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Wednesday, October 21, 2026
TOP STORIES

Local residents sound off at public hearing on proposed closure of LP Brown

A proposal to shutter LP Brown Elementary School in Olympia was questioned by a number of people who attended a recent public hearing on the ...

Washington Center reports on finances, outlines priorities for coming year 

The Washington Center for the Performing Arts reported a clean audit, and outlined plans for facility improvements and community programming ...

Four Thurston County areas under consideration for federal economic program

From the Capital Mall area in Olympia to central Tumwater and Midtown Lacey, four Thurston County areas have been nominated for designations as ...

Residents encouraged to prepare for flood season in Thurston County

Thurston County Emergency Management is urging residents to prepare for the upcoming flood season, know the risks involved and be ...

Council decision looms on Tumwater City Hall

The City of Tumwater is one step away from locking down a new location for city ...

Legislative agenda targets funding for housing, road improvements in Olympia 

State funding for environmental and transportation projects, as well as housing and homelessness services, have emerged as legislative priorities ...

At Washington State Capitol Campus, 'No Kings' rally is all about voting early

A smiling Judy Caron sat on a metal bench on the grounds of the Washington State Capitol campus, her face partially shielded from Saturday’s bright ...

Commissioners eye transfer of Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners is proposing to transfer ownership of a section of the 14.5-mile Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail to ...

Timberland Regional Library levy lid lift gets backing in Lacey

The Lacey City Council endorsed a proposed levy lid lift measure from Timberland Regional Library that would generate millions of dollars in ...
Sports
A 90 percent site plan prepared by RWD Landscape Architects shows proposed pickleball courts, pingpong tables, spectator areas, pathway changes and ballfield safety netting at Rainier Vista Park in Lacey. 

Rainier Vista Park improvements reach 90 percent of planning stage 

The City of Lacey is preparing Rainier Vista Park’s recreation improvements for permitting after completing another planning ...

Swimmers ages 50 and over competde in the Washington State Senior Games in Lacey on Sunday, July 26, 2026.

Swimmers take center stage at Washington State Senior Games

Dozens of swimmers competed in the annual Washington State Senior Games swim meet on ...

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter for Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 10/20/26 at 3:05 a.m. in the 3200 block of Ferguson Street SW, sheriff’s deputies arrested Maleki Angelo Mina, 26, on suspicion of third-degree assault. …

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Gardening & outdoors

Chasing a rare longspur

From time to time a rare bird visits Thurston County. After learning of the sighting, serious birders generally commit to chase this initial ...

Fall birding is in full swing

With the shorter days and leaves turning color, it’s no mystery that autumn has arrived. And with the turning of the seasons, our Thurston County bird life has ...

Deschutes Valley Trail's longest segment coming into focus

The City of Tumwater is looking to open bidding for the construction contract of Deschutes Valley Trail’s longest segment between late October ...

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Arts & Entertainment
IN THE AUDIENCE
Rachel Benton

Review: 'The Luna Sisters of Element' by Olympia Family Theater

What a privilege it was to be in the audience on Friday, Oct. 16, for the premiere of " The Luna Sisters of Element ," the new show based on ...

Rachel Benton

Review: Standing Room Only Theater’s ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ 

Do you remember the first time you saw "Little Shop of Horrors?" Did you see it on stage, watch the movie, or have you yet to experience this ...
Rachel Benton

Review: Olympia Symphony Orchestra’s Kaleidoscope season premiere concert ‘Lift’ 

George Gershwin, reflecting on his “Rhapsody in Blue,” once said, “I heard it as a sort of musical kaleidoscope of America – of our vast ...

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Opinions: Yours & our columnists
What can I do with this fruit? 
Have you ever walked through a farmers market, spotted an ingredient you would not normally cook with and wondered: What can I do with ...
Librarians and barbarians 
The Library of Alexandria in Alexandria, Egypt, was one of the largest, richest, and most famous research institutions and libraries of the ancient ...
Review: ‘Sanctuary City’ by Harlequin Productions
The posters around town announce that Harlequin Productions is presenting "Our Town" in repertory with "Sanctuary ...
Review: ‘An Evening with Amy Tan’ 
Birders and readers alike gathered under one roof for a special event hosted by the Washington Center for the Performing Arts on ...
Cooking for one: Making mealtime matter again
If you live alone in Thurston County, you are part of a much larger community than you may ...

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Calendar of events
Olympia headlines
An alternate driving route around the Fones Road Corridor Project in Olympia.
Partial daytime closures of Fones Road are going to take place next week, as work crews march toward completion of the multimillion-dollar street improvement ...
Parents, students and residents attended a public hearing at McKenny Elementary School to comment on the proposed school closure at a meeting on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. 
Local residents sounded off on the proposed closure of McKenny Elementary School at a public hearing in Olympia, with some people asking for it to stay ...
Housing Director Ashley Chambers shared regional HMIS data showing 7,350 people in the system over the past year. Chambers presented the One Community Plan update during Olympia City Council’s study session on Oct. 13, 2026.  
The Olympia City Council is considering how to adapt the city’s homelessness response plan as demand grows and funding uncertainty ...
Thousands of people gathered at the Washington State Capitol Campus in Olympia on Saturday, June 14, 2025, as part of the "No Kings" protests held across the country.
In what is being billed as a “Nationwide Day of Action,” local organizers are encouraging people to join in an effort to promote early voting ahead of ...
Intercity Transit’s Walk N Roll representative Ali Fuller shared photos of McKenny Elementary School students participating in the Walk N Roll program. The Olympia City Council proclaimed October 2026 as Walk to School Month at a meeting on Oct. 6, 2026.
It's Walk to School Month in the City of ...

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Tumwater headlines
Tumwater Police Department Chief Carlos Quiles, center, and TPD Records Supervisor Ashleigh Clark, bottom left, met with the Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026.
Requests for public records are on the rise and taking longer to process at the Tumwater Police Department, largely because of ...
City Attorney Karen Kirkpatrick (top right) briefe the Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, about a contract with the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution services. 
The Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee recommended the adoption of two agreements with Thurston County for court ...
A presentation by Tumwater Water Resources and Sustainability Department Director Dan Smith showed the future progression of the Deschutes Estuary restoration project. He made his remarks at a Public Works Committee meeting on Oct. 8, 2026. 
The Tumwater Public Works Committee backed a resolution reinforcing the city's support for the Deschutes Estuary Restoration ...

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Thurston County
At a Transportation Policy Board meeting on Oct. 14, 2026, TRPC senior planner Aidan Dixon presented an update on the regional safety action plan, which draws on an analysis of 20,097 crashes recorded over five years.  
The Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) is developing a plan to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries in the ...
Thurston County Board of Health proclaimed October as Health Literacy Month at a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026.
The Thurston County Board of Health proclaimed October as Health Literacy Month, while encouraging residents to seek reliable health ...
The Community Sustaining Fund of Thurston County announced the return of its grant program with the fall 2026 grant ...

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Lacey headlines
The Joint Animal Services Commission discussed a proposed ASPCA mutual aid agreement during a meeting on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. 
Joint Animal Services (JAS) will have a new avenue for requesting national assistance during major disasters and large-scale animal cruelty ...
Lacey City Hall is located at 420 College St. in Lacey. 
The City of Lacey is seeking a consultant to study the next phase of its food truck plaza. The search follows several years of a pilot program to foster ...
The City of Lacey earned a nomination for a federal economic development program that could open new investment opportunities in its Midtown District. 
The City of Lacey earned a nomination for a federal economic development program that could open new investment opportunities in ...
The Lacey City Council approved 2027 lodging tax awards that prioritize overnight tourism during its meeting on Oct. 6, 2026.
The Lacey City Council approved nearly $1 million in lodging tax awards for ...
Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder, left, presente the Walk to School Month proclamation with Intercity Transit representative Kerri Wilson during the Lacey City Council meeting on Oct. 6, 2026. 
The Lacey City Council proclaimed October as Walk to School Month, as a means to promote safer travel to schools and encourage healthy ...

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More local news
 New ad fires up debate in closely watched Gluesenkamp Perez, Braun race
Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican state Sen. John Braun faced off for their final debate on Tuesday, Oct. 13, each ...
Social Security benefits increase will hit 3.6 percent in 2027
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Social Security Administration announced on Wednesday, Oct. 14, that recipients will receive a 3.6 percent increase in ...
Voting underway in Washington for midterm election
The wait is over in Washington. Washington’s 5.1 million registered voters are starting to cast ballots for the Nov. 3 General ...
Salmon recovery funding available for Nisqually Watershed 
Grant proposals for salmon habitat restoration and protection projects in the Nisqually River Watershed are being sought by the Nisqually ...
Olympia City Council to review One Community Plan progress 
The Olympia City Council will review an update on the One Community Plan at a meeting on Tuesday ...
City council approves $12,500 for school program at Olympia AHA Museum 
The Olympia City Council approved $12,500 to help develop a student visitation program and curriculum at Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance ...
OSD superintendent answers questions about proposed school closures
The Olympia School District (OSD) is in the process of engaging with parents, students and residents ahead of a vote on whether to close three ...
Suspect wanted on felony warrants arrested in 'The Jungle'
A person wanted on felony warrants was arrested in "The Jungle" homeless encampment in Olympia after trying to hide ...
Timing, housing and 'The Jungle' 
Timing is everything, especially when it comes to finding housing for homeless individuals living in "The ...
Lacey City Council backs $98.3 million Fire District 3 bond measure
The Lacey City Council approved a resolution that endorses a multimillion-dollar bond measure from Lacey Fire District 3 in the Nov. 3 General ...

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