State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Ryan Moran, seen at a 2023 news conference in Maryland, is set to become Washington’s next Health Care Authority director in August. He’s leaving his role as deputy secretary for health care financing and Medicaid director in Maryland. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)

Washington state agency that oversees Medicaid will get a new director

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has found a new leader for the Health Care Authority , which administers Medicaid for nearly 2 million people and is the largest purchaser of health care in the state. … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 6/23/25

Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal

Washington state updates student discipline rules for public schools

New discipline guidelines for public school students will go into effect across Washington state next month. While educators say the changes are necessary to address disruptive post-pandemic … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / The Washington State Standard | 6/23/25

‘A monster': Family wants life sentence for killer of pregnant Washington mom

The family and friends of a murdered Kennewick woman came together Friday morning to share their grief and anger. They’re asking the court to sentence her killer to life in prison. … more

Cameron Probert / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 6/21/25

Woman accused of starting fire at housing site in Thurston County, jail and court records show

A 32-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson late Wednesday after she allegedly set fire to her room at Sandy’s Flats, Thurston County jail and court records show. … more

Rolf Boone and Ann Duan / The Olympian (TNS) | 6/21/25

One dead in Pierce County during high-speed crash after pursuit

A high-speed wreck during a pursuit by sheriff’s deputies left one person dead over the weekend in the Parkland area. Deputies were patrolling the area June 14 at around 3:30 a.m. when … more

Puneet Bsanti / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 6/21/25

Rescue crews extract two hikers from Cascade Mountains over three-day period

Search and rescue teams evacuated two people from the Cascades Mountains in three days, according to a Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island in a news release. A 25-year-old woman fell about 80 … more

Jack Belcher / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 6/21/25

This photo of a cougar was provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Mountain lion attacks summer camp worker, then wrong cougar killed, California cops say

The wrong mountain lion was killed after a cougar attacked a summer camp worker, California officials say. The camp worker “was attacked by a mountain lion” east of Hyampom at about … more

Daniella Segura / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 6/21/25

Washington teacher continues to defend choice to read the 'N-Word' in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' at gathering on Juneteenth

The West Valley High School teacher facing contract nonrenewal for his use of the N-word in his Spanish class in April convened a group of supporters in Millwood Park Thursday to continue to defend … more

Elena Perry / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 6/21/25

Oregon man recounts bloody encounter between dog, mountain goat at campsite

Winston Morton boats the Grande Ronde River every year with friends and family, camping on the riverbank along the way. When he recently set out for the 40-mile float, he didn’t expect to be … more

Maddie Khaw / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 6/21/25

Aqua Flora, left, and Isaiah Esquire perform on the Oregon House floor Wednesday before Democrats approved a resolution honoring the history of Black drag in Portland.

Democratic Oregon House members celebrate Black drag performers, as nearly all Republicans boycott

Isaiah Esquire danced his way through the Oregon House of Representatives on Wednesday to the sounds of Aretha Franklin, followed closely by fellow Black drag performer Aqua Flora, who held a pride … more

Sami Edge / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 6/21/25

Russian missile strike on Ukraine killed American volunteer with Oregon ties

Fred Grandy arrived in Ukraine’s capital city late last month with a group of volunteers to clear up rubble on the streets as Russia intensified its attacks. Kennith Reed said his … more

Zaeem Shaikh / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 6/21/25

Circuit Judge Nickolas Brajcich said the federal government's decision to withhold "sensitive," and potentially exculpatory information impeded a 14-year-old defendant's constitutional right to challenge his accusers.

Judge: No evidence teen took ‘substantial step’ in Cowlitz County mall shooting plot

A Columbia County judge on Friday found the state had failed to show that a 14-year-old accused of plotting a mass shooting at a Washington mall had taken any “substantial step” toward … more

Maxine Bernstein / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 6/21/25

Oregon's then-Gov. Kate Brown deployed the National Guard to hospitals to help with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, as part of the many historic reasons the state's governors have called the troops to duty. Pictured here are about 150 Oregon Army National Guard members in Medford.

Oregon Democrats vote to prevent Trump from deploying Oregon National Guard, as he did in California

Oregon Democrats and one Republican in the House voted Friday to draw a “line in the sand” to try to prevent President Donald Trump — or any of his successors — from ordering … more

Aimee Green, Sami Edge / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 6/21/25

Washington state veterans counselor pushes for more support in aftermath of Decker murders

Amid the backdrop of an Army veteran charged with murdering his three young daughters, Heather Hill – a psychotherapist and owner of Central Washington Veterans Counseling in Wenatchee, Wash. … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 6/21/25

Supreme Court upholding Tennessee's ban on transgender care for minors won't directly impact Washington state

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Wednesday ruling upholding Tennessee’s law banning minors from receiving transgender medical treatments will not directly affect Washington’s laws because … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 6/21/25

Cam Higby after concussion and other injuries caused by Antifa during ICE protest in Seattle June 14, 2025

Seattle police investigating attack on journalist during Antifa protests

Seattle Police are investigating an attack on an independent conservative journalist last weekend during anti-Trump and anti-ICE rallies in Seattle. Cam Higby says he was assaulted by Antifa … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 6/21/25

For a second time, FEMA rejects Washington state’s request for bomb cyclone disaster aid

Washington won’t receive federal aid to cover tens of millions of dollars in damage to public property caused by last fall’s bomb cyclone. The Trump administration denied the … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 6/21/25

Man survives fall into Ohanapecosh River at Mount Rainier National Park

A Texas man was rescued after falling into the Ohanapecosh River at Mount Rainier National Park near Packwood on Monday, June 9, and transported to Arbor Health Morton Hospital, park officials … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 6/20/25

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez speaks during a grand opening for the Agriculture Innovation Park in Tenino on Wednesday, May 28.

Gluesenkamp Perez, colleagues introduce legislation to bring more transparency to federal budget process

This week, U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, along with Reps. Glenn Grothman, R-Wisconsin, Marlin Stutzman, R-Indiana, and Ed Case, D-Hawaii, introduced the bipartisan Stop the Baseline … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/20/25

Former JBLM soldier pleads guilty to attempting to share military secrets with China

A former U.S. Army sergeant whose last duty post was Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Western Washington pleaded guilty June 18 in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two federal felonies, announced … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/20/25