State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Pickup driver accused of DUI, crashing into Pierce County deputy’s patrol car

The driver of a pickup has been arrested on suspicion of DUI after crashing head-on into a Pierce County sheriff deputy’s patrol car Wednesday afternoon. Traffic deputies were dispatched … more

Puneet Bsanti / The News Tribune (TNS) | 10/9/25

Police discover child porn on 78-year-old’s desk during welfare check, Washington cops say

Police discovered child sexual abuse material on a 78-year-old man’s desk during a welfare check in Washington, authorities said. Authorities responded to his home at about 1:15 p.m. Oct. … more

Helena Wegner / The News Tribune (TNS) | 10/9/25

Kaiser Medicare notices spark panic in Washington state

Last week, people in Washington who get their Medicare Advantage coverage through Kaiser Permanente received a seemingly worrisome letter in the mail. “Your Medicare plan won't be offered … more

Jessica Fu / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/9/25

The sun sets at Mount Rainier National Park from the Skyline Loop Trail on Monday, Sept. 22.

What to expect at Mount Rainier National Park during the government shutdown

Were you thinking of one last visit to Mount Rainier before the snow piles up? It’s going to take more planning than usual. The U.S. government shut down on Oct. 1 after Congress failed to … more

Isabela Lund / The News Tribune (TNS) | 10/9/25

ICE arrests U.S. citizen in Oregon; attorney decries ‘illegal abduction’

Francisco Miranda, a U.S. citizen caught up in the Trump administration’s immigration sweep, was able to record his arrest in Portland before ICE agents confiscated his cellphone. While … more

Yesenia Amaro / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/9/25

‘Dew’ process lets Oregon suspect resolve case with one Baja Blast soda

The felony case against a woman caught driving a hot-wired car ended late last month — not with the bang of a gavel, but the fizz of a soda. Peter Higginbotham, whose 1996 Toyota Camry … more

Zane Sparling / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/9/25

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem surveys South Portland from the roof of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Tues., Oct. 7, 2025.

Kristi Noem calls Oregon leaders liars, says feds will ‘double down’ in Portland

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday that her agency would “double down” in Portland after state and local leaders rebuffed a series of demands she made during a … more

Shane Dixon Kavanaugh / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/9/25

Wife of Cowlitz County football coach hands out Charlie Kirk shirts to team

Deirdre Phelps, wife of Kalama head football coach Mike Phelps, handed out shirts with slogans supporting Charlie Kirk to some members of the football team Wednesday. The shirts feature a … more

Minka Atkinson / The Daily News | 10/9/25

How Washington state’s public pension system planning could cost taxpayers down the road

Washington state’s public pension system is among the best funded in the nation, but concerns remain that long-term planning decisions could end up costing taxpayers in more ways than one. … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 10/9/25

Will Washington state Legislature, governor fund state worker contracts in the 2026 supplemental budget?

The Washington State Office of Financial Management has released cost estimates for the two recently approved Washington Public Employee Association contracts for fiscal year 2026: one for General … more

By Brett Davis / The Center Square | 10/9/25

Florida teens credited for averting school shooting plot in Washington state

Two teenage boys in Florida are being called heroes for their response to a five-second TikTok video last month that may well have averted disaster all the way across the country. The video, … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 10/9/25

Washington State Ferries will need to keep its oldest ferries running for at least five more years before relief arrives. Shown here is the 66-year-old Tillikum being pushed by a tug after a summer breakdown. (Photo by Tom Banse)

Wait for new Washington state ferries grows even longer with selection of Florida shipyard

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson celebrated the state’s award of a $715 million contract for three hybrid electric ferries in July as a milestone in his drive to improve the nation’s largest … more

By Tom Banse and Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard | 10/9/25

U.S. President Donald Trump, joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on October 9, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Trump threatens ‘permanent’ cuts to Democratic programs on day nine of shutdown gridlock

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday he’s prepared to cancel funding approved by Congress that he believes is going toward programs supported by Democrats, though he … more

By Jennifer Shutt / States Newsroom | 10/9/25

Gun deaths among high schoolers on the rise, Washington State University study finds

Firearm-related deaths are up dramatically among middle- and high school-aged youth, according to a new study led by Washington State University researchers. The researchers found … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / The Washington State Standard | 10/9/25

Joshua Grasseth, Wahkiakum County Sheriff candidate, did not respond to InvestigateWest for comment. Police accountability advocates say his campaign is an example of why Washington needs stricter sheriff requirements.

Sheriff candidate in Wahkiakum County faces claims of domestic violence, dishonesty

In early January 2022, police officers in Sequim, a small northwest Washington town on the Olympic Peninsula, responded to a wrecked pickup truck partially submerged in water. A bystander reported … more

By Aspen Ford / InvestigateWest | 10/9/25

Federal police push towards a crowd of demonstrators at an ICE processing facility south of downtown Portland on Sat., Oct. 4, 2025. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Oregon National Guard remains federalized for now, but cannot be deployed, judges rule

About 200 members of the Oregon National Guard will remain under federal control but cannot yet be deployed to Portland, according to a ruling Wednesday by three judges in a federal appeals court. … more

By Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 10/8/25

Driver sentenced in I-5 crash that killed JBLM soldier, a father of four

The man who fatally struck an Army soldier stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in a vehicle collision on Interstate 5, then carjacked another vehicle to flee, was sentenced Monday to three years, … more

By Peter Talbot / The News Tribune (TNS) | 10/8/25

Joseph Klimas, 46, of Vancouver, looks back at the audience after deciding to decline a plea deal from Cowlitz County prosecutors on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in Kelso. Klimas could go to trial in 2026.

Defendant rejects plea deal over Cowlitz County murder charge

The man charged with murdering another man and dumping his body on a remote logging road in Ariel in 2024 declined a plea deal Tuesday from prosecutors and may face trial. Joseph Klimas, 46, of … more

Matt Esnayra / The Daily News | 10/8/25

Major solar farm in Eastern Washington on cusp of approval

A large solar farm proposed in eastern Washington appears on course to clear a critical regulatory hurdle this month, despite opposition from the Yakama Nation. After that, it would go for … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 10/8/25

Voters to be asked how to invest deducted WA Cares payroll dollars

Washington voters will soon receive ballots in the mail for the Nov. 4 general election. The only statewide ballot measure is Senate Joint Resolution 8201 , which proposes a constitutional … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 10/8/25