State & Regional | The Daily Chronicle

Nuclear reactors line the riverbank at the Hanford site along the Columbia River in January 1960. The site was chosen for its isolated location and proximity to the cold waters of the Columbia, which were used to cool nuclear reactors. (U.S. Department of Energy/TNS)

Feds pick temporary manager for 13,000 workers at Washington state’s toxic Hanford site

The Department of Energy has picked Brian Harkins the acting manager of the Hanford site in Eastern Washington just weeks after naming him acting deputy manager. The former DOE Hanford manager, … more

Annette Cary / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 5/20/25

A couple sits on the edge of Mineral Lake during a fishing derby on Saturday, April 26.

Washington state governor signs hunting, fishing fee increases into law; Discover Pass price also rising

Washington hunters and anglers will pay more money for their licenses starting this summer. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Saturday signed a new law that raises fees for nearly all hunting and … more

Michael Wright / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 5/20/25

Washington state joins two other states in providing benefits for striking workers

Washington became one of only three states in the country to provide unemployment benefits for striking workers after Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill into law Monday. The new law, which goes … more

Shauna Sowersby / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 5/20/25

New Washington state law fulfills key Gov. Bob Ferguson promise: $100M for police hiring

Gov. Bob Ferguson has been adamant from the start: He’d only sign a budget that includes $100 million in funding to help hire more police. On Monday the Democrat celebrated a victory when … more

Simone Carter / The Olympian (TNS) | 5/20/25

After obtaining a search warrant for the residence, deputies found firearms, methamphetamine, scales, baggies, and other drug paraphernalia, according to the post.

Deputies seize firearms and drugs after standoff in Thurston County

A 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of multiple crimes Friday afternoon, including a threat to blow up another person, according to Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders, jail and court … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 5/20/25

Report: Pacific Northwest states some of the worst for military retirees

The Pacific Northwest is home to the worst states for military retirees, with Washington state coming in No. 50 and Oregon ranking No. 51, according to a new study by WalletHub, a personal finance … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 5/19/25

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

New Washington law directs $100M in grants toward hiring police, improving public safety

On his first day, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson angered many Democratic lawmakers by demanding the Legislature put $100 million in the next state budget to help local police departments hire police … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 5/19/25

Labor advocates filled up the governor’s conference room on Monday, May 19, 2025 and watched Gov. Bob Ferguson sign Senate Bill 5041, which extends unemployment insurance to striking workers. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

Washington state will pay unemployment benefits to striking workers

Labor advocates scored a win on Monday after Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a new law to extend unemployment benefits to striking workers in Washington. The governor’s conference room was … more

By Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / The Washington State Standard | 5/19/25

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, looks through documents during the legislative session at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Friday, April 25.

Washington Republicans fought against these bills; two could still be vetoed

With a major budget deficit looming, this year's Washington state legislative session was full of drama, and that's before taking a look at a number of policy changes. Now that the session has … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 5/19/25

Trump cuts halt local overnight weather forecasts for Eastern Washington, Oregon

The National Weather Service office providing forecasts and hazardous weather warnings for the greater Tri-Cities area will no longer be staffed at night because of Trump administration job cuts and … more

Annette Cary / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 5/19/25

Man, 31, died in the Pierce County Jail Friday afternoon, sheriff’s office says

A 31-year-old man in custody at the Pierce County Jail suffered a medical emergency and died Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department said Sunday. The man’s name … more

Rolf Boone / The News Tribune (TNS) | 5/19/25

‘Too fast for conditions’: Mason County woman injured in rollover crash

A 30-year-old Mason County woman was taken to an area hospital Saturday morning after a rollover crash on state Route 302, according to the Washington State Patrol. The crash took place opposite … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 5/19/25

Litter is seen alongside an Interstate 5 off ramp near Lacey, Washington. (Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)

New Washington state law increases penalties for litter, delays plastic bag requirements

Washington residents will soon face heftier fines for littering and higher prices for plastic grocery bags. A new law signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson on Saturday toughens the punishment for … more

By Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / The Washington State Standard | 5/18/25

U.S. Sen. Murray says Trump zeroes out $500M for Washington state fish passage project

Washington's U.S. Sen. Patty Murray is raising the alarm over a new spending plan by the Trump administration that doesn't include $500 million in funding for a fish-passage project on the Green … more

Lynda V. Mapes / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 5/17/25

Judge orders probe in information leak on NBC 'Dateline' episode about Bryan Kohberger

An Ada County judge has ordered a probe into leaked information to media about the ongoing murder case of four University of Idaho students. The information leaked to NBC's "Dateline" about … more

Alexandra Duggan / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 5/17/25

Sharon Van Gilder, pictured center in an undated family photo, was murdered in Spanaway in March 2002. Her alleged killer was arrested March 14, 2023.

Man extradited from Mexico for 2002 murder of Western Washington woman, FBI says

A suspect arrested in Mexico by the FBI for the 2002 murder and rape of 39-year-old Sharon Van Gilder and the rapes of three other people was booked into Pierce County Jail on Thursday following his … more

Peter Talbot / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 5/17/25

Hunting advocates petition for removal of four Washington Fish and Wildlife commissioners

A national hunting advocacy group wants four Washington Fish and Wildlife commissioners gone, citing a trove of internal documents that the group says shows the commissioners acted improperly. … more

Michael Wright / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 5/17/25

State Rep. Jim Walsh walks with other tour attendees during the Chehalis Basin Strategy Legislative Site Tour at China Creek in Centralia on Friday, Sept. 27.

Gov. Ferguson accuses President Trump of ‘constitutional crisis;’ GOP leader calls that ‘hysterical’

In a brooding speech made Thursday to fundraisers, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson blasted the Trump administration for its alleged assault on the U.S. Constitution. “I’m pretty careful … more

Eric Rosane / The Bellingham Herald (TNS) | 5/17/25

Roughly 50 people pose for a photon at the start of a remembrance walk during an overdose awareness event held at George Washington Park in Centralia on Thursday, Aug. 39.

Washington state sees largest drop in overdose deaths in a decade

Last year, Washington recorded the state's largest decline in drug overdose deaths in almost a decade, preliminary federal data shows. Nearly 3,200 Washingtonians died from overdoses in 2024, … more

Elise Takahama / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 5/17/25

Washington Sen. Patty Murray blasts Trump over plan to ‘blatantly rob blue states’

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray on Friday blasted the Trump administration over its plan to rip hundreds of millions of dollars away from construction-project funding in blue states. Among the major … more

Simone Carter / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 5/17/25