News | The Daily Chronicle

David Lee, from Portland, catches smelt on the Cowlitz River near Longview on Tuesday, March 5.

Washington releases smelt dipping days ahead of first season with license requirement

Smelt’s annual return from the ocean has long drawn thousands of dip-netters up and down the Cowlitz River. This year, however, the prized tradition will be different. The Washington … more

By Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 1/21/25

Cornelius C. Wayman Jr., 21, of Centralia, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Centralia man arrested for robbing a juvenile at gunpoint now accused of raping a different juvenile

A man arrested in December for allegedly kidnapping a juvenile at gunpoint and robbing him at Fort Borst Park in Centralia is now accused of raping a different juvenile in November. … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 1/21/25

From left to right, Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, D-Seattle, Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, during Jan. 21, 2025 press availability in Olympia, Wash.

Washington state Dems 'scrubbing the budget' even as they say wealthy should pay their fair share

Nine days into the 2025 session, majority Democrats in the Washington State Legislature have yet to tip their hand on several rumored tax increase proposals floated as part of a plan to fill a … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 1/21/25

The Washington State Capitol is pictured in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Washington state bill would make ‘gender expression,’ illegal immigrants protected classes in K-12

A Washington bill introduced this legislative session would add new protected classes to a state law regarding nondiscrimination against students in the public school system, including “gender … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 1/21/25

Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins speaks before Gov. Bob Ferguson is sworn into office at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Democrats in Washington state Legislature say they want to avoid ‘chaos machine’ in D.C.

With a large budget gap to solve and major bills on topics like housing and education to shepherd, Democratic leaders in Washington’s Legislature say they are trying to avoid getting too caught … more

By Bill Lucia / The Washington State Standard | 1/21/25

Malynda Ann Wilson, 49, of Centralia, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Woman accused of stealing from three Centralia businesses in a month charged with felony

A woman arrested for allegedly shoplifting from three different Centralia businesses within a month is now facing a felony retail theft charge. Malynda Ann Wilson, 49, of Centralia, has a … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 1/21/25

Vernetta Smith Chehalis Timberland Regional Library

Timberland Regional Library surpasses 2 million digital checkouts

Timberland Regional Library (TRL), with branches in Lewis, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Mason and Pacific counties, reached a new milestone in 2024 — more than 2 million digital checkouts. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/21/25

Thurston County deputies quell riot attempt, one officer injured

A Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputy was injured and two inmates arrested after a riot attempt at the Thurston County Jail on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 18. Thurston County … more

By The Nisqually Valley News staff | 1/21/25

Boats coast across the water during the Mineral Lake Fishing Derby in 2022.

Mineral Lake Lions Den Campground introduces new shower facility ahead of annual fishing derby

The Mineral Lake Lions Den Campground, located on the south shore of Mineral Lake at 113 E. Front St., on Tuesday announced “the highly requested addition” of a brand new shower facility. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/21/25

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 attorney general sues over Trump’s birthright citizenship order

Washington’s attorney general, along with three other states, sued the Trump administration Tuesday over the president’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 1/21/25

Braun proposes transforming The Evergreen State College to meet health care workforce demands

Washington state Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, is proposing that The Evergreen State College in Olympia change its mission in order to educate health care workers to fill demands in the workforce, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/21/25

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners runs through the agenda for the Jan. 7 meeting.

Thurston County commissioners aiming to boost community engagement with proclamations

As the Thurston County Board of Commissioners plans its goals for the new year, it is aiming to increase community engagement by continuing its proclamations and making the process more robust. … more

By Dylan Reubenking/dylan@yelmonline.com | 1/21/25

Comedy fundraiser to support Rainier, Tenino boys basketball teams

The first event ever hosted at the brand new Stone City Event Center in Tenino will be a comedy show fundraiser supporting the Rainier and Tenino high school boys basketball teams Friday, Jan. 24. … more

By Dylan Reubenking/dylan@yelmonline.com | 1/21/25

Members of the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations were at the scene of a fatal police shooting on Sunday, 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.

Investigators release names of Centralia officer, victim in fatal police shooting

The Lewis County Coroner’s Office has positively identified the man killed by a Centralia Police Department officer during a response to a domestic dispute on Sunday, Jan. 12, as Alecandro A. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/21/25

Guests including Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk attend the Inauguration of Donald J. Trump in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.

Once dubbed a ‘woke’ billionaire, Jeff Bezos changes his tune on Donald Trump

In 2016, Jeff Bezos worried aloud that Donald Trump, then an underdog presidential candidate, could “erode” American democracy. Speaking at a Vanity Fair summit in October that year, … more

Lauren Rosenblatt / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 1/21/25

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.

As President Donald Trump takes office, some Washingtonians hope for ‘American Golden Age’

Donald Trump was sworn as the 47th president of the United States on Monday morning, and some Washington state residents and politicians are commemorating the historic event. Standing inside the … more

Simone Carter / The News Tribune (TNS) | 1/21/25

Costco Teamsters vote to authorize strike

More than 18,000 Costco workers, including drivers, warehouse and store employees, will go on strike at the end of the month if the union and America’s third-largest retailer fail to sign a new … more

Kristine Sherred / The News Tribune (TNS) | 1/21/25

J.D. Vance is sworn in as U.S. vice president as his wife Usha Vance and family and President Donald Trump look on in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.

Trump commutes sentencing of Washington state Proud Boy Ethan Nordean in Jan. 6 attack

President Donald Trump, who was sworn in Monday, signed a sweeping pardon and clemency for rioters criminally charged in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol moments after he stepped into the … more

Lauren Girgis / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 1/21/25

Washington state attorney general calls Trump orders 'gravely concerning'

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said his office was reviewing the crop of executive orders signed by newly sworn-in President Donald Trump on Monday, calling them "gravely concerning" and … more

Claire Withycombe / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 1/21/25

Proposed ‘bill of rights’ would offer labor protections to Washington state nannies, housekeepers and gardeners

Domestic workers in Washington could soon see new, comprehensive labor protections if a bill in the state Legislature gets the green light. State Sen. Rebecca Saldaña sponsored the bill, … more

Simone Carter / The News Tribune (TNS) | 1/21/25