State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Army Warrant Officer Gregory Hederich, an unmanned aerial systems operations technician assigned to the Washington Army National Guard’s 81st Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company, operates a Ghost X drone during a counter-UAS field day demonstration at Yakima Training Center, Wash., June 2, 2026. (Photo by Joseph Siemandel/courtesy of U.S. Army)

Ahead of World Cup, authorities focused on deterring drones in Seattle

SEATTLE — Flying a drone above FIFA World Cup fan celebrations, practice facilities and matches at Lumen Field could get operators hit with a felony and a fine up to $100,000. … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 6/8/26

Another billionaire leaves Washington state

Zillow co-founder and billionaire Rich Barton is cashing in his Seattle chips for Las Vegas. Barton, who started the real estate giant in Seattle 20 years ago, announced on X last Friday that he … more

By Alexis Weisend / The Seattle Times | 6/8/26

Washington AG memo says 'realistic possibility' a wealth tax would be overturned

If the Washington state Legislature were to enact a wealth tax as proposed in recent years, it would face significant legal challenges and a "realistic possibility” of being overturned by the state … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 6/8/26

A Japanese beetle in the Grandview area in 2021. (Washington State Department of Agriculture)

Washington begins annual invasive pest survey

Washington state’s annual search for over 130 invasive insects, weeds and plant pathogens has begun. Employees with the state Department of Agriculture are traveling across Washington to set … more

By Aspen Ford / The Washington State Standard | 6/8/26

Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown, right, is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to accept a challenge of the political maps for the state Legislature so a lower court can determine if the way the lines were drawn complies with a recent ruling in a Louisiana case. Gov. Bob Ferguson, left, served as attorney general when the redistricting legal fight began. (Photo by Jerry Cornfield)

Why AG Nick Brown wants the Supreme Court involved in Washington’s redistricting fight

State Attorney General Nick Brown wants the conservative U.S. Supreme Court to wade into Washington’s partisan-fueled tiff on the boundaries of legislative districts. Last Tuesday, he told the … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 6/8/26

The Still Creek area in the Mt. Hood National Forest is part of 2 million acres of Oregon land protected by the federal Roadless Rule.

As Roadless Rule rollback looms, grassroots hearings take root

In 2001, the Organized Village of Kake, a sovereign tribal government in Southeast Alaska, supported the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to protect roadless portions of national forests across the … more

Christine Peterson / High Country News | 6/7/26

Oregon man accused of kidnapping found guilty of domestic violence

A 43-year-old Lebanon man will serve time in prison for domestic violence after assaulting and choking his girlfriend. A Linn County jury found David John Slack guilty on two felony counts of … more

Cody Mann / Corvallis Gazette-Times (TNS) | 6/7/26

Oregon vaccine opt-outs hit record high

Oregon has a vaccination problem that isn’t going away. More Oregon parents are having their children opt out of required school vaccinations, pushing exemption rates to record highs and … more

Kristine de Leon / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 6/7/26

Oregon craft breweries lose their froth

Oregon’s craft beer market has gone a little flat. The number of breweries is at its lowest point in eight years and employment is down, too, amid signs that Oregonians have all the beer they … more

Mike Rogoway / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 6/7/26

Space Needle, painted as giant soccer ball, gets in on World Cup fever

From the turf to the sky, Seattle is all in for the FIFA Men's World Cup — including the city's most iconic landmark. The Space Needle was painted like a giant soccer ball to celebrate the … more

Lauren Girgis / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/7/26

Seattle’s daily light rail ridership jumps to No. 1 in U.S.

Sound Transit's new light rail connection over Lake Washington has unleashed a tsunami of new passengers between Bellevue and Seattle, boosting the regional total to 155,000 daily boardings. … more

Mike Lindblom / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/7/26

MOD Pizza co-founders sell century-old Medina mansion for $11.6M

MOD Pizza co-founders Scott and Ally Svenson have sold their Medina mansion for nearly $11.6 million. “The Gables” home, completed in 1908, is considered to be the oldest home in Medina … more

Alexis Weisend / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/7/26

Where can Seattle’s ultrawealthy store their toys? Condos

In a city infamous for its high housing costs, Seattle’s ultrawealthy will soon be able to buy condos for their luxury cars and yachts. Nearly 9 acres of a former industrial fuel terminal on … more

Alexis Weisend / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/7/26

Tri-City pole vaulter is best ever Washington state high schooler. He can clear a 2-story house

Sometimes you can see an athletic achievement and know what you’re witnessing is brilliance. That happened last Saturday when Hanford High sophomore Jonathan Allen won the Class 4A boys’ … more

Jeff Morrow / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 6/7/26

Leaking chemicals found at another Washington state mill, records show

Toxic and highly corrosive chemicals — similar to those spilled in the fatal disaster at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging mill late last month — are leaking out of another pulp mill some 90 miles to … more

Conrad Swanson / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/7/26

The site of an implosion that took place in the morning of Tuesday, May 26 at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company can be seen by aerial photo in Longview on Wednesday, May 27.

50-mile motorcade honors victims of Longview industrial disaster

As he waited by Lexington Street Bridge for the motorcade coming down Interstate 5, Dan Carpenter said the only thing he could compare the accident to was the explosion of Mount St. Helens when he … more

Joseph O’Sullivan / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/7/26

Puyallup officer shoots, wounds man during domestic violence call

A man in his 30s was shot by a Puyallup police officer Friday evening after he allegedly charged the officer while holding a metal baton. The man suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken … more

Nicholas Deshais / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/7/26

‘Ghost bike’ memorial for Seattle teacher rallies grieving cyclists

More than 100 cyclists heaped flowers on a ghost bike" memorial at the intersection of East Yesler Way and 12th Avenue South on Saturday afternoon to memorialize a Seattle teacher who was struck and … more

Nicholas Deshais / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/7/26

Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba reaches up to hit a rainbow parachute alongside graduates of the Denise Louie Education Center’s head start program at Jefferson Park on Friday, June 5, 2026, in Seattle.

Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba using his platform to give back in Seattle

“Go on, throw the ball to him,” encouraged a father who was crouched beside his son. The child tightened his grip around the plastic ball with a skeptical look. Then he obliged, haphazardly … more

Sofia Schwarzwalder / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/7/26

Melinda French Gates strengthens One Roof Sports’ bid to revive Sonics

As Penny Lane from Almost Famous" would say — it's all happening. One of the country's great financial whales now swims at Seattle Center. Earlier in the week, it was announced that … more

Matt Calkins / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/7/26