State & Regional | The Daily Chronicle

Attorney General Bob Ferguson smiles while talking with members of the press during a legislative meeting inside the John A. Cherberg building in Olympia in February 2023.

Judge rules Washington's ban on high-capacity magazines unconstitutional, case now heads to state Supreme Court

OLYMPIA — When a judge ruled Washington's ban on high-capacity gun magazines to be unconstitutional Monday, the state sought and received an emergency order minutes later to keep the law on the … more

Ellen Dennis / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/10/24

NAIA ruling to ban transgender women from competing in sports will affect Northwest colleges

A pair of colleges in the Inland Northwest whose sports teams are overseen by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics face a new reality: transgender athletes will soon be … more

Lauren Rendahl and Ellen Dennis / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/10/24

'Gone for good:' U.S. workers flee farms, leaving Washington growers struggling under old rules

The beating heart of Washington's agriculture industry is in danger, but a central Washington lawmaker has a plan to help shore up the most critical issue farmers are facing — a disappearing … more

Cory McCoy / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 4/10/24

Suspect found with four knives, an ax, a saw blade and metal claw, police in Thurston County say

A 38-year-old man was arrested late last month on suspicion of smashing a vehicle with an ax at the Olympia Auto Mall, according to police. About 5:45 p.m. March 28, police were dispatched to … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 4/10/24

'It's just an instinct': Pierce County police officer recounts how he saved drowning teenager

Police officer Steve O'Neal and his colleagues were having lunch Monday at a Tacoma Police Department substation when they heard over the radio that a teenager was drowning in Wapato Lake. Realizing … more

Puneet Bsanti / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/10/24

The 777 factory line, left, is seen next to the 787 line, right, at Boeing’s Everett Production Facility Wednesday, June 15, 2022 in Everett, Wash.

New Boeing whistleblower alleges serious structural flaws on 787 and 777 jets

A Boeing quality engineer went public Tuesday with damaging allegations that the jet-maker took manufacturing shortcuts to increase production rates that leave potentially serious structural flaws on … more

Dominic Gates / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/10/24

A long bridge crosses over the Washougal River at the Washougal River Greenway Trail in Camas, Washington.

Two Oregon and Washington cities named among best places to live in U.S.

Are you a resident of Camas or Eugene? If so, congratulations, you’re in one of the best places to live in America. That’s according to a 2024 list by personal finance website Money, … more

Jamie Hale / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 4/10/24

Rainy weather didn't stop eager customers from turning out as In-N-Out Burger opened its third Oregon location, in Keizer, on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019.

In-N-Out makes it official: The popular burger chain is coming to Washington

In-N-Out is officially coming to Southwest Washington. The popular burger chain confirmed the Ridgefield location in an Instagram post on Tuesday. It will be the first In-N-Out restaurant in … more

Julie Evensen / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 4/10/24

Southwest Washington man accused of firing on churches, leading deputies on I-5 chase

A string of drive-by shootings at Vancouver churches ended in a police chase down Interstate 5 early Tuesday morning, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. No one was hurt, but … more

Tanner Todd / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 4/10/24

Driver tried to get Washington state troopers to shoot him; 'You were selfish,' says judge

A Pasco man will serve more than a decade in prison for shooting at Washington State Patrol troopers on Interstate 82. A year before his confrontation on the highway west of Tri-Cities, Melvin … more

Cameron Probert / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 4/9/24

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America has worked on increasing gun safety laws in Washington, making the state one of the top 10 states in gun law strength.

Washington state gun sales spike, then plummet as new laws take effect

SEATTLE — Gun sales in Washington have fallen dramatically this year, according to federal background check data, as a suite of new state gun regulations took effect. The drop-off in … more

David Gutman / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/9/24

According to Lacey Police, officers and detectives were dispatched at around 9 p.m. to the 4600 block of Belair Drive SE, near College Street. A bullet had traveled through the home and into the bathroom, where a child was bathing. The bullet struck a tile wall, and the child was injured by broken tiles.

Bullet from drive-by shooting nearly hits bathing child, injures family dog in Thurston County

The Lacey Police Department is on the lookout for a suspect after a Lacey home was the subject of a drive-by shooting on Wednesday. According to Lacey Police, officers and detectives were … more

Ty Vinson / The Olympian (TNS) | 4/9/24

52-year-old identified as Columbia River boating accident victim

A 52-year-old man visiting his cousin in Richland died after being pulled from the Columbia River. William "Billy" V. Orndorff was one of two men in a boat in Finley east of Tri-Cities the boat … more

Cameron Probert / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 4/9/24

Feds: Idaho teen arrested for supporting ISIS, planned to attack local churches

Federal agents over the weekend arrested a Coeur d'Alene teen accused of conspiring to attack local churches in support of the terror group ISIS. According to a news release from the U.S. … more

The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/9/24

The door plug that blew off Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Jan. 5, 2024, landed in a Portland backyard. The incident, seen as emblematic of a long decline in Boeing standards, triggered an intense backlash against Boeing from the public, Congress and regulators. (National Transportation Safety Board/TNS)

‘A ruthless effort to cut costs’: Boeing’s long fall, and how it might recover

The intense backlash against Boeing after the near catastrophe aboard an Alaska Airlines 737 Max in January wasn’t a reaction to an isolated manufacturing error but to a yearslong decline of … more

Dominic Gates / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/9/24

Rep. Jim Walsh speaks during the “Let’s Go Washington” initiatives rally at the Capitol in Olympia on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.

Washington state GOP Chair Jim Walsh files three new initiatives to voters

OLYMPIA — The chair of the state's Republican Party is attempting to get three more initiatives on Washington's November ballot, with the latest round taking on controversial issues heading … more

Claire Withycombe / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/9/24

Washington state Supreme Court stops lower court from striking high capacity magazine ban

A judge in Cowlitz County briefly handed a victory to gun rights supporters in Washington before the state's highest court said not so fast. The Washington Supreme Court on Monday evening issued … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 4/9/24

Cowlitz County Sheriff Deputy Justin DeRosier

Highway sign dedication set for fallen Cowlitz County deputy Justin DeRosier

Officials are set to unveil a highway sign Friday along state Route 411 memorializing Justin DeRosier, the Cowlitz County Sheriff Office deputy killed in the line of duty in 2019. The dedication … more

By Matt Esnayra / The Daily News | 4/9/24

NAIA bans all transgender women from women’s sports competitions

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) voted Monday to ban all transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports in small colleges around the country, the organization … more

Geoffrey C. Arnold / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 4/8/24

Questions remain about the costs of state Building Code Council's gas phaseout

The Washington Policy Center (WPC) has filed an appeal with Governor's Office over the Washington state Building Code Council's (SBCC) denial of WPC's petition regarding the requirement the SBCC … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 4/8/24