State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

News outlet’s Mount Rainier report ‘kicked up a bit of dust.’ Here are the facts

Mount Rainier, the active stratovolcano that experienced an unusual but benign swarm of tiny earthquakes this past summer, isn’t suddenly showing seismic-tremor activity despite a recent news … more

Shea Johnson / The News Tribune (TNS) | 11/20/25

Washington court upholds state’s 2023 ban on ‘assault weapons’

Washington gun-control advocates are celebrating a win after the state’s ban on so-called assault weapons was again upheld in court. A Thurston County Superior Court judge last week upheld … more

Simone Carter / The Olympian (TNS) | 11/20/25

Washington man sentenced to prison for calling Walmart employee racial slur, lunging at him with knife

A man who called a Spokane Valley Walmart employee a racial slur before lunging at him with a pocketknife was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for the hate crime and assault. A jury … more

Garrett Cabeza / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 11/20/25

A black-tailed deer snacks on leaves at Mount Rainier National Park on Thursday, Oct. 16.

Washington close to launching digital hunting, fishing licenses

The digital age is almost here for Washington hunters and anglers. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is preparing to launch its MyWDFW app next month, a move that will allow hunters … more

Michael Wright / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 11/20/25

Ocean acidification to hit Puget Sound harder, study says

The waters of Puget Sound are more susceptible to ocean acidification and sliding faster into dangerous territory for its marine wildlife than other places around the world, a new study shows. … more

Conrad Swanson / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 11/20/25

How much does a Thanksgiving meal cost in Washington state?

With Thanksgiving around the corner, families are drawing up menus, preparing grocery lists and starting to shop for the holiday. But what they'll pay at the checkout depends heavily on where … more

Jessica Fu / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 11/20/25

Major food bank sees record use, new visitors. What is Olympia doing to help?

The Olympia City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 18 to send $30,000 to the Thurston County Food Bank to address food insecurity in the wake of the federal government shutdown that lasted 43 days … more

Ty Vinson / The Olympian (TNS) | 11/20/25

October 11, 2024: Influenza A H5N1/bird flu virus particles round and rod-shaped red and yellow. Creative composition and colorization/effects by NIAID transmission electron micrograph imagery is courtesy CDC. Influenza A Virus H5N1/Bird Flu 016867_316

First human case of rare bird flu reported in Washington state. Are you at risk?

After a Western Washington resident became the first human to contract a rare form of avian flu, you may be wondering if you’re at risk of getting sick. An older adult from Grays Harbor, … more

Sara Schilling / The News Tribune (TNS) | 11/20/25

Company accused of ‘inadequate care’ at Washington state senior living facilities to pay $7M

A company that owns 15 long-term care facilities in Washington has agreed to pay $7 million after an investigation into claims of inadequate care. According to a Wednesday news release from the … more

Isabela Lund / The News Tribune (TNS) | 11/20/25

Lawmakers ask Washington to ‘show your work’ in lawsuit over failure to release climate data

In early October, a lawsuit was filed in Thurston County Superior Court by a pair of state lawmakers and a public policy organization against two state agencies for what the plaintiffs say is the … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 11/19/25

Washington lawmakers recite the Pledge of Allegiance on opening day of the 2024 legislative session in Olympia.

'Getting ready to play defense': Washington state Republicans say tax hikes are likely in 2026

Facing a “fiscal cliff,” the Spokane Valley City Council voiced concerns about the Legislature’s ongoing deficit with state lawmakers on Monday, who say more tax hikes are on the … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 11/19/25

A grocery store produce section with apples, peaches and other fresh items.

Ongoing tariff dispute could imperil Washington’s $29B annual trade relationship with Canada

Stalled trade talks between the U.S. and Canada could negatively impact Washington state’s $29 billion annual trade relationship with its northern neighbor by increasing business costs, … more

By Brett Davis / The Center Square | 11/19/25

The Chehalis River flows through Rainbow Falls at Rainbow Falls State Park on Wednesday, July 2.

Discover Pass sales dip after price increase

Sales of Washington’s pass to access state parks and other recreation areas fell after an Oct. 1 price hike, but fee collections increased. Figures presented to the state Parks and … more

By Bill Lucia / The Washington State Standard | 11/19/25

A cart full of plastic bags filled with groceries waits to be taken out to the parking lot at Bailey's IGA in Rochester as Floor Manager Nick Blanksma helps a customer with the credit card machine on Thursday afternoon.

Fee increase on store-bought bags to take effect in Washington state Jan. 1

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, a scheduled 4-cent increase in the price for plastic film carryout bags at Washington restaurants and retailers will take effect and raise their minimum cost to 12 cents per … more

By The Chronicle staff | 11/19/25

A memorial for brothers Alexander Borgen, 16, and Deven Borgen, 17, is pictured on the corner of College Street SE and 24th Avenue in Lacey on Monday, Nov. 17.

Suspect arrested in Thurston County double homicide

Lacey police have arrested a suspect in the Nov. 14 double murder of two teenage boys. Trequanne Trenelle Wilson-Mason, 20, of Lacey, was arrested and booked into the Thurston County Jail … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 11/19/25

Providence Oregon lays off more than 150 workers in latest round of job cuts

Providence Health & Services is cutting more than 150 jobs across Oregon, the latest round of reductions as the state’s largest health system continues to confront significant financial … more

Kristine de Leon / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 11/19/25

Members of the Oregon National Guard come and go in uniform at the Oregon National Guard Readiness Center in Salem on Oct. 2, 2025.

Oregon National Guard members will have to travel out of state to ‘demobilize’ from federal mission

Oregon National Guard members released from federal duties in Oregon will now have to travel to Texas to “demobilize” from their mission. U.S. Northern Command ordered the Oregon … more

Sami Edge / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 11/19/25

Zechariah Boesman, 45, poses for a photo in front of a Conestoga Hut in Eugene. on Oct. 21, 2025.

Could Oregon Trail wagons provide an unlikely solution to the housing crisis?

Zechariah Boesman was homeless for most of his life. He spent his childhood touring practically “every homeless shelter across America” and landed as an adult in Oregon, where he … more

Zane Sparling / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 11/19/25

Climbing prices are shifting who shops at Dollar Tree

Long gone are the days when items sold at the dollar store cost, well, a dollar. Dollar Tree — which operates thousands of stores nationwide and a dozen in Portland — isn’t … more

Veronica Nocera / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 11/19/25

Oregons forecasted budget deficit has shrunk from more than $370 million to $63 million, according to a revenue forecast published Wednesday.

Oregon’s budget deficit drops to $63 million in updated revenue forecast

Oregon state economists delivered some good and bad news to lawmakers on Wednesday. The good news: the state’s forecasted budget deficit has shrunk from more than $370 million to $63 million, … more

Carlos Fuentes / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 11/19/25