State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

The Capitol building in Olympia, home to the Senate and House chambers, is lit up on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Gun-safety advocates push for new, ‘common-sense’ restrictions in the Washington state Legislature

Gun-safety advocates are urging state lawmakers to pass a package of new firearm restrictions this session. Multiple firearm-related bills received public hearings Tuesday morning, including … more

Simone Carter / The News Tribune (TNS) | 1/22/25

Oregon firefighters rescue couple from Palisades Fire in Southern California

It was the early morning on Jan. 10, Oregon firefighters’ first day on the line fighting the massive Palisades fire in Southern California that went on to burn thousands of acres, scorch … more

Gosia Wozniacka / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 1/22/25

Surveillance videos displayed in court allegedly showed Jason Steiner, 34, firing through the walk-up window of a La Mota dispensary on Oct. 3, 2024.

Oregon cannabis shop worker accused of killing two would-be robbers denied bail

The cannabis store manager accused of killing an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old who attempted to rob the North Portland store at gunpoint will remain in custody without bail until the case reaches … more

Zane Sparling / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 1/22/25

Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

More than a dozen defendants from Pacific Northwest included in President Trump’s pardons in Jan. 6 riots

A federal jury in the District of Columbia was set to start deliberating Tuesday morning after Bend resident Jared Lane Wise’s nine-day trial wrapped up last week on civil disorder and five … more

Maxine Bernstein / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 1/22/25

Prosecutors said dashboard camera footage showed Eric Clayson Streitzel driving a stolen tow truck as Retriever towing employee Travis Christ called 911 from the truck bed on July 10, 2022.

Trial begins for alleged tow truck hijacker who drove wildly as worker clung for his life in Oregon

A Portland man who hopped into the cab of an idling tow truck and took off — as a Retriever Towing employee clung on for dear life — is fighting a half-dozen felony charges as a trial … more

Zane Sparling / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 1/22/25

Five arrested during anti-Trump protests in downtown Portland, face graffiti, harassment, other charges

Police arrested five people suspected of vandalism and related crimes during a political protest in downtown Portland Tuesday night, officials said. A large group began a march, heralded as … more

The Oregonian / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 1/22/25

Five teenagers in custody after alleged burglary spree followed by police chase in Vancouver and beyond

Five teenagers — including two 14-year-olds — went on a burglary spree on Sunday night and early Monday morning across two southwest Washington counties, ending in a car pursuit by … more

Tatum Todd / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 1/22/25

Inside the Senate on the last day of the 2024 Legislature at the state Capitol on Thursday, March 7.

Replacements picked for two Washington state legislators who took jobs in Ferguson’s administration

Emily Alvarado moved from the House to the Senate in the state Legislature on Tuesday after the King County Council appointed her to replace Joe Nguyen, who Gov. Bob Ferguson tapped last month to … more

By Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / The Washington State Standard | 1/22/25

David Lee, from Portland, catches smelt on the Cowlitz River near Longview on Tuesday, March 5.

Washington releases smelt dipping days ahead of first season with license requirement

Smelt’s annual return from the ocean has long drawn thousands of dip-netters up and down the Cowlitz River. This year, however, the prized tradition will be different. The Washington … more

By Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 1/21/25

From left to right, Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, D-Seattle, Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, during Jan. 21, 2025 press availability in Olympia, Wash.

Washington state Dems 'scrubbing the budget' even as they say wealthy should pay their fair share

Nine days into the 2025 session, majority Democrats in the Washington State Legislature have yet to tip their hand on several rumored tax increase proposals floated as part of a plan to fill a … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 1/21/25

The Washington State Capitol is pictured in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Washington state bill would make ‘gender expression,’ illegal immigrants protected classes in K-12

A Washington bill introduced this legislative session would add new protected classes to a state law regarding nondiscrimination against students in the public school system, including “gender … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 1/21/25

Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins speaks before Gov. Bob Ferguson is sworn into office at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Democrats in Washington state Legislature say they want to avoid ‘chaos machine’ in D.C.

With a large budget gap to solve and major bills on topics like housing and education to shepherd, Democratic leaders in Washington’s Legislature say they are trying to avoid getting too caught … more

By Bill Lucia / The Washington State Standard | 1/21/25

Thurston County deputies quell riot attempt, one officer injured

A Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputy was injured and two inmates arrested after a riot attempt at the Thurston County Jail on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 18. Thurston County … more

By The Nisqually Valley News staff | 1/21/25

Attorney General Nick Brown Waves to lawmakers during a joint legislative session in the House chambers at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Washington state attorney general sues over Trump’s birthright citizenship order

Washington’s attorney general, along with three other states, sued the Trump administration Tuesday over the president’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 1/21/25

Braun proposes transforming The Evergreen State College to meet health care workforce demands

Washington state Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, is proposing that The Evergreen State College in Olympia change its mission in order to educate health care workers to fill demands in the workforce, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/21/25

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners runs through the agenda for the Jan. 7 meeting.

Thurston County commissioners aiming to boost community engagement with proclamations

As the Thurston County Board of Commissioners plans its goals for the new year, it is aiming to increase community engagement by continuing its proclamations and making the process more robust. … more

By Dylan Reubenking/dylan@yelmonline.com | 1/21/25

Guests including Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk attend the Inauguration of Donald J. Trump in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.

Once dubbed a ‘woke’ billionaire, Jeff Bezos changes his tune on Donald Trump

In 2016, Jeff Bezos worried aloud that Donald Trump, then an underdog presidential candidate, could “erode” American democracy. Speaking at a Vanity Fair summit in October that year, … more

Lauren Rosenblatt / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 1/21/25

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.

As President Donald Trump takes office, some Washingtonians hope for ‘American Golden Age’

Donald Trump was sworn as the 47th president of the United States on Monday morning, and some Washington state residents and politicians are commemorating the historic event. Standing inside the … more

Simone Carter / The News Tribune (TNS) | 1/21/25

Costco Teamsters vote to authorize strike

More than 18,000 Costco workers, including drivers, warehouse and store employees, will go on strike at the end of the month if the union and America’s third-largest retailer fail to sign a new … more

Kristine Sherred / The News Tribune (TNS) | 1/21/25

J.D. Vance is sworn in as U.S. vice president as his wife Usha Vance and family and President Donald Trump look on in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.

Trump commutes sentencing of Washington state Proud Boy Ethan Nordean in Jan. 6 attack

President Donald Trump, who was sworn in Monday, signed a sweeping pardon and clemency for rioters criminally charged in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol moments after he stepped into the … more

Lauren Girgis / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 1/21/25