State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

An InvestigateWest review of law enforcement employment records illuminates limits to Washington’s landmark police certification law.

A 2021 law expanded Washington’s power to decertify police officers. Records show cops still avoid consequences

In 2021, Washington lawmakers expanded the state's power to strip cops of their certification. In an effort to keep officers fired for certain types of misconduct out of law enforcement, they passed … more

By Melanie Henshaw/InvestigateWest | 8/12/26

How the pandemic permanently scrambled Seattle’s commuter map

In Seattle, as in most big cities, the population swells on weekdays as commuters flood into town for work — a key part of what's called the daytime population. But recent census data shows that in … more

Gene Balk / FYI Guy / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/12/26

Tick Licker Firearms is a gun shop in Salem, Oregon’s capital city. A new study shines light on an increase in gun purchases related to the passage of gun control measures in the state.

Measure 114’s passage spurred Oregonians to purchase thousands of guns, new study finds

Oregon voters’ narrow passage of some of the nation’s strictest gun control restrictions in 2022 prompted thousands of new gun purchases in the state despite the restrictions never going into … more

Shaanth Nanguneri / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 8/12/26

Arctic sea is seen in 2018 by Demarcation Bay off the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastline. The Arctic Report Card, which has been issued annually by the Naitonal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration since 2006, describes the rapidly changing features of the Arctic, including sea ice, glaciers, permafrost and boreal forests.

Trump administration ends NOAA support for annual Arctic Report Card

The Trump administration has pulled federal support from the Arctic Report Card, an annual, peer-reviewed report that has been published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration since … more

Yereth Rosen / Alaska Beacon | 8/12/26

Yellowstone National Park sign at the North Entrance; Jim Peaco; October 1992

Yellowstone National Park visitation ticks down slightly, on pace for third busiest year

Yellowstone National Park is on pace for its third busiest season on record, falling just off record pace during July. Park officials released the latest monthly and year-to-date statistics … more

Micah Drew / States Newsroom | 8/12/26

Roaming domestic goats are a multi-year source of friction in a Pacific County neighborhood. (Ladislav Luppa/Wikimedia Commons)

A feud to bleat about: Goats lead to barricade incident in Pacific County

PACIFIC COUNTY — After nearly four years of ongoing issues with “roaming goats” on Nelson Road in Raymond, the situation came to a head. It was not because a man snapped several months ago over … more

By The Chinook Observer | 8/12/26

A second grader at Brooklyn Primary School in Baker City raises his hand during a phonics lesson.

Oregon education funding committee recommends increasing school spending by $2.5B to $5B

Oregon’s schools will need nearly $2.5 billion more to maintain the status quo of service for the 2027-29 school years, and nearly $5 billion more to help students meet new accountability and … more

Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 8/12/26

Baltija Scherl cuts an albacore tuna last week at Tre-Fin Seafood Market in Ilwaco. Commercial tuna landings and participation are down dramatically this season in Washington.

Coastal tuna fishery flounders under high fuel prices

The 2026 commercial albacore tuna season is off to a limping start, beleaguered by high fuel prices, sporadic fishing and fewer fishermen. “Our expenses have gone up over 30% overall,” said … more

By Luke Whittaker / The Chinook Observer | 8/12/26

The headquarters of the Washington State Department of Transportation on July 30, 2026.

Seismic worries fuel exodus from Washington state transportation agency’s headquarters

The Washington State Department of Transportation is relocating employees and scaling back access to its aging headquarters on the Capitol Campus in Olympia amid continuing concerns about the … more

Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard | 8/12/26

Washington child welfare deaths continue to drop after spiking last year

Deaths and critical injuries in Washington’s child welfare system continued to decline this spring, after a record high in 2025 that had lawmakers considering changing state law. Six children … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 8/11/26

Seventeen-year-old Frances Staudtl speaks in favor of I-638 during a rally on Saturday in Olympia.

Campaigns begin for girls sports, parental rights, income tax initiatives

Primary results are still being tallied across Washington state from the Aug. 4 election, but at the same time, the campaigns are looking ahead to the Nov. 3 election. In the weeks to come, … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 8/11/26

Washington state Senate Minority Leader John Braun, left, is on track to square off with U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, right, in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District. (Photos courtesy of campaigns)

MGP hits Braun on abortion as battle begins for Washington House seat

Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez went on the offensive Tuesday with a campaign ad accusing Republican John Braun of wanting to outlaw abortion in Washington state and the nation. The … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 8/11/26

4th trial delay for former WSP trooper in fatal DUI wreck

The trial of a former Washington State Patrol trooper has been pushed back a fourth time. The trial for Sarah Clasen, 37, was delayed again by a month and a half to Nov. 16. She was charged with … more

Cameron Probert / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 8/11/26

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)

Key Hanford nuclear site contractor with $45B contract under new leadership

The Hanford nuclear site contractor responsible for 56 million gallons of radioactive waste and eventually operating the vitrification plant to treat the waste is under new leadership. Ken … more

Annette Cary / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 8/11/26

Fire engine struck while crews battle vehicle fire near Moses Lake; driver injured

A driver was injured Monday evening after a passenger vehicle collided with a fire engine that was helping protect firefighters battling a vehicle fire on SR 17 north of Moses Lake, authorities said. … more

Nance Beston / Columbia Basin Herald (TNS) | 8/11/26

The sun is obscured by wildfire smoke in Chewelah, Wash.

Washington state fire season already third-worst in decades; 1,125 square miles burn

Three wildfires across the state have burned more than 100,000 acres each, as Washington has already endured the third-worst fire season in the past 20 years, with roughly two months still to go. … more

Kai Uyehara / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/11/26

Anti-abortion groups urge attorney general to halt mailing of abortion pills

A group of leading anti-abortion organizations sent a letter to newly confirmed U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche urging him to review the U.S. Department of Justice’s authority to use a … more

Kelcie Moseley-Morris / Idaho Capital Sun | 8/11/26

Sam Drevo walks by the burned foundation of his mother’s home in Gates following the 2020 Labor Day fires.

Sen. Wyden’s wildfire tax relief bill passes just before Congress recesses, goes to White House

In the final hours of work before members of Congress went on recess for five weeks, a bill backed by Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden to relieve natural disaster survivors from paying federal income … more

Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 8/11/26

Gluesenkamp Perez hits Braun on abortion as battle begins for Washington state House seat

Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez went on the offensive Tuesday with a campaign ad accusing Republican John Braun of wanting to outlaw abortion in Washington state and the nation. The … more

Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard | 8/11/26

Workers at Hilton’s Embassy Suites in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood have been on strike since June 18. (Photo courtesy of UNITE HERE Local 8)

Striking workers add to deficit risk for Washington jobless fund

Through the first seven months of the year, the state of Washington has paid out more than $565,700 in unemployment insurance benefits to union workers who walked off the job seeking a better … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 8/10/26