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The Skookumchuck Dam is seen from above about 10 miles upstream of Centralia in Thurston County.

Fish passage, water reservoir options for Skookumchuck Dam discussed during Office of Chehalis Basin presentation

Stretching some 45 miles, the Skookumchuck River flows through the Cascade foothills, past Bucoda and eventually converges with the Chehalis River in Centralia. In 1970, the Skookumchuck Dam was … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 3/14/25

Tanner Girolamo McNelly, 20, of Chehalis, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Wednesday, July 24.

Chehalis man sentenced to just over five years in prison for possession of child sexual abuse material

A Chehalis man arrested in July for uploading sexually explicit photos of children to the internet was sentenced Thursday to just over five years in prison. Tanner Girolamo McNelly, 21, of … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 3/14/25

Grand Coulee Dam in Washington is one of dozens of dams in the Columbia River Basin generating hydroelectricity. The river’s upstream flows are controlled in part by the Canadian government, under an agreement that is hitting turbulence under President Donald Trump. (Courtesy of Bureau of Reclamation)

U.S. pauses Columbia River water-sharing negotiations with Canada amid Trump threats

The U.S. has paused negotiations with Canada on a keystone management plan that governs flood control, water supply and hydropower in the shared Columbia River Basin as President Donald Trump … more

By Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 3/14/25

Attorney General Nick Brown Waves to lawmakers during a joint legislative session in the House chambers at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Washington state joins lawsuit challenging Trump’s effort to dismantle U.S. Education Department

Attorney General Nick Brown announced Thursday that Washington has joined a multistate lawsuit aimed at preventing the “illegal” dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education by … more

Simone Carter / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/14/25

Dog stolen, owner dragged through store parking lot, police in Thurston County say

A man and woman were arrested Wednesday in downtown Olympia after police say they stole a man's dog and dragged him through a parking lot in the process. About 5:50 p.m., police were dispatched … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 3/14/25

Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal talks about concerns during a legislative meeting inside the John A. Cherberg building in Olympia in February 2023.

State schools chief weighs in on school board’s letter to feds: 'Follow state law, follow state law and then if you're not sure, follow state law'

With the Mead School Board saying it's caught in a "legal dilemma," Washington Superintendent Chris Reykdal cautioned the board to follow his guidance as the Trump Administration's executive orders … more

Elena Perry / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 3/14/25

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, accompanied by U.S. President Donald Trump (R), and his son X Musk, speaks during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Washington federal workers defy Musk-directed 'What did you do last week' probe in their own mass emails

Some Washington military veterans are attempting to defy the controversial "Five Things" email requiring federal employees to make a list of their weekly work product amid mass firings and the Trump … more

Alexandra Duggan / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 3/14/25

Sen. Murray, former NOAA administrator warn about danger of mass NWS layoffs for farmers, fire season

During fire season, the National Weather Service deploys meteorologists to major wildfires to keep firefighters updated on changing wind conditions and to predict where the fire will spread. "I … more

James Hanlon / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 3/14/25

Coyote bites child’s hand after encounter at Washington school bus stop, officials say

A coyote bit a child’s hand after it aggressively approached students at a bus stop in Washington, officials said. Wildlife officers responded to the latest incident at 7:50 p.m. March 11 … more

Helena Wegner / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/14/25

Washington man who shot another man to death in Portland, then tried to kill witness, is sentenced to 34 years

A Vancouver man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a slew of crimes in Multnomah County, including shooting a man to death in 2022 and then, two years later, trying to kill a witness to the shooting. … more

Tatum Todd / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/14/25

Smelt dippers line the banks of the Cowlitz River with empty nets due to a lack of smelt in the morning of Wednesday, March 12.

State adds two more days of dip-netting after first day of Cowlitz River smelt fishery was a bust

This year’s Cowlitz River recreational smelt dip-fishing season kicked off Wednesday almost totally without its two most important elements : smelt and people dipping for them. Each year … more

By Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 3/14/25

Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, on March 13, 2025, during debate on HB 1296 in the Washington House.

Washington state schools must notify parents immediately under revamped House bill

A controversial bill that describes itself as “promoting a safe and supportive public education system” was the subject of more than six hours of debate by lawmakers on Wednesday night … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 3/13/25

Jamal George West, 19, of Chehalis, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Tuesday, March 4.

Man charged in alleged violent beating of a man in Chehalis pleads not guilty to first-degree assault

The 19-year-old Chehalis man arrested for allegedly being part of a group that beat and severely injured a man on March 1 pleaded not guilty Thursday to one count of first-degree assault. … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 3/13/25

Tyler Allen Reeves, 31, of Centralia, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday, March 13.

Centralia man arrested on $200K warrant for alleged possession of child sexual abuse material

A Centralia man accused of uploading child sexual abuse material to the internet in March 2024 was arrested Wednesday on a $200,000 warrant for charges out of Lewis County Superior Court. … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 3/13/25

Members of the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations were at the scene of a fatal police shooting on Sunday night, Jan. 12, in the 400 block of North Ash Street in Centralia. The shooting occurred on Sunday morning and resulted in the death of a male suspect, who has been identified as 23-year-old Alecandro A. Castaneda.

State investigators release 60-day update on fatal Centralia police shooting

The Washington state Office of Independent Investigations provided an update Thursday on its ongoing investigation into a deadly police shooting that occurred in Centralia on Jan. 12. The … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/13/25

Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, during Feb 11, 2025 media availability.

Emails reveal outrage over 'out-of-context' remarks by Washington state senator on parental rights

As the Washington State House passed House Bill 1296 , which critics say undermine parental rights within the K-12 system, emails sent last month to Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, conveyed outrage … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 3/13/25

Flagger Luca Pisani holds a stop sign at the end of Chilvers Road in Claquato as WSDOT crews work to repave state Route 6 from Interstate 5 to Adna on Thursday, Aug 1.

Report says Washington state highways among the worst in the nation

Washington state has some of the worst-performing, least cost-effective roads and bridges in the nation, according to Reason Foundation’s “ 28th Annual Highway Report ," released … more

By Brett Davis / The Center Square | 3/13/25

Heavy rain eroded part of Upper Hoh Road, closing it in December. (Photo courtesy of Jefferson County)

Washington state to pay for road repairs so Hoh Rain Forest can reopen

A washout has closed the only access road to the Olympic National Park’s popular Hoh Rain Forest since December. But on Thursday, Gov. Bob Ferguson announced the state would pitch in … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 3/13/25

The Washington state Capitol on March 13, 2025. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)

What bills are dead and alive in the Washington state Legislature

Lawmakers in the Washington Legislature spent the past week and a half passing bills off the House and Senate floors ahead of a Wednesday deadline. Measures that didn’t make it … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street and Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero | 3/13/25

Dozens of soldiers file $210 million in claims over JBLM doctor's sex abuse

John Doe 30 didn't realize he was a sex abuse victim until he read a news article about Maj. Michael Stockin, an Army doctor he had seen for pain management at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. It was … more

Paige Cornwell / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/13/25