home park fire to 'kill people'

A 20-year-old man accused of starting a fire that damaged three Thurston County mobile homes this month is being held in the county jail in lieu of $150,000 bail. Deputies arrested Melvin … more

By Martín Bilbao /The Olympian | 9/15/23

The Centralia School District has hired Katie Taylor, pictured here in a photo provided by the district, as its new youth sports program director.

Centralia School District appoints Katie Taylor as new youth sports program director

The Centralia School District has hired Katie Taylor as its new youth sports program director. In her new role, Taylor will oversee athletic programming at all five elementary schools … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/15/23

Paul, a professional yo-yo player, brings NED’s Mindset Mission to Orin C. Smith Elementary School in Chehalis on Friday, Sept. 15.

Show teaches Orin Smith Elementary students about having a growth mindset through storytelling and yo-yo tricks

Getting to school can be challenging for a lot of kids, but it’s safe to say no Orin Smith Elementary School students had as eventful a journey to get to the Chehalis school Friday morning than … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 9/15/23

Mount Rainier is a light shade of purple as it’s pictured from the west at sunset on Wednesday.

Photo: Mount Rainier cast in purple hue at sunset

9/15/23

Fair Association President Jerry Owens introduces Little Miss Friendly finalists on opening day of the Southwest Washington Fair, Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Demonstrators, vendors honored by Southwest Washington Fair Association awards

Shortly after the Southwest Washington Fair wrapped up in mid-August, the Southwest Washington Fair Association announced awards and fundraising results from its fair booth. The fair association … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/15/23

Centralia Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston, Commissioner Sean Swope and Captain Gin Pack, with The Salvation Army, watch as an excavator removes debris from demolished structures at the end of Eckerson Road on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

Up to 10 people still living on .4-acre lot at Blakeslee Junction, Centralia police chief says

Crews are hoping to wrap up a sweep early next week on the nine-year-old homeless encampment in Centralia named for Blakeslee Junction, a three-way railroad crossing near Interstate 5. … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 9/15/23

Deputies arrest man suspected of stealing fire rescue boat in Oregon, speeding into Washington

Multnomah County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 44-year-old Portland man suspected of breaking into Portland Fire & Rescue’s boathouse in Southeast Portland early Thursday, stealing a … more

Catalina Gaitán / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 9/15/23

No ‘loose ends’: Winlock woman testifies in trial of man accused of killing plainclothes detective in SW Washington

The friend of the man on trial in the fatal shooting of an undercover Clark County sheriff’s sergeant offered an unexpected counter to his claim of self-defense during the closely-watched trial … more

Zane Sparling / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 9/15/23

Within a week after early prison release, Oregon man accused of random attack on courthouse officer

The man accused of randomly attacking a federal security officer at Pioneer Courthouse in July was fresh out of prison through a state early release program to reward good behavior and reduce the … more

Maxine Bernstein / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 9/15/23

Woman found dead after brush fire might have been intentionally set ablaze, police say

Tacoma police believe a woman who was found in the debris of a brush fire in early September might have intentionally been set ablaze. The body of Chloee Moore, 18, was found following a brush … more

Puneet Bsanti / The News Tribune (TNS) | 9/15/23

Washington state has set a record for returning unclaimed cash. Are you entitled to some?

The Washington state Department of Revenue's Unclaimed Property Program has returned an all-time high of $138.9 million in unclaimed property to thousands of Washingtonians this past year, the … more

The Olympian Staff (TNS) | 9/15/23

First responders and crews from the Washington State Department of Transportation respond to a scene near milepost 77 along Interstate 5 in Chehalis where multiple collisions were reported last April.

U.S. House passes bill in bid to stop states from banning gas-powered cars

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill likely to ultimately fail that would prevent states from banning gas-powered cars. While the Democrat-controlled Senate is not … more

Ellen Dennis / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 9/15/23

Quinault drug court gets $2 million federal boost

The Quinault Indian Nation Tribal Court received a federal funding boost that will enhance the capacity and reach of its drug court program, which provides culturally-relevant and trauma-informed … more

Clayton Franke / The Daily World (TNS) | 9/15/23

Jarred Kelenic makes an appearance while playing for the Tacoma Rainiers on rehab assignment during a game last month.

Commentary: Can Jarred Kelenic, George Kirby and DK Metcalf rein in their intensity?

Intensity is a quality that every manager and coach covets in their players, but it's an athletic virtue that comes with a footnote: Too much of it, misdirected or ill-timed, can sometimes be a … more

Larry Stone / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 9/15/23

Fire report: Weather shift could make fire season worse

PORTLAND, Ore. — Despite the recent cooler and rainy conditions that moderated fire activity in the Northwest, fire season continues with a change in the weather pattern underway, according to … more

Joel Martin / Columbia Basin Herald (TNS) | 9/15/23

Health insurance rates are about to jump for thousands of Washington residents

Health insurance premiums paid by more than 200,000 Washington residents will increase by nearly 10% next year. The state Office of the Insurance Commissioner has approved an average increase of … more

Alison Saldanha / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 9/15/23

To confront Washington's high rents, feds increase limits on housing vouchers

To keep up with rapidly growing rents in Washington, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced recent increases in what housing-voucher holders can spend across the state with an … more

Anna Patrick The Seattle Times (TNS) | 9/15/23

Airon Jenkins, 20, of Lewis County, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday, Sept. 14.

Sex offender accused of raping runaway girl in Centralia

A registered sex offender is facing new charges for allegedly harboring a runaway 14-year-old Centralia girl and raping her multiple times between July and September 2023. The victim … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 9/14/23