News | The Daily Chronicle

Washington Sen. Patty Murray blasts Trump over plan to ‘blatantly rob blue states’

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray on Friday blasted the Trump administration over its plan to rip hundreds of millions of dollars away from construction-project funding in blue states. Among the major … more

Simone Carter / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 5/17/25

Trump cuts to Western Washington dam project likely to affect housing, water supply

Washington state water utility officials spoke Friday of the threats posed by the elimination of federal funding eliminated for a regional dam project, including potential housing moratoriums and … more

Debbie Cockrell / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 5/17/25

Troopers find dangerous pesticides at illicit Western Washington marijuana grows

Washington State Patrol troopers found what they believe are illegally imported deadly pesticides in two Pierce County marijuana busts Wednesday. The Washington State Patrol Cannabis Enforcement … more

Constanza Montemayor / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 5/17/25

A zoo worker shows off a lynx cub to a group of visitors in the demonstration area at the West Coast Game Park Safari near Bandon on the Oregon coast.

Oregon wildlife park raided after years of disturbing reports about starving animals, dead tiger

Police descended on a wildlife park near Bandon on Thursday, the Oregon State Police said. The move came after years of agricultural inspections documented animals in poor condition and other … more

Tatum Todd, Carlos Fuentes / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 5/17/25

Rite Aid to sell dozens of Pacific Northwest pharmacies to rival chain, close hundreds nationwide

Rite Aid plans to close hundreds of its U.S. pharmacies but said it would sell some in the Pacific Northwest to CVS Pharmacy. The Philadelphia-based Rite Aid has faced a slew of financial … more

Veronica Nocera / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 5/17/25

Skyline CDL School’s training site in Hillsboro, pictured April 23, 2025, was suspended by Oregon regulators.

Oregon regulators suspend trucking school linked to alleged bribery scheme in Washington state

Oregon regulators have suspended the operating license of a trucking academy in Hillsboro following revelations that Skyline CDL School was linked to alleged involvement in a bribery scheme to obtain … more

Ted Sickinger / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 5/17/25

Wildlife biologist Rick Vetter of Burns, left, monitors remote golden eagle sites in eastern Oregon.

Retired wildlife biologist dedicates life to protecting Oregon’s golden eagles

Few people see golden eagles the way Rick Vetter does. The retired southern Oregon wildlife biologist monitors their nests, which are about 10 feet tall and mostly wedged between towering cliff … more

Janet Eastman / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 5/17/25

FBI details manhunt, arrest of fugitive who fired on Thurston County deputy with AR-15-style rifle

On May 13, Damien James Madison, 27, a Washington state resident, was arrested along the California state line near Jean, Nevada, after a week-long manhunt. The original call where Madison shot … more

By The Daily World | 5/17/25

Mount St. Helens is pictured from Coldwater Lake on Thursday, Jan. 23.

Coldwater visitor center opens at Mount St. Helens; Spirit Lake Highway roadwork to start next spring

The road leading to Johnston Ridge Observatory and the visitor center itself remains closed two years following a landslide that dropped 300,000 cubic yards of debris onto the road and damaged the … more

Hayley Day / The Daily News | 5/17/25

45 years after eruption, Mount St. Helens museum update focuses on 'bigger picture'

With the 45th anniversary of the Mount St. Helens eruption on Sunday, the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center is wrapping up the first update to its exhibits since it was constructed in 1986 . The … more

Minka Atkinson / The Daily News | 5/17/25

The sun sets on Mount St. Helens on Wednesday, June 12.

Washington segment on 5,000-mile mountain bike trail includes Packwood, Mount St. Helens monument

GIFFORD PINCHOT NATIONAL FOREST, Washington — Craving a novel Evergreen State adventure this summer? Saddle up your bike and ride the Loowit Tier, a 197-mile mountain bike route in the state's … more

Gregory Scruggs / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 5/17/25

A border patrol agent at the northern border in the Swanton sector.

Washington, New York and Vermont see most illegal northern border crossers

Of the 14 northern border states that share a land or water border with Canada, the greatest number of apprehensions of illegal border crossers were reported in New York, Washington and Vermont … more

By Bethany Blankley / The Center Square | 5/17/25

Trucking industry leaders pose for a photo at a Feb. 21, 2025 hearing for a bill to delink Washington from California trucking emissions standards. From right to left are Mike Chester, Peninsula Truck Lines; Sen. Matt Boehnke; Steve Gordon, Gordon Truck Centers; Sheri Call, Washington Truck Associations; Carl Hergart, Paccar Powertrain; Jeff DeVere, lobbyist for Washington Trucking Association; Mike Ennis, also a lobbyist with WTA; John Barnes, with Tec Equipment.

'We don't want the money': Washington state trucking industry resists EV mandate

The Washington Department of Ecology is proposing updates to regulations that reduce pollution from new semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles sold in the state. Ecology contends the updates will … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 5/17/25

Whychus Creek, renamed in 2006, was previously one of several locations in Oregon named after a slur used against Indigenous women. House Bill 3532 aims to speed the process of removing offensive titles from remaining sites. (Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Oregon bill would speed up process to rename locations with offensive titles

Oregon lawmakers aim to speed up the process for renaming dozens of creeks, lakes, mountains and other sites that still hold offensive names. The Oregon Senate will soon take up House Bill 3532 … more

By Mia Maldonado / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 5/17/25

More than 131,000 drivers crossed the Interstate Bridge between Portland and Vancouver each day in 2021 compared to 33,000 in 1961. (Grant Stringer/States Newsroom)

Tolling delay on I-5 bridge could mean higher rates for Washington and Oregon drivers

Tolling on the Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River will start a year later than planned – but drivers traveling between Washington and Oregon may pay a little more than originally … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 5/17/25

Kirk Pearson takes the oath of office as the new state director for USDA Rural Development in Washington state, administered by Phil Eggman in Olympia on May 5, 2025. (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Former Washington state senator appointed to Trump administration, again

Kirk Pearson, a former longtime Washington state lawmaker, was appointed this month as a top Washington official in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pearson, a Republican, resigned from … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 5/17/25

Seated at the table from the left, Port of Centralia Commissioners Peter Lahmann, Kyle Markstrom and Julie Shaffley discuss new proposed public records request policies and procedures with Port attorney Ray Liaw and Port Executive Director Kyle Heaton during the Port commissioner's Wednesday, Feb. 5, regular meeting.

Port of Centralia commissioner requests investigation into actions of leaders of Facebook group critical of the port

During the Port of Centralia commissioners’ regular meeting on Wednesday, May 7, it was revealed that Commissioner Kyle Markstrom has asked Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer and Sheriff … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 5/16/25

Sheriff Rob Snaza speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new east county substation in Randle on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024.

Sheriff Rob Snaza speaks on rumors surrounding his six-week absence

Amid claims that his recent purchase of a home in Arizona and a six-week absence from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office were indicators of an early retirement and potential abdication of … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 5/16/25

Centralia Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston speaks during the 2025 Economic Alliance of Lewis County Women in Business Seminar in Chehalis on Wednesday, May 14.

Lewis County Economic Alliance hosts Women in Business Seminar: ‘Surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed’

Founder of Clarity Consulting firm and Centralia Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston opened her keynote address of the Economic Alliance of Lewis County’s annual Women in Business Seminar with a … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 5/16/25

Sirens: Police, firefighters help child off roof; stolen motorcycle found 'in pieces'; wiring stolen from work site; Lewis County Superior Court proceedings

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Criminal trespass • A trespass at a business in the 1200 block of Alder Street reported at 11:20 a.m. on May 14 is under investigation. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/16/25