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City of Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder, top left, and three city council members were sworn in at the council's first meeting of the year on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. Ryder and council members Carolyn Cox, top right, Maren Turner, bottom left, and Ryan Siu, bottom right, took their oaths from City Attorney David Schneider at Lacey City Hall.

Lacey City Council members sworn in at first meeting of 2026

The City of Lacey opened 2026 with four oaths of office and a seventh mayoral term for Andy ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/7/26

Leatta Dahlhoff was sworn in as the new mayor of Tumwater at a city council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026.

Tumwater Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff, new council member seated

The new mayor of Tumwater and three city council members were sworn in during a ceremony on ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/7/26

K-9 Igo of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.

Assault, robbery suspect tracked down by local authorities in Yelm area

A suspect wanted for an assault in connection with an alleged robbery last year was taken into custody on ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 1/7/26 | 4 comments

Sierra Club Michigan Chapter gathered at the J.H. Campbell facility to host a “Retirement Party” for the coal plantm which was slated to retire in May 2025, but has remained online, racking up costs to households.

Washington's last coal plant ordered to remain open

Environmental groups and state leaders are condemning an emergency order by the Trump administration to forcibly extend operations of Washington ... more

By Isobel Charle | Public News Service | 1/7/26 | 5 comments

An unidentified homeless person sheltered under a tarp in a doorway during the Valentine's Day snow in 2024.

Thurston County seeks volunteers and donations for 2026 Point-In-Time homeless count

Thurston County is calling on community members to volunteer and donate items for the upcoming 2026 Point-In-Time (PIT) Count ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/6/26 | 4 comments

The Thurston County Board of Health, as seen at a meeting in December 2025. One student could soon join the board as a youth representative.

Youth voice wanted on Thurston County Board of Health

A youth representative seat is now open on the Thurston County Board of Health for students currently in 9th grade through college ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/6/26

Wintry weather on tap in Thurston County

A wintry mix of rain and snow is on the radar for Thurston County, as a cold front makes its way toward the ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 1/6/26

The Thurston County Sheriff's Office and Washington State Patrol are partnering in a school zone traffic enforcement effort this week.

Thurston County Sheriff's Office partners with state agency for traffic enforcement in school zones

The Thurston County Sheriff's Office is teaming up with the Washington State Patrol for an enhanced traffic enforcement effort in school ... more

By The JOLT News | 1/6/26 | 2 comments

Olympia Spring Arts Walk artist and vendor registration window opens

The registration window is open for artists, performers, vendors and business partners for the 2026 Olympia Spring Arts ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 1/6/26 | 1 comment

Flags sit atop Olympia City Hall on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.

Olympia revives Fire Benefit Charge discussion in draft 2026 legislative agenda

The Olympia City Council is reviving a discussion of a Fire Benefit Charge and seeking flexibility on property tax limits, as part of a draft ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/5/26 | 15 comments

The first City of Lacey Poet Laureate, Cynthia Pratt, delivered her poem "Welcome." Residents can stream the poem on the City of Lacey YouTube channel.

Lacey commission vets search plan for next poet laureate

Cynthia Pratt's tenure as Lacey's inaugural poet laureate is ending in April, so the city is ramping up a search for ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/5/26 | 2 comments

Median price of a residence inches higher, active listings surge in Thurston County

The final full month of fall was a mixed bag for the Thurston County housing market, as single-family home sales dipped while the median price of ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 1/5/26 | 3 comments

Danny Burkett (back row, center), Executive Director and CEO of Our Ark, a nonprofit that serves homeless youths and young adults, stands with members of Olympia’s Elk Lodge #186 after receiving a Gratitude Grant from the lodge on Dec. 22, 2025.

Elks Lodge helps to keep Our Ark afloat

Through the efforts of Olympia’s Elks Lodge #186, Our Ark, a Lacey-based nonprofit, recently received a much needed ... more

By JM Simpson | 1/5/26 | 2 comments

Storm to bring more rainfall to Thurston County

A plume of moisture is heading toward the region and will bring heavy rainfall and strong winds before it heads ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 1/5/26

The McKinney Building at 6426 Pacific Ave. SE, as seen with windows and doors boarded over in 2025.

Lacey Historical Commission endorses demolition of 1931 McKinney Building

Demolition appears likely for a city-owned building from Lacey's resort era after the Lacey Historical Commission endorsed tearing it down and ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/2/26 | 13 comments

A 10-foot-wide strip of right-of-way along the south side of Garfield Avenue, abutting West Bay Drive, is being considered for residential development.

Olympia City Council signals policy review on right-of-way vacation

The Olympia City Council is signaling a future policy discussion on right-of-way vacations after a vote to advance a Garfield Avenue ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/2/26 | 3 comments

DUI enforcement effort nets multiple arrests in Thurston County

A beefed-up effort to snare impaired motorists on New Year's Eve netted five arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) and resulted in 66 traffic ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 1/2/26 | 1 comment

Seen facing north, the Davis Meeker Garry oak tree overhangs Old Highway 99 and is adjacent to the northernmost Olympia Regional Airport airplane hangar.

Superior Court judge issues injunction providing permanent protection for Davis Meeker tree

A Thurston County Superior Court judge issued a permanent injunction barring the City of Tumwater from "altering or destroying" the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/2/26 | 4 comments

Olympia City Council to consider request for local food system plan

A request to explore the development of a local food system plan will come before the Olympia City Council at a meeting on ... more

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

Hearing examiner grants Chehalis Tribe’s request to vacate plat

A request from the Confederated Tribes of Chehalis Reservation to vacate a plat originally made for a proposed 40-acre light industrial ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/1/26