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State Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, answers a question alongside Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, during a Legislative Media Day at the Washington state Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Olympia.

Washington delegation jets off to UK airshow, hoping new deals will take flight

As the state wrestles with a cash-squeezed budget, Washington’s Department of Commerce is deploying staff and a state lawmaker to one of the world’s biggest air shows in hopes it will deliver … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 7/17/26

Centralia College coach Joe Chirhart smiles at Reilly McIlraith in the final seconds of CC's win over Pierce on Geb. 26.

Chirhart’s Alaskan roots shine through in CC’s latest recruiting class

Centralia College men’s basketball coach Joe Chirhart knows as much as anyone that getting recruited as a high school athlete in Alaska can be challenging. An Anchorage, Alaska native, … more

By Dylan Wilhelm / dylan@chronline.com | 7/17/26

Washington candidates clash over Trump endorsement for House

As Central Washington voters begin filling out primary ballots as soon as this weekend, some may be a bit confused about who President Donald Trump actually endorsed in the District 4 contest to be … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 7/16/26

Cody Kellems participates in the 2026 Seattle-to-Portland Bicycle Classic.

Yelm resident Cody Kellems completes 2nd Seattle-to-Portland Bicycle Classic

Movement is medicine. Cody Kellems, 41, of Yelm, has used cycling as a remedy throughout his life. Long days at his job at Tacoma Glass Manufacturing inflicted back pain. He feared heart … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylan@thurstonchronicle.com | 7/16/26

The podcast room is pictured at The Chronicle in Centralia on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The News Dump and Sports Dump are recorded weekly in the on-site studio.

News Dump Ep. 286: These two rats are looking after a block of cheese

On the 286th episode, hosts Aaron VanTuyl and Eric Schwartz discuss the Sheriff resurfacing on AM radio, ‘T’ levels across the county, a slew of election profiles, a new anti-crime law … more

7/16/26

Lewis County law enforcement to form multi-agency crime unit

The Centralia Police Department, the Chehalis Police Department, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) and the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday announced their intention to form a … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 7/16/26

Opinion: Idaho and Montana are winning the competition for America’s families

What if the best report card for state government wasn’t a poll or an election? What if it was a moving truck? Every year, millions of Americans make one of the biggest decisions of their … more

By Chris Cargill / Mountain States Policy Center | 7/16/26

A bison is surrounded by members of Mollie’s Pack on Feb. 10, 2005, in Yellowstone National Park. The pack — formerly known as the Crystal Creek Pack — became known as skilled bison hunters. (Photo courtesy of Douglas Smith/National Park Service)

Yellowstone’s oldest wolf pack leaves the park, raising fears for its future

Leslie Patten hiked into a remote reach of northwest Wyoming’s Sunlight Basin in December to post a trail camera where she’d earlier seen wolf tracks. At the time, a winter closure was fast … more

By Mike Koshmrl / WyoFile via Idaho Capital Sun | 7/16/26

Community members gather for a Timberland Regional Library Board of Trustees meeting at the Chehalis Timberland Library on Wednesday, April 22.

Public invited to attend TRL Board of Trustees retreat July 18

Some concerned citizens are sounding the alarm over a Timberland Regional Library (TRL) Board of Trustees retreat scheduled for Saturday, July 18. The purpose of the retreat is to provide … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com | 7/16/26

Michael Kelly, former Lewis County PUD commissioner, leaves the Lewis County Superior Court after his trial on Wednesday, June 10.

Former PUD commissioner Michael Kelly gets one year in prison

Michael Jay Kelly, the former Lewis County Public Utilities District (PUD) commissioner convicted of bribing the PUD general manager, was sentenced to one year and a day in prison Wednesday … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 7/16/26

Grizzly bears are pictured in this photo provided by the National Park Service.

Feds propose rule shifting management of grizzly bears toward states

The federal government announced on Tuesday that it is planning to shift management of grizzly bears in the contiguous U.S. to the states. In a windy field south of Bozeman, Montana Gov. Greg … more

By Micah Drew / The Daily Montanan | 7/16/26

In loving memory of Kevin Taylor: 1964-2026

Tragically, on July 2, 2026, the family and friends of Kevin Taylor were reminded just how precious life is after he passed away suddenly at the age of 62. Kevin was born Feb. 9, 1964, in … more

7/16/26

In loving memory of Amanda Shepherd: 2004-2026

Amanda Lee Shepherd passed away July 1, 2026, at Swedish First Hill Hospital in Seattle, Washington, surrounded by the love of her family. Amanda was born in Phoenix, Arizona, but was a … more

7/16/26

Let’s Go Washington Supporters transport boxes filled with petition signature sheets outside the Washington Secretary of State’s office building in Tumwater on Thursday, July 2.

It’s official: Washington voters will get to weigh in on new income tax

Washington voters will get their chance in November to embrace or reject the state’s new income tax on households with earnings greater than a million dollars a year. The secretary of … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 7/16/26

Outside of Meadowdale Elementary School on Thursday, July 9, 2026 in Meadowdale, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Before a Washington student alleged sexual assault, schools received years of warnings about her teacher

Editor's note: This article was produced as part of a collaboration between InvestigateWest and The Daily Herald . On Aug. 6, 2025, a Lynnwood police officer got a call from a social worker at a … more

By Eliza Aronson / The Daily Herald | 7/16/26

2nd Base Espresso, 3001 E. Sanson Ave., on Tuesday displayed a transphobic sign that also used a slur toward people who have intellectual disabilities.

'This does not represent Spokane': Hillyard coffee stand removes transphobic sign using slur that spurred protest, outrage

A transphobic sign outside a Hillyard coffee stand that also used a slur for intellectually disabled people has spurred so much online backlash that the sign was removed and a protest scheduled for … more

Alexandra Duggan / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 7/16/26

Feds announce plan to give grizzly bear management authority to states

The federal government has announced plans to shift management authority for threatened grizzly bears to state wildlife agencies. But unlike past attempts to give states control, this proposal … more

Michael Wright / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 7/16/26

25-year-old man accused of setting fire north of downtown Spokane

A 25-year-old man faces an arson charge after he lit a piece of paper on fire and threw it into weeds, sparking a small fire Monday just north of downtown Spokane , according to court documents. … more

Garrett Cabeza / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 7/16/26

Adam Silver says multiple groups interested in NBA expansion in Seattle

Perhaps it is posturing. Perhaps it’s a way to try and draw up competition where it seems there’s none. But if you take NBA commissioner Adam Silver at face value, his words Tuesday night … more

Tim Booth / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/16/26

Starbucks’ shifting ‘center of gravity’ worries Washington state officials

Since Starbucks’ March announcement of plans for a corporate office in Nashville, Tennessee, the company has tirelessly declared that Seattle remains its global headquarters. But top … more

Paul Roberts / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/16/26