State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

The Washington state Capitol is pictured from Heritage Park in Olympia on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Association of Washington Business announces final round of 2026 endorsements

The Association of Washington Business (AWB) has announced a third and final round of legislative endorsements for the 2026 elections. The AWB Board of Directors voted to endorse candidates in … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/23/26

Ukraine supporters meet U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez after her recent return from Washington, D.C.

MGP votes to support Ukrainian defense and sanction Russia

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, recently voted for a comprehensive package of sanctions targeting Russia, a news release from her office announced. The Lindsey O. Graham … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/23/26

Convicted killer arrested on gun charge outside Richland shopping center

A 38-year-old convicted murderer is in trouble with the law again after allegedly carrying a gun outside the Uptown Shopping Plaza. Jalil K. Handy appeared by video from the Benton County Jail … more

Cameron Probert / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 9/23/26

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

Wildfire relief checks reach hundreds of Spokane residents

Hundreds of Spokane residents who lost homes during recent fires have applied for the $10,000 grants offered by retired hotelier Walt Worthy, who set up the funds in memory of his late wife, Karen. … more

Thomas Clouse / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 9/23/26

'Time will tell how it all pans out': Another warm winter could be on the books for the Inland Northwest

The autumnal equinox Tuesday night marks the official end of summer. And while temperatures have been slightly warmer than what's considered "normal" for this time of year, Rachael Fewkes, a … more

Mathew Callaghan / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 9/23/26

Judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit seeking Washington state voter records

A federal judge in Seattle dismissed on Tuesday a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit demanding private information about Washington voters, continuing a losing streak for the Trump administration in … more

David Gutman and Jim Brunner / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 9/23/26

Hoh River Bridge to close for repairs; long detours on Highway 101

The Hoh River Bridge will be closed south of Forks for repairs for three 6-day stretches until mid-October, blocking the full loop around the Olympic Peninsula on Highway 101 and causing hours-long … more

Kai Uyehara / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 9/23/26

Oil swings as traders eye Saudi pipeline restart, US-Iran talks

Oil swung as Saudi Arabia moved to restart a key pipeline and the U.S. flagged progress in talks with Iran to end a war that has disrupted energy markets for nearly seven months. Brent traded … more

Charles Gorrivan and Bingyan Wang / Bloomberg News (TNS) | 9/23/26

Seattle mayor's proposed budget increases public safety spending, no new taxes

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson proposed no new business taxes in her budget plan for next year, instead closing an estimated $175 million budget gap by eliminating 143 positions, most of them … more

Randy Diamond / The Center Square | 9/23/26

Eastern Washington housing more affordable, but most still priced out of market

Eastern Washington remains one of the more attainable parts of Washington for homebuyers, but a new housing report and local housing officials say rising construction costs, limited supply, mortgage … more

Austin Reed | The Center Square contributor | 9/23/26

Powerlines in Hood River County above the Columbia River July 25, 2024.

Pacific Power to charge new Oregon data centers for all costs associated with growing energy need

Oregon’s second largest investor-owned electric utility could soon directly assign the costs of new energy projects and infrastructure needed for data centers to data center operators. Pacific … more

Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 9/23/26

Joelene and Tomas Keen kiss outside the Airway Heights Corrections Center in Spokane, Washington, on August 8, 2026. (Moe K. Clark/Investigatewest)

Washington governor faces criticism for clemency denials

Joelene Keen was overjoyed when she checked her phone on May 11 and saw an email from her husband’s lawyer asking them to call him. She knew her husband, Tomas Keen, wouldn’t see the message … more

By Moe K. Clark / InvestigateWest | 9/23/26

The University of Oregon Skybridge, located on Franklin Boulevard.

Phil and Penny Knight give $1B to launch University of Oregon engineering school

Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny, announced a whopping $1 billion contribution to the University of Oregon early Wednesday. The money will help start an engineering school in … more

Mike Rogoway / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 9/23/26

Trump endorses congressman, attacks Washington state income tax

President Donald Trump reiterated his “complete and total endorsement” for U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner in a video posted Monday to the president’s social media site. In a video recorded … more

By Emry Dinman / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 9/23/26

Hospital staff made Washington family drive dead son home, lawsuit says

A Seattle couple is suing an Oregon hospital and doctor after they were allegedly told to transport their deceased infant’s body to Seattle using their personal vehicle. Aleksandr and Nataliya … more

By Ann Duan / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 9/23/26

The Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem. The state’s prison system recently won a ruling in a federal appeals court that deals with how the state houses transgender women in its custody. (Photo by Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Federal appeals court blocks restrictions on placement of trans women in Oregon prisons

Oregon does not need to presume transgender women should be housed in women’s prisons and may continue to make case-by-case placement decisions that have allowed most of them to remain in custody … more

By Shaanth Nanguneri / The Oregon Capital Chronicle | 9/23/26

The Cascade County Courthouse in Great Falls, Montana (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

Judge orders immigration officials to release 24 people unlawfully detained in Montana

A federal judge ordered immigration officials to release 24 individuals being unlawfully held in Cascade County, some for more than six weeks, Upper Seven Law announced in a news release. Upper … more

By Keila Szpaller / The Daily Montanan | 9/23/26

Kenworth electric heavy-duty trucks are among those available for the Washington Zero-Emission Program. (Photo by Aspen Ford/Washington State Standard)

Small businesses slow to take up Washington’s new electric truck vouchers

A line of work trucks sat running in the parking lot of Kent’s Pacific Raceways Monday, but there was hardly any engine noise and no diesel exhaust. The vehicles, ranging from forklifts … more

By Aspen Ford / The Washington State Standard | 9/23/26

A demonstrator holds a sign in support of Senate Bill 6346, dubbed the “Millionaires Tax” bill, during a rally at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Tuesday, Feb.10.

Public-sector unions pour millions into campaign to keep Washington income tax

With six weeks until the Nov. 3 election, union backed campaign donations are pouring in for the “ No on I-645 ” campaign. The Washington Education Association tops campaign donations for … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 9/22/26

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.

Nonresidents could face paying Washington's new income tax

People who never even set foot in Washington State might be subject to the new millionaire's tax if the repeal movement is not successful, according to discussions at the Washington state income tax … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 9/22/26