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

Officials from Thurston County and the Thurston Regional Planning Committee met on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, during the Board of County Commissioners agenda-setting meeting to discuss proposed amendments to the Countywide Planning Policies with tribal involvement.

Thurston County updates planning policies to include tribal coordination

Thurston County officials have proposed amendments for its Countywide Planning Policies (CWPP) to include tribal coordination requirements following a 2022 state law ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 3/25/25 | 1 comment

Suman Thapa, co-owner of Namaste Bazaar, rings up items at the South Asian grocery store for customers.

New South Asian grocery fills a gap in Thurston County

A new business featuring South Asian foods recently opened near Lacey, bringing Indian, Nepalese and Pakistani groceries to Thurston County ... more

By Jessie Darland | 3/25/25 | 2 comments

Man arrested for allegedly assaulting female, police officers in Olympia

Olympia Police Department (OPD) personnel responded to an altercation at a bar earlier this month, where a man was allegedly involved in multiple assaults before ... more

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

City of Olympia seeks new poet laureate

The City of Olympia is searching for its next poet laureate, inviting local poets to use their craft to explore the theme of ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 3/25/25 | 2 comments

Capital Region Educational Service District (ESD) 113 congratulated 2025 Art Show winners from Black Hills, Olympia, Timberline and Tumwater high schools.

Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater high schoolers win awards at regional art show

Students from Black Hills, Olympia, Timberline and Tumwater high schools were some of the 2025 Art Show winners in ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/25/25

Sexual awareness talk at Capitol Campus on March 28

Saint Martin's University is hosting a screening of "The House," as well as a talk from sexual assault awareness and survivor Sylvia Peterson at the Columbia Room on the ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 3/25/25

Eli Dewees, 5, created this design to help spread love to the homeless community. His mom turned the design into T-shirts and sold them to raise money for a local organization that provides permanent housing.

5-year-old boy shows love to homeless people through T-shirt fundraiser

When 5-year-old Eli Dewees had a conversation with a houseless person recently and learned that person had been assaulted, he wondered what he could do to help ... more

By Jessie Darland | 3/24/25 | 1 comment

Voter verification mailer project underway in Thurston County

In an effort to ensure voter registration records remain accurate and up-to-date, the Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division is reaching out to thousands of residents. The … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/24/25 | 3 comments

Michael Cornelius, a Amalgamated Transit Union international vice president, addressed the Intercity Transit’s Board of Directors on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Cornelius has been helping ATU 176, which represents the agency’s bus drivers, dial-a-lift dispatchers, and customer care representatives, to renew its contract.

Union leader claims Intercity Transit’s lawyer proposed mediation

A union leader aiding Intercity Transit’s bus operators claimed the lawyer representing the transportation agency in contract negotiations has proposed entering ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/24/25

More than a court

When Alana was arrested for shoplifting in Olympia, it seemed like just another run-in with the law. Homeless, struggling with addiction, and carrying the weight of past trauma from domestic … more

By Luis Manzo | For The JOLT News | 3/24/25 | 1 comment

Thurston County jobless rate falls to 4.8 percent in January

The labor market got off to a positive start in the opening month of 2025, as the number of employed people climbed amid a beefed up workforce in the Olympia-Tumwater Metropolitan Statistical Area. … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/24/25

A poster for the North Thurston Public Schools’s Spring College & Career Fair.

North Thurston Public Schools to host Spring College & Career Fair on March 26

North Thurston Public Schools is inviting high school students to the Spring College & Career Fair on ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/24/25

Carefully tended tree stands in Capitol Forest, as seen in this undated photo.

Our legacy of modern, science-based forest stewardship is being lost to special interests

Thurston County is home to great outdoor recreation, much of it on our public lands in Capitol Forest. In the 1950’s, I hiked, biked and rode horses there, and I clearly recall the vast … more

By Ken Miller | 3/24/25 | 13 comments

Appeal delays adoption of Olympia Regional Airport’s updated master plan

An appeal filed by conservation group Black Hills Audubon Society, along with eight residents, has derailed the Port of Olympia’s timeline for adopting ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/21/25 | 4 comments

Lisa Parks (left), Tumwater’s city administrator, briefed the Tumwater City Council on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, about the standardization of contracts of all 10 department directors employed by the city.

Tumwater City Council standardizes contracts for department directors

Contracts are getting standardized for director-level positions in the City of Tumwater. The Tumwater City Council authorized a contract template on ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/21/25 | 1 comment

Museum Curator Erin Quinn Valcho presented key updates on the draft strategic plan for the new Lacey Museum during the Lacey Historical Commission meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Lacey Museum moves forward with strategic plan

Progress on the new Lacey Museum and Cultural Center continues as city officials and historical commissioners refine strategic plans and funding initiatives to … more

By JC Medina | 3/21/25 | 1 comment

Lucas Miller, a board member of PFLAG-Olympia and Quinn Snow, representing The New Boys Club, attended the Lacey City Council meeting for the adoption of a proclamation for Transgender Day of Visibility. The meeting was on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Lacey proclaims March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility

The Lacey City Council officially proclaimed March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility, reaffirming its commitment to inclusivity and support for ... more

By JC Medina | 3/21/25 | 3 comments

Kevin Shen, a senior from Olympia High School, finished in seventh place of the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search.

Olympia High School senior ranks 7th in nationwide science search

Kevin Shen, an 18-year-old senior from Olympia High School (OHS), placed seventh out of 40 finalists in the nationwide 2025 Regeneron ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/21/25 | 2 comments

Susan McLaughlin is the newly appointed Community Planning and Economic Development director for Olympia. Olympia City Manager Jay Burney formally introduced her to the city council on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Susan McLaughlin joins Olympia as Community Planning and Economic Development director

With a background in climate planning and emergency response, Susan McLaughlin joins Olympia to helm the Community Planning and ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/21/25

Thurston County Engineer Matt Unzelman explained water system project plans to the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) during a public hearing held on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Thurston County moves to strengthen water supply networks

Dana Passage Water System and Woodard Place Water Company secured franchise approvals from the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 3/21/25