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On The JOLT’s 5th Anniversary

It’s right there in the headline:  The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater has been producing original local news stories for five years as of today. Some would say we’ve …

Port of Olympia expands contract with architecture firm to support relocation of admin offices 

The Port of Olympia Commission authorized the expansion of a contract with its on-call service engineering and design service ...

Olympia Finance Committee approves $20M bond for Hands On Children's Museum expansion 

Olympia's Finance Committee approved a $20 million bond sale to support the Hands On Children's Museum's expansion plan. The plan aims to address ...

Tumwater School District sets stricter standards for public comment in board meetings 

Community members signing up to attend regular Tumwater School District Board meetings will now have to be reviewed and approved ...

Man with active DOC warrant arrested after police car chase 

A man with an active Department of Corrections (DOC) escape warrant was arrested following a vehicle pursuit on State Route 512 and Interstate 5 (I-5) in the ...

Elderly man arrested for alleged shooting, victim unharmed 

A man was shot at multiple times during a disturbance in a rural Yelm neighborhood, which led to the arrest of a 74-year-old resident.   Around 2:55 p.m. on May 7, Yelm Police …

Capital, Olympia high schools dominate 2025 TCBA contest on birthright citizenship 

The 14th Amendment’s debated provision, “subject to the jurisdiction thereof," which became the basis of who gets U.S. citizenship at birth, was dissected in an ...

Olympia committee to review tenant screening policy option  

Olympia's Land Use and Environment Committee will review potential tenant screening policy options at its meeting on Thursday, May 22, as part of ongoing efforts to ...

Intercity Transit, Thurston County join forces on bike sustainability project 

Stored bicycles left idle for years now have a purposeful exit from garages and basements. Thurston County, through a one-year deal with Intercity Transit, is accepting direct bicycle drop-offs …
Life
Elevated levels of a marine biotoxin in shellfish has led to the closure of recreational harvesting of all species in Budd Inlet. The Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department ...
Shoestring Circus image
The Shoestring Circus will visit Olympia for "The Museum" — a playful, high-flying tribute to art in motion. The show will be held under the big top tent next to the Swantown Marina ...
Capital City Pride logo
Capital City Pride is holding a Pride Festival on June 27-29 at different areas around Olympia, Outreach Communications Coordinator Pog O’Donoghue ...
Jill Severn
In 1990, Olympia’s Yashiro Japanese Garden opened to the public, but because it’s tucked away behind walls along a five-lane street with fast-moving traffic ...

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Multiple firearms, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were recovered from a suspect after authorities responded to his home on reports of him making threats of blowing another person up. 

Bomb threat suspect arrested

A man was arrested on Tuesday, May 13, following an incident that began with reported threats of violence and ended with the discovery of alleged drug ...

The Lacey Planning Commission conducted a review of proposed updates to the city's transportation, economic development and utilities elements at its meeting on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

Lacey Planning Commission maps comprehensive plan updates 

The Lacey Planning Commission conducted a review of proposed updates to the city's transportation, economic development and utilities elements ...
Police Blotter

Police Blotter for Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 5/20/25 at 12:42 a.m. in the area of Olympia, sheriff’s deputies arrested Johanna Jasmin Vasquez, 20, on suspicion of driving under the influence. …

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Opinions: Yours & our columnists
Meet me before you teach me
Here I am in May, writing in the hopes that my and your October is a little calmer and happier. Despite being monikered Shantober (it’s my birthday month) ...
In praise of warblers
These tiny insect-eating warblers are perhaps the most amazing of all our Thurston County breeding birds. They weigh less than one-half ounce yet manage to migrate hundreds and sometimes thousands of …
Originality in the arts 
What I cherish about the arts scene in Thurston County is the sense of originality that electrifies its core. This week’s column celebrates the originality displayed in Olympia Little …
Replacing a fallen tree
Almost all of us have heard it (yes, pun intended), the famous philosophical quote that — “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” …
Executives have feelings, too
Hope springs eternal … and readers, it is SPRING! SPRING should always be in all caps, in my opinion. And you know what is really giving me hope lately?   I’m seeing more and …

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Calendar of events
Olympia headlines
Local residents have less than two weeks to sign up for a program to receive free or discounted heat pumps or heat pump water heaters. The deadline to join the Energize Thurston program is …
The Olympia City Council will consider whether to establish a $500,000 grant program to help offset permitting fees for affordable housing developers ...
Olympia is seeking community members to join its Community Policing Board, a citizen advisory committee that will collaborate with the Civilian Police Auditor ...
Patty Belmonte, CEO of the Hands On Children's Museum, delivered a presentation to the Port of Olympia Commission on April 14, 2025, to discuss plans for expansion. Her presentation included a conceptual design of the new museum building, which will be connected with the existing museum through a sky bridge. 
The Port of Olympia Commission authorized the sale of two parcels of land to the City of Olympia for the expansion of the Hands On Children's Museum on ...
The City of Olympia has requested proposals from qualified consultants to help develop a data-driven strategy that will guide when and how the city and its regional partners ...

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Tumwater headlines
FDCARES program staffers met with the Tumwater Public Healthy Safety Committee on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, to deliver updates about the program. The program connects 911 callers to additional services that address the underlying cause of their calls. 
A Tumwater program, which links 911 callers to services that address the root causes of their calls, is showing ...
Check out the family-friendly events happening this weekend around Thurston County, including the Lacey Spring Fun Fair and ...
Elevate Fair in Tumwater Saturday May 31, 2025.
Tumwater Parks & Recreation is presenting the first Elevate Fair on Saturday, May 31, 2025, to “highlight sustainability and cultural exchange in the ...

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Thurston County
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders, left, and Undersheriff Ruben Mancillas addressed gaps in jail monitoring protocols during the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners agenda setting meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. 
Editor's note : This news report includes references to suicide and self-harm. For immediate support, individuals in crisis can dial or text 988 or go to 988lifeline.org ...
A screen capture from the car chase as it came to a resolution.
Two suspects with active warrants were arrested following a high-speed car chase after reports of an alleged theft in a Nike store on ...
Thurston County’s proclamation of May 2025 as Military Appreciation Month honors active-duty personnel, veterans and military families. It also joins the U.S. Department of Defense’s national observance calendar recognizing official service dates throughout the month. 
Veterans make up a garrisoned residency cell of Thurston County’s demographic ledger, recorded at 30,811 in the most recent data available from the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs. …

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Lacey headlines
Saint Martin’s University held its Commencement Ceremony on May 10, 2025. Pictured here are Commencement speaker & honorary degree recipient Fr. John B. Klassen, O.S.B., Co-valedictorians Avril Andales Regis and Alisa Zhupanenko, and salutatorian Jillian Abbe.
Saint Martin’s University recognized co-valedictorians Avril Andales Regis and Alisa Zhupanenko, and salutatorian Jillian Abbe at its commencement ceremony on ...
The City of Lacey is accpeting applications for the Lacey Youth Council from 2025-26 sophomores, juniors and seniors who attend private or public schools ...
The Lacey Parks, Culture and Recreation Board discussed the upcoming Metropolitan Park District (MPD) ballot measure at its May 7, 2025, meeting, providing details about the Aug. 5 election proposition that could impact the city's parks and recreational services. 
The Lacey Parks, Culture and Recreation Board discussed the upcoming Metropolitan Park District (MPD) ballot measure at its May 7 meeting, providing details ...
Mustafa Mohamedali, a member of the Islamic Center of Olympia, accepted the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month proclamation during the Lacey City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. 
 The Lacey City Council proclaimed May 2025 as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, honoring the community’s contributions to ...
The Lacey City Council honored retiring Lacey Police Department Commander Jim Mack, center, on May 6, 2025, with a formal commendation recognizing his 35 years of dedicated service to the community.
The Lacey City Council honored retiring Lacey Police Department Commander Jim Mack on Tuesday, May 6, with a formal commendation recognizing his 35 years ...

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More local news
 Man arrested for alleged theft of $130,000 excavator  
A stolen excavator was recovered by authorities after it went missing from a construction site in the Boston Harbor area on Sunday, May 11 ...
Olympia offers free assessments for organic management compliance 
Olympia is offering free waste assessment to help businesses comply with the state of Washington's phased-in organics management ...
Olympia's sanctuary city status puts $11.9M in local projects at risk  
The City of Olympia is bracing for potential federal funding cuts that could impact up to $11.9 million in public works projects due to its sanctuary status.   At a city council study …
DEI governance programs carry forward 'Fish Wars' resistance in Thurston County
Coupling tribal history with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training, Thurston County is partnering with South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) to reposition ...
Felon Damien Madison captured after multiday manhunt 
Felon Damien Madison, 27, was captured Tuesday afternoon as he attempted to slip across the Nevada–California border in a vehicle, according to a social media post from Thurston County …
Man arrested after alleged assault on 2 sheriff's deputies 
Two deputies from the Thurston County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) were injured after they responded to a report of harassment. on Tuesday, May 13. Deputies went to the suspect’s …
Health board approves landmark Health Equity report, highlighting racial, economic disparities 
The Thurston County Board of Health officially approved its inaugural Journey to Health Equity report, a comprehensive analysis of health disparities across ...
Intercity Transit purchases replacement vehicles for Village Vans program 
The Intercity Transit Authority authorized General Manager Emily Bergkamp to purchase three new vans for its Village Vans program on ...
Thurston County’s Salary Commission in limbo over state law conflict 
The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) grappled to reconcile two incompatible appointment requirements during an agenda ...
TRPC calls for proposals for operational analysis of detour routes 
The Thurston Regional Planning Council has issued a call for proposals to conduct an operational analysis of Thurston County's emergency detour routes ...

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