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

A Thurston County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle.

Challenger takes on incumbent in Thurston County Sheriff's race

The Thurston County Sheriff's race in the Aug. 4 Primary Election is more of a preview of what is to .. more

By Keyan Gregoire-James | 7/22/26 | 19 comments

Infant dies in vehicle fire near Tumwater

An infant was killed when a running vehicle caught fire while the child was sitting inside of it in a car seat on ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 7/22/26 | 2 comments

John Davison and his wife, Carol, took a walk along the docks at Percival Landing on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

Local residents find ways to deal with the heat in Olympia

With daytime highs in the middle to upper 90s over the past couple of days, local residents found ways to deal with the heat in ... more

By Keyan Gregoire-James | 7/22/26 | 3 comments

The Washington Center for the Performing Arts is shown in 1985, left, and then after its 2014 renovation.

Olympia Finance Committee reviews Washington Center funding

The Olympia Finance Committee took a closer look at the city's long-standing partnership with the Washington Center for the Performing ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/21/26 | 1 comment

One of the trails located at the Inspiring Kids Preserve on the eastern shore of Henderson Inlet in Thurston County.

Capitol Land Trust campaign aims to make it easier to explore local land preserves

Capitol Land Trust is raising funds to help support its new "Connecting to the Land ... more

By Keyan Gregoire-James | 7/21/26 | 2 comments

The Olympia School District Board of Directors received an update on early learning efforts related to the Child Care Partnership grant at a meeting on July 16, 2026.

Olympia School District assessment shows families are not satisfied with early learning options

The Olympia School District’s Community Needs and Capacity Assessment showed that families of children ages 5 years old and younger ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 7/21/26

Children cooled off and played at the Heritage Park Fountain in Olympia on hot Tuesday afternoon, July 21, 2026.

High heat prompts hazardous weather advisory in Thurston County

A hazardous weather advisory is in effect amid soaring daytime highs that are forecast to easily reach the middle to upper 90s in Thurston ... more

By Keyan Gregoire-James | 7/21/26

Thurston County Sheriff's Office deputies at the front door of a residence near Steamboat Island Road on Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Complaint about squatters leads to arrest of wanted man near Steamboat Island Road

New drone technology employed by the Thurston County Sheriff's Office helped locate and arrest a wanted man after a complaint about squatters ... more

By The JOLT Staff | 7/21/26 | 4 comments

Thurston County election workers processed ballots at the Ballot Processing Center in Tumwater on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025.

Voter registration deadlines loom for Aug. 4 Primary Election

Voter registration deadlines are right around the corner for the Aug. 4 Primary Election in Thurston ... more

By The JOLT Staff | 7/21/26 | 1 comment

A sidewalk ii need of repair along 4th Avenue in downtown Olympia, as seen on Monday, April 21, 2025.

Olympia City Council to discuss sidewalk repair strategy

The Olympia City Council will hold a study session on Tuesday, July 21, to discuss a long-term policy for repairing sidewalks, as officials seek ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/20/26 | 6 comments

Lacey City Council members listened to a presentation from Thurston Conservation District officials during a work session on July 14, 2026.

Thurston Conservation District proposes joint environmental initiatives with Lacey

The Thurston Conservation District (TCD) aims to partner more closely with the City of Lacey through conservation projects that include ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/20/26 | 2 comments

Intercity Transit bus pad installation work has been extended in Olympia to July 31, 2026.

Bus pad installation work extended in Olympia

Bus pad installation work has been extended on McCormick and Boundary streets between 4th and 5th avenues in ... more

By The JOLT Staff | 7/20/26 | 4 comments

A rendering of Harbor Pines Apartment, which is going to be located at 3909 9th Ave. SW in Olympia.

Affordable housing project moving ahead in west side of Olympia

A $5.4 million land deal has cleared the way for ground-up construction of 272 income-restricted apartment units on a 9.6-acre site in the west side of ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 7/20/26 | 4 comments

Food inspection results in Thurston County – July 20, 2026

Restaurant inspection reports focus on two types of violations: red and ... more

By Vanessa Casabuena | 7/20/26

The Washington State Department of Ecology presented an updated 5th Avenue Bridge design that features protected bicycle lanes and a separated pedestrian trail. The bridge replacement project is part of the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project.

Updated 5th Avenue Bridge plan adds protected bike lanes, shared-use trail

An updated design for the replacement of the 5th Avenue Bridge in Olympia was unveiled by a state ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/17/26 | 14 comments

Port of Olympia Airport Senior Manager Chris Paolini showed  a visualization of a charging station for electric aircraft to the Port Commission at a meeting on Monday, July 13, 2026.

Commission approves grant application for electric aircraft charging station at Olympia Regional Airport

The Port of Olympia is going after funds needed to install a charging station for electric aircraft at Olympia Regional ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/17/26 | 4 comments

The "Coffee with Council" series kicks off at Cutters Point Coffee on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

Lacey City Council launches 'Coffee with Council' outreach series

The Lacey City Council is opening a new avenue for public engagement next week with the launch of its quarterly "Coffee with Council" ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/17/26 | 1 comment

Olympia City Council and members of the Muslim community celebrated a proclamation declaring July 2026 as Muslim American Heritage Month at a council meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

Olympia City Council proclaims July as Muslim American Heritage Month

The Olympia City Council proclaimed July as Muslim American Heritage Month, as the governing body reaffirmed the city’s ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/17/26 | 19 comments

Capital Lakefair attendees check out the local food vendors along Water Street in downtown Olympia on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Capital Lakefair makes its return to Heritage Park in downtown Olympia

Thousands of spectators attended opening day of the 69th annual Capital Lakefair at Heritage Park on Wednesday, July 15, amid a backdrop of ... more

By Keyan Gregoire-James | 7/16/26 | 5 comments

Huntamer Park is located at 618 Woodland Square Loop SE in the Midtown District of Lacey.

Huntamer Park upgrades lead Lacey’s draft federal grant plan

Sidewalk and accessibility improvements at Huntamer Park stand to receive the largest share of funding under the City of Lacey’s 2026 Community ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/16/26