State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Western Washington sees blue skies as wildfire smoke blows east. For how long?

After layers of wildfire smoke hovered over Seattle for days, the city saw blue skies Saturday — and the fresh air should stick around into next week. Most of Puget Sound will see good to … more

Angela Lim / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/9/26

Malden, a Washington state town scarred by wildfire, under ‘Go Now!’ evacuation order

A wildfire in Whitman County started Saturday afternoon, prompting a Level 3 (“Go Now!”) evacuation order for residents in Malden — a valley town that burned in the 2020 Babb Road fire that … more

Angela Lim / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/9/26

Former Seattle Mariner Alex Rodriguez waves as a top 50 player during the 50 Seasons pregame celebration at T-Mobile Park on Saturday.

Alex Rodriguez was honored by Mariners. Are fans willing to forgive him?

His number is never going to be retired at T-Mobile Park. No statue in his likeness is on the horizon. But Saturday, Alex Rodriguez received a gift from Mariners fans that might mean just as … more

Matt Calkins / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/9/26

Despite new contract, Washington ICE detention center population shrinks

Last June, the federal government's immigrant detention center in Tacoma — then supposed to hold a maximum of 1,575 people — was so full amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown that … more

Nina Shapiro and Fiona Martin / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/9/26

Crew 18 conducts mop-up operations on the Autumn Lane Fire, extinguishing remaining hot spots and securing the fire’s edge to prevent rekindling along the south eastern flank of the fire near the Little Spokane River. Mop-up is a critical phase of wildfire suppression that helps ensure the fire remains contained and reduces the risk of additional spread.

Idaho governor, Forest Service chief say significant wildfires are stretching resources thin

Idaho Gov. Brad Little and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said Friday that firefighting resources are stretched thin as significant wildfires burn across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and much of … more

Clark Corbin / Idaho Capitol Sun | 8/9/26

Eastern Oregon state Rep. Greg Smith will pay $12K to settle latest ethics violations

Oregon’s longest-serving state representative will pay the Oregon Government Ethics Commission $12,000 in fines for breaking state ethics laws and leveraging his position as director of an eastern … more

Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 8/9/26

Oregon receives most of its transportation funding from vehicle registration and title fees, driver’s license fees, its 40-cent-per-gallon gas tax, and a weight-mile tax on heavy vehicles.

Oregon looks to how other states fund their transportation needs

The transportation group charged with vetting and recommending ideas to solve the state’s $200 million 2027-29 budget gap spent its fourth meeting examining how other states fund their … more

Mia Maldonado / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 8/9/26

Josh Johnson (left) of Let’s Go Washington looks on as two more people sign petitions for a proposed ballot measure to repeal Washington’s new income tax on high earners. These signatures were gathered June 3, 2026 in Tumwater.

Washington state judge rejects bid to ditch description of income tax initiative’s budget effects

A Thurston County judge on Friday upheld a one-sentence statement that will appear on ballots describing the budgetary consequences of an initiative to repeal Washington’s new income tax on high … more

Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard | 8/9/26

A welder works at a Manitou factory in June 2023 at Madison, South Dakota. Labor shortages in North Dakota and South Dakota could be harbingers of a shortage of young people in coming years.

Today’s children could prosper in tomorrow’s shortage of young workers

Today’s children could be the first generation since the 1970s to do better than their parents as young workers become more sought after and well paid. They may even see a surplus of housing to … more

Tim Henderson / Washington State Standard | 8/9/26

Let’s Go Washington founder Brian Heywood discusses his beliefs on Washington’s financial state outside the Washington Secretary of State’s office building in Tumwater on Thursday, July 2.

Thurston County judge rejects bid to ditch description of income tax initiative’s budget effects

A Thurston County judge on Friday upheld a one-sentence statement that will appear on ballots describing the budgetary consequences of an initiative to repeal Washington’s new income tax on high … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 8/7/26

Sen. Patty Murray helps introduce legislation to increase funding opportunities for tribal nations neighboring military installations

U.S. Sens. Patty Murray, D-Washington, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, recently introduced new legislation to make tribal governments eligible to … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/7/26

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson listens as John Braun answers a question on Thursday morning in Vancouver. Braun is running for Washington’s Third Congressional District.

U.S. Speaker of the House campaigns for John Braun in Vancouver

The Republicans are wasting no time getting into campaign mode for November. Less than 48 hours after the polls closed on Washington state’s primary, the Speaker of the United States House of … more

By Paul Valencia / Clark County Today | 8/7/26

North Portland is latest possible exposure site for measles

The Oregon Health Authority warned Thursday night of another possible measles exposure at Randall Children’s Hospital in North Portland. According to a new release from OHA, people may have … more

Mary Mooney / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 8/7/26

Man arrested in Seaside stabbing incident

A man has been arrested following a stabbing late Wednesday night, Aug. 5, at the Helping Hands Reentry Center in Seaside. Mark Warren, 41, faces charges of assault in the second degree, … more

The Daily Astorian (TNS) | 8/7/26

Young whale freed off Oregon coast, injuries likely fatal

A young humpback whale was freed from a “severe” entanglement off the Oregon Coast on July 26, but the entanglement left the whale’s jaw permanently open. A response team from the National … more

Aislin Tweedy / The Daily Astorian (TNS) | 8/7/26

A cellblock at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem.

Could Oregon end up building more prisons to address earthquake safety concerns?

State corrections department maintains it’s not taking an either-or approach to building more prisons or retrofitting them to comply with state earthquake protection standards The ongoing … more

The Daily Astorian (TNS) | 8/7/26

Firefighters find human remains while putting out fire on Seattle trail

Homicide detectives are investigating after firefighters found human remains while responding to a fire Wednesday evening on the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail in Seattle. The suspicious … more

Catalina Gaitán / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/7/26

Portland’s megaprojects are supposed to reshape the city. What’s taking so long?

After a recent sold-out showing of “The Odyssey” at OMSI’s Empirical Theater, viewers scattered to their cars in surrounding parking lots, most of them making a beeline out of the gritty … more

Jonathan Bach / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 8/7/26

Casino robber who demanded $1M, then shot at officer ordered to federal prison

The Oregon man who robbed the Wildhorse Casino in Pendleton and then shot at a tribal police officer four years ago has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. Javier Francisco Vigil, 54, … more

Annette Cary / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 8/7/26

The courtroom in the Temple of Justice is pictured on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Olympia.

Washington will let lawyers who tried to take botched bar test practice without passing

The Washington state Supreme Court said Thursday that recent law school graduates whose attempt to take the bar exam last week was marred by technology issues can receive a waiver to practice law in … more

Mitchell Roland / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 8/7/26