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

Regional Transportation Plan 2050 heading for public review in Thurston County

A draft of the Regional Transportation Plan 2050 for Thurston County moved closer to being released for public review after clearing another hurdle in ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 4/7/25 | 2 comments

Lacey's Human Services Commission unanimously recommended a new $35,000 cap on funding for individual public service programs at a meeting on Thursday, April 3, 2025.

Lacey eyes implementing $35K cap on Human Services grants to expand community impact

The City of Lacey's Human Services Commission advanced its 2025 Human Services Program Grant Program with a recommendation to implement a new $35,000 cap on ... more

By JC Medina | 4/7/25

Olympia Yacht Club to host annual SEA Day

An annual effort to highlight best environmental and safety practices will get underway later this month. The Olympia Yacht Club will host it's annual SEA Day on Saturday, April 19, at its … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 4/7/25

Thousands of people attended a "Hands Off!" demonstration at the Washington Capitol Campus in Olympia to protest the polices of the Trump administration on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

'Hands Off!' demonstration draws thousands of people to Washington Capitol Campus in Olympia

Chants of “Hands off” and “Lock him up” reverberated throughout the Washington Capitol Campus in Olympia on Saturday afternoon, April 5, as thousands of people gathered to … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 4/5/25 | 1 comment

The Lee Creighton Justice Center property, as seen in this undated photo.

Olympia mulls $8.2M sale of the Justice Center campus to Squaxin Island Tribe 

The Olympia City Council will consider an agreement to sell the Lee Creighton Justice Center campus to the Squaxin Island Tribe for ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/4/25 | 12 comments

A discussion during the Tumwater City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, April 1, touched on a proposed Swire facility and the council’s role in land use designations.

Proposed Swire facility in Tumwater raises concerns

A proposed facility at Olympia Regional Airport for Swire, a Coca-Cola bottler, raised concerns among members of the Tumwater City Council about their oversight over ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/4/25 | 7 comments

A map shows where underground utility work will take place in Tumwater from April 7-11.

Underground utility work to cause traffic lane restrictions in Tumwater

Motoring around certain parts of Tumwater will be a little more challenging next week because of underground utility work. The work is planned for Monday, April 7, through Friday, April 11, along … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 4/4/25

Anne Molenda has been named as a finalist for The Washington School Counselor Association (WSCA) Advocate of the Year award.

SPSCC staffer a finalist for Advocate of the Year

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) recently announced that a staff member has been named as a finalist for The Washington School Counselor Association (WSCA) Advocate of the Year … more

By Jessie Darland | 4/4/25

Auditor’s Office mails ballots to Tumwater voters

The Thurston County Auditor’s Office announced on Wednesday, April 2, that it has distributed more than 18,000 ballots to Tumwater voters for ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/4/25

Mark Kitabayashi, president of Thurston County Realtors Association, attended the Lacey City Council meeting for a proclamation on Fair Housing Month on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Lacey declares Fair Housing Month in addressing ongoing housing discrimination

The Lacey City Council unanimously proclaimed April 2025 as Fair Housing Month at a meeting on Tuesday, April 1. The proclamation highlighted the ongoing challenges of achieving equitable … more

By JC Medina | 4/4/25 | 1 comment

Your binder is your buddy: learn to love it

Dear Advocate, I did what you said. I have a binder filled with all my daughter’s paperwork, sorted by tabs and in chronological order. Older papers are stored in my cloud. It all … more

By Shannon Sankstone | 4/4/25

The Tumwater Budget and Finance Committee met on Friday, March 28, 2025, to discuss an ordinance that would expand the delegated authority given to the mayor and department directors.

Tumwater committee reviews ordinance expanding delegated authority of mayor, department directors

The City of Tumwater is working to update and expand the delegated authority given to the mayor and ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/3/25 | 3 comments

The Lacey City Council has unanimously approved a resolution to put a Metropolitan Park District (MPD) proposition before voters in the upcoming August general election during their meeting on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Lacey parks funding measure to be placed on August ballot

The Lacey City Council unanimously approved a resolution to put a Metropolitan Park District (MPD) proposition before voters in ... more

By JC Medina | 4/3/25 | 2 comments

Collected containers of paint, solvents and chemical products awaited sorting at HazoHouse, part of Thurston County’s hazardous materials reuse program for 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the county.

'HazoHouse' equips nonprofits with cleaning, maintenance supplies in Thurston County

Thurston County Solid Waste has launched a time-limited reuse program that hands out hazardous household products to registered nonprofits. “The HazoHouse Reuse Program is designed to help … more

By Kameko Marquez | 4/3/25

A slide from a March 20, 2025, presentation by Colby Fletcher, Tumwater’s construction manager, illustrated the increase of costs for a sidewalk project along Linwood Avenue in Tumwater.

Cost to go up for sidewalk project along Linwood Avenue in Tumwater

The cost is going up for a sidewalk improvement project along Linwood Avenue in Tumwater. The Tumwater City Council authorized the city’s engineering director to increase the contract … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/3/25

Dan Smith, the director of the water resources and sustainability department in Tumwater, showe the Public Works Committee their new office at South Puget Sound Community College at a meeting on March 20.

Renovation of water resources and sustainability department’s office complete in Tumwater

Tumwater has finalized two projects by its water resources and sustainability department. The city council considered the renovation of its water resources and sustainability … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/3/25

Fiber optics project underway in east side Olympia neighborhood

A fiber optics installation project is taking place throughout an east side neighborhood south of 7th Avenue SE between Central Street and Boulevard Road SE in Olympia. The project is expected … more

By The JOLT News Staff | 4/3/25 | 1 comment

The Yorkshire Apartments by Grandview Yorkshire LLC is a 21.7-acre apartment complex being planned at a location between Israel Road and Tumwater Boulevard. Tumwater City Council approved a conditional contract for “Building One” of the site (highlighted in red) on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Developer of apartment complex gets conditional exemption from property taxes in Tumwater

The developer of a 21.7-acre apartment complex in Tumwater is set to secure an exemption from property taxes for ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/2/25 | 9 comments

Olympia School District Superintendent Patrick Murphy highlighted Roosevelt Elementary School’s Reading Buddies program at a meeting on March 27, 2025.

Olympia School District leader lauds students for reading leadership

Olympia School District Superintendent Patrick Murphy highlighted Roosevelt Elementary School’s Reading Buddies, a reading mentorship program, at a ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/2/25

Chris Vaccaro, a building official from the City of Yelm, posed with Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder for a photo following the Arbor Day proclamation for the City of Lacey on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Lacey doubles down on environmental commitment

The Lacey City Council has officially proclaimed April as Arbor Month and April 22 as Earth Day during a ... more

By JC Medina | 4/2/25