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Yelm-based SRO Theater returns with 11 showings of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

Standing Room Only (SRO) Theater, a community staple in Yelm, will return with 11 performances of “Little Shop of Horrors” this fall inside of Yelm High School’s (YHS) Performing Arts Center (PAC) in its first “full-fledged” musical in seven years — when the group performed showings of “Mamma Mia!”

Rainier senior Allyson Ooms commits to CSU Bakersfield to play DI beach volleyball

Rainier High School senior volleyball star Allyson Ooms couldn’t have imagined she’d be a Division I beach volleyball player when she started playing indoor volleyball as a fourth grader. …

Fifth suspect arrested in Roy in connection to the deadly Chelan Hills fire

Detectives with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, working in collaboration with the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, have apprehended a fifth suspect wanted …

Yelm City Council passes three ordinances related to water, stormwater, sewer rates

It was a busy evening for Yelm City Council on Tuesday, Sept. 22, as councilors passed three separate ordinances to make amendments in the Yelm Municipal Code relating to monthly water, sewer and …

Local news

Washington state’s nation-high minimum wage rising to nearly $18 an hour in 2027

Washington’s minimum wage workers will get a 3.5% pay bump in 2027. The state’s minimum wage will climb to $17.73 an hour starting Jan. 1, the state Department of Labor and Industries …

Yelm superintendent provides update on levy efforts, legislative priorities for school districts

Chris Woods, Yelm Community Schools (YCS) superintendent, provided an audience on Thursday, Sept. 24, with an update on Yelm’s levy campaign efforts and legislative priorities for school districts …

Four local organizations donate nearly $14,000 combined to Yelm Community Schools

The generosity of the greater Yelm region was once again on display during a Yelm Community Schools (YCS) Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, Sept. 24, as the board of directors unanimously …

Sunny day follows stormy night for live at Breakfast with the Beatles

The morning cheerful weather on Saturday, Sept. 25, was a welcome reprieve from the previous day’s storm which brought windy rain and power outages throughout the northwest. But a sunny Saturday …

Yelm City Council approves $120,000 stormwater planning agreement with Parametrix Inc.

Yelm City Council unanimously approved an agreement with Parametrix Inc. on Tuesday, Sept. 22, which authorized nearly $120,000 in grant-funded work to develop the city’s stormwater management …

City of Yelm finance director presents look ahead at preliminary 2027-28 biennial budget

During a Yelm City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22, City of Yelm Finance Director Stephanie Nanavich led a presentation to the council, which provided an early look ahead at the preliminary …

Tenino High School unveils new sign made by its students

Five years ago, Tenino High School took down its historic wooden sign for refurbishment, and discovered it was damaged beyond repair. Instead of simply ordering a replacement, the school decided …

Thurston County Medic One hosting town halls and listening sessions for Community Needs Assessment

Thurston County Medic One is hosting a series of public town hall meetings and targeted listening sessions over the next six weeks as part of its ongoing Community Needs Assessment. Identified …

Thurston County proposes use of rainy day fund and outside funding to reduce impacts of budget cuts for 2027

The Thurston County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Sept. 29, approved a tentative plan to cut $5.5 million from the 2027 budget, followed by $4.5 million from the 2028 budget and $4 million from …

Poster Contest draws hundreds of children to the 37th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival

A vibrant crowd of young nature enthusiasts and families flooded the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, Sept. 26, for the 37th annual Nisqually Watershed Festival, …

Earthquake shakes parts of Thurston County

A 4.2 magnitude earthquake just south of Bremerton rattled homes in parts of Thurston County Tuesday afternoon. The seismic event started at 2:05 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, nearly 12 miles …

“Jesus loves ‘em”: Man with cross offers a simple message

Wind ripped through the air picking up any ungrounded objects in its path as a storm hit Lewis County on Friday, but Durrell Bell stayed anchored to the ground from the weight of the nearly 6-foot-5 …

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State & Regional News

As immigrant Medicaid cuts take effect, some in Washington can keep their coverage

Roughly 10,000 immigrants in Washington are losing their Medicaid health coverage due to federal cuts Republicans in Congress approved last year. On Thursday, a provision in President …

Wolves in SE Washington pack to be killed ‘incrementally’ by state officials after livestock attacks

The director of the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife this week authorized the “incremental” killing of wolves in southeastern Washington with a goal to stop attacks on livestock. …

Legislative staff in Washington state Senate reject new contract

The union representing staff of Democratic state senators in Washington has overwhelmingly rejected a new two-year contract, citing its lack of adequate protections for workers facing termination. …

Washington's EV efforts continue to face logistical challenges

Washington state's plans to electrify private and public transportation sectors and spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on charging infrastructure are still facing numerous logistical and …

Here’s how Oregonians want the state to address its transportation budget crisis

Oregonians ranked maintaining and preserving highways and bridges and improving safety as the top priorities they think the Oregon Department of Transportation should focus on as it looks to resolve …

Oregon Republicans revisit cap and invest proposal seven years after they walked out over it

Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Oregon have been meeting in recent weeks to discuss the potential to collaborate on a climate policy that just seven years ago drove them apart, and drove some …

Some Idaho officials say proposed nuclear waste shipments could threaten Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer

Accepting a deal with the U.S. Department of Energy to bring a new Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus to Idaho could force the state to accept more than 30,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel and …

Washington state lawmaker to resign 3 days before the election

In a surprise announcement, Republican state Rep. Skyler Rude of Walla Walla, said Tuesday that he will resign from office days before the election to start a new job with Democratic Secretary of …

Gov. Ferguson launches council to boost Washington commercial space industry

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson hopes the state’s space entrepreneurs can pilot their industry to infinity and beyond. To that end, Ferguson signed an executive order Monday night launching the …

More State & Regional News

Life

Rob Richards, sheriff candidate Kevin Burton-Crow’s campaign manager, delivers a statement in place of Burton-Crow during the Thurston Chronicle candidate forum at the Thurston County Expo Center in Lacey on Monday, Sept. 21. Burton-Crow was unavailable to attend as he was at a law enforcement conference as part of his duties with the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

Candidates highlight policies at Thurston Chronicle forum

Thurston County will undergo tremendous leadership changes this coming year, as the longtime elected heads of four county departments decided to open the door to newcomers rather than run for …

Schmidt House History Talk to cover Lincoln, the Civil War and the Pacific Northwest

History Talks continue at the Schmidt House in Tumwater, with the next one set to be held at noon Thursday, Oct. 1. It is titled “Lincoln, Civil War and the Pacific Northwest,” and invites …

Copies of Works in Progress' September 2026 issue sit in a stack at the Brotherhood Lounge in Olympia on Friday, Sept. 9, 2026. The issue marked the paper's return to print after a several-year hiatus.

Longtime alternative community newspaper returns to print

Olympia’s longtime independent, volunteer-run news outlet is returning to print. Works in Progress relaunched its print edition Friday, Sept. 9, after a three-year hiatus from …

Spooner Berry Farm co-owner Sue Spooner speaks at an Olympia City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 15, to advocate against moving the berry farm's current stand on Yelm Highway. The City of Olympia is not renewing Spooner's contract to lease a portion of Jolene Unsoeld Community Park after it expires Oct. 1, as park construction is scheduled to begin later this fall.

Beloved Thurston County berry stand’s future uncertain as city of Olympia begins construction on community park

With construction of Jolene Unsoeld Community Park set to begin this fall, the Olympia community is raising concerns about what the development means to a longstanding berry stand on the property. …

Timberland Regional Library schedules levy lid lift information sessions ahead of Nov. 3 election

Timberland Regional Library will host drop-in information sessions about the upcoming levy lid lift throughout its five-county service area in September and October. Community members are …

Nisqually Valley News - October 1, 2026

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Yelm-based SRO Theater returns with 11 showings of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

Rainier senior Allyson Ooms commits to CSU Bakersfield to play DI beach volleyball

Fifth suspect arrested in Roy in connection to the deadly Chelan Hills fire

Yelm City Council passes three ordinances related to water, stormwater, sewer rates

Candidates highlight policies at Thurston Chronicle forum

Schmidt House History Talk to cover Lincoln, the Civil War and the Pacific Northwest

Longtime alternative community newspaper returns to print

Beloved Thurston County berry stand’s future uncertain as city of Olympia begins construction on community park

Timberland Regional Library schedules levy lid lift information sessions ahead of Nov. 3 election

Nisqually Valley News - October 1, 2026

Yelm drops eighth straight to start season, swept by Sumner

Rainier keeps theme of sweeps alive versus Mossyrock

Rainier rocks Rochester on Allyson Ooms’ 18th birthday

Yelm, North Thurston cross country teams shine at Nike Portland XC

Ibrahima Diallo breaks Olympia single-game rushing record in rout of Yelm

Prep football: Rochester runs wild to first 4-0 start this century

Mustoe’s hat trick lifts Tenino to league-opening victory

Rainier upends Montesano, extends winning streak to four

Toledo girls clip Rainier in league meet team race

YCS provides update on investigation of YHS head football coach

Opinion: Support our rural libraries by voting for Timberland levy lid lift

Opinion: Washington’s I-645 — repealing the new 9.9% income tax

Commentary: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Washington show key strategies for effective wildfire funding

Opinion: Taxpayer money for government employee compensation demands real transparency

Opinion: Washington has an income tax — why won’t the media call it one?