State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Tearful Washington teen appears in court, suspected of driving drunk when her sister was killed

A 19-year-old woman made a tearful court appearance after being accused of killing her 22-year-old sister in a car wreck over the weekend. "I've never lived here in the Tri-Cities," Taytum … more

Cameron Probert / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 10/22/24

Washington man sent to prison after trying to meet child at a hotel for sex while off his meds

A Pasco man has been sentenced to seven years in prison and a lifetime of probation after he attempted to meet a 13-year-old for sex at a Richland motel while he was off his mental health medication. … more

Annette Cary / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 10/22/24

Scene of shooting Monday morning in Fall City, Washington, on October 21, 2024.

Teen in custody after three youths, two adults fatally shot near Fall City, Washington

SEATTLE — Five people, including three youths, were fatally shot near the Lake Alice public boat launch site in the Fall City area Monday morning, according to law enforcement officials. A … more

Lauren Girgis, Catalina Gaitán and Vonnai Phair / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/22/24

Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay P. Evans, 31, left, a naval flight officer, and Lt. Serena N. Wileman, 31, a naval aviator, were killed Oct. 15 when their EA-18G Growler crashed near Mount Rainier.

Navy Growler aviators killed in crash near Mount Rainier described as 'trailblazers'

Two 31-year-old Navy veterans from California were identified Monday as the aviators killed when their EA-18G Growler crashed last week east of Mount Rainier. Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay Evans, a naval … more

Paige Cornwell / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/22/24

Eastern Washington school district decries transgender girls' participation in sports with resolution

The Mead School Board denounced transgender girls' participation in school sports through a resolution approved unanimously Monday night. While current state law prevents the district from … more

Elena Perry / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 10/22/24

Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane, prays with members of the Christian Crusaders motorcycle ministry as Satanists conduct their ritual on the capitol steps in 2019.

State bar association declines to discipline extremist former lawmaker Matt Shea over Malheur incident, citing 'constitutional scrutiny'

The Washington State Bar Association has dismissed a grievance filed against former Washington lawmaker Matthew Shea after he was alleged to have planned and participated in political violence, … more

Alexandra Duggan / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 10/22/24

A ballot drop box in Chehalis on Thursday, June 27.

Washington state voters worried about post election violence, poll shows

Nearly two-thirds of Washingtonians are concerned about politically motivated violence following this year's elections, a new poll found. A similar proportion worry that election disputes would … more

Nicholas Deshais / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/22/24

Johnathan Daniel Beacon, 37, (right) sits next to defense attorney Diana Wildland (left) in a booth at the Thurston County jail on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Beacon has been accused of attempting to murder his parents with a sword.

Judge sets $2 million bail for Thurston County man accused of stabbing parents with sword

A 37-year-old Olympia man accused of attempting to kill his parents with a sword is being held in the Thurston County jail in lieu of $2 million bail. Johnathan Daniel Beacon attended his … more

Martín Bilbao / The Olympian (TNS) | 10/22/24

Pierce County man accused of killing father with bow and arrow had previous domestic violence arrest, charges say

A Graham man accused of fatally shooting his father with a bow and arrow had previously threatened to harm his family members, prosecutors say. Pierce County prosecutors charged Eric Polyashov, … more

Puneet Bsanti / The News Tribune (TNS) | 10/22/24

Crash victims identified as 31-year-old Navy pilots

Two 31-year-old Navy pilots from California were identified Monday as the victims in the Growler crash east of Mount Rainier last week. Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay P. Evans, a naval flight officer, and … more

By Lauren Girgis / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/21/24

This tiny western skunk covers more ground than mammals 100 times its size

What’s black and white and runs all over? The tiny western spotted skunk, Oregon State University researchers found. The skunk, which resembles a black and white tube sock, weighs just one … more

Sami Edge / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/21/24

Thurston County Youth Football League player, 13, protested by taking a knee. Here's why

The Thurston County Youth Football League is a major organizer of youth sports. At a recent game for the league at Tumwater High School, multiple teams were decked out in professional-looking … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 10/21/24

Two arrested for trying to set man on fire at Thurston County homeless encampment, records show

Two men in their 30s accused of trying to set a man on fire at the homeless encampment known as the Jungle are in custody, Thurston County Jail information shows. The first arrest was on … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 10/21/24

Billings resident Tina Gellos travels to her gate using an autonomous wheelchair at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.

Self-driving wheelchairs get pilot program at Sea-Tac airport

SEATTLE — Self-driving wheelchairs have taken hundreds of passengers to their gates at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, under a new program from Alaska Airlines. A testing period for … more

Caitlyn Freeman / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/21/24

Thurston County man sentenced for arsons at Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Halls in Washington

A federal judge sentenced an Olympia man to 11 years in prison Friday for arson and a shooting aimed at three Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Halls in Western Washington, bringing an end to a case that … more

Heidi Groover / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/21/24

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate David Olson speaks at the East Lewis County Candidate Forum at the Mossyrock Community Center on Wednesday, July 24.

Reykdal faces challenger David Olson in race to lead Washington schools

The similarities between the candidates for Washington's next public schools chief, Chris Reykdal and David Olson, are few. Incumbent Reykdal credits public education as the "great equalizer" … more

Julia Park / The News Tribune (TNS) | 10/21/24

Man suspected of killing his father with bow and arrow arrested in Pierce County

A 25-year-old man is accused of killing his father following an argument on Friday. Pierce County deputies were dispatched at 9:42 p.m. to help firefighters who were performing CPR on a man at … more

Puneet Bsanti / The News Tribune (TNS) | 10/21/24

Hens peck through dirt west of Chehalis.

Four test positive in Washington's first human bird flu infections

Washington state health officials are investigating after four agricultural workers tested presumptively positive for bird flu, marking the first presumed human cases in the state, the Washington … more

Heidi Groover / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/20/24

70% of Washington public school students now have access to free meals

Nearly 800,000 kids are eating free meals in school after the Legislature expanded access — but the state will need to come up with more money if it wants to continue the program. … more

By Grace Deng / The Washington Standard | 10/20/24

Graduates toss their caps and spray Goofy Spray during the Centralia High School graduation at Tiger Stadium on Friday, June 7.

Washington Board of Education wants to overhaul high school graduation requirements

The Washington Board of Education has launched a multi-year initiative to rework the state’s high school graduation requirements, arguing that the current standards fall short of “fully … more

By Grace Deng / The Washington Standard | 10/20/24