State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

How Seattle medical providers delivered a baby gorilla by C-section

Of the thousands of babies Dr. Emily Norland has helped deliver, this one stood out. The 5.4-pound newborn was quiet when he came into the world in May. He was wrinkly, with thick skin and … more

Elise Takahama / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/23/26

Little Giant Fire surpasses historic 1994 Tyee Creek Fire

The Little Giant Fire has burned more than 140,000 acres as of Saturday, becoming the largest wildfire to burn entirely within in Chelan County borders. The lightning-caused fire started burning … more

Jenni Rodas / The Wenatchee World (TNS) | 8/23/26

Driver dies in fiery crash in Tri-Cities after fleeing from police

A driver died Friday night after he fled from police and then crashed his car near the Veterans Memorial in Columbia Park in Kennewick. The car caught fire before police arrived. Kennewick … more

Annette Cary / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 8/23/26

The Westgate neighborhood is photographed from the air on Aug 14 after it was destroyed by the Old Trails fire on Aug. 1 in Spokane. Spokane County Assessor Tom Konis estimated this week that the total value of lost structures could be $1 billion.

Spokane fire damages will exceed $1 billion

As crews cut down burned trees and utility workers fix the power grid , Spokane County Assessor Tom Konis said he's certain the catastrophic Spokane Complex fires caused more than $1 billion in … more

Thomas Clouse / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 8/23/26

Spokane firefighter Aaron Beaulaurier is embraced by Lisa Pritzl, as neighbor Robert Hughes, watches during a neighborhood gathering on Aug 12 to thank Beaulaurier and firefighters for saving their homes from on Aug. 1.

Firefighters who managed to save homes in Old Trails fire greeted with warm reception from remaining residents

There is an absence of the usual hustle and bustle in much of northwest Spokane: children chittering on trampolines in shaded backyards, cars firing up for the morning commute and the barking of … more

Nick Gibson / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 8/23/26

King County now has the nation’s largest library sorting machine

Inside an unmarked warehouse in a nondescript industrial park sits the largest machine of its kind anywhere in North America, a whiz-bang contraption of zigzagging conveyor belts, robot arms, bar … more

David Gutman / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/23/26

With new tariffs, Washington state braces for another cold shoulder from Canada

Washington woke up Saturday morning to a bad case of economic déjà vu. A new round of U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports kicked in early Saturday after talks between the two countries broke … more

Paul Roberts / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/23/26

Washington state families in need of fertility care hit by astronomical costs

When Riley first laid eyes on her newborn this month, she couldn’t believe the relief she felt at the sight of her baby — so small that she and her wife nicknamed her Peanut. But later, as … more

Alexis Weisend / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/23/26

Trump’s economic isolation plan risks Iran strikes across Gulf

President Donald Trump is betting new sanctions, a naval blockade and ramped-up economic pressure against Iran’s trading partners can accomplish what thousands of bombs and missiles could not: … more

Eric Martin / Bloomberg News (TNS) | 8/23/26

Canada to apply dollar-for-dollar US countertariffs as trade feud escalates

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will apply counter-tariffs on $20 billion of U.S. products on Sept. 8, escalating the feud rocking one of the world’s biggest trading relationships. … more

Thomas Seal and Derek Decloet / Bloomberg News (TNS) | 8/23/26

U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled earlier this month that the state of Idaho cannot regulate abortion when a pregnancy threatens a person’s physical or mental health. Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador has appealed the decision.

Abortion could return to Supreme Court, this time with a focus on women’s health

A federal court ruling out of Idaho has potential implications for exceptions in abortion bans nationwide and could eventually end up before the U.S. Supreme Court to decide. U.S. District Judge … more

Kelcie Moseley-Morris / Stateline | 8/23/26

Workers at Hilton’s Embassy Suites in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood went on strike in June. Some could be affected by a rule change concerning striking workers who seek unemployment benefits. (Photo courtesy of UNITE HERE Local 8)

Striking workers will need to seek jobs to qualify for Washington unemployment benefits

Pressed by the federal government, Washington is making a big change in its new law extending unemployment benefits to striking union workers. Starting Sunday, workers involved in labor disputes … more

Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 8/22/26

DUI patrols increase across Washington through Labor Day

Law enforcement agencies across Washington will conduct high-visibility DUI patrols beginning this week and continuing through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7. The patrols will focus on drivers … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/21/26

Seattle Times loses columnist over refusal to publish women’s sports article

The former Seattle Times sportswriter who resigned his position this week because the paper spiked his column about two female student-athletes opposed to competing against biological males has some … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 8/21/26

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez speaks with firefighters about efforts to contain the High Lava Fire at the incident command center.

Gluesenkamp Perez visits High Lava Fire command center

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, visited the High Lava Fire Incident Command Center last week to learn about efforts to contain the wildfire, which had grown to about 1,300 acres during … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/21/26

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador gave prepared remarks at a news conference after the sentencing hearing for Bryan Kohberger on July 23, 2025, at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise.

Idaho attorney general appeals court order allowing abortions to protect health, prevent self-harm

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced Thursday his office is appealing a recent federal court ruling allowing abortions to protect the mother’s health or prevent her death from self-harm. … more

By Laura Guido / Idaho Capital Sun | 8/21/26

Small boats were plentiful during the beautiful morning of Black Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, as anglers going after the trout in Battle Ground Lake were also dotting the shoreline.

Another effort to protect hunting, fishing in Oregon Constitution inches forward

Two proposals to constitutionally protect Oregon hunting and fishing are moving forward, and one of them just cleared an initial hurdle. If it advances to the November 2028 election, Initiative … more

Carlos Fuentes / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 8/21/26

Oregon City music teacher arrested, accused of kidnapping and raping minor

An Oregon City music teacher was arrested Thursday on accusations that he kidnapped and raped a minor, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said. Derek Douglas Reeder, 44, was booked on … more

Douglas Perry / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 8/21/26

Man dies at Seattle hospital following Bellingham motorized bicycle crash

A 75-year-old man died Saturday in a Seattle hospital from injuries sustained in a Bellingham bike crash two weeks prior. The man, identified by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office as … more

Hannah Edelman / The Bellingham Herald (TNS) | 8/21/26

Wife of Washington state fisherman who died in Alaska denied entry to U.S. for his funeral

Adriana Gonzalez, the Mexican wife of a Jefferson County man who died after falling from a commercial fishing boat in Alaska, is asking state officials for help seeing her husband one last time after … more

Catalina Gaitán and Kai Uyehara / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/21/26