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

Lacey City Council and representatives from New Life Baptist Church posed at Lacey City Hall after the Martin Luther King Jr. Day proclamation signing at a meeting on Jan. 6, 2026.

Lacey City Council issues proclamation for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The Lacey City Council proclaimed Monday, Jan. 19, as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in honor of the slain Black civil rights leader who championed ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/14/26 | 4 comments

Attempt to steal an ATM fails when rope breaks in Lacey, suspects at large

Three suspects are being sought in connection with a failed attempt to steal an ATM at Wells Fargo on Marvin Road NE in ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 1/14/26

Large woody debris and log jams placed along an 18-mile stretch slow storm flows to create shelter for juvenile salmon in upper Deschutes River.

Thurston County seeks $10 million to accelerate salmon habitat restoration

Thurston County’s salmon recovery work is moving forward on multiple tracks despite uncertainty about ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/13/26 | 4 comments

Port of Olympia Commissioners Krag Unsoeld, left, Jerry Toompas, Jasmine Vasavada, Joel Hansen and Sarah Montano, along with Executive Director Alex Smith and legal counsel Chris Pierce-Wright, held their first meeting of the year on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.

Port of Olympia Commission reelects Jasmine Vasavada as president

Port of Olympia Commissioner Jasmine Vasavada was reelected as commission president for 2026, marking her second consecutive year in the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/13/26 | 6 comments

Vehicle pursuits end with arrests by Thurston County law enforcement authorities

A couple of pursuits that involved Thurston County Sheriff's Office personnel did not end well for two scofflaws on Monday ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 1/13/26 | 4 comments

The James P. Werner Monitoring Station was placed at Mountain View Elementary School in Lacey in August 2025. The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency named the facility after its first air quality monitoring specialist.

ORCAA notes 2025 accomplishments, including wins in Thurston County

Multiple wins hit the books for the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) in 2025. Locally, a renamed Lacey air monitoring station, ongoing ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/13/26 | 1 comment

The Olympia Center is located at 222 Columbia St. NW in downtown Olympia.

Olympia to host community conversation for National Day of Racial Healing

The City of Olympia will host a community conversation in observance of the National Day of Racial Healing at The Olympia Center from ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/12/26 | 13 comments

Olympia School District holds annual communications audit

As part of an annual communications audit, the Olympia School District (OSD) showcased the launch of an 83-member communications group, software ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 1/12/26 | 2 comments

Warmer temperatures, dense fog in the Thurston County forecast

Unseasonably warm temperatures are going to heat up the local landscape over the next few days with daytime highs in the ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 1/12/26

An Intercity Transit Authority bus awaited departure at the Olympia Transit Center in downtown Olympia on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.

Intercity Transit Authority backs purchase of new call center software

The Intercity Transit Authority authorized Executive Director Emily Bergkamp to sign a $140,000 contract with RingCentral to acquire a ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/12/26

At a meeting on Jan. 8, 202, the Olympia School District proclaimed February as Olympia Reads!! Month.

Olympia School District proclaims February as Olympia Reads!! Month

The Olympia School District Board of Directors proclaimed February 2026 as Olympia Reads!! Month to promote a culture of reading ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 1/12/26 | 1 comment

Grace Fletcher, a local food advocate, expressed support for the Olympia Food System Plan and offered ideas for collaboration. The Olympia City Council approved a referral for the idea on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026.

Olympia City Council approves referral to develop local food system plan

The Olympia City Council unanimously approved a referral directing city staff to develop a local food system plan, a move aimed at addressing ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/9/26 | 4 comments

Tumwater Transportation & Engineering Department EngineerRyan Blaser briefed the Tumwater Public Works Committee about two roundabouts being planned for Tumwater Boulevard at Interstate 5.

Design work eyed for southbound roundabout at Interstate 5 and Tumwater Boulevard

The City of Tumwater is moving forward with early design work for a roundabout at the southbound Interstate 5 on-ramp and off-ramp at ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/9/26 | 9 comments

The Lacey City Council and Washington State Korean American Day Celebration Foundation representatives gathered for a photo after the city designated Jan. 13, 2026, as Korean American Day at a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026.

Lacey joins Washington cities in honoring Korean American Day

The City of Lacey joined a list of Washington municipalities after the city council adopted a proclamation designating Jan. 13, 2026, as ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/9/26

A 70-unit multifamily housing development is prorposed for the corner property at Black Lake Boulevard and 21st Avenue SW.

Olympia committee reviews proposed multifamily development near Ken Lake

A proposed 70-unit multifamily housing project near Ken Lake calls for the redevelopment of a site contaminated by an adjacent gas ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/9/26 | 11 comments

Vehicles motored along the 4th Avenue Bridge in Olympia on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 8, 2026.

Olympia City Council calls for study of speed safety cameras

In a unanimous vote, the Olympia City Council directed the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee to research the potential use ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/8/26 | 17 comments

Lacey Fire District 3 firefighters, as seen at a scene in December 2025. The district averaged 49 calls per 24-hour period last year.

Lacey Fire District 3 sees more calls in 2025

Lacey Fire District 3 (LFD3) closed out 2025 with a higher emergency call volume, and is now lining up new hires and fire investigation resources ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/8/26 | 1 comment

Karima Bassalé, left, and Rand Roedell recently opened Relume — a candle making shop dedicated to helping refugees find work in Thurston County that is housed in the basement of a church in Olympia.

Relume relighting hope for refugees in Olympia

A pleasant aroma wafts out of the basement of a church in Olympia, and little brown bags line the wall inside filled with candles ready for ... more

By Jessie Darland | 1/8/26 | 3 comments

Paul Simmons is the new Tumwater City Administrator.

Tumwater hires Paul Simmons as city administrator

The Tumwater City Council confirmed Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff’s appointment of Paul Simmons as the new city administrator at a meeting ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/8/26 | 1 comment

Paul Berendt, the newest member of the Olympia City Council, took the oath of office at a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2025.

Olympia City Council holds ceremonial swearing in of newly elected member

In a ceremonial swearing in, Paul Berendt took his seat as the newest member of the Olympia City Council, where he outlined his commitment ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/7/26