News | The Daily Chronicle

Washington sheriffs warn new state law could harm public safety, decrease prosecution rate

Sheriffs and police chiefs across Washington state are turning off their agencies’ automatic license plate readers in response to a new law, leaving costly public investments sitting idle. … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 4/2/26

Flanked by her husband Jerry, outgoing County Commissioner Vickie Raines listens as retirement party guests congratulate her on her career.

Grays Harbor Commissioner Vickie Raines gets community sendoff

Grays Harbor County Commissioner Vickie Raines received a standing-room-only community send-off upon her retirement from elected public service during an event at the county administration building … more

By Jerry Knaak / The Daily World | 4/2/26

Oakville Little League ballfields sporting upgrades

When the Oakville Little League has its first home game on April 21, visiting teams will see ballfields that have had a significant makeover since they played last year. New … more

By Andrea Watts / The Daily World | 4/2/26

Four Thurston County residents injured in two-vehicle collision in Grays Harbor County

Four Thurston County residents were injured in a two-vehicle collision on state Route 8 Wednesday morning, according to a news release from the Washington State Patrol. Troopers indicated the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/2/26

Appeals court affirms decision to drop criminal charge against Boeing

An appeals court has upheld the decision to drop a criminal charge filed against Boeing after two fatal 737 Max crashes. A group of families who lost loved ones in the deadly crashes had asked … more

Lauren Rosenblatt / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/2/26

Possible measles exposures in Bellevue, Kirkland, Seattle prompt alert

King County health officials are warning the public of a string of possible measles exposure locations in Seattle and on the Eastside after confirming two residents tested positive for the virus this … more

Elise Takahama / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/2/26

Artemis II moonshot: Seattle celebrates ‘history in the making’

Julia Lowe has been on a lifelong mission to see a rocket launch. Lowe, 41, from Tacoma, traveled with her family to Cape Canaveral, Fla., in November to fulfill that dream, hoping to watch the … more

Lauren Rosenblatt / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/2/26

Washington state eyes legal challenge to Trump’s mail-in voting executive order

Washington state leaders swiftly rebuffed an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, which directs the creation of a nationwide list of verified eligible voters and restricts … more

Anumita Kaur / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/2/26

Washington state sees historic surge of immigrants challenging their detention

Since Donald Trump took office for the second time and began an aggressive effort to deport immigrants, federal courts in Western Washington have seen a massive surge in the number of people … more

Mike Carter / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/2/26

Traffic backs up along Interstate 5 in Centralia as WSDOT responds to the scene of a crash.

Washington state traffic deaths are declining. What’s changing?

The number of people killed on Washington's roads went down by nearly 12% in 2025, continuing a reversal of the fatalities that had erupted during the first years of the pandemic. Last year's … more

Nicholas Deshais / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/2/26

Rick Steves weighs in on Washington state ‘millionaires tax’

After Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a high-earners income tax into law Monday, Edmonds-based travel writer Rick Steves had a lot to say about it online. The millionaires tax," he said in a … more

Angela Lim / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/2/26

Millions in Washington state child care provider payments in question

State auditors say the state should do more to find improper payments to child care providers and work to prevent them from happening in the first place. Auditors are questioning about $37 … more

Claire Withycombe / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/2/26

Seattle council member seeks audit after King County fraud allegations

Seattle City Councilmember Maritza Rivera is calling for an audit of the city’s human services contracts, an effort to get ahead of any possible echoes of the fraud allegations unfolding across the … more

David Kroman / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/2/26

Trump threats on Iran civilian sites raise escalation fears

President Donald Trump’s repeated threat to destroy Iranian civilian infrastructure is the latest sign of the U.S. leader’s increasing detachment from international norms and the bounds of modern … more

Peter Martin / Bloomberg News (TNS) | 4/2/26

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. 272: The councilman who never was

On the 272nd episode of The Chronicle News Dump, hosts Aaron VanTuyl and Editor-in-Chief Eric Schwartz discuss the appointment and subsequent disappointment of a Centralia city councilor, the piles … more

4/1/26

Gov. Bob Ferguson answers questions from the press during a legislative session preview in a Senate Hearing room in Olympia on Friday, Jan. 9.

Decertified Washington state sheriffs can now be ousted under controversial new law

Gov. Bob Ferguson saved one of the most controversial bills from the 2026 legislative session until Wednesday, the last day for bill signings. SB 5974 , the sheriff decertification bill will … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 4/1/26

With more state financial stress on horizon, Gov. Bob Ferguson signs Washington budget

Two days ago, a beaming Gov. Bob Ferguson celebrated with dozens of allies the enactment of Washington’s new tax on the income of wealthy residents. On Wednesday, a more somber Ferguson signed … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 4/1/26

Paul Gropple, with the Skookumchuck Hatchery, throws a coho salmon into Gheer Creek after measuring the fish at Carlisle Lake in Onalaska on Tuesday, March 31. Onalaska Elementary School students gathered around the creek to watch the coho salmon and steelhead release.

Fish release marks ongoing success of Onalaska Aquaculture program

Students and teachers released nearly 100,000 young salmon and steelhead smolts into Gheer Creek from their net pens in Carlisle Lake in Onalaska this week. Local officials, state lawmakers and … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 4/1/26

Candidate for Centralia City Council District 1 seat Cameron Bluhm responds to questions from the Centralia City Council during a public interview in the council chambers on March 24.

Centralia City Council seat again open a week after new appointment

A spot on the Centralia City Council is open once again after council members ruled that the man they appointed to the position last week did not meet the qualifications. Members of the … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 4/1/26

Brothers Alexander M. Borgen, 16, of Lacey, and Deven J. Borgen, 17, of Rainier, are pictured.

Fundraiser aims to create memorial for Rainier’s Borgen brothers

It has been nearly five months since Rainier brothers Alexander Borgen, 16, and Deven Borgen, 17, were shot and killed in Lacey. The memory of the two teenagers lives on as Orion Watch: … more

By Jacob Dimond / For The Chronicle | 4/1/26