News | The Daily Chronicle

A member of West Thurston Regional Fire Authority carries hoselines through smoke during a brush fire in the Scatter Creek area near Case Road in Maytown in July 2021.

West Thurston Fire Asks for Four-Year Levy Increase to Maintain Current Service Levels as Call Volumes Increase

The four-year maintenance and operation levy that accounts for almost half of West Thurston Regional Fire Authority’s funding expires this year. Rather than ask voters to renew the … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 7/21/22

Herrera Beutler Votes 'No' on Bill to Protect Marriage Equality

Federal lawmakers are making swift moves to reduce impacts on protected rights in the aftermath of Roe v. Wade being overturned. Among them, Congress members are seeking to protect marriage equality … more

Lauren Ellenbecker / The Columbian | 7/21/22

UPS Driver Pulls Unconscious Child From Pool, Performs CPR in Eastern Washington

SOAP LAKE — A UPS driver helped save the life of a child who had stopped breathing in a pool at the Smokiam Resort Wednesday afternoon. Grant County Sheriff's Office Public Information … more

Rebecca Pettingill / Columbia Basin Herald | 7/21/22

Trial Delayed Until January 2023 for Suspect Accused of Fatally Stabbing Man, Injuring 12-Year-Old in Chehalis

The trial for the Amanda Park man accused of killing a 46-year-old man and injuring a 12-year-old in Chehalis in December will be delayed to January 2023, a Lewis County Superior Court judge decided … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 7/21/22

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the former location of the Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset, Massachussets, on July 20, 2022. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

Biden Tests Positive for Coronavirus, Has ‘Very Mild Symptoms’

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden, the oldest person to ever hold the office, tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday, but said his symptoms were mild and credited vaccines and booster … more

Eli Stokols / Los Angeles Times (TNS) | 7/21/22

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed legislation to codify the right to contraception. (Barbara Johnson/Dreamstime/TNS)

House Approves Measure to Protect the Right to Contraception

WASHINGTON — The House on Thursday passed legislation that would codify the federal right to contraception, although the measure faces slim odds in the Senate because of GOP concerns about the … more

Sandhya Raman / CQ-Roll Call (TNS) | 7/21/22

In this picture taken on April 13, 2022, a Russian soldier stands guard at the Luhansk power plant in the town of Shchastya. *EDITOR'S NOTE: This picture was taken during a trip organized by the Russian military.* (Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

Russia Moves to Annex Occupied Ukrainian Land by September

The Kremlin is in a dash to hold referendums in Ukrainian territories occupied by its troops to give grounds for President Vladimir Putin to absorb them into Russia as early as September, according … more

Bloomberg News (TNS) | 7/21/22

A person signs up for employment information outside during a job fair hiring new postal workers and mail carrier assistants at a United States Postal Service (USPS) post office on July 18, 2022, in Inglewood, California. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

U.S. Jobless Claims Hit Eight-Month High as Labor Market Cools

Applications for U.S. state unemployment insurance rose for a third week to the highest since November as more companies announce job cuts, suggesting some softening in the labor market. Initial … more

Maria Paula Mijares Torres, Olivia Rockeman / Bloomberg News (TNS) | 7/21/22

Medical researcher Dr. Jonas Salk studying slides in his laboratory, following the invention of his pioneering polio vaccine, circa 1957. (Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images/TNS)

New York Records First U.S. Polio Case in Almost a Decade

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York health officials confirmed Thursday that a case of polio was recently recorded in Rockland County, the first time the highly infectious virus has been reported in the … more

Denis Slattery / New York Daily News (TNS) | 7/21/22

News Dump Ep. 106: Noxious Weeds and Where to Find Them

On the 106th episode of News Dump, Aaron VanTuyl, Eric Schwartz, Franklin Taylor and Isabel Vander Stoep discuss the Svenson drama, the STP drama, parade drama, noxious weeds and where to find them, … more

7/21/22

Uvalde schools police Chief Pedro "Pete" Arredondo listens during a news conference at Uvalde County Fairplex after 19 students and two teachers were killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. Arredondo has been placed on administrative leave. (Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

Uvalde School Officials to Consider Firing Police Chief Pete Arredondo at Special Meeting

DALLAS — As pressure from the community builds, Uvalde school officials have scheduled a special meeting to vote on the firing of Pete Arredondo after the district’s superintendent … more

Jamie Landers / The Dallas Morning News (TNS) | 7/20/22

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele delivers a press conference at a hotel in San Salvador on Feb. 28, 2021. (Stanley Estrada/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

U.S. to Expand List of ‘Corrupt’ Officials in Central America

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is preparing to significantly expand a list of Central American officials deemed too corrupt to work with or to be allowed to enter the United States. … more

Tracy Wilkinson / Los Angeles Times (TNS) | 7/20/22

Alex Murdaugh walks into the Colleton County Courthouse on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Murdaugh was charged with murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul, and faces weapons charges. (Drew Martin/The Island Packet/TNS)

Alex Murdaugh Agrees to No Bond on Murder Charges, Attorneys Ask for Gag Order in Case

WALTERBORO, S.C. — Alex Murdaugh pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife and son and put up no opposition to the denial of a bond. The disgraced Lowcountry attorney waved asking for a … more

Maayan Schechter / The State (Columbia, S.C.) (TNS) | 7/20/22

A customer purchases a Mega Millions lottery ticket at a 7-Eleven store in Chicago. (Scott Olson/Getty Images/TNS)

Mega Millions Jackpot Soars to $630 Million for Friday’s Drawing

For the fifth time in 20 years, the Mega Millions jackpot has more than $600 million up for grabs. Friday’s jackpot is estimated to be around $630 million, according to Mega … more

Ryan Biller / The Denver Post (TNS) | 7/20/22

At Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, Florida, manatees frolic near the main spring, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. The manatees are attracted to the warmth of the 73-degree spring during cold weather, with a record-breaking number counted by volunteer manatee watchers this week. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

Florida Manatees Death Toll Grows But Falls Below Record Pace

The 631 manatee deaths in Florida through mid-July this year already stands as the fourth deadliest annual count since records began nearly a half-century ago. Though a blistering pace, the 2022 … more

Kevin Spear / Orlando Sentinel (TNS) | 7/20/22

Candidates, from left, Scott Brummer, Harry Bhagwandin, Pat Saldaña, Tracy Murphy and Rob Snaza listen to questions from the crowd at the Roxy Theater in Morton on Tuesday.

Candidate Forum in Morton Highlights Commissioner, Sheriff Races Ahead of Primary

Voters and elected officials gathered at the Roxy Theater on Tuesday night for a show unlike most hosted by the classic Morton venue. The East County Journal held a free, public candidate forum … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 7/20/22

FILE PHOTO — An official ballot drop box sits locked outside the Lewis County Auditor’s Office in Chehalis.

Online, Mailed Voters’ Pamphlets Available for Lewis County Residents Ahead of Primary

Ahead of the Aug. 2 primary election, the Lewis County Auditor’s Office has mailed a printed voters’ pamphlet to all households with a primary race. An online voters’ guide is … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/20/22

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Washington are reflected in this graph from the state Department of Health.

Lewis County COVID Cases Increase as Deaths, Hospitalizations Remain Consistent

The total number of COVID-19 cases reported this week by Lewis County Public Health and Social Services (LCPHSS) jumped upward to 144 new cases in the week of July 8 to July 14 after seeing a dip the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/20/22

Morton Police Chief Roger Morningstar talks with The Chronicle in this 2019 file photo.

Potential Contract Between Pe Ell, Morton Would See East Lewis County City Provide Police to West Lewis County Town

A contract establishing law enforcement coverage in Pe Ell by the Morton Police Department is currently under review by the Morton City Council after it was approved by the Pe Ell Town Council on … more

By Matthew Zylstra / matthew@chronline.com | 7/20/22

FILE PHOTO — Peter Abbarno, center right, fights Glenda Price, center left, with ballon swords during the National Night Out event at George Washington Park in Centralia in 2019.

Centralia Police Department to Host Hot Dog Picnic for National Night Out Campaign

The Centralia Police Department (CPD) announced its participation in this year’s National Night Out campaign. As part of the campaign, CPD will host a hot dog picnic on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/20/22