News | The Daily Chronicle

The Capitol building in Olympia, home to the Senate and House chambers, is lit up on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Washington state sends letter announcing new taxation for 90,000 businesses

The Washington state Department of Revenue this week announced it was sending out notices to customers explaining the recent expansion of retail sales related taxes that went into effect at the end … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/15/25

Kylee Smith waves to the crowd as she takes her first ride as the Lewis County Rodeo Queen during the Lewis County Rodeo at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Thursday, Aug. 14.

In focus: Kylee Smith crowned Lewis County Rodeo Queen at Southwest Washington Fair

8/15/25

A sign warns drivers of future closures on the Interstate 5 Exit 77 southbound on-ramp in Chehalis on Friday, April 25.

Ramp meters go live on I-5 between Chehalis and Centralia

Travelers in Lewis County will soon see new ramp meters turn on in an effort to help traffic on Interstate 5 move smoothly and safely. Starting Monday, Aug. 18, the Washington state Department … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/15/25

Tiras Dietzen, 48, Chehalis, makes a video appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday, Aug. 14.

Chehalis man accused of setting residence on fire while brother slept upstairs

A 48-year-old Chehalis man, Tiras Dietzen, has been accused of setting his own house on fire. Dietzen was charged with first-degree arson during a preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 8/15/25

The wild red wolf identified by the name M2191, but known as Finch during his time at Wolf Haven International, was released from Wolf Haven into eastern North Carolina to join the Milltail Pack in 2024 following the death of the pack’s former breeding male, M2323.

Wolf Haven International celebrates birth of red wolf pups sired by wolf born at the Tenino sanctuary

Tenino-based Wolf Haven International this week announced the birth of a new litter of wild red wolf pups in North Carolina that were sired by a wolf born and raised at the Tenino sanctuary. The … more

By The Chronicle Staff | 8/15/25

Centralia College gets $133,084 as state board awards funds to high-demand job programs

Nine Washington community and technical college programs that train students for high-demand careers, including Centralia College’s health care programs, were recently awarded a total of $1 … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/15/25

Washington State’s Jack Ellison (42), Dylan Paine (30) and Gavin Fugate (56) pose for a photo at media day on Wednesday, August 13 at Gesa Field in Pullman. The three former Evergreen Conference players opted to stay under new head coach Jimmy Rogers.

College football: Area trio sticks by WSU, new coaching staff

PULLMAN — As Washington State was preparing for the Holiday Bowl last December, there were already rumblings. Then the rumblings turned into action. Former head coach Jake Dickert … more

By Zach Martin / zach@chronline.com | 8/15/25

Rep. Peter Abbarno visits UW STEM Camp at W.F. West High School

State Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, recently joined students and instructors at the University of Washington STEM Camp at W.F. West High School to see how local students are learning science, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/15/25

On Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, Adna sculptor Jim Stafford points toward the direction he and his old high school friends, brothers Bobby and Edwin “Tiny” Smith, saw a strange, fiery reddish-orange light while driving toward Adna on Bunker Creek Road in 1953.

Famed Adna sculptor recalls seeing odd ‘fiery-red-orange’ light in the sky with old high school friends in 1953 before it changed shape and vanished

Editor’s Note: “Strange sightings in Lewis County” is an ongoing series by Chronicle reporter Owen Sexton. To read the previous installment, visit https://tinyurl.com/4rweby4x … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/15/25

FILE PHOTO — The Centralia School Board listens to public comment on Thursday, Nov. 14.

Centralia School District to crack down on cellphones in high school

As the 2025-26 school year approaches, Centralia High School is preparing to crack down on students using cellphones in the classroom. During the Centralia School District Board of Directors … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 8/15/25

A 1940 Army maneuver encampment near the "Boys Training School," or Green Hill, attracted many curious Chehalis residents. World War II draftees from all over the United States came to this and other area locations for armed field training for the regular Army. "It was a big deal," said Dick Ponder, who visited the camp as a boy with his grandfather, John Martin Ponder. Dick stands at center near a motorcycle and sidecar with his siblings, Jo, left, and Tom, right. The city of Chehalis is in the background. Photo and information originally submitted by Dick Ponder for The Chronicle's Our Hometowns books.

Firefighters cause communist riot rumor; Would-be robber drops guns, flees; Multiple dogs abandoned at Lewis County property

In this installment of A Look Back in Time, the Friday, Aug. 16, 1935, edition of The Chronicle featured a story about Civilian Conservation Corps firefighters sparking rumors of a Communist riot at … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/15/25

Anonymous tip to feds led to sexual abuse charges against Oregon officer

An anonymous person tipped off federal authorities to allegations that a suspended Gresham police officer sexually abused an underage girl years earlier, according to testimony from a Monday court … more

Zaeem Shaikh / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 8/15/25

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building in Washington, D.C., pictured on Nov. 25, 2024.

Trump’s DEI ban in K-12 schools, higher ed ruled ‘unlawful’ by federal judge

A federal judge in Maryland has struck down the U.S. Education Department’s attempts to do away with diversity, equity and inclusion practices in schools. The Thursday ruling marks a blow … more

Shauneen Miranda / Washington State Standard | 8/15/25

Tacoma’s homeless have no options amid shelter closures, sweeps, advocates say

A month after losing nearly 200 shelter beds, homeless outreach workers say the City of Tacoma continues to remove encampments, leaving those living unhoused with nowhere to go. The city says it … more

Cameron Sheppard / The News Tribune (TNS) | 8/15/25

Free speech area sparks controversy ahead of Washington State Fair

The Pierce County Republican Party and an anti-abortion group have reached an agreement with the Washington State Fair after controversy over new fair guidelines led the groups to say that they … more

Isabela Lund / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 8/15/25

Temperatures top 90 degrees in Portland on Monday, June 9, 2025.

Multnomah County reports suspected heat death

A 59-year-old man died Wednesday of suspected heat-related illness following a three-day heatwave that put temperatures near 100 degrees in the Portland area, Multnomah County officials said … more

Austin De Dios / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 8/15/25

Oregon scrambles to address delays for Medicaid-funded rent assistance

Oregon Medicaid advisers, alarmed by the turbulent rollout of a new rent assistance benefit, pressed state health officials this week for answers over delays they acknowledged have left thousands of … more

Kristine de Leon / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 8/15/25

Thousands of kids in mental distress are stuck in ERs for days, OHSU study finds

A growing number of children in mental health crises are spending days, sometimes nearly a week, in hospital emergency rooms because there is nowhere else for them to go, a new study has found. … more

Kristine de Leon / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 8/15/25

North Idaho drag performer Eric Posey hugs a supporter in May 2024 after winning $1.1 million in a defamation suit against a local blogger who accused him of exposing himself.

Idaho’s latest anti-drag crusade began with a falsehood, lawsuit says

The claim — a drag queen exposing his genitals to children — was so incendiary, so horrifying that the Idaho Family Policy Center demanded voters change the law to “address these … more

By Daniel Walters / InvestigateWest | 8/15/25

Man gets 35 years in prison for shooting man in head with shotgun at Washington state homeless camp

A 38-year-old man was sentenced earlier this summer to 35 years in prison for shooting a man in the head with a shotgun at a Colville homeless camp. A jury found Ryan M. Vanpelt guilty June 11 … more

Garrett Cabeza / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 8/15/25