State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Wahkiakum County Commissioner Dan Cothren unlocks an American Forest Management gate after patrolling lands owned by prince-affiliated companies on Aug. 21, 2025. The gate blocks off driving access to thousands of acres of prime longtime hunting grounds. The patrol is a routine part of his part-time job as a security contractor for timberland owners.

Investment companies block access to tens of thousands of acres in Wahkiakum, Pacific counties

ELOCHOMAN RIVER VALLEY — Investment companies have whittled away the land hunters can use in Wahkiakum and Pacific counties. Access to tens of thousands of acres of locally treasured, longtime … more

Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 3/9/26

Human remains found at Shoreline park

A person found human remains while picking up garbage in a Shoreline park, the King County sheriff’s office reported Sunday. The location where the remains were found, around the northeast … more

Lauren Rosenblatt / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/9/26

Brent Mahitka gestures across the Skamokawa Valley on Aug. 21, 2025, towards prime hunting lands that have seen access curtailed by gates over the years.

German royalty controls 7% of Wahkiakum County; what does that mean for hunting access?

ELOCHOMAN RIVER VALLEY — An investment company co-founded by a 21st -century German prince is joining other timber industry goliaths in gobbling up and shutting down access to hunting land in … more

Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 3/9/26

A brown bear rests on a hillside in Denali National Park and Preserve. Hunting, trapping and fishing are allowed on national preserve lands in Alaska. But under rules issued during the Biden and Obama administrations, state-authorized bear baiting was banned in national preserves. (Photo provided by the National Park Service)

Trump administration plans to end ban on bear baiting in Alaska national preserves

The Trump administration is seeking to open national preserves in Alaska to bear baiting by sport hunters. The U.S. Department of the Interior on Friday announced that it will propose a new rule … more

By Yereth Rosen / The Daily Montanan | 3/9/26

Members of 30 Oregon labor unions organized a march against Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, near an ICE facility in Portland on Jan. 31, 2026. The march ended at the facility, where federal officers shot tear gas, pepper balls and rubber bullets at the crowd, which included children. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Judge blocks Oregon ICE facility agents from using tear gas leaking into nearby apartments

A federal judge on Friday barred federal agents outside Portland’s waterfront Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility from using tear gas and chemical munitions in a manner that could seep … more

By Shaanth Nanguneri / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 3/9/26

Washington state parks offer free parking twice in March, including Monday

Washington state parks will offer free parking Monday and a week from Thursday, in celebration of a couple of birthdays. The free parking on Monday commemorates the birth of Billy Frank Jr., a … more

Lauren Rosenblatt / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/9/26

How can cops tell if you’re too high to drive in Washington state? What law says

Cannabis use has been legal in the state of Washington since 2012. That doesn’t mean it’s OK to drive while high, according to Cannabis Safely, a public health education campaign launched by … more

Julia Hawkins / The Bellingham Herald (TNS) | 3/9/26

State Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, smiles at House Speaker Laurie Jinkins during a Legislative Media Day at the Washington state Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Olympia.

Washington Senate’s Democratic majority leader draws challenger from the left

Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, who has served in the Legislature for two decades, faces the prospect of a fellow Democrat challenging him in this year’s election. Hannah … more

By Bill Lucia / The Washington State Standard | 3/9/26

A protester gives a thumbs up during a “Pray to End Abortion” event organized by 40 Days for Life, across the street from Planned Parenthood in Centralia on Monday, March 24, 2025.

Fee on health insurers to fund abortion services debated in Washington state Legislature

Insurers in Washington could soon need to foot the bill for additional abortion funding. A proposal under consideration in the state Legislature would require health carriers with insurance … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 3/9/26

The dome at the Washington state Capitol.

Last deadline of Washington legislative session kills more bills

With less than a week to go, policy proposals are nearing the finish line to becoming law in the Washington Legislature. But the last deadline of the legislative session Friday stopped some of them … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / Washington State Standard | 3/8/26

The Senate chambers at the Washington state Capitol.

Washington State Senate’s Democratic majority leader draws challenger from the left

Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, who has served in the Legislature for two decades, faces the prospect of a fellow Democrat challenging him in this year’s election. Hannah … more

By Bill Lucia / Washington State Standard | 3/8/26

Data center tax break close to getting zapped by Washington State Legislature

Tax breaks for data center operators could soon be stripped from Washington state law. On Saturday, the House Finance Committee voted 8 to 6 to approve Senate Bill 6231. The bill next … more

By Aspen Ford / Washington State Standard | 3/8/26

Ex-Mariner James Paxton taking one last ride in World Baseball Classic

“The Big Maple” is about to leave the mound. This time, on his terms. Former Mariners pitcher James Paxton’s 11-year MLB career was pocked with injuries. A lat strain in 2014. A … more

Mike Vorel / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/8/26

Farm stands in Oregon are getting new regulations that loosen their ability to operate.

Oregon farmers celebrate passage of ‘farm store’ bill that loosens state regulations

The Oregon Legislature passed a bill Friday aimed at relaxing farm stand regulations. The measure, House Bill 4153, which replaces existing regulations on farm stands with new regulations for … more

Jamie Hale / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/8/26

Man arrested for attempted murder after stabbing at NE Portland restaurant

A stabbing at a Northeast Portland restaurant Saturday has landed a man in jail on suspicion of attempted murder. Officers responded to a report of a stabbing inside a restaurant on Northeast … more

Jamie Hale / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/8/26

Portland could charge you a monthly fee to help fix its ‘deplorable’ streets

After nearly two decades of largely failed or aborted attempts, Portland officials are once again exploring ways to permanently raise millions of new dollars for the city’s ailing transportation … more

Shane Dixon Kavanaugh / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/8/26

Thirty cat statues have been placed around downtown Portland.

Dozens of giant crows are about to take over downtown Portland this summer

Something big is about to land in downtown Portland. Several things actually. Following the runaway success of “Coraline’s Curious Cat Trail,” Portland leaders and artists are launching … more

Sean Sterling / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/8/26

Lawmakers voted two years ago to bar an income tax. Now, many Democrats have changed their minds

Less than two years after both chambers of the Washington Legislature overwhelmingly passed an initiative to bar state and local jurisdictions from adopting an income tax, lawmakers are on the verge … more

Mitchell Roland / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 3/8/26

March isn’t done roaring yet - heavy rain, even snow looming next week

A weather pattern hitting the South Sound next week will bring cold and wet weather to Tacoma, with a chance of snow, according to the National Weather Service. A system beginning tonight will … more

Bonny Matejowsky / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 3/8/26

Officials investigate shooting in Parkland as potential drive-by

The Pierce County Sheriff’s department is investigating a homicide at the 500 block of 112th Street East in Parkland. At around 9:03 a.m., deputies arrived at the Terravista apartments parking … more

Bonny Matejowsky / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 3/8/26