State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Seattle Police Department officers stand guard during protests in late May 2020.

Seattle’s police chief says he ‘will not be quiet’ if National Guard deployed

Should the Trump administration deploy the National Guard to Seattle, police Chief Shon Barnes knows what he'll say to his officers. I will ask them, 'Does anyone know who Willie Grimes is?'" … more

Mike Carter / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/11/25

Crowds attend Microsoft's Build conference at the Seattle Convention Center Monday, May 19, 2025. CEO Satya Nadella was the keynote speaker during the first day of the conference.

Microsoft to bring AI to Washington state classrooms amid urban, rural tech divide

Microsoft will supply its artificial intelligence technology to every public school district and community college in Washington next year, part of a nationwide campaign to spread AI training and … more

Alex Halverson / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/11/25

Father fatally shot in Pierce County — son in custody, sheriff’s office says

Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies responded Friday evening to a fatal shooting in Parkland that left a father, 63, dead and his son, 41, in custody, according to a social media post. The … more

By The News Tribune staff (TNS) | 10/11/25

The Washington state Capitol on April 18, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

Another lawsuit filed over Washington state’s new taxes on services

Washington’s new sales tax on services faces a second lawsuit that could undercut the state’s moves to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. A Sequim-based security … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 10/10/25

A bust of George Washington lies tipped over on the third floor of the Washington state Capitol building in Olympia, after a vandal broke in and caused damage on Sunday night. (Photo courtesy of Department of Enterprise Services)

Man accused of vandalizing Washington state Capitol undergoes mental health evaluation

A Washington man suspected of breaking into and vandalizing the state Capitol is undergoing a mental health evaluation, an attorney confirmed Friday. Authorities initially arrested Gunnar … more

By Emily Fitzgerald and Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 10/10/25

Gov. Bob Ferguson, at podium, goes to shake hands with state Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, at the signing of a bill to make clergy mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect, on May 2, 2025 in Olympia. Standing between them is Mary Dispenza, a founding member of the Catholic Accountability Project. (Photo by Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

Washington state will not require priests to report child abuse disclosed in confession

Washington has abandoned its effort to force Catholic priests and other religious leaders to divulge information on child abuse and neglect they learn of in confession. With a pair of legal … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 10/10/25

State Patrol’s ‘One More Stop’ emphasis patrol: 5,300 motorist contacts in 73 hours

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) supported a multistate emphasis patrol in honor of fallen Trooper Christopher Gadd beginning on Friday, Sept. 26, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/10/25

Haywire road crosses Ripple Creek at mile post 2.55. The concrete structure is considered a barrier to fish passage and is set to be replaced by Lewis County Public Works using state grant funds.

State Recreation and Conservation Office sends more than $2 million in grant funds to Southwest Washington

The Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board and the Puget Sound Partnership have announced more than $60 million in grant funding for over 150 restorative salmon habitat projects across the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/10/25

Maynard Mallonee poses for a photo with last year’s winning Bigleaf Maple leaf.

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez announces 2025 Bigleaf Maple Big Leaf Showcase

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, has announced her third annual Bigleaf Maple Big Leaf Showcase to encourage residents of Washington’s Third Congressional District to seek out the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/10/25

Skagit 911 to implement AI services

Skagit 911, the emergency dispatch center in Skagit County, is in the process of implementing artificial intelligence services to aid dispatchers in processing calls, and to improve their performance … more

Milo Whitman / Skagit Valley Herald (TNS) | 10/10/25

Ecology, Commerce sued by 2 Washington state GOP lawmakers over climate data

Two Washington state agencies are being sued for allegedly failing to publish climate data that’s required by state law. State Sen. Nikki Torres of Pasco and state Rep. Mary Dye of … more

Simone Carter / The Olympian (TNS) | 10/10/25

‘Historic’ transfer of radioactive waste to massive Washington state treatment plant

Radioactive waste held in underground tanks has begun to be transferred for the first time to the massive Hanford nuclear site vitrification plant for long-awaited treatment for disposal. … more

Annette Cary / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 10/10/25

Nuclear reactors line the riverbank at the Hanford site along the Columbia River in January 1960. The site was chosen for its isolated location and proximity to the cold waters of the Columbia, which were used to cool nuclear reactors. (U.S. Department of Energy/TNS)

Feds consider laying off hundreds of Hanford contractor workers in Washington state

The Hanford tank farm contractor notified the Hanford Atomic Metal Trades Council that it is looking to temporarily lay off 733 union workers because of the federal government shutdown. Hanford … more

Annette Cary / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 10/10/25

Washington state’s food aid program for infants and mothers now funded through October

Washington mothers and their babies will have access to food benefits through the end of the month, even though the federal government remains shut down, the state’s Department of Health said … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 10/10/25

Federal shutdown delays release of Washington state employment data

Employment data for Washington state won’t be published until after the federal government reopens, the state Employment Security Department confirmed this week. The department … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / The Washington State Standard | 10/10/25

Washington DNR introduces prescribed fire notifications

Washington's Department of Natural Resources launched its recently launched its automated prescribed fire notification service to keep people informed about burns near them or anywhere in the state. … more

Yakima Herald-Republic (TNS) | 10/10/25

Federal officers deployed CS gas, flash grenades and less-lethal rounds outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland on June 14, 2025, after protesters formed a shield wall and broke a glass door with a stop sign. The confrontation, declared a riot by police, followed a citywide

Washington state GOP backs Trump troop deployments; some hope Seattle is next

As President Donald Trump escalates military deployments to U.S. cities, some prominent Washington Republicans and conservative activists are praising the moves — and suggesting they’d … more

Jim Brunner / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/10/25

Mount Rainier’s reflection appears over Reflection Lake in Mount Rainier National Park on Saturday, Aug. 9.

What makes Washington one of top 10 states for hiking?

From Skyline Trail at Mount Rainier National Park to The Enchantments near Leavenworth, the Evergreen State is home to some stunning trails. And whether you’re a seasoned backpacker hoping … more

Sara Schilling / The Olympian (TNS) | 10/10/25

Attorney General Nick Brown Waves to lawmakers during a joint legislative session in the House chambers at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Press proposal to improve transparency in Washington state advances

Access to public records in Washington, which has become slower in recent years, should improve under new rules introduced by state Attorney General Nick Brown. Prompted by a petition from media … more

Brier Dudley / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/9/25

Flags were toppled over and burned during the break-in.

No arson charge for man accused of burning flags in Washington state Capitol break-in

Thurston County prosecutors filed one felony count against the man accused of breaking into the state Capitol building Sunday night, but were awaiting further evidence before deciding whether to … more

Caitlyn Freeman / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/9/25