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

Port of Olympia consultant Peter Phillips, of Colibri NW discussed the potential of the port to engage in the manufacturing of electric ferries at a Port of Olympia Commission meeting on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. Phillips mentioned three electric ferry makers that the port could look into partnering with in the future. From top to bottom, the vessels shown in Phillips' presentation were developed by Artemis from Belfast, Candela from Sweden and EV Maritime from New Zealand.

Port of Olympia consultant plants ideas for passenger ferry service, manufacturing of vessels

A Port of Olympia consultant outlined initial steps for bringing back passenger ferry service to South Puget Sound, as well as opportunities related to the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/11/25 | 12 comments

Man arrested in cold case disappearance of Indigenous woman

A suspect is locked up after he was arrested in connection with the disappearance of an Indigenous woman in ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 9/11/25 | 1 comment

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners and county officials previewed housing and homelessness items at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.

Thurston County commissioners go over rental aid and repair contracts

Rental aid and repair contracts between Thurston County and local organizations are a step closer to being ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 9/10/25

Intercity Transit seeking 4 members for Community Advisory Committee

Members of the public, who want to help shape local public transit, are encouraged to apply for a seat on the Intercity Transit Community Advisory ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/10/25

Thurston Regional Planning Council Planner Michael Mills presented a slide, which highlighted near-term opportunities for advancing high-capacity transportation. The Thurston Regional Planning Council met on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.

Thurston Regional Planning Council approves transportation vision

The Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) unanimously approved a new regional vision and goals for high-capacity transportation ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 9/9/25 | 7 comments

The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency is going to replace its legacy records system with the cloud-based IMPACT platform from Unicon International, a database compliant with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule.

Cloud-based IMPACT to anchor ORCAA digital migration

The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) is preparing to modernize its recordkeeping with a cloud-based database after signing a contract with ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 9/9/25 | 1 comment

Intercity Transit employees posed for a group photo with the first Toyota Sienna of its vanpool program. The Washington State Department of Transportation awarded the agency $710,000 in 2024 to support the purchase of 22 replacement vehicles for its vanpool fleet.

More riders using Intercity Transit’s vanpool program

Intercity Transit’s vanpool program continues to grow with more groups forming to utilize the service, according to an update by Vanpool Manager ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/9/25 | 1 comment

Thurston County officials and U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland joined the Thurston County project team and residents to celebrate the completion of the Green Cove Creek Bridge in Thurston County on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025.

Green Cove Creek Bridge restores salmon passage in Thurston County

Thurston County officials celebrated the opening of the Green Cove Creek Bridge after the replacement of a culvert that environmental assessments ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 9/9/25 | 4 comments

Public hearing set for 2025 Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan update for Thurston County

A public hearing is going to be held by the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners to receive and consider public testimony on the 2025 Flood ... more

By The JOLT News staff | 9/9/25

Thurston Regional Planning Council Senior Planner Veronica Jarvis outlined the 2026 legislative priorities at a council meeting on Friday, Sept. 5, 2026.

Thurston Regional Planning Council prioritizes funding preservation

The Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) has outlined draft 2026 legislative priorities, focusing on protecting its existing funding rather than ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 9/8/25 | 2 comments

One of two suspects in an assault case refused to be arrested and hid in the attic of a residence. Through the use of a thermal drone, the suspect was arrested on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.

Two men arrested following investigation into alleged assault

Two men were arrested after law enforcement personnel responded to a report of an alleged assault involving a weapon at a property on ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 9/8/25 | 1 comment

A heavy lift helicopter scooped up water from Lake Cushman to drop on the Bear Gulch Fire, which has burned more than 9,000 acres since July 6, 2025.

Bear Gulch Fire arrests fuel Thurston County proposal on responder protection

About a week after two contracted wildfire firefighters were taken into custody by federal Border Patrol agents at the Bear Gulch Fire, Thurston County ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 9/5/25 | 16 comments

50-year-old man arrested for alleged vehicle theft in Rochester

A 50-year-old man was taken into custody after the alleged theft of a company vehicle from a business lot in ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 9/5/25 | 3 comments

The new “I Voted” sticker, which was designed by Thurston County resident Alexis Trono, features the Washington Capitol dome and rhododendrons. The sticker will debut in November 2025 ballot packets and remain in use through the 2027 primary election.

New ‘I Voted’ sticker debuts in Thurston County

A new "I Voted" sticker was revealed in Thurston County, as part of a campaign to strengthen voter registration ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 9/5/25 | 7 comments

What’s happening this weekend — Thurston County Heritage Day and other festivities

A number of events are on tap this weekend in Thurston County, including the Friends of the Poor Walk/Run ... more

9/4/25

Draft transportation program up for review by Thurston Regional Planning Council

The Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) is going to review a draft, four-year transportation improvement program at its meeting on Friday ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 9/3/25

Two men from Rochester face 123 counts of animal cruelty

Two men were arrested after authorities seized more than a hundred animals from a property on 137th Lane Southwest in Rochester last ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 9/3/25 | 7 comments

Local credit union offers grants to help teachers cover classroom expenses

Teachers often have to dip into their own wallets to make the studying experience better for their students. To ease that burden, a grant program ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/3/25 | 1 comment

The statewide plan objectives were presented to the Regional Housing Council, as part of the 2025-2030 Homeless Housing Plan discussion at a meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025.

Regional Housing Council drafts ‘North Star' strategy for homeless response

The Thurston County Regional Housing Council is developing its 2025-30 Homeless Housing Plan, which will guide countywide efforts to address homelessness ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 9/2/25 | 23 comments

14-time felon arrested after high-speed chase from Lacey to King County

A 33-year-old man with multiple felony convictions was arrested after a high-speed pursuit that began in Lacey and ended in King ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 9/2/25 | 10 comments