State & Regional | The Daily Chronicle

With the famous Uncle Sam billboard's property in Napavine now for sale, the billboard states "How many Americans will we leave behind in Ukraine" on the side visible to northbound Interstate 5 commuters on Thursday, March 6.

Uncle Sam billboard off I-5 near Chehalis bought by Chehalis Tribe

The highly contentious “Uncle Sam billboard” off Interstate 5 in Lewis County has a new owner: The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. And yes, the tribe intends to take … more

By Kai Uyehara / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/6/25

Karl Ahlen, current Corps' Project Manager for the Sediment Retention Structure, stands facing the dam's spillway on Wednesday, May 21. It was built in response to the Mount St. Helens eruption.

Mt. St. Helens miracle: How the Army Corps protected the region's safety and economy

MOUNT ST. HELENS — Col. Terry Connell was at his downtown Portland church one Sunday in 1980 when Mount St. Helens erupted. “You could see all the smoke and the ash coming out of the … more

Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 5/23/25

Gov. Bob Ferguson shakes hands with Sen. June Robinson, chair of the Ways and Means committee, after signing the operating budget on May 20, 2025 in Olympia. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

Gov. Bob Ferguson signs budget boosting Washington state spending and taxes

Gov. Bob Ferguson signs budget boosting Washington state spending and taxes The governor used his veto pen sparingly, to the delight of Democrats and the disappointment of Republicans By … more

By Jerry Cornfield and Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 5/20/25

A sign and fence at the Green Hill School for juvenile offenders, in Chehalis, Washington. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

No fixes on horizon for crowding crisis in Washington state’s youth prisons

Problems with overcrowding have enveloped the Green Hill School juvenile detention center in Chehalis for nearly two years, leading to unsafe conditions for the minors incarcerated there and the … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 5/12/25

Protesters surround U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez's vehicle, waving signs and shouting as she departs the venue. The scene followed a tense town hall on Thursday, April 24 marked by frustration over her votes on election reform and party discipline.

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez grilled over SAVE Act vote at chaotic town hall

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, was met with boos, heckling and calls to resign Thursday night during a contentious town hall in Vancouver, where hundreds of constituents aired … more

By Norman Helgason / For The Chronicle | 4/28/25

Lawmakers on the Senate floor ahead of adjourning on April 27, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

Washington lawmakers close out session, sending budgets to governor

This year’s 105-day Washington state legislative session was in many ways a trudge. There was a multibillion-dollar budget deficit to solve. Sharp debate on parental rights and … more

By Jerry Cornfield and Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 4/28/25

The Washington state Capitol on April 18, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

New taxes, no furloughs in Washington state Legislature’s $77.8 billion budget deal

Democrats in the Washington Legislature unveiled a budget deal Saturday that cuts spending and hikes taxes on thousands of businesses to maintain core public services and erase a projected … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 4/26/25

Members of the Centralia City Council pose for a photo inside the TransAlta power plant on Thursday, April 24.

Centralia City Council tours TransAlta plant amid upcoming closure of last coal unit

Members of the Centralia City Council received a grand tour of the TransAlta plant north of Centralia Thursday to get a behind-the-scenes look at the plant’s operations and pending transition … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 4/25/25

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez speaks at a town hall in the TransAlta Commons at Centralia College on Tuesday, April 22.

MGP town hall gets rowdy amid disruptions from the audience

Third Congressional District U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, held a town hall in Centralia Tuesday, April 22. The event, which was held in the TransAlta Commons at Centralia … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 4/23/25

A 2018 photo shows a culvert along Tawes Creek, under State Route 9 north of Van Zandt, Wash. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Department of Transportation)

Up a creek: $5 billion culvert removal plan appears dead in Washington state Legislature

A creative plan in the Washington Legislature to raise billions of dollars to pay for the court-ordered removal of fish passage barriers appears to be a pipe dream, for this year at least. … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / Washington State Standard | 4/21/25

Inmates utilize the library at the Washington Corrections Center for Women on April 8.

Feds cancel $3.9 million in funding to Washington State Library, jeopardizing key services

The federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has canceled $3.9 million in grants to the Washington State Library, putting key programs and at least 30 jobs in jeopardy. … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/13/25

The Chehalis River flows past Cosmopolis and to the harbor.

How a rural Grays Harbor County town illustrates an American crossroads

COSMOPOLIS, Grays Harbor County — For a long time, this small and struggling community along the Chehalis River bled money, but newly elected Mayor Linda Springer set a new direction when she … more

Conrad Swanson / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/13/25

Belle Williams, center, is surrounded by her four children with a photo of Sam Williams. Sam was killed in 2000 when a distracted driver entered his work zone on U.S. Highway 12 near Mossyrock. Law enforcement cited the causing driver for excessive speed.

WSDOT honors family of Morton flagger killed on U.S. Highway 12 in 2000

On the morning of Feb. 22, 2000, Sam Williams, of Morton, was working as a flagger in a construction work zone on U.S. Highway 12 just west of Mossyrock when he was hit by a speeding and distracted … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/2/25

The sun descends towards the western horizon over the famous Uncle Sam billboard near Exit 72 on Interstate 5 in Napavine on Thursday, March 6.

Inside the sale of Lewis County’s Interstate 5 ‘Uncle Sam billboard’ property

The highly polarizing “Uncle Sam billboard” on Interstate 5 in Napavine has been stuck on the same two messages for four years. “How many Americans will we leave behind in … more

By Kai Uyehara / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/31/25

Employees of the U.S. Forest Service and members of the North Country Volcano Rescue Team hike through the Spirit Lake drainage tunnel in March 2016. The Forest Service is reviewing ways to update or replace the aging tunnel.

U.S. Forest Service eyes updating or even replacing Spirit Lake tunnel 45 years after eruption of Mount St. Helens

The U.S. Forest Service is reviewing ways to prevent Spirit Lake from overflowing by updating or replacing an aging tunnel built to drain the lake after the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption . The … more

Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 3/29/25

Members of the Washington State House of Representatives stood and applauded Special Olympics athletes and officials in the gallery at the Washington state Capitol.

‘A beacon of hope, opportunity and inclusion’: Abbarno authors resolution celebrating 50 years of Special Olympics

The Washington state House of Representatives passed House Resolution 4631 on Tuesday, March 25, honoring the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics Washington. State Rep. Peter Abbarno, … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 3/28/25

The outside of Green Hill School is pictured in Chehalis on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

State lawmakers aim to relieve strained Green Hill School and juvenile legal system

With overcrowding at one of Washington's two youth prisons hitting a crisis point, state lawmakers this legislative session have homed in on juvenile crime and incarceration, hoping to provide relief … more

Lauren Girgis / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/17/25

Washington State Capitol (Laurel Demkovich/Washington State Standard)

Barring a referendum, Washington state elected leaders will receive hefty pay hikes in July

Only one thing could delay, and possibly derail, pay raises for state elected officials this year: a referendum. A citizen commission approved a new salary schedule for members of the … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 3/17/25

Protesters hold up signs as cars pass by during a “Protect Our Parks” protest along State Route 706 outside of the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park near Ashford on Saturday, March. 1.

In focus: ‘Protect Our Parks’ protest rallies support for public lands, workers

Protesters held up signs and chanted as cars passed by during a “Protect Our Parks” protest along state Route 706 outside of the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park near … more

3/3/25

Family of road worker killed on U.S. Highway 12 in 2000 renews calls for safe driving

On Feb. 22, 2000, Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) flagger Sam Williams Jr., of Morton, was struck and killed by a vehicle while assisting with roadwork on U.S. Highway 12 near … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 2/21/25