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One person was arrested after a seven-hour standoff at a resident in Rainier.

One person arrested after seven-hour standoff with law enforcement in Rainier

A response to a report about a deceased person inside a Rainier residence led to a seven-hour standoff in which multiple shots were fired ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 9/3/26 | 2 comments

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

Olympia City Council approves contract for sidewalk repairs

The Olympia City Council awarded a $774,788 construction contract to House Brothers Construction to repair damaged sidewalks and improve ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 9/2/26 | 9 comments

Intercity Transit’s Dial-A-Lift is a shared ride service provided to individuals whose disability or health condition prevents them using a fixed-route bus.

Intercity Transit shares accomplishments in 2025

Intercity Transit recently highlighted the success of several programs designed to help seniors and people with disabilities navigate public ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/2/26 | 2 comments

Active residential, condo listings heat up in Thurston County

Would-be homebuyers had a plethora of options at the start of the second half of the year, as active residential and condominium listings surged ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 9/2/26

An election worker in Thurston County processes ballots in Tumwater on Oct. 30, 2025.

State officials decry Trump administration’s reported ramp-up in voter fraud investigations

The Trump administration is reportedly redoubling efforts to root out voter fraud in a number of states this week, including ... Washington officials are troubled at the news … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street | Washington State Standard | 9/2/26 | 17 comments

The Olympia School District Board of Directors adopted a salary increase for non-represented employees at a meeting on Aug. 27, 2026.

Olympia School District increases non-represented staff wages

Hourly wages for 36 non-represented employees with the Olympia School District are going up for the 2026-27 academic ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 9/2/26

Public Works Transportation Principal Planner Michelle Swanson shared a safety corridor analysis that has guided transportation projects across Olympia during the Community Livability & Public Safety Committee meeting on Aug. 26, 2026.

Committee weighs cameras, traffic calming program to reduce speeding in Olympia

The Olympia Community Livability & Public Safety Committee is exploring speed safety cameras and a new traffic calming ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 9/1/26 | 13 comments

The Lacey City Council discussed stormwater rate increases during a work session on Aug. 25, 2026

Lacey City Council seeks more analysis before approving stormwater rate increases

Stormwater rates in Lacey could start climbing in 2027 in order to finance infrastructure projects and additional utility needs through ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 9/1/26

John Cooper, 69, is wanted in connection with a shooting in Tenino on Aug. 28, 2026.

Man shot in Tenino, suspect on the lam

Local authorities are seeking the public's help in locating a man wanted for allegedly shooting another person last week in ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 9/1/26 | 2 comments

Roughly 100 state employees lined Capitol Way in Olympia on Monday, Aug 31, 2026, to demand higher wages in their next two-year contract.

State workers stage walkout in Olympia amid clash over pay demands

With contract negotiations nearing a critical deadline, hundreds of Washington state workers walked off the job for an hour on Monday ... more

By Jerry Cornfield and Aspen Ford | Washington State Standard | 9/1/26 | 8 comments

The Tumwater School District Board of Directors adopted the district’s 2026-27 budget and interfund loan resolutions at a meeting on Aug. 27, 2026.

Tumwater School District board adopts budget, interfund loan resolution for 2026-27 cycle

The Tumwater School District Board of Directors approved a budget and $1.5 million interfund loan for the 2026-27 school ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 9/1/26

Food inspection results in Thurston County — Sept. 1, 2026

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

By Vanessa Casabuena | 9/1/26

Olympia Youth Council Chair Donovan Jojola highlighted the council’s accomplishments during a presentation to the Community Livability & Public Safety Committee at a meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026.

Committee approves appointments to Olympia Youth Council

The Olympia Community Livability & Public Safety (CLPS) Committee approved appointments and reappointments of 20 people to the ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/31/26

The revised City of Lacey 2026 budget amendment proposes $5.9 million in changes, as presented to the Lacey City Council at a meeting on Aug. 25, 2026.

City of Lacey final budget amendment grows to $5.9 million

Higher utility bills are putting pressure on the 2026 budget for the City of ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 8/31/26

A sample brochure for a walking tour of downtown Olympia’s historic district.

Olympia submits grant application to DAHP for historic preservation efforts

The City of Olympia submitted a grant application to the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/31/26

The Olympia School District Board of Directors welcomed new hires at a meeting on Aug. 27, 2026.

Olympia School District welcomes four principals, technical education director

Four principals, one assistant principal and a technical education director have been added to the Olympia School District's employment ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 8/31/26

Olympia City Council joined communities around the world by proclaiming Aug. 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day at a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

Olympia City Council proclaims Aug. 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day

The Olympia City Council approved a proclamation designating Aug. 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day, as the group ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/28/26 | 7 comments

The Lacey Historical Commission reviewed the historic markers mapping project during ia meeting on Aug. 19, 2026.

Lacey Historical Commission advances historic markers map project

The City of Lacey is developing a public online map to make its historic markers easier to find and ... more

By Kamkeo Marquez | 8/28/26

The Lacey Equity Map displays accessibility data for areas within the city and urban growth area.

Commission weighs additions to Equity Map in Lacey

The City of Lacey is preparing changes to its Equity Map after a year of ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 8/28/26 | 7 comments

The project team for Deschutes Estuary Restoration outlined the construction timeline during a pre-submission meeting of Olympia’s Site Plan Review Committee on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026.

Committee sets permitting road map for Deschutes Estuary construction

Aiming for a 2027 construction start, the Olympia Site Review Committee outlined a permitting and review process the Deschutes ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/27/26 | 5 comments