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Parking lot striping, signage and landscaping hints at near completion on Thursday, June 19, for Washington’s first In-N-Out Burger location in Ridgefield.

Signs up, hiring now: Washington’s first In-N-Out Burger is opening soon

Sometime in July is the likely time frame for In-N-Out Burger to open its Ridgefield doors as the first location in the Evergreen State. The words are now visible from Interstate 5 for In-N-Out … more

Cade Barker / cade@thereflector.com | 6/23/25

Death notices: June 23, 2025

• SHARLEEN PUALANI LEWIN, 68, Oakville, died June 18 at Providence St. Peter Hospital. Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives of Washington. • JERRY D. PIERSON, 63, … more

6/23/25

Author Kathie Deviny of Olympia, right, introduces Browsers Bookshop owner Andrea Y. Griffith, left, and author illustrator Corrina Luyken, center.

Julie McDonald: Learning from librarians at a Pacific Northwest conference

If you have a Timberland Regional Library card, you can obtain a card for libraries in King County, Pierce County or even Fort Vancouver Regional Library, expanding your access to even larger … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 6/23/25

Winlock Egg Days royalty wave from the back of a truck to paradegoers during the Winlock Egg Days Parade in downtown Winlock on Saturday, June 21.

In focus: Egg Days Parade rolls through Winlock

6/23/25

Nursing school graduates embrace at the end of the Centralia College class of 2025 Nursing Pinning Ceremony at the Corbet Theatre on Friday, June 20.

Centralia College honors latest round of nursing program graduates at pinning ceremony

A packed Corbet Theater roared with applause Friday evening in celebration of the newest cohort of registered nurses to complete their training at Centralia College. Twenty-nine nursing students … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 6/23/25

Moose Lodge in Centralia to hold dinner, auction in support of Mary Bridge Children's Hospital

A dinner and auction at the Chehalis-Centralia Moose Lodge 1109 will raise funds for the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital on July 19. Doors open at 4 p.m. with dinner starting at 5 p.m. A … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/23/25

Amber Kirk, center, poses for a photo with three of her children and the West Thurston Fire team that cared for her when she suffered a heart attack and a 100% blockage of one of her arteries on June 4.

West Thurston Fire saves Rochester woman’s life after medical emergency

Amber Kirk’s day began fairly typically on June 4. She visited her 10-year-old daughter’s elementary school for a lunch function and began to feel “a little funny,” but she … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 6/23/25

Graduates celebrate at the end of the Winlock High School class of 2025 commencement ceremony in Winlock on Friday, June 20.

In focus: Winlock class of 2025 celebrates graduation

6/23/25

Sasquatch researcher Barb Shupe shares how she became interested in studying the cryptid during the Legends of the Mountains Townhall in Packwood on Saturday, June 21.

Feeding, playing games and watching TV with Bigfoot? Sasquatch researchers converge in Packwood

While no sightings of tall, hairy lumbering figures in the woods were reported in the area last weekend, Sasquatch researchers from throughout the region converged in Packwood for the Legends of the … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 6/23/25

Emily Harris, a program manager with the Washington Initiative for Supported Employment, helps outline future goals during a seminar on helping people with disabilities get into the work force at Reliable Enterprises in Centralia on Tuesday, June 17.

Local and state stakeholders discuss support and employment for students with developmental disabilities

A group of local schools, governments and state agencies met last Tuesday to discuss ways to improve a system that helps students with developmental disabilities move from school into full-time jobs. … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 6/23/25

From the left, Steve and Christel Yocubets hang out with Monique and Tony Camoza inside Tony's "Crazy Train" 1967 Ford bus on Sunday, June 22, during the second annual Lewis County Autism Coalition Car and BMX Show at the Veterans Memorial Museum.

Bikes and classic cars coincide once again for annual Lewis County Autism Coalition Car and BMX Show

Despite having to postpone the event a day because of weather, attendance for the second annual Lewis County Autism Coalition (LCAC) Car and BMX Show at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis was … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 6/23/25

Washington joins growing list of states to tax increasingly popular nicotine pouches like ZYN

When school is in session, ZYN is one of the top sellers at the Mobil gas station on Hamilton Street. Just around the corner from Gonzaga University, the convenience store advertises a … more

Mitchell Roland / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 6/23/25

Nuclear reactors line the riverbank at the Hanford site along the Columbia River in January 1960. The site was chosen for its isolated location and proximity to the cold waters of the Columbia, which were used to cool nuclear reactors. (U.S. Department of Energy/TNS)

Nuclear power plant near Richland being shut down to fix a problem

The Northwest’s only nuclear power reactor will disconnect from the grid early Monday morning after an issue developed following the plant outage that ended June 16. After the Eastern … more

Tri-City Herald staff / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 6/23/25

Rules of the Road: When is it OK to ride in the back of a pickup truck?

Q: While discussing attending a protest and the legality of riding in the back of a pickup truck, I thought it was legal only if all seat belts inside the vehicle were in use, and my boyfriend thinks … more

Doug Dahl / The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.) (TNS) | 6/23/25

Mount Rainier is pictured from downtown Tacoma as the sun sets on Thursday, April 18.

‘Get while the getting is good’: How we experience Mount Rainier is changing

Hweqwidi Hanford McCloud remembers the Nisqually River of his childhood as large and cold, bustling with so many salmon it was almost pathetic, he said. Elders warned him it wouldn’t be … more

Constanza Montemayor / The News Tribune (TNS) | 6/23/25

A sunset painted Mount Rainier pink during the evening hours of Sunday, March 16, in Roy.

‘Get while the getting is good’: How we experience Mount Rainier is changing

Hweqwidi Hanford McCloud remembers the Nisqually River of his childhood as large and cold, bustling with so many salmon it was almost pathetic, he said. Elders warned him it wouldn’t be … more

Constanza Montemayor / The News Tribune (TNS) | 6/23/25

Castle Rock woman hits 77-year-old's vehicle near Seaquest State Park

A Castle Rock woman is suspected of negligent driving after authorities say she hit another vehicle head-on early Saturday west of Seaquest State Park. Barbara D. Auman, 55, crossed the … more

By The Daily News | 6/23/25

Ryan Moran, seen at a 2023 news conference in Maryland, is set to become Washington’s next Health Care Authority director in August. He’s leaving his role as deputy secretary for health care financing and Medicaid director in Maryland. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)

Washington state agency that oversees Medicaid will get a new director

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has found a new leader for the Health Care Authority , which administers Medicaid for nearly 2 million people and is the largest purchaser of health care in the state. … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 6/23/25

Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal

Washington state updates student discipline rules for public schools

New discipline guidelines for public school students will go into effect across Washington state next month. While educators say the changes are necessary to address disruptive post-pandemic … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / The Washington State Standard | 6/23/25

‘A monster': Family wants life sentence for killer of pregnant Washington mom

The family and friends of a murdered Kennewick woman came together Friday morning to share their grief and anger. They’re asking the court to sentence her killer to life in prison. … more

Cameron Probert / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 6/21/25