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Dawn’s Delectables Dessert & Sandwich Shoppe celebrated its 10-year anniversary in downtown Centralia on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

Dawn’s Delectables returning to downtown Centralia location following JJ’s departure

Dawn’s Delectables Dessert & Sandwich Shoppe is returning to its old downtown Centralia location after closing at the end of March in 2024, the business stated in a news release. Last … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 7/17/25

Washington Supreme Court limits how state can sentence immigrants previously convicted abroad

The Washington Supreme Court issued a ruling Thursday that prohibits judges from increasing an offender’s mandatory sentence range based on foreign convictions. The decision stemmed from a … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 7/17/25

Washington state sheriff hopes SCOTUS takes up fight over states refusing ICE cooperation

Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank isn’t backing down in his desire to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to allow his deputies to assist the Trump administration in deporting … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 7/17/25

Ombuds reports 92 children in Washington state killed or nearly killed in first 6 months of 2025

The Washington state Department of Youth, Children & Families Oversight Board received devastating news from the state Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds. During a four-hour … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 7/17/25

Coaches, athletes and family members involved in Lewis County Special Olympics and Sara Sons, along with Chehalis Police Department Deputy Chief Matt McKnight, pose for a photo with Lewis County Commissioners Lindsey Pollock, Sean Swope and Scott Brummer.

Lewis County commissioners celebrate Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run

The Lewis County Board of Commissioners celebrated the 2025 Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run during its business meeting Tuesday, honoring volunteers and Special Olympics … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 7/17/25

In focus: West Thurston Fire responds to 2-acre brush fire

West Thurston Fire Authority crews responded to a brush fire in the 12400 block of Waddle Creek Road on Wednesday afternoon. The fire involved timber and slash piles that burned … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/17/25

In this Chronicle file photo, Patriot Prayer Founder Joey Gibson films as Morton Police Chief Roger Morningstar speaks during a rally in downtown Mossyrock in December 2020.

Morton faces federal lawsuit over firing of officer amid claims against former chief of police

A former Morton Police Department officer has filed a federal lawsuit against the city and its former mayor for his termination in 2023, alleging that he was fired for bringing up concerns related to … more

By Eric Schwartz / eschwartz@chronline.com | 7/17/25

Injured climber summons help by shouting across canyon after fall, Washington state cops say

An injured climber summoned help after falling on a remote Washington peak by shouting across a canyon, officials said. The 31-year-old was climbing alone on Sinister Peak’s northern … more

Sara Schilling / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 7/17/25

Law enforcement vehicles parked outside the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office in Tacoma on March 19, 2025.

Pierce County violated state law by diverting millions in tax revenue meant to improve 911 calls, state audit finds

When a resident of Pierce County calls 911, their call is routed to the regional call center in Tacoma, which handles nearly 1 million calls each year and works as the communication bridge for the … more

By Moe Clark / InvestigateWest | 7/17/25

The Hoquiam River flows into Grays Harbor.

Washington state sues Trump administration for cutting billions in disaster mitigation funding

On April 4, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) abruptly canceled the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. This decision directly affects several Grays Harbor … more

By Jerry Knaak / The Daily World | 7/17/25

The Pacific Producer, a large abandoned vessel, docked in a waterway off Commencement Bay in Tacoma, Wash., as seen July 15, 2025.

The U.S. government sold off these aging ships — leaving states in the Pacific Northwest to pay the price

Three years ago on a sunny day in August, a nearly 80-year-old steel, navy blue ship with patched holes and streaks of rust drifted down an inlet connecting downtown Tacoma to Commencement Bay. The … more

By Aspen Ford / InvestigateWest | 7/17/25

Lewis County Democrats Chairman Zachary Eckstein smiles for a portrait at The Chronicle’s Centralia office on Thursday, Dec. 26.

Commentary: Lewis County families deserve better than budget rhetoric

Lewis County families are facing real challenges, and we need our representatives fighting for us, not providing cover for policies that make our lives harder. Sen. John Braun's recent editorial … more

Commentary by Zac Eckstein | 7/17/25

The Hope Fire burns at night near Northport, Washington.

Hope Fire sees steady progress amid rugged terrain, mop-up operations continue

Fire crews continue to make steady progress on the Hope Fire in northeastern Washington, with more containment added each day across several divisions of the burn perimeter. As of Thursday morning, … more

Brandon Hansen / KCHW News | 7/17/25

Washington prepares for end of 988 crisis line support tailored to LGBTQ+ youth

Specialty services for LGBTQ+ youth will be removed from the national 988 suicide and crisis hotline on Thursday, July 17, following a federal decision announced last month. The hotline … more

Emily Fitzgerald / Washington State Standard | 7/17/25

Crime victim programs in Washington struggle as funding erodes

Groups that assist crime victims in Washington will look at reducing services as federal dollars remain down and funding in the state budget falls short filling the gap. Since 2018, … more

Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / Washington State Standard | 7/17/25

4-year-old accidentally shoots mom with gun he got from sleeping dad, Washington state cops say

A 4-year-old got ahold of a loaded gun and shot his mother in the arm by accident, deputies in Washington said. The mom was taken to a hospital with injuries that were serious but not … more

Sara Schilling / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 7/17/25

Washington state observatory at risk from Trump cuts helps make stunning black hole discovery

The LIGO Hanford Observatory near the Tri-Cities and its twin in Louisiana detected ripples of time and space passing through Earth from the most massive collision of black holes ever observed, a … more

Annette Cary / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 7/17/25

Summer chinook harvest to be allowed on portion of upper Columbia

Anglers will get a chance to take home chinook salmon from a portion of the the Upper Columbia River this summer. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced this week that an … more

Michael Wright / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 7/17/25

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 25: The House Appropriations Committee's Homeland Security Subcommittee member Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) questions Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Matt Albence during a hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill July 25, 2019 in Washington, DC. Albence testified that the increase in the number of people illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has stretched his agency's budget to the breaking point. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Washington Congressman advised not to hold public events after man arrested for making death threats against GOP congressman, his staff

Just about every time Rep. Dan Newhouse posts on Facebook, the comments start pouring in with the same question from his constituents across central Washington. "When is your next public … more

Orion Donovan Smith / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 7/17/25

Washington state sues Trump administration for disaster funding cuts

While the country reels from a series of deadly and devastating floods, Washington and a coalition of other states are suing President Donald Trump’s administration to keep money flowing so … more

Conrad Swanson / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/17/25