State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Pierce County woman sentenced to seven years in prison for drug and gun possession, feds say

A 39-year-old Pierce County woman was sentenced to 84 months in prison for drug and gun possession, acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington announced on Friday. … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 3/24/25

Woman missing, dog saved after fall into river near Mount Rainier

A woman was still missing Sunday night hours after falling into the Carbon River under the Fairfax Bridge in Pierce County, according to the sheriff's department. The woman in her late 20s fell … more

Lauren Rosenblatt / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/24/25

Washington state’s multi-billion-dollar transportation budget shortfall could ‘mean pausing a project’

Washington state’s transportation budget — like its operating budget — has a bumpy road ahead as lawmakers face a multi-billion-dollar shortfall in the coming biennia. State … more

Simone Carter / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/24/25

FILE PHOTO — A cat stares at a toy at the Lewis County Animal Shelter in Centralia on Tuesday, March 18.

Oregon man whose cat died from bird flu sues Thurston County pet food company

Even lying in an oxygen cage at DoveLewis Animal Hospital, Tim Hanson said his cat Kira still rolled over for belly rubs. It was one of the last visits Hanson would have with her as she, like several … more

Austin De Dios / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/24/25

Trump’s logging orders: A win-win or recipe for continued conflict?

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders aimed at ramping up logging on federal lands. The directives prompted polar and predictable reactions from timber industry … more

Ted Sickinger / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/24/25

Police: Armed resident confronts burglar in Cowlitz County

A man suspected of burglarizing an Old West Side home was in custody as of Friday afternoon. Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Patricia Fassett appointed a public defender to represent Adin … more

Matt Esnayra / The Daily News | 3/24/25

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff apply tags and record data while sampling Chinook salmon at the Washougal River weir in an undated photo. (Photo courtesy of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)

After fatal accidents, WDFW workers press Gov. Bob Ferguson on agency appointee

A labor union representing most employees at Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife says it’s troubled that a member of a commission that oversees the agency may not get reappointed … more

By Bill Lucia / The Washington State Standard | 3/24/25

Senators seek to restore $1 billion for meals at schools, elsewhere

U.S. senators from California and Nevada joined their Democratic colleagues to call on Trump and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reinstate a reported $1 billion for meals provided by schools … more

By Liam Hibbert / The Center Square | 3/23/25

Whitley Campbell works at an American Red Cross blood drive in the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

Red Cross seeks to rally 30,000 supporters as natural disasters stack up

The Northwest Region of the American Red Cross is issuing a call for help to “ensure no one faces a disaster alone” by donating on Red Cross Giving Day, March 26, the American Red Cross … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/23/25

Washington state agency accused of negligence after death of baby in hot car

The state agency responsible for protecting children has been accused of negligence after the death of a 1-year-old boy who in May 2023 was left in a hot car in Puyallup. Steven Kopp of Graham … more

Shea Johnson / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/23/25

Rep. Frank Chopp, who served 30 years in the Legislature and was the state’s longest-serving House Speaker from 1999 to 2019. (Legislative Support Services)

Former Washington state House Speaker Frank Chopp dies

Longtime Washington Democratic Rep. Frank Chopp, who became one of the state’s most powerful House speakers over the two decades he held the leadership role, died Saturday. He was 71. … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 3/23/25

Protesters hold up a series of signs during a rally opposing state budget cuts on the steps of the Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia on Monday, March 17.

Washington state workers slam furloughs, other pay cut plans, claiming they are a ‘tax on state employees’

Just after noon Thursday, a handful of staff trickled out of the Attorney General’s Office in Olympia, holding signs in the light rain. “No cuts. No furloughs,” their placards … more

Simone Carter / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/22/25

Washington state lawmakers eye big tax on Zyn, synthetic nicotine pouches

As nicotine pouches proliferate the market — and teen mouths — state lawmakers considered expanding the definition of tobacco products on Thursday to generate over $100 million in tax … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 3/21/25

Photo of Loran and Margaret Dowell. Loran was murdered in 1980 by Timothy Pauley at Seatac tavern. Pauley was granted clemency by former Gov. Jay Inslee

Victim’s family pleads with Ferguson to block release of murderer granted clemency by Inslee

Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office says it is weighing all the evidence ahead of the planned release of convicted triple murderer Timothy Pauley, who was granted clemency by former … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 3/21/25

Greg Lane, executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Washington, holds a petition for Initiative 2066, the ballot measure aimed at blocking local and state efforts to transition away from use of natural gas. Anthony Anton, president of the Washington Hospitality Association, and Ryann Blake, owner of Chimney Techniques in Aberdeen, joined a news conference May 15, 2024 in Olympia, Wash. to kick off signature gathering. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

Judge overturns Washington state natural gas measure approved by voters

A King County Superior Court judge on Friday invalidated the ballot measure approved by voters in November that seeks to slow Washington’s shift from natural gas toward technology like electric … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 3/21/25

DOC suspends visitation for Washington Corrections Center unit amid potential mumps cases

Two incarcerated individuals at the Washington Corrections Center (WCC) in Shelton who presented mumps symptoms last week tested negative for the virus on Monday. Out of caution, the Washington … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/21/25

Chinook Indian Nation critical of Gluesenkamp Perez over ‘broken promise’ for federal recognition

On Thursday, March 13, a Chinook Indian Nation social media post stated that U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, had backed off of her promise to champion federal recognition for the tribe … more

By Cade Barker / For The Chronicle | 3/21/25

This rendering of the proposed Chehalis River water retention facility near Pe Ell was provided as part of a video created by the Chehalis River Flood Control District.

Chehalis Flood Authority announces support for $80 million state funding request

The Chehalis Basin Flood Authority approved a letter Thursday, March 20, that will be sent to the Washington state Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Capital Budget Committee in support of … more

By Jacob Moore / Jacob@chronline.com | 3/21/25

Thurston County music nonprofit asks public for help after reporting $10,000 equipment theft

An Olympia nonprofit that teaches music to youth says thousands of dollars' worth of instruments and audio equipment were stolen from its headquarters last week. Bobby Williams, executive … more

Martín Bilbao / The Olympian (TNS) | 3/21/25

Leftwing activist group says it reserved hundreds of seats at Washington congressman’s tumultuous town hall

Most of the tickets to U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner's tumultuous town hall Monday night at Whitworth University were reportedly claimed by members of the Spokane branch of the left-wing activist … more

Emry Dinman / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 3/21/25