News | The Daily Chronicle

New Washington state law requires speed-restricting tech for reckless drivers ‘to save lives’

Washington state is going to be cracking down on chronic, reckless speeders. Gov. Bob Ferguson this week signed a bill into law that requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance … more

Simone Carter / The Bellingham Herald (TNS) | 5/16/25

Man with faulty car light was killed by Washington state deputy, suit says. Family owed $3.5M

It’s been more than four years since 30-year-old Jenoah Donald was shot in the head by a Clark County, Washington, deputy after being pulled over for a faulty taillight, according to a wrongful … more

Julia Marnin / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 5/16/25

Two men who died from suspected drug overdoses in Thurston County have been identified

Two men who died Monday from suspected drug overdoses have been identified, according to the Thurston County Coroner. Phillip Rawlings, 38, and Ryan Taal, 35, were in need of medical … more

By Rolf Boone / The Olympian | 5/16/25

Thurston County deputies arrested a 29-year-old Olympia man on Monday, May 12, 2025, on suspicion of first-degree theft and malicious mischief. He was accused of stealing an excavator worth $130,000 from a job site near Burfoot Park.

Thurston County deputy climbs tree to find stolen excavator

A Thurston County deputy climbed a tree to locate a stolen $130,000 excavator in the Boston Harbor area on Monday. Deputies recovered the excavator and arrested a 29-year-old Olympia man … more

By Martín Bilbao / The Olympian | 5/16/25

Four men fall into water tank under construction on Quinault Indian Reservation

Just after 3 p.m. Tuesday members of numerous first responder agencies were called to assist Quinault fire, law and EMS departments for a construction accident in Taholah. Four construction … more

By The Daily World | 5/16/25

From child care to textured hair, here are some new laws coming to Washington state

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson’s pen has been getting lots of use: The Democrat is busy signing bills into law. Tax debates dominated much of the 2025 legislative session that ended April … more

Simone Carter / The Olympian (TNS) | 5/16/25

Washington state farmers get their gas tax exemption. Ferguson signs key bill in Tri-Cities

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson reaffirmed that agriculture is exempt from fuel taxes related to the Climate Commitment Act at an unusual bill signing in Kennewick on Thursday. The Democrat signed … more

Wendy Culverwell / The Olympian (TNS) | 5/16/25

Don’t dig that clam! Budd Inlet closed to recreational shellfish harvests due to biotoxins

Budd Inlet has been closed to recreational shellfish harvesting due to unsafe biotoxin levels. High levels of the biotoxin that produces diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) were recently … more

Martín Bilbao / The Olympian (TNS) | 5/16/25

Washington state budget includes $150M to maintain health coverage for low-income illegal immigrants

Thousands of people who are not U.S. citizens would continue to receive Medicaid-like health care coverage in Washington state under the budget plan the Legislature recently approved. But the … more

By Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / The Washington State Standard | 5/15/25

Juveniles arrested for arson at Centralia Middle School

The Centralia Police Department has arrested two juveniles for arson after a laptop computer was burned at Centralia Middle School on Thursday, according to a news release. At about 10:20 … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/15/25

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, left, and challenger Brent Hennrich.

Democrat who once stepped aside for MGP’s candidacy now set to challenge her

Less than a quarter of the way into her second term, U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, already has a challenger for her congressional seat, one from within her own party. Brent … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 5/15/25

Student Bella Axtmann smiles while swinging on the new swing set during an opening and blessing ceremony by the Chehalis Tribe for the new accessible playground at Rochester Middle School on Thursday, May 15.

Rochester Middle School debuts accessible playground donated by the Chehalis Tribe

Rochester Middle School children of all ability levels now have a safe and accessible place to play, thanks to a $15,000 donation from the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 5/15/25

Census reports razor-thin growth in Portland after years of declines

Portland added residents for the first time since 2020, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, welcoming a little more than 1,400 newcomers. The city grew by 0.2% to a population of … more

Jonathan Bach / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 5/15/25

Downtown Portland skyscraper put up for sale

The PacWest skyscraper in downtown Portland has hit the market for the first time in nearly a decade. PacWest, one of Portland’s largest office buildings, joins a march of high-profile … more

Jonathan Bach / oregonlive.com(TNS) | 5/15/25

11-month-old squeezed into too-small swaddle dies at day care, Oregon officials say

A woman operating an unlicensed day care is heading to prison following the death of an 11-month-old, officials in Oregon said. Teresa Louise Biswanath, 46, was sentenced to two years behind … more

Sara Schilling / The News Tribune (TNS) | 5/15/25

Gov. Ferguson signs animal cruelty bill

In a step toward enhancing animal welfare, the Washington State Legislature has passed House Bill 1149, an act aimed at the prevention of cruelty to animals. The bill received overwhelming support, … more

Nance Beston / Columbia Basin Herald (TNS) | 5/15/25

Kayaker calls 911 to say he’s drowning, then he vanishes at sea, Washington state cops say

A kayaker called 911 to report himself drowning before vanishing at sea, Washington deputies said. Ty Coone called authorities at about 3 p.m. May 13, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office … more

Helena Wegner / The Bellingham Herald (TNS) | 5/15/25

Man who died of medical emergency after road-rage incident has been identified

A 58-year-old man who suffered a medical emergency and died after an apparent road-rage incident on Saturday has been identified, according to the Thurston County Coroner. Although David Hirz of … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 5/15/25

Will any South African refugees resettle in Washington state under Trump order?

Earlier this week a few dozen South Africans seeking asylum arrived in the U.S., and some are settling in the Pacific Northwest. Nine of the immigrants, who claim they are seeking refuge from … more

Genevieve Belmaker / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 5/15/25

'You can't fire 90 percent of the people and assume the work gets done': Sen. Murray questions RFK Jr. over Washington state mine safety lab cuts

Federal research on mine safety will continue despite job cuts, including at a facility in Spokane, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said at a Senate hearing Wednesday. … more

James Hanlon / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 5/15/25