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Members of Washington Public Employees Association did not receive a pay hike in July as other state workers did because their contract did not get funded in the budget. They are now voting on new agreements that would get them pay hikes. (Photo by Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

A new agreement could get Washington state workers the wage hikes they lost

Thousands of state government and community college employees in Washington are considering a new pact that would secure raises they lost out on in July when state lawmakers did not fund their … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 9/2/25

Annemarie Randall laughs as she recounts stories of her time spent volunteering at Mount Rainier National Park in 2018.

Longtime Mount Rainier National Park volunteer, 88, dies in crash

A two-vehicle collision near Alder Lake resulted in the death of a well-known Mount Rainier National Park volunteer on Sept. 1, according to the Washington State Patrol. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/2/25

Attorney General Nick Brown signs his election certificate after being sworn in Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia, Wash. (Photo by Ryan Berry/Washington State Standard)

Washington state AG joins push to stop spread of deepfake pornography online

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and dozens of his colleagues across the country are calling on tech companies and payment platforms to take action to block computer-generated … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 9/2/25

A Democrat and a Republican will team up to try to ban masked law enforcement in Oregon

An Oregon Republican and Democrat are teaming up to push a law enforcement accountability bill, they announced Sunday. Cyrus Javadi, a Tillamook Republican, and Tom Andersen, a Salem Democrat, … more

Sami Edge / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 9/2/25

Oregon House passes transportation funding package in major win for Democrats

Two months after a transportation funding package died on the Oregon House floor in the final minutes of this year’s legislative session, Democrats successfully passed a revised proposal … more

Carlos Fuentes / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 9/2/25

Umpqua Bank on Monday changed its name to Columbia Bank, with new signs going up at branches across the area.

Umpqua Bank changes name

Umpqua Bank on Monday changed its name to Columbia Bank, with branches across the region now sporting new signage. The Tacoma-based bank last month announced the date for the name change, which … more

Matthew Kish / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 9/2/25

Apples fill bins at 3 Dogs Cider and Brewstillery in Silver Creek on Sunday, Oct. 8.

Washington remains top apple producer; harvest conditions favorable

With apple harvest well underway, the agricultural commodity is expected to produce 142 million standard forty-pound boxes of freshly harvested apples, according to the Washington State Tree Fruit … more

Matthew Carnero-Macias / The Wenatchee World (TNS) | 9/2/25

Seattle-area offices staying empty as job losses outpace return-to-office

Since the pandemic, the optimistic take on the battered office market around Seattle has been pretty straightforward: vacancies will fade once employers get those remote workers back in. But as … more

Paul Roberts / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 9/2/25

1,648 missing Indigenous person reports in 20 years in Pierce Co. What’s being done?

When Joyce Robinson wakes up every morning, she thinks about her family. She thinks about her children and her grandchildren, and wonders how they’re doing. When it comes to her … more

Sephora Charles / The News Tribune (TNS) | 9/2/25

The Chronicle - September 2, 2025

9/2/25

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson is sworn into office by Supreme Court chief justice Debra L. Stephens during a joint legislative session in the House chambers at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Washington state businesses preparing for new retail sales taxes to hit consumers Oct. 1

One month from Labor Day, a slew of Washington businesses will be subject to new retail sales taxes, which will be passed onto consumers. The 2025 Washington State Legislature passed Engrossed … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 9/1/25

Keith Kossuth sits on the wheel of his 1929 Travel Air Model 4000 biplane while waiting for customers at the Chehalis-Centralia Airport on Aug. 28, 2025.

Nomadic pilot makes a pitstop in Chehalis to spread the joy of aviation

At first glance, Keith Kossuth appears to be unremarkable, but his calloused hands and dirt-ridden nails betray the story hidden underneath his gentle eyes, bushy beard and soft spoken mannerisms. … more

By Otto Rabe / otto@chronline.com | 9/1/25

Salvation Army of Lewis County Captain Gin Pack speaks to the Lewis County commissioners during a meeting last Wednesday at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis.

Lewis County Commission dives into details of housing and homeless services

Scrutiny of funding for local housing and homelessness programs continues in Lewis County as the Board of Lewis County Commissioners takes a closer look at the programs sustained by state grant … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 9/1/25

From left, Lewis County commissioners Scott Brummer, Lindsey Pollock and Sean Swope attend a meeting at the Lewis County Courthouse last week.

Lewis County considers opting into new opioid settlement

As budget season begins, the Board of Lewis County Commissioners could be looking for new ways to fund programs meant to address the opioid crisis on a local level. During a county manager … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 9/1/25

Man with Lewis County ties identified as victim of fatal assault at White River Amphitheatre concert

A 31-year-old man with ties to Lewis County has been identified as the victim in a fatal assault at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn on Aug. 27. Brandon Richard Godsey died at Harborview … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/1/25

The Chronicle’s new building is pictured from the outside at 215 N. Pearl St. in downtown Centralia on Monday, Sept. 1.

The Chronicle moves to new location in downtown Centralia

After its owners purchased a former bank building in downtown Centralia earlier this year, The Chronicle moved to its new location at 215 N. Pearl St. over the weekend. On Monday, the newsroom … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/1/25

Sirens: Three juvenile siblings caught shoplifting; driver learns recently purchased vehicle was stolen; arrests for assault, theft, eluding and more

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Arrests • Jessica Cecil, 34, Winlock, was arrested in the 1000 block of South Yew Street at about 6:05 p.m. Aug. 29 and booked into the Lewis County Jail … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/1/25

Death notice: Sept. 1, 2025

• GEORGIA ANN CAVINDER, 79, Chehalis, died Aug. 27 at her residence. Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives of Washington. more

9/1/25

Penn, left, is pictured with Ellie at Wolf Haven near Tenino.

Julie McDonald: Wolf Haven offers better life for captive wolves

For the first 10 years of his life, a 3-foot chain kept poor Penn hooked to a post, his world confined to a small circle, his life monotonous and so, so sad. But then in November rescuers gave … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 9/1/25

Jennie Guggenheim poses for a photo with her daughter, Abby, at Real Hope Community Church in Lacey on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025.

‘Life-changing’: Thurston County educator receives cochlear implant

For many people, sounds such as birds chirping, cars driving by or children’s laughter are taken for granted. Not for Jennie Guggenheim. Guggenheim, who was born in the Philippines … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 9/1/25