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

From 3 rings to robots: The evolution of IEP binders is now

I am always amazed at what can be accomplished in a short time by a dedicated team of people with a common problem and a solution-oriented ... more

By Shannon Sankstone | 3/21/25

Former Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro dies at 81

Former Washington Secretary of State Ralph Davies Munro died on Thursday, March 20. He was 81. His death was announced by Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, who issued the following … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/20/25

Olympia's ADA Coordinator Tobi Hill-Meyer presented the city's accessibility strategy at the BPAC meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Olympia uncovers 28,000 sidewalk barriers, works on accessibility improvements

The City of Olympia has had identified 28,000 unique sidewalk issues across 226 linear miles of streets, revealing a need for ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/20/25 | 13 comments

Brandon Hicks (left), Tumwater’s transportation and engineering director, briefed the Tumwater City Council on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, about a resolution expressing the council’s support for renewing a transportation benefit district, which voters will consider in a special election on April 22, 2025.

Tumwater City Council supports ballot measure to retain sales tax for road maintenance

The Tumwater City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday, March 18, expressing its support of a ballot measure to retain a 0.2% sales tax used for ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/20/25 | 1 comment

Lacey City Manager Rick Walk presented the details of the Resolution 1165, establishing monthly informational dinner meetings to the city council during a public meeting on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Lacey City Council establishes informational dinner meetings

The Lacey City Council has approved Resolution 1165, establishing monthly informational dinner meetings to facilitate discussions on emerging ... more

By JC Medina | 3/20/25 | 2 comments

Surfrider event photos from a booth they hosted.

Help keep the streets clean, join Surfrider Olympia in picking up cigarette butts on March 22

In observance of World Water Day, the Surfrider Olympia chapter is holding its first cigarette butt cleanup of the year on ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/20/25 | 3 comments

Members of the Tumwater School District Board of Directors reviewed procedural rules at a work session on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

Tumwater School District board reviews protocols following audience protest

Following a recent issue regarding audience protest and proper implementation of meeting protocols, members of the Tumwater School District (TSD) Board of Directors reviewed ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/20/25 | 3 comments

County commissioners approve $5.48M contract for courthouse renovation

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners approved a nearly $5.5 million contract with M.A. Mortenson Company of Kirkland for the scaled-back ... more

BY JC Medina | 3/19/25 | 1 comment

Olympia Assistant City Manager Stacey Ray presented a proposed research framework on the Workers Bill of Rights at the Finance Committee meeting on Monday, March 17, 2025.

Saint Martin's University offers research support for Workers' Bill of Rights initiative

Saint Martin's University offered research support, as Olympia moves forward with the comprehensive research projects on the ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/19/25

WSDOT warns the public of scam on toll payments

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is warning the public about a scam involving fraudulent text messages ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 3/19/25 | 4 comments

Clerk Documents, Thurston County’s new court record system, went operational on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Thurston County’s new online system speeds up court record retrieval

The Thurston County Clerk’s Office unveiled "Clerk Documents" on Tuesday, March 18, which grants residents and public stakeholders ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 3/19/25

Angela Jefferson, of the League of Women Voters, delivered a speech calling for vigilance in protecting democracy as part of the Women’s History Month proclamation at the Thurston County Board of County Commissioner meeting on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Thurston County proclaims March as Women's History Month

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners officially proclaimed March as Women's History Month ... more

By JC Medina | 3/19/25 | 3 comments

Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations Ben Rarick and Director of Finance & Operations Kira Acker led the budget work session of the Tumwater School District Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

Tumwater School District makes multimillion-dollar money transfer to address budget shortfall

A shortfall in the Tumwater School District budget triggered a multimillion-dollar transfer of funds to ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/19/25

A map shows the Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail parcels under the ownership of Thurston County.

Thurston County weighs future of Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail land ownership

The City of Yelm is pushing to take over a section of the Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail, insisting that the land is necessary for a parking expansion. Public Works Director Karen Weiss laid … more

By Kameko Marquez | 3/18/25 | 7 comments

At the Finance Committee meeting held on Monday, March 17, 2025, Olympia City Manager Jay Burney outlined a grant funding proposal to help with permitting fees for affordable housing projects.

Olympia committee reviews a $500K grant program to boost affordable housing

The Olympia Finance Committee is tackling an affordable housing shortage with plans to introduce a $500,000 grant program and potentially prioritize the ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/18/25 | 2 comments

Two people arrested for alleged dognapping in Olympia

Two individuals were arrested after allegedly stealing a dog in a parking lot in Olympia on March 12. According to an Olympia Police Department (OPD) social media post ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 3/18/25 | 4 comments

Helicopter activity to increase at Olympia Regional Airport

Air traffic above and around Olympia Regional Airport is scheduled to ramp up this week, as helicopter pilots undergo routine recertification training. The Port of Olympia said in a notice … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/18/25

Tumwater School District Board of Directors members Darby Kaikkonen, Casey Taylor and Ty Kuehl defended their vote supporting WIAA’s amendments at a work session on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

Tumwater school board members address transgender athletes issue

After voting to support the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s (WIAA) amendments limiting the participation of transgender student athletes, Tumwater School District (TSD) … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/18/25 | 8 comments

A substance believed to be fentanyl was found after an inmate apparently overdosed at Thurston County Jail on Monday, March 17, 2025.

Thurston County inmate revived after alleged drug overdose

A Thurston County Jail inmate was revived after being found unconscious on Monday night, March 17. "Last night, correction deputies at the jail responded to an unconscious inmate … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/18/25 | 2 comments

Puget Sound Energy representatives and the Olympia School District Board of Directors took a photo together during a meeting on March 13, 2025.

Olympia School District’s partnership with Puget Sound Energy boosts energy savings

In the past two years of the Olympia School District’s (OSD) ongoing partnership with Puget Sound Energy (PSE), the district has saved more than 450,000 kilowatt hours in electricity and 35,000 … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/18/25 | 1 comment