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

Per Flygare, a member of the Olympia Modeal Sailors, watches as Damian Pool, a visitor from Houston, Texas, skippers a model sailboat during Olympia Harbor Days on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025.

Olympia Harbor Days draws thousands of people during three-day event

Thousands of people descended upon the waterfront of the Port of Olympia over Labor Day weekend for a maritime celebration that featured ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 9/1/25 | 1 comment

City of Olympia Senior Housing Program Specialist Christa Lenssen briefed the Land Use and Environment Committee on rent stabilizations and the existing rental housing code at a meeting on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. She presented a slide comparing some provisions from House Bill 1217 and Olympia’s local code.

Olympia committee holds firm on local rental housing code

The City of Olympia’s Land Use and Environment Committee is recommending no immediate changes to the city’s rental housing code, even as a new state ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/29/25 | 6 comments

South Puget Sound Community College's sea creature mascot Percy the Kraken.

SPSCC named best community college by lifestyle magazine

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) has been recognized as the best community college in ShowCase Magazine’s Best of 2025 series ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/28/25 | 3 comments

South Puget Sound Community College staff and faculty celebrated being named a Finalist with Distinction in the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

SPSCC partners with think tank to study and implement college reforms

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) is going to work with the Aspen Institute to reform its programs so that graduates are better equipped ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/27/25

Olympia seeks lobbying firm to represent city priorities in Washington Legislature

The City of Olympia is seeking a team of experts to help advocate for its priorities in the 2026 legislative ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/27/25 | 8 comments

Experience Olympia & Beyond parts ways with CEO

Less than three months after accepting the position, Experience Olympia & Beyond CEO Michael Day is no longer working for ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 8/27/25 | 6 comments

Interfaith Works requests $51K for fire repairs at Sandy’s Flats

The Homeless Services Advisory Board (HSAB) is recommending the allocation of more than $51,000 in emergency funds to repair a ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/26/25 | 10 comments

Woman arrested for allegedly shoplifting at Macy’s in Olympia

Authorities arrested a 30-year-old woman after an alleged shoplifting incident at Macy’s Capital Mall at 625 Black Lake ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 8/26/25 | 1 comment

Committee to review rental protections in Olympia

The City of Olympia’s Land Use and Environment Committee will continue discussion on Thursday, Aug. 28, on whether to update the city’s Rental Housing Code ... more

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

A few hundred people participated in the "Walk for Immigrant Justice" in downtown Olympia on Saturday, Aug. 23.

'Walk for Immigrant Justice' draws hundreds of people to downtown Olympia

Hundreds of people took to the streets of downtown Olympia in a show of support for immigrants and their rights on ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 8/25/25 | 13 comments

Olympia committee set to finalize Community Policing Board appointments

The City of Olympia’s Community Livability and Public Safety Committee is moving forward with a recruitment process for the newly established ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/22/25 | 2 comments

What’s happening this weekend — Rainier Bluegrass Festival and other events

Enjoy live performances, a classic movie or events for a cause this weekend in Thurston ... more

P. Jade Asumbrado | 8/22/25

The City of Olympia’s finance team briefed the Finance Committee on the city’s 2025 budget status during a meeting on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025.

Olympia officials project modest growth, expect rising expenses

Improved revenues and a spending freeze led to growth in the City of Olympia's fund balance in the second quarter of ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/21/25

The City of Olympia's current sales tax distribution. Sales and use tax revenues are shared by the state, Olympia, Thurston County and other local jurisdictions.

Olympia weighs 0.1% sales tax increase to support public safety

The Olympia City Council is weighing whether to adopt a new local sales tax to support public safety, a move that could also unlock millions in ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/20/25 | 13 comments

Start date pushed back for stormwater project at West Bay Park

The start date has been delayed for a stormwater project that aims to limit the amount of suspended solids, such as microplastics and trash ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 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

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