Community | The JOLT News Organization, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

Why don’t ferns have flowers? Because they evolved long before flowers did. (These are in the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, not far from here.)

In his book Inside Plants, A Gardeners’ Guide to Plant Anatomy and Physiology, local author Gary A. Ritchie, Ph.D., begins at the beginning. The earth, he notes, is estimated to be 4.54 … more

By Jill Severn | 1/14/22

Speakers at the Jan. 12 forum included, l-r, Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder, Olympia Mayor Cheryl Selby, Tumwater Mayor Debbie Sullivan, Yelm Mayor DePinto and Thurston County Commissioner Tye Menser.

Four mayors and one county commissioner presented at annual State of the Community Forum

The Thurston County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual State of the Community January Forum today with some 200 local business leaders in attendance at the Olympia Hotel at Capitol Lake. Four … more

By Danny Stusser and The JOLT Staff | 1/12/22

This is a view of Capitol Lake in Olympia on Sat., Jan. 8, 2022 showing the effects of flooding there. In the right foreground is a tree stump or log that traveled north from the Deschutes River.

United Way launches Emergency Assistance Fund to help those impacted by flooding

United Way of Thurston County (UWTC) is mobilizing the caring power of people in Thurston County by activating its Emergency Assistance Fund, a community-wide effort to provide rapid financial … more

1/10/22

What is the purpose of life?

Dear Lexis, What is the purpose of life? Thanks, ~ Curious in Lacey Dear Curious in Lacey, This is a challenging question, but one … more

By Alexis Rae Baker | 1/10/22 | 2 comments

Astronomy for gardeners

Once, ages ago, I was a guest on a radio talk show in Vancouver, B. C., and a caller asked if he could grow tomatoes on his apartment balcony. I asked him what direction his balcony faced. He … more

By Jill Severn | 1/7/22

U.S. Air Force Maj. Kristin Wolfe performs a demonstration in the F-35A Lightning II during at the Reno Air Races in Reno, Nevada, in September. The F-35 recently replaced the F-16, but the decision was controversial because the plane burns 2.37 gallons of fuel for every mile it travels, which means a single plane can produce almost 28 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per tank.

“We must do our part to mitigate climate change”— the military’s pollution problem

January 6, 2022 In the fall of 2018, Neta C. Crawford, a political science professor at Boston University, prepared to teach a class on climate change designed to help students think about the … more

By Sonner Kehrt | The War Horse | 1/6/22

Ezra Jacob Newton was born at 3:25 a.m. on January 1, 2022

First baby of 2022 has already made his first wish known

Ezra Jakob Newton didn’t want to be born on Christmas, so he waited until about 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve to start his journey into the world. Born at Capital Multicare Medical Center … more

By Danny Stusser | 1/3/22

Marcia Hamilton is shown holding a rare paperbound copy of "Sausage," by Denny Heck

Sausage and grit

Sausage: Pulling Back the Curtain on Congress, America's Board of Directors, by Denny Heck. Published October 13, 2021. Kindle edition available at Amazon.com. more

Reviewed By Marcia Hamilton | 1/2/22

Symbols of the Kwanzaa holiday are shown above, including the seven-candle kinara, gift box, pumpkin, corn and fruit.

Today is Creativity Day, if you’re celebrating Kwanzaa

This year marks the 55th annual celebration of Kwanzaa, a holiday established in the United States by an academic in response to the political and social unrest of the 1960s. Its founder, Dr. … more

By Danny Stusser | 12/31/21

What's happening coming up?

Downtown Olympia’s LoveOly Winter Fest, the month-long holiday-inspired event offering fun for everyone, ends tonight. Enjoy live music and performances, activities for kids and … more

by Prachi Gohil | 12/31/21

A month for thinking

January is a month for thinking rather than doing. And Mirabel Osler’s book, A Gentle Plea for Chaos, has me thinking about surprising things. For instance, who knew there is a … more

By Jill Severn | 12/31/21

Homelessness: Let’s look at Lacey as well as Olympia

After spending a lot of time looking into how Olympia is dealing with homelessness (quite a lot), and I thought I’d look at Lacey and see what they are up to. I had a nice chat with … more

By Pat Cole | 12/30/21 | 3 comments

“Racial Baptism” – Speaker presented concept to Lacey Commission on Equity

During its regular commission meeting on Mon.., Dec. 27, the Lacey Commission on Equity focused on the concept of racial awareness, referring to the experiences as “racial baptism.” A … more

By Kristine Javier | 12/28/21 | 1 comment

Dreaming of sweet peas

This week I escaped from worry about omicron by dreaming about sweet peas. It’s been a very helpful strategy for seeing beyond gray cold skies, too. Sweet peas, in case you’ve … more

By Jill Severn | 12/24/21 | 1 comment

Keeping the pressure on: What’s ahead and who’s left behind in changing the child care system

Back in the spring, Jessica Heavner was feeling anxious. She had a new accounting job with the Federal Way school district and three kids she loved, but she didn’t love the math it took to … more

By Joy Borkholder | InvestigateWest | 12/22/21

How to deal with tragedies

Tragedy is always a sorrowful event, but even more heartbreaking when it occurs so close to the holidays. Recently, we have seen the devastation from tornadoes in the Midwest, the strongest … more

By Mary Beth Harrington, CVA | 12/21/21

Andrew Dwyte McCann's truck collided with two polices vehicles on Nov. 25, 2021, ending a high-speed chase.

Angry over missing a parking space, local man faces aggravated assault and other charges

A Thurston County man was arrested after allegedly pointing a gun and hurling racial slurs at another individual over a parking spot and later giving chase to police, eventually crashing into police … more

By Julie Ornedo | 12/21/21

Washington state health factors are mostly higher than other states, according to the 2021 America's Health Rankings report.

Washington scores high in health survey; suicide remains an issue

A new report provides a checkup on the health of people in Washington and the rest of the country.America's Health Rankings from the United Health Foundation assesses physical, mental and social … more

By Eric Tegethoff | Washington News Service | 12/20/21

This is what remains of the five-story Market Flats apartment building, under construction at the corner of Capitol Way and Olympia Ave. in downtown Olympia following the fire on Dec. 15, 2021.

Update -- Market Flats fire: Local people are chipping in to support those who lost nearly everything on Wednesday

The three-alarm fire that destroyed the five-story Market Flats apartment building under construction also destroyed three other buildings and damaged at least one more, according to the Olympia Fire … more

By Danny Stusser | 12/17/21 | 1 comment

Gifts for gardeners

I know I’m a bit late with suggestions for holiday gifts for gardeners, but then, aren’t most of us running late on one thing or another this time of year? And anyway, some of my … more

By Jill Severn | 12/17/21