State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

An elk wanders through a Packwood yard as smoke from the Goat Rocks Fire rises from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in 2022.

Fire restrictions take effect on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Due to increased risk of wildfires, Gifford Pinchot National Forest fire managers have issued restrictions on campfires, smoking and other activities within the forest. The restrictions were … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/1/26

Macklemore, center, stands with Green Hill School residents Ron, Diante, Justin, Blake, Connor and TJ during a visit to the Chehalis juvenile rehabilitation facility on Friday, March 15, 2024. “Dark Road,” an anti-fentanyl campaign video produced and performed by a group of seven youth residing at Green Hill School in Chehalis, was officially the winner of the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) Anti-Fentanyl Awareness Youth Challenge. The video was created in partnership with The Bridge Music Project specifically for the SAMHSA competition to raise awareness about fentanyl, empower youth to develop a strategy to educate their peers about the substance, and prevent drug overdose deaths.

$5 million announced to support creative youth development programs across Washington state

Three area nonprofits were announced as recipients of a record investment for creative youth development programs in Washington. Mi Chiantla, The Bridge Music Project and UTOPIA Washington … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/1/26

Thurston County included in sustainable dairy digester $13.8 million Commerce investment

Seven projects in five mostly rural counties, including Thurston County and one tribal community, will receive a total of $13,804,000 to help build, repair and upgrade systems that capture methane … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/1/26

Boeing’s professional aerospace union to start contract talks July 1

Boeing and the union representing its white-collar workers are set to start contract negotiations July 1, teeing up discussions over wages, benefits and job security. The Society of Professional … more

Lauren Rosenblatt / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/1/26

Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship in rebuke to Trump administration

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that virtually all people born in the United States are American citizens, striking down President Donald Trump's executive order that sought to end birthright … more

Orion Donovan Smith / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 7/1/26

Drivers who hit, killed state trooper in Tacoma won’t face criminal charges

Pierce County prosecutors determined last month that the two drivers who separately struck a State Patrol trooper on a highway onramp, resulting in her death in December, won’t face criminal … more

Sara Jean Green / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/1/26

U.S. Supreme Court clears way for Washingtonians to decide issue of transgender athletes

Although the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling allowing states to bar transgender athletes from participating in women's and girls' sports will not have an immediate impact on Washington policy, its … more

Mitchell Roland / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 7/1/26

Charges refiled against man accused of causing Bothell officer’s death

King County prosecutors filed charges for the third time against the man accused of causing the death of a Bothell police officer and wounding another officer during a 2020 gunfight. Henry … more

Paige Cornwell / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/1/26

Supreme Court trans athlete ruling: What it means for Washington state

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that states can ban transgender girls and women from competing in girls' and women’s school athletics, disappointing LGBTQ+ advocates in Washington state but … more

Ryan Nguyen / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/1/26

Oregon 13-year-old on motorcycle hospitalized after collision with state police vehicle

A 13-year-old motorcycle passenger has been hospitalized after a collision with an Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife patrol vehicle in Eddyville. The crash took place at the 600 block of … more

Sophia Cossette / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/1/26

Oregon man tried to kidnap 3-year-old at park, police say

Salem police on Sunday arrested a man for allegedly trying to kidnap a 3-year-old at a park in front of the child’s father. The father of the child was at the park with his two children, the … more

Alissa Gary / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/1/26

Blue Pool, also known as Tamolitch Falls, is a natural pool formed by water seeping up through porous rock that came from a lava flow that buried a three-mile stretch of the river.

Man drowns after jumping into Oregon’s famous Blue Pool

A 21-year-old man drowned Friday after jumping into Oregon’s Tamolitch Falls, also known as Blue Pool, officials said. Around 8:47 p.m., the Linn County Sheriff’s Office received a call that … more

Sophia Cossette / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/1/26

Oregon-raised actress’s cause of death revealed

Daveigh Chase, the Albany, Oregon-raised actress who starred in “Lilo & Stitch” and “The Ring,” died earlier this month from complications of AIDS, according to a medical examiner. … more

Jonathan Bach / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/1/26

Willis Van Dusen Jr. and his sister, Trudy Van?Dusen, are the sixth generation in the family business.

Is the world’s smallest Pepsi bottler also Oregon’s oldest business?

While reporting on The Oregonian’s 175th anniversary, several longtime editors told me the newspaper was the oldest continuously operating business in Oregon. The inaugural edition was first … more

Samantha Swindler / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/1/26

Lightning strikes the east side of The Alvord Desert Thursday, August 8, 2013. The storm formed around The Pueblo Mountains and moved rapidly over the edge of the desert delivering amazing lightning bolts, rumbling thunder and even rain. The Desert, which lies within a rain shadow created by the Coast and Cascade mountain ranges as well the adjacent Steens Mountain, receives as little as 5 inches of rain a year.

Oregon golfer survives after being hit by lightning while on the course alone

A bolt of lightning knocked a man unconscious at a West Linn golf club on Saturday, fire officials said. He survived the rare event. Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue told The Oregonian/OregonLive … more

Tatum Todd / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/1/26

Washington, Oregon police recover 8 vehicles, make 9 arrests in regional theft operation

A multiagency stolen vehicle recovery operation netted eight vehicles last week across Multnomah County, according to the Portland Police Bureau. The operation, which took place June 23, … more

Tarek Anthony / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/1/26

Orca surprises Oregon surfer, who calls the encounter ‘wild and raw’

Lewis Childs was surfing by himself off Neskowin in Tillamook County on Friday morning when something unusual happened: a 6-foot-tall dorsal fin broke the surface of the water about 30 yards from his … more

Sophia Cossette / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/1/26

The sun sets on Mount St. Helens on Wednesday, June 12.

Man who went missing near Mount St. Helens was ‘in love’ with PNW, dad says

In late April, during a visit with his son, Dale Andersen found his son Ben talking about running again after a two-year injury. The 37-year-old Southwest Portland resident was eyeing a return to the … more

Tarek Anthony / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/1/26

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson appears in a campaign portrait.

Seattle Mayor Wilson backs lefty challengers to veteran Washington Democrats

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is sticking her neck out for two left-wing challengers to veteran Seattle Democrats in the Washington Legislature. Wilson, who herself unseated an incumbent whose … more

By Jim Brunner and David Kroman / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/1/26

Fox parasite that can kill humans spotted in Washington state, researchers say

A fox parasite that can spread to dogs and humans has made another appearance in the Pacific Northwest, researchers at Washington State University said Tuesday. Commonly known as the fox … more

By Tarek Anthony / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/1/26