News | The Daily Chronicle

Antler hunter kills federally protected grizzly bear charging his way, Montana officials say

A man had been looking for antlers when a grizzly bear charged at him, so he killed it, Montana wildlife officials said. The incident happened Friday, April 11, near Dupuyer, the Montana Fish, … more

Helena Wegner / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/15/25

Mount Rainier is pictured from Adna on Thursday, Dec. 5.

Pierce County bridge to Mount Rainier closed indefinitely after deemed unsafe

A 103-year-old, single-lane bridge that provides access to Mount Rainier National Park and the Carbon River Ranger Station has been closed indefinitely due to its deterioration, the Washington State … more

Becca Most / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/15/25

Tense floor debate in the House on Monday, April 14, 2025 about Senate Bill 5181, the bill regarding parental rights. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

Rewrite of parental rights law passes Washington state House

Washington House lawmakers, for nearly five hours on Monday, battled through the latest round of debate in the state Legislature over parental rights. Democrats say the bill they approved … more

By Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / The Washington State Standard | 4/15/25

The office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, seen here being sworn into office on Jan. 15, 2025, has seen rising tensions with the federal government since President Donald Trump took office in January. (Photo by Ryan Berry/Washington State Standard)

Feds to investigate Washington state schools agency over gender inclusivity conflict

The Trump administration on Monday launched an investigation into the Washington office tasked with overseeing public schools, citing allegations that the state directed a school district to … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 4/15/25

Cherry blossoms are in full bloom at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Wednesday, April 2.

Long to-do list confronts Washington state lawmakers, as session nears its end

When Washington’s 147 legislators kicked off the 2025 session three months ago, solving the problem of an ever-growing shortfall in the state’s next operating budget topped their to-do … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 4/14/25

FEMA denies Washington state request for bomb cyclone disaster aid

The Trump administration on Friday denied Washington’s request for federal disaster relief to recover from last year’s bomb cyclone that caused tens of millions of dollars in … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 4/14/25

Centralia Downtown Association celebrates 150 years with limited edition commemorative postcard

As Centralia commemorates its 150th anniversary, the community is invited to celebrate with a limited edition collectible that captures the city’s enduring legacy, according to a news release … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/25

Centralia, Chehalis taking part in Two Lights for Tomorrow national remembrance day

The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber encourages businesses and citizens to participate in Two Lights for Tomorrow by placing two lights in their homes or businesses from dusk on Friday, April 18, to dawn … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/25

State Rep. Jim Walsh offers ‘WA DOGE’ legislation

The 2025 Washington state legislative session is scheduled to come to a close in less than two weeks, but that’s not stopping Washington Republican Party Chair and state Rep. Jim Walsh, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/25

Donald Ray Hamilton Jr., 55, of Onalaska, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, April 14.

Bail set at $500,000 for Onalaska man accused of sexually assaulting teenage girl

An Onalaska man is facing eight felony child sexual assault charges and one gross misdemeanor for allegedly abusing a teenage girl between August 2018 and March 2025. Donald Ray Hamilton … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/14/25

Washington Republican Party Chair and state Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, speaks during the annual Lincoln Day Dinner at The Loft in Chehalis on Saturday, April 12.

Republicans at Lewis County Lincoln Day Dinner urged to get involved

The Lewis County Republican Party on Saturday, April 12, hosted its annual Lincoln Day Dinner fundraiser and auction at The Loft in downtown Chehalis. The event, which opened its doors at 5 … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 4/14/25

Onyx sits on top of a bed during the Vanellope Guinea Pig Sanctuary’s adoption event at Petsense in Chehalis at on Saturday, April 12.

The latest beneficiary of Lewis County Transit’s surplus vehicles? Guinea pigs

A recently decommissioned Lewis County Transit van is getting a new life transporting a very different kind of passenger: guinea pigs. Vanellope Guinea Pig Sanctuary in Chehalis is the latest … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/14/25

“Letters from the Carpenter’s Wife” is a recently discovered and published collection of letters written by Leah Allender in October 1971.

‘Letters from the Carpenter’s Wife’: A captivating, cozy memoir from a Centralia author

“Letters from the Carpenter’s Wife” is a recently discovered and published collection of letters written in October 1971. Leah Allender and her carpenter husband, Jack, had … more

By Tyrus VanTuyl / ty@chronline.com | 4/14/25

Downtown Chehalis will play host to Ladies Night, an afternoon designed especially for the women in the community, offering a mix of shopping, dining and time with friends.

Ladies Night in downtown Chehalis set for April 26

Gemini Events presents Ladies Night, an afternoon designed especially for the women in the Chehalis community offering a mix of shopping, dining and time spent with friends on Saturday, April 26 from … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/25

Free Christian music concert coming to Rochester April 18

The Frazor Evangelistic Team, a South Carolina-based ministry team, will share the gospel through evangelism and music in a free concert at Grace Baptist Church in Rochester at 6:30 p.m. Friday … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/25

Gov. Bob Ferguson smiles at his family during his inaugural address at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Gov. Ferguson to keynote Thurston County Chamber’s 120th annual meeting May 14

Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson will be the keynote speaker for the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce’s 120th annual meeting on Wednesday, May 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/25

Sirens: Child porn viewed on public WiFi; puppy abuse reported; teen girl arrested for 'being crazy, throwing things'; man with ax menaces; possible overdose at Green Hill

CHEHALIS POLICE DEPARTMENT Burglary • A possible burglary to a sports facility shed in the 2000 block of Southwest Salsbury Avenue was reported just before 10 a.m. on April 11. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/25

Public invited to comment on Thurston County Regional Transportation Plan

The Thurston County Regional Planning Council (TRPC) is seeking public comment on the updated draft of the Regional Transportation Plan, which functions as a blueprint for the future of the Thurston … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/25

April's full moon, also known as a pink moon as it accompanies pink spring flowers, glows in the skies above downtown Centralia in these photos taken on Saturday, April 12. This full moon is also a micromoon, where the moon is the farthest away from the earth, or at the apogee, of its elliptical orbit. It appears around 14% smaller and 30% dimmer in the sky than its supermoon counterpart, where the moon is closest to the earth in its elliptical orbit at its perigee.

In focus: Pink moon glows over downtown Centralia

To subit your own photos to The Chronicle for potential publication, email news@chronline.com . more

4/14/25

Marcella Gross admires an electric table at the 59th annual Lewis County Home Show at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Friday, April 11. The show was organized and hosted by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce. It stretched through Saturday afternoon at the fairgrounds.

In focus: Chamber’s Home Show held at fairgrounds

4/14/25