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Released Epstein files detail sex trafficker’s visits to Washington state

In July 2011, sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein flew to Seattle, stayed at the downtown luxury Hotel 1000 and, according to an email he later wrote, spent a day with Bill Gates, “having monstrous … more

By Paige Cornwell / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 2/9/26

Three dead in shooting at Thurston County home

Three people were found dead with apparent gunshot wounds in an Olympia home Saturday morning, according to police. Police responded around 10:37 a.m. to a report of arguing and gunfire at a … more

By Denisa R. Superville / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 2/9/26

About 350 people turned out in the rain Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at the state Capitol in Olympia, to mark a year of nationwide protests organized by the 50501 movement. (Sophia Sostrin / The Seattle Times)

Hundreds rally near state Capitol to mark one year of 50501 movement

OLYMPIA — More than 350 protesters, many of them high school students and young adults, gathered at Heritage Park overlooking the Washington Capitol on a rain-soaked Saturday afternoon to mark a … more

By Sophia Sostrin / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 2/9/26

Future of Shilo Inns Ocean Shores in doubt; Embattled hotel franchise’s locations have been closed for various reasons

Recently, the city of Ocean Shores ordered the closure of the Shilo Inns Ocean Shores near the Chance a la Mer beach approach for numerous reasons and suspended all business licenses issued to Shilo … more

By Jerry Knaak / The Daily World | 2/9/26

Oregon man suspected of DUI after I-5 rollover in Woodland

Authorities say a Troutdale man is injured after causing a rollover crash on Interstate 5 on Friday night in Woodland. Alberto Magana Zacarias, 37, is suspected of driving under the influence … more

The Daily News | 2/9/26

Environmental approval secured to build Columbia River ship turnaround

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted an environmental approval last month to a project to dredge a 1,000-foot-wide deep water ship turn around in the Columbia River near the Port of Kalama and … more

Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 2/9/26

Washington public records bill scraps task force, focuses only on school records

A Washington bill concerning public records requests advanced out of committee, but not before lawmakers amended it to remove a proposed task force and narrow the scope to just school districts. … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 2/9/26

Grizzly bears (Photo courtesy of the National Park Service).

Feds delay finalizing Lower 48 grizzly bear plans until December

The deadline for Trump administration officials to decide if Yellowstone-area grizzly bears should retain Endangered Species Act protections has been pushed back nearly a year. In January 2025, … more

By Mike Koshmrl / The Daily Montanan | 2/9/26

Hundreds of people protest the Trump administration’s immigration policies on Jan. 30, 2026, at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise. The protest was organized by Idaho groups after residents in Minnesota held a massive “ICE out” strike that encouraged people across the state to stay home from work, school and stores to protest the presence of federal immigration agents in Minnesota. (Photo by Christina Lords/Idaho Capital Sun)

Idaho lawmakers announce slate of immigration bills, crafted with influential think tank

A group of Idaho lawmakers have unveiled a slate of immigration proposals, crafted in tandem with Theo Wold, a former Donald Trump administration official and former Idaho solicitor general. … more

By Laura Guido / Idaho Capital Sun | 2/9/26

The Idaho Capitol Building’s rotunda is pictured in this January 2025 photo. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Idaho Republican lawmakers bring bills to criminalize using bathrooms of other genders

Idaho Republican lawmakers are bringing new bills that expand the state’s law banning transgender people from using their preferred school bathrooms. Two bills introduced Friday seek to … more

By Kyle Pfannenstiel / Idaho Capital Sun | 2/9/26

Oregon lawmakers are considering more violence prevention training for health care workers. (Photo by Alan Cohen/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

With ICE using Medicaid data, hospitals and states are in a bind over warning immigrant patients

The Trump administration’s move to give deportation officials access to Medicaid data is putting hospitals and states in a bind as they weigh whether to alert immigrant patients that their personal … more

By Phil Galewitz, KFF Health News and Amanda Seitz, KFF Health News | 2/9/26

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promotes “real food” at a rally in Harrisburg, Penn., last month. Over the next decade, obesity rates across the nation could surge to close to half of U.S. adults, a new study says. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

In the next decade, states will see a surge in obesity

Over the next decade, obesity rates across the nation could surge to close to half of U.S. adults, a new study published in the medical journal JAMA estimates. Researchers at the University of … more

By Nada Hassanein / States Newsroom | 2/9/26

As pennies disappear, Washington state must address how retailers make change

When the federal government stopped making pennies , it left it up to states to decide how retailers deal with the change. In Washington, lawmakers are trying to come up with a uniform approach … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 2/9/26

Dorien Cano raises his arm after beating Wahkiakum's Marlon Aparicio in the Mat Classic XXXVI 175-pound first round at the Tacoma Dome on Feb. 21.

Rainier, Napavine lead area contingent in 1B/2B district tourney

It was a loaded Saturday at Winlock High School, site of the Class 1B/2B District 4 tournament. Eight area schools competed and several solidified multiple spots at Mat Classic. Rainier was the … more