State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Kevin Coe, the notorious “South Hill Rapist,” was released Oct. 2, 2025, to live in a group home in Auburn, Wash. Credit: Photo: King County Sheriff's Office

'South Hill Rapist' Kevin Coe moves to Auburn home after Federal Way pushback

Less than a week after being “unconditionally released” from confinement on McNeil Island, the man who became known as the “South Hill Rapist” is moving into a group home in … more

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

An ICE officer detains a handcuffed man in Los Angeles on June 12, 2025. Photo: Tia Dufour / U.S. Department of Homeland Security / Public Domain

Seattle mayor signs executive orders in anticipation of National Guard deployment

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has signed two executive orders in anticipation of President Donald Trump deploying the National Guard in the Emerald City. The first executive order accuses Trump of … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 10/8/25

Woman blows narcotic smoke into baby’s face, then assaults officer, Washington cops say

A woman blew smoke from narcotics into a baby’s face, then assaulted an officer, Washington officials said. On Oct. 5, Seattle officers got reports of a 39-year-old woman “smoking … more

By Paloma Chavez / The Olympian (TNS) | 10/8/25

Oregon State Police explosives unit called in after resident reports finding pipe bomb

An Oregon State Police explosives unit was called to the Baker County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, Oct. 7, after a local resident reported finding a device, which he thought was a pipe bomb, in … more

Jayson Jaco / Baker City Herald, Ore. (TNS) | 10/8/25

A fire that broke out a metal shredding plant in Vancouver might be the culprit, but officials haven't announced a suspected cause of the fire.

That burning smell across Portland? A meteorologist explains its ‘highly probable’ cause

What’s that smell? That’s the question many Portland residents asked on social media Tuesday night, as their streets, yards and sometimes homes filled with an irritating smell that … more

Tatum Todd / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/8/25

Kailen Guffey, 41, was sentenced to 18 years in state prison during a hearing Mon., Sept. 29, 2025.

Man gets nearly 2 decades in prison for botched robbery inside Portland tent

The fatal shooting of a drug dealer inside his Southeast Portland tent during a botched fentanyl robbery ended with an 18-year sentence for the man who pulled the trigger. While the … more

Zane Sparling / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/8/25

Oregon general’s testimony that National Guard troops ‘will be protecting any protesters’ gains traction online

A nine-day-old snippet of testimony in front of Oregon lawmakers is rocketing around social media as Portland awaits word from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on President … more

Zane Sparling / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/8/25

Washington state fuel prices hold steady as second most expensive in nation

For the third week in a row, Washington has the second-highest average fuel prices in the nation at $4.52, a four-cent decrease from last week. California, the only state in the nation with higher … more

Nance Beston / Columbia Basin Herald (TNS) | 10/8/25

Washington man accused of setting person on fire in Spokane arrested after three weeks as victim remains in critical condition

Spokane police have arrested a man suspected of dousing another man with gasoline last month in downtown Spokane and setting him on fire. The victim, 39-year-old David Karn, remains in critical … more

Garrett Cabeza / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 10/8/25

Man accused of setting person on fire downtown arrested after three weeks as victim remains in critical condition

Spokane police have arrested a man suspected of dousing another man with gasoline last month in downtown Spokane and setting him on fire. The victim, 39-year-old David Karn, remains in critical … more

Garrett Cabeza / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 10/8/25

'South Hill Rapist' Kevin Coe resides in Auburn, according to sex offender registry

Kevin Coe, the man known as the "South Hill Rapist," will live in an adult care home in an Auburn , Washington, neighborhood. Coe is registered as a Level 3 sex offender, the … more

Mitchell Roland / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 10/8/25

Girl missing from Grays Harbor County since 2021 declared dead

Oakley Carlson, a girl who went missing from Grays Harbor County four years ago and hasn't been seen since, was declared legally dead this summer by a judge. Oakley, who would be 8 years old … more

Lauren Girgis / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/8/25

Protesters toe the line on the driveway of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in South Portland on Sat., Oct. 4, 2025.

Oregon GOP posts about federal troops coming to Portland using stock images from South America

The Oregon Republican Party drew national attention this week after it announced the potential deployment of California National Guard troops to Portland in social media posts that featured stock … more

Sami Edge / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/8/25

Portland man accused of spitting in face of federal officer outside ICE building

A 38-year-old Portland man accused of spitting in the face of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer appeared in federal court Tuesday. Alexander Jay Boyce is accused of felony assault on … more

Maxine Bernstein / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/8/25

Starbucks lays off hundreds of Washington state workers after store closures

After sweeping store closures around the country last month, Starbucks will lay off 369 employees in Washington, according to a state filing. A notice filed with Washington state's Employment … more

Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/8/25

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 slams local electeds as ‘pansies’ during Portland visit

Portland police Chief Bob Day met twice Tuesday with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in what he called an effort to build a relationship with federal partners, even as the two share … more

Zaeem Shaikh / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/8/25

Portland pet owners leashed their dogs, grabbed poster board and gathered Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Revolution Hall in Southeast Portland for a puppy party protest.

Kristi Noem came to Portland, and people protested with dogs, dancing

State and local leaders — but only a few protesters — greeted U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday as she visited Portland and the ICE office that has been the site of … more

The Oregonian / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/8/25

Press conference in Tacoma with Let's Go Washington founder Brian Heywood responding to dozens of attacks on signature gatherers for two initiatives.

Are organized agitators behind attacks on Let's Go WA signature gatherers?

The founder of the political action committee behind two statewide initiatives concerning parental rights and the protection of girls in sports says he suspects organized groups are behind dozens of … more

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

With federal penalties looming, Washington state looks to curb food stamp payment errors

States that routinely overpay or underpay food stamp recipients could now lose hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding. This has Washington officials trying to improve the … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 10/8/25

Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal

Data difficulties complicate Washington’s effort to close educational achievement gaps

Work to close educational achievement gaps for several minority groups in Washington state is being hindered by a lack of data, according to people involved in the yearslong effort. A new series … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / The Washington State Standard | 10/8/25