Olympia’s Quenton Lanese wins first career SPSL title

LAKEWOOD — Quenton Lanese accomplished the first of what he hopes is three consecutive championships in his sophomore postseason. The Olympia cross country phenom earned his first career South …

Spending tops $20M MGP-Braun congressional race

Candidates in Washington state’s most closely watched congressional race have spent more than $10 million entering the final weeks of the campaign. Meanwhile, outside forces are shelling out …

Traffic stop in Yelm leads to arrest of suspect wanted in connection to death of child last year

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders announced on Facebook on Monday, Oct. 19, that the suspect wanted in connection to the death of a five-year-old child last year has been arrested in Yelm after a …

Former WA Rep., current Port of Tacoma Commissioner JT Wilcox voices support for YCS levy

Former Washington state Representative, and current Port of Tacoma Position No. 4 Commissioner, JT Wilcox voiced his support toward the upcoming Yelm Community Schools (YCS) levy measure — which …

Local news

Let’s Go WA founder Brian Heywood appearance canceled in Olympia following ‘threats of violent protest’

The Thurston County Mainstream Republicans was set to have its regular Wednesday luncheon meeting in Olympia on Wednesday, Oct. 21, when the group was unexpectedly forced to cancel. The reason …

FEMA launches option to buy national flood insurance policy online

It is now easier than ever for Washington residents to prepare for the devastating financial consequences of flooding, a news release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stated this …

“Help is on its way”: Marilyn Strickland addresses impact federal cuts have had on local food security

John Ficker became the executive director of the Thurston County Food Bank on July 1, 2025. By the end of his first week, the U.S. federal government had passed H.R. 1. Among other things, …

Yelm superintendent warns of drastic consequences for the district if levy fails for a fifth time

Yelm Community Schools is on its fifth attempt to pass an educational programs and operations maintenance levy. The levy is necessary for the financial stability of the school district, …

House Speaker makes case for unseating MGP in Washington’s heated congressional race

House Speaker Mike Johnson returned to Washington state on Wednesday to campaign alongside Republican John Braun, a sign of how important the state senator’s bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. …

Gluesenkamp Perez introduces legislation to target scammers

U.S. Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, and Tom Barrett, R-Michigan, recently introduced the One Front Door for Elder Fraud Act, a piece of legislation designed to streamline the reporting …

Sheriff's Office v. Firefighters: Fire and Ice charity basketball game is Oct. 24

Local firefighters and Thurston County Sheriff’s Office employees will hit the hardwood on Saturday, Oct. 24, for the fourth annual Fire and Ice charity basketball game at Tumwater High School. …

Study shows job losses, slower economy unless income tax is repealed

The Washington Policy Center and Buckeye Institute recently released a report showing, among other findings, 18,000 fewer jobs in Washington state if the state’s new income tax is allowed to …

Toxic algae advisory in effect for Pattison Lake in Thurston County; advisories still in place for Offut Lake and Lake Lawrence

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services is reporting a toxic algae bloom in Pattison Lake, according to a news release. Lab results from a sample taken from Pattison Lake on Oct. 16 …

Thurston County 2026 second half property taxes due Oct. 31

The deadline to pay 2026 second half property taxes is Oct. 31, a news release from the Thurston County Auditor’s Office stated. Because Oct. 31 falls on a Saturday this year, taxpayers have …

Thurston County encourages residents to prepare for flood season

As fall and winter approach, Thurston County Emergency Management is reminding residents that now is the time to prepare for flooding and understand their household's risk. Flooding is one of …

City of Yelm finance director highlights accomplishments, 2027-28 goals of each department

As the City of Yelm continues to prepare its 2027-2028 biennial budget for council approval, Stephanie Nanavich, Yelm Finance Director, presented a high-level budget overview of the accomplishments …

More Local News

State & Regional News

NFIB warns of small business exodus unless voters repeal Washington income tax

The National Federation for Independent Business is sounding the alarm about impacts on small businesses in Washington if the recently passed income tax remains in place. Washington State …

More than 700,000 Washington state voters have cast ballots

Washington state voters are getting the message: Don’t wait to turn in your ballots. As of Friday afternoon, 705,231 ballots had been returned with 66.4% arriving via drop boxes, a sign early …

DOJ sending election monitors to Washington’s King County

It’s unclear what role federal election monitors will play or how many there will be in King County on Election Day. The U.S. Department of Justice informed King County Elections Director …

New lawsuit challenges I-5 bridge design, citing navigation issues

A lawsuit has been filed to block the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s current fixed-span design, with the litigants arguing the 116-foot vertical navigation clearance would restrict …

Washington state officials urge leaders not to spend $51 million Meta fine yet

Meta has paid Washington state a record-setting fine of more than $51 million for violating campaign finance laws, but lawmakers are being cautioned not to get too excited about the money. …

Largest gas pipeline network in Northwest could grow as Oklahoma-based owners pursue expansion

The Oklahoma-based company that owns one of the largest gas pipeline networks in the Northwest is beginning to pursue permits to expand that network, and to pump more gas to the region to meet rising …

Seattle, police guild in negotiations over $13M overpayment, recovery unclear

There is no telling how long it could take for Seattle to recover $13.1 million in overpayments to hundreds of police officers, Mayor Katie Wilson’s office said Monday, or if it can at all. …

Costs and permitting are barriers to nuclear-powered electricity in Idaho, utilities say

High costs and lengthy permitting processes are two of the barriers to bringing nuclear-powered electricity to customers in Idaho, officials from three electrical utilities told state regulators …

Tobacco manufacturers donate $27K to Idaho AG Labrador’s campaign, years after settlement tweaks

Republican Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador and Gov. Brad Little’s re-election campaigns received more than $20,000 each in donations from tobacco and nicotine manufacturers. The …

More State & Regional News

Life

The WET Science Center’s fall lineup brings the outdoors inside

With rain in the forecast and cooler temperatures, it’s time to find affordable ways to have fun inside. The WET Science Center is ready to help! Most middle schoolers in …

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Detective Hannah Ritter, and one of the newer recruits to the department, Gus, arrive at Yelm Community Center — where the K9 was introduced to the community at a town hall meeting with Sheriff Derek Sanders on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Meet Gus: Thurston County Sheriff’s Office introduces newest K9 member

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders, accompanied by his executive staff and senior officers, held a town hall at the Yelm Community Center on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Setting aside the usual …

Lacey MakerSpace invites the community to Festival of Sparks

Creativity, innovation and community will come together as Lacey MakerSpace opens its doors for the Festival of Sparks, its annual fundraiser, from 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. The event is free …

People loading onto the North Thurston Public School Buses at the Hawks Prairie Park & Ride on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, during the Nisqually Watershed Festival.

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, …

Tenino High School’s new backlit aluminum sign hangs in front of the school on Monday. Sept. 28.

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 …