News | The Daily Chronicle

A campground at Paradise Point State Park. (Washington State Parks)

Washington state might raise Discover Pass price to $45

Washington’s state parks and other natural sites may soon become more expensive to visit as lawmakers are looking to increase the price of the Discover Pass. The pass allows visitors … more

By Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / The Washington State Standard | 3/4/25

Brian Heywood, founder of Let’s Go Washington, the political committee behind the parents' 'bill of rights' measure approved by the Washington Legislature last year. He said the group filed a measure Tuesday to prevent lawmakers from changing the year-old law. (Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard)

Voters could get final say on changes to Washington state’s parental ‘bill of rights’

The conservative political group behind three failed measures on last year’s Washington ballot filed an initiative Tuesday to prevent the Democrat-controlled Legislature and governor from … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 3/4/25

Thurston County Budget and Finances Manager Summer Miller, left center, presents a quarterly budget update during a Board of County Commissioners work session on Feb. 26.

Thurston County finance manager presents gloomy budget forecast

The future forecast for Thurston County’s budget shows a chance of significant deficits in the near future if the county doesn’t evaluate containment and revenue options. Summer … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylan@yelmonline.com | 3/4/25

Thurston County District 5 Commissioner Emily Clouse smiles during a swearing-in ceremony at The Atrium in Olympia on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Thurston County commissioners clash over hiring of potential aide for Commissioner Emily Clouse

The Thurston County Board of Commissioners spent three quarters of its Wednesday, Feb. 26, work session in another tense debate regarding the potential hiring of a new executive aide for Commissioner … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylan@yelmonline.com | 3/4/25

‘Election day is coming:’ Thurston County Democrats voice support for trans athletes’ ‘right’ to fully participate in public school athletics

Thurston County Democrats, an affiliate of the Washington State Democratic Party, stood firm in support of transgender students and “their right” to participate fully in public school … more

By Nisqually Valley News staff | 3/4/25

Nisqually staff give a tour of the Nisqually Community Forest property.

Nisqually Tribe awarded nearly $900K in grants for community forest climate project

The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation has awarded an $886,999 joint grant to the Nisqually Indian Tribe, Nisqually Community Forest and Northwest Natural Resource Group to build forest resiliency in … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylan@yelmonline.com | 3/4/25

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

Bill to expand abortion access on Washington state college campuses dies in committee

A bill that would require public colleges and universities in Washington state to offer medication abortion through student health centers has died in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. … more

By Tate Miller / The Center Square | 3/3/25

Logging operations on public land in Washington state. (Washington State Department of Natural Resources)

American Forest Resource Council praises Trump’s executive orders on U.S. timber and lumber production

The American Forest Resource Council voiced its strong support for two executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on March 1 aimed at expanding U.S. timber production and strengthening the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/3/25

Tenino’s wooden COVID currency now on display at Smithsonian National Museum of American History in D.C.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the City of Tenino made international headlines when it brought back a Great Depression-era wooden scrip currency program in order to help keep the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/3/25

State Rep. Jim Walsh walks with other tour attendees during the Chehalis Basin Strategy Legislative Site Tour at China Creek in Centralia on Friday, Sept. 27.

Walsh calls for federal review of Washington state’s Automatic Voter Registration Act implementation

Washington state GOP Chairman and state Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, has introduced House Joint Memorial 4007, calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to audit and review the Washington state … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/3/25

Nathan Harmon, 38, of Centralia, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, March 3.

Bail set at $100K for man accused of breaking into estranged wife’s Centralia home, making himself food

Bail is set at $100,000 for a man accused of breaking into his estranged wife’s Centralia home, cooking himself dinner and then sitting in a car in the driveway before his estranged wife … more

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

Stephanny Shabri Johnson, 36, of Portland, Oregon, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, March 3.

Portland woman arrested for allegedly stealing more than $1,000 in merchandise from Centralia Outlets

Bail is set at $25,000 for a woman accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of merchandise from outlet stores in Centralia. Stephanny Shabri Johnson, 36, of Portland, Oregon, was … more

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

Protesters hold up signs as cars pass by during a “Protect Our Parks” protest along State Route 706 outside of the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park near Ashford on Saturday, March. 1.

In focus: ‘Protect Our Parks’ protest rallies support for public lands, workers

Protesters held up signs and chanted as cars passed by during a “Protect Our Parks” protest along state Route 706 outside of the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park near … more

3/3/25

The White Pass ski lodge is pictured from above during the 2025 Winter Carnival at the White Pass Ski Area on Saturday, March 1.

In focus: Fun and fireworks at the White Pass Winter Carnival

3/3/25

The first wave of volunteers pose for a photo before beginning to plant trees at the Seminary Hill Natural Area. Others joined them for a total of at least three dozen workers in the ravine behind the picnic shelter.

Hundreds of native trees and shrubs planted at Seminary Hill Natural Area

The second week of tree-planting at the Seminary Hill Natural Area brought together three dozen volunteers to plant 18 different varieties of native trees and shrubs as part of a larger project to … more

3/3/25

Aircraft are seen parked on the Chehalis-Centralia Airport's flightline on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.

Updated Chehalis-Centralia Airport master plan adopted by Chehalis City Council as airport staff prepare for growth over the next 20 years

Following a process that began in June 2023 and involved working with engineers and consultants and hosting multiple open house events to gather input from local pilots and residents, the Chehalis … more

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

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez testifies before the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health in support of her bipartisan Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act last year.

MGP, colleagues introduce bill to support rural veterans’ transportation for health care

U.S. Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, and Juan Ciscomani, R-Arizona, Gabe Vasquez, D-New Mexico, and Don Davis, D-North Carolina, last week introduced the bipartisan Rural Veterans … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/3/25

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez smiles while eating a freshly picked fruit at Raintree Nursery on a Lewis County Farm Bureau Tour on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024.

MGP introduces bill to increase oversight of foreign ownership of American farmland

Last week, U.S. Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, and Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Michigan, introduced the Farmland Security Act of 2025, which, according to a news release from Gluesenkamp … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/3/25

Sirens: Woman, child involved in organized retail theft; student cited for possession of marijuana vape pen; man, woman cited for public sex

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Theft • A 36-year-old Vancouver woman was arrested for organized retail theft in the 100 block of West High Street just after 4:25 p.m. on Feb. 28 after … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/3/25

Death notices: March 2, 2025

• MARTHA P. SWEENEY, 82, Centralia, died Feb. 19 at Providence Centralia Hospital. A Rosary service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 7, at Newell-Hoerling’s Mortuary. … more

3/3/25