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

A security camera kept a watchful eye at the Ballot Processing Center in Tumwater on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025.

Iyall clings to lead in tight battle for Port of Olympia Commission, District No. 2 seat

Port of Olympia Commissioner Bob Iyall held a razor thin lead over challenger Jerry Toompas following the latest ballot count update in the Nov. 4 ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 11/10/25

The Thurston Regional Planning Council members selected Elissa Gertler as its first choice for the executive director position.

Thurston Regional Planning Council backs Elissa Gertler for executive director role

The Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) is set to welcome a new executive director after an extensive selection process that evaluated ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 11/10/25

Tumwater City Council authorizes interlocal agreement to streamline Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative

The Tumwater City Council authorized Mayor Debbie Sullivan on Monday, Nov. 3, to sign an interlocal agreement that would streamline the work of ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 11/10/25

A site plan shows the proposed New Horizon Communities Carpenter Village project at 720 Carpenter Road SE.

Thurston County hits pause on New Horizon Communities affordable housing proposal

Thurston County has deferred a proposal from New Horizon Communities (NHC) to lease county-owned land on Carpenter Road SE for a 72-unit ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 11/10/25 | 2 comments

Saint Martin’s University’s 20th anniversary gala featured celebrity chef Rick Bayless on Nov. 1, 2025.

Saint Martin’s University gala raises $2 million for student scholarships

Saint Martin’s University in Lacey celebrated its 20th anniversary with its signature black tie gala ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 11/10/25

Volunteers from the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Sergeants Major Association and the Lacey Veterans Services Hub cleaned the Gold Star Family Memorial Monument at the Civic Plaza in preparation for Veterans Day ceremonies. The monument is located at 521 Sleater Kinney Road SE in Lacey.

Sprucing up Gold Star Family Memorial Monument ahead of Veterans Day in Lacey

Ahead of Veterans Day, the City of Lacey’s Gold Star Family Memorial Monument received restoration and cleaning by volunteers from the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Sergeants Major Association … more

By Kameko Marquez | 11/7/25 | 2 comments

Olympia City Council to vote on 0.1% public safety tax

The Olympia City Council is set to vote on a new public safety sales tax that would increase the city’s total sales tax rate to 9.9% and generate an estimated ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 11/7/25 | 10 comments

Thurston County Sheriff's Office K-9 Igo at an undisclosed location on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025.

Man taken into custody after being holed up in trailer

A man was arrested after he was found holed up in a trailer, and then tried to get away from Thurston County Sheriff's Office personnel despite getting ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 11/7/25 | 5 comments

Port Commissioner District No. 2 contest too close to call

A battle for a Port of Olympia Commission seat is going down to the wire in the Nov. 4 General Election in ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 11/7/25 | 1 comment

United Way of Thurston County is calling for community contributions to help food banks serve more families amid a reduction in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

United Way of Thurston County to send aid to food banks as SNAP support drops

United Way of Thurston County has activated its Emergency Assistance Fund to support local food banks and Supplemental Nutrition ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 11/6/25 | 1 comment

Thurston Regional Planning Council announces 3 finalists for executive director position

After conducting a nationwide search and a series of interviews in October, the Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) selected three finalists ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 11/6/25 | 1 comment

City of Tumwater Administrator Lisa Parks discussed a funding request with the city council that calls for all opioid settlements funds to toward the support of Thurston County’s Opioid Abatement Council. She made her remarks at a city council meeting on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.

Tumwater City Council agrees to pool opioid settlement funds with partner jurisdictions

The Tumwater City Council agreed to pool the city’s opioid settlement funds with neighboring jurisdictions to support Thurston County’s Opioid ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 11/6/25 | 1 comment

A floor plan shows the existing first floor layout of the Central Wing (red) and East Wing (blue) at Lacey City Hall at 420 College Street SE.

Consultant sought for redesign of Lacey City Hall central wing

The City of Lacey is seeking a consultant to remodel the central wing of Lacey City Hall to meet public service demands and projected employment ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 11/6/25 | 1 comment

Saint Martin’s University volunteers packed food boxes at the Thurston County Food Bank’s Tumwater distribution site in late October. The organization confirmed food assistance will continue throughout the federal shutdown.

First-time demand up at Thurston County Food Bank amid disruptions to federal benefits

The Thurston County Food Bank is seeing more households seek food assistance for the first time as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children benefits have … more

By Kameko Marquez | 11/5/25 | 2 comments

The ballot storage cage at the Ballot Processing Center in Tumwater, as seen on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025.

Proposition 1 rejected by voters in Olympia

There were a number of tight contests in the Nov. 4 General Election, but in the end incumbents held fast and opponents of a citizen initiative appear ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 11/5/25 | 8 comments

An aerial view of the property at 17909 Lawrence Lake Road SE, known as Deschutes Valley Farms, where debris containing asbestos was confirmed.

ORCAA urges pre-teardown asbestos checks amid Yelm hazard case

On the heels of an airborne asbestos hazard warning in Yelm, property owners are being reminded that home renovation or demolition work requires ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 11/5/25 | 5 comments

Olympia City Councilman Jim Cooper called for creating clear performance indicators that would guide the council in evaluating and implementing the Multifamily Tax Exemption Program at a city council meeting on Monday, Oct. 3, 2025.

Market-rate housing projects approved in Olympia

The Olympia City Council plans to revisit the Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE) program and establish performance metrics for all affordable housing ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 11/5/25 | 13 comments

Tumwater City Council adopts food systems plan

The Tumwater City Council passed a resolution to adopt a food systems plan at a meeting on ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 11/5/25

Olympia voters take stance against Workers' Bill of Rights in Nov. 4 General Election

A citizen initiative that aimed to establish labor standards for work scheduling, a minimum wage and other regulations was headed toward defeat in the Nov. 4 ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 11/4/25 | 2 comments

The main entrance to the new Ballot Processing Center in Tumwater, as seen on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025.

New Ballot Processing Center ready for election night in Thurston County

When the ballots come in for the Nov. 4 General Election in Thurston County, they will be processed at a state-of-the-art facility that was years in ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 11/4/25