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

A diagram shows the rules motorists must adhere when driving near school buses.

Lacey Police Department reminds drivers of school bus safety rules

With the start of the school year approaching, the Lacey Police Department is reminding drivers about when they are ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 8/20/25

Roadwork scheduled in downtown Olympia

Some streets in downtown Olympia are in line for some roadwork this week. A City of Olympia contractor is going to install pavement surface seal ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 8/20/25

Thurston County officials and community members joined the Thurston County Board of Health at a meeting on Aug. 12, 2025, to support overdose prevention efforts and a proclamation of International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31, 2025.

Naloxone sites, new clinics grow in Thurston County

Naloxone is increasingly within reach in Thurston County. Vending machines now dispense the drug and wall-mounted boxes are being installed in ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 8/19/25 | 2 comments

Couple arrested after alleged theft attempt at Kohl’s, both individuals were wanted on warrants

A man and woman were arrested at Kohl's on Sleater Kinney Road SE in Lacey after they allegedly attempted to ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 8/19/25 | 3 comments

Allegedly drunken woman creates a mess with moped at local grocery stores

Authorities arrested a 34-year-old woman after she allegedly drove a moped into a grocery store in Olympia and threw bottles at an employee ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 8/19/25 | 1 comment

General Accounting Manager Kensey Wang briefed the City of Olympia Finance Committee on results from the city’s 2024 financial audit at a meeting on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025.

Olympia receives clean audit, minor reporting issues noted

State auditors gave the City of Olympia 2024 financial statements a clean audit, issuing an unmodified opinion with only two issues ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/19/25 | 1 comment

Traffic delays expected in certain parts of Olympia over the next two weeks

Utility installation work and a street paving project are going to make it a little tougher for motorists to navigate certain areas of ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 8/19/25 | 2 comments

Members of the Olympia School District Board of Directors received the Outcome 6 Monitoring Report at a meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.

Report: Olympia School District students help save food and energy

Students from the Olympia School District (OSD) have worked on minimizing food waste and regulating energy use, as part of a program aimed ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 8/19/25 | 1 comment

The Olympia City Council approved updates to the Inspire Olympia funding strategy at a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.

Olympia City Council OKs Inspire Olympia grant funding adjustments

The Olympia City Council unanimously approved adjustments to the Inspire Olympia grant funding strategy in order to increase support for ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/18/25

Rental registry program to be reviewed by Olympia City Council

After 17 months of implementation, the Olympia City Council will review the city's Rental Registry and Inspection Program, which was created to ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/18/25 | 13 comments

Community and Economic Development staff — Planning and Economic Development Manager Sarah Schelling, Building Official and Fire Marshal Terry McDaniel and Director Vanessa Dolbee — outlined proposed corrections to Lacey’s permit fee schedule during a Lacey City Council work session on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.

Lacey moves to correct permit fee schedule errors after homeowners overcharged

Errors in the City of Lacey’s permit fee schedule have led to revisions more than a year after it was adopted by the city council via a ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 8/18/25 | 2 comments

The Yelm City Council voted to reject the adoption of the 2025 Thurston County Hazardous Waste Management Plan on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. Council member Joshua Crossman (third to the left) led the discussion against adoption of the plan.

Yelm City Council rejects countywide waste management plan

The Yelm City Council voted 4-3 to reject the adoption of the 2025 Thurston County Hazardous Waste Management Plan at a meeting on ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/18/25 | 1 comment

Two men with warrants arrested in Thurston County

Two men were arrested in Thurston County after law enforcement personnel stopped a vehicle with an allegedly stolen license plate and discovered both occupants had outstanding ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 8/18/25 | 1 comment

Nighttime Interstate 5 ramp closures planned between Maytown and Tumwater

Motorists are being encouraged to add more travel time to their trips because of nighttime closures to northbound Interstate 5 ramps between Maytown and ... more

The JOLT News Staff | 8/18/25

The Olympia Site Plan Review Committee reviewed a proposal for a new multifamily apartment development on Palomino Drive SE at a meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025.

Committee reviews proposed multifamily development for Palomino Drive in Olympia

The Olympia Site Plan Review Committee held a presubmission conference on Wednesday, Aug. 13, to review a proposed multifamily residential ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/15/25 | 4 comments

Thurston Regional Housing Council seeks new advisory board members

The Thurston Regional Housing Council is calling on community members to help shape the future of affordable housing and homelessness ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/15/25 | 1 comment

Thurston County downgrades wildfire evacuation level near Rainier

Thurston County officials downgraded evacuation orders for residents near Rainier, after a wildfire prompted evacuations earlier this ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 8/15/25

The Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Office of Housing and Homeless Prevention presented the strategies shaped by community and provider feedback for the county’s 2025-30 Homeless Housing Plan during a Thurston County Board of County Commissioners work session on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025.

Thurston County weaves lived experience, public voices into 2025–30 Homeless Housing Plan

Thurston County is racing to lock in its 2025-30 Homeless Housing Plan before a state deadline in September, finalizing its draft to meet ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 8/15/25 | 5 comments

Civil Service Commission to decide on police officer and firefighter hires

The Civil Service Commission will meet on Tuesday, Aug. 19, to review and decide on the approval of new hires for the Olympia Police Department ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 8/15/25 | 1 comment

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners discussed a plan to send a letter urging Congress to help unfreeze overdue Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds for Thurston and Mason counties during a check-in meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.

Thurston County to lobby Congress to end EFSP funding freeze

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) agreed to sign a letter of request asking Congress to help release overdue Emergency Food ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 8/14/25 | 4 comments