State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Construction workers and vehicles move around the Capitol. The building's retrofitting project came before a recent study which found heightened risk of increasingly damaging earthquakes on the nation's West Coast. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Cascadia quake may create ’emergency situation’ in other West Coast fault zone, study warns

The so-called “Big One” or Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake expected to trigger disruptive quakes throughout the West Coast could cause more damage than previously estimated if it sets … more

By Shaanth Nanguneri / The Oregon Capital Chronicle | 10/13/25

Transmission lines lead away from the coal-fired Intermountain Power Plant near Delta, Utah, in February. A new law passed by California legislators creates a pathway to establish a regional market for managing the flow of energy throughout the West. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

The West’s power grid could be stitched together — if red and blue states buy in

For years, Western leaders have debated the creation of a regional energy market: a coordinated grid to pool solar power in Arizona, wind in Wyoming, hydro in Washington and battery storage in … more

By Alex Brown / States Newsroom | 10/13/25

The Washington Department of Natural Resources extinguished a brush fire that burned a quarter acre north of Centralia near Oconnor Road Southeast on Thursday, May 8.

Washington state officials take stock as wildfire season winds down

With fall weather dampening wildland fire conditions in Washington, officials are beginning to reflect on the fire season. Washington state saw more individual fires than last season, but … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / The Washington State Standard | 10/13/25

Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer chats with Chehalis Mayor Tony Ketchum on Tuesday, June 17, at the Twin Cities Senior Center during a community outreach event.

Fourteen health insurers approved to sell plans in Washington’s 2026 individual health insurance market

Fourteen health insurers have been approved to sell health plans in Washington’s 2026 individual health insurance market, a news release from the Washington State Insurance Commissioner stated. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/13/25

Man accused of pointing gun at another’s head in Lacey area, court records show

A 38-year-old man was arrested last week on suspicion of first-degree assault after he was accused of pointing a gun at another man’s head in the Lacey area. About 9:20 p.m. Thursday, Oct. … more

By Rolf Boone / The Olympian | 10/13/25

Sea-Tac won’t air Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem video blaming shutdown on Democrats

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport won’t broadcast a video of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem saying Democrats caused the federal government shutdown. The airport isn't showing … more

Caitlyn Freeman / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/13/25

Pierce County deputy shoots and injures domestic violence suspect

A Pierce County Sheriff’s deputy shot and injured a domestic violence suspect shortly after noon Sunday, a spokeswoman for the department said. About 12:10 p.m., deputies were dispatched … more

Rolf Boone / The News Tribune (TNS) | 10/13/25

A Washington Catholic priest accused of sexual misconduct is removed and reported to police; parishioners criticize allegations

The Catholic Diocese of Spokane removed a priest from ministry and asked police to investigate after he was accused of misappropriation of funds and sexual misconduct involving six women. … more

Alexandra Duggan / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 10/13/25

'The silliness needs to stop': Blame game continues across the aisle as federal government shutdown draws on

Congressman Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, shared no intentions of acquiescing or compromising with Democrats 12 days into a government shutdown that surrounds health care subsidies, he said in a … more

Elena Perry / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 10/13/25

Cyclists took to the rainy streets of Portland on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, to protest.

Portland cyclists strip down in pouring rain to protest ICE facility and Trump troop deployment

More than a thousand cyclists in various states of undress braved the rainy streets of Portland on Sunday afternoon to protest President Donald Trump’s attempts to send National Guard troops to … more

Abigail Landwehr, Austin De Dios / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/13/25

Possible tornado rips off roof, causes other damage in Longview

The National Weather Service in Portland said Sunday that a possible tornado caused “significant” damage in Longview on Sunday afternoon. According to Tyler Kranz, a meteorologist … more

Lizzy Acker / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/13/25

Near-daily protests continued outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in South Portland on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.

Cyclists in the buff and in costume mix with wet weather at Portland ICE

A party atmosphere returned to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building Sunday as the “emergency” World Naked Bike Ride brought more than 1,000 peaceful protesters to the … more

Austin De Dios, Lizzy Acker / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/13/25

Grays Harbor County commissioners, prosecutor’s office haggle over raises

Over the past several months, the Grays Harbor County Board of Commissioners (BOCC), consisting of Georgia Miller, Rick Hole and Vickie Raines, has been extremely purposeful and calculated for … more

By Jerry Knaak / The Daily World | 10/13/25

The Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem. (Photo by Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Oregon abandons Medicaid expansion for people leaving prison, months after delaying launch

Oregon Health Authority this week notified state prisons and other officials that it no longer intends to implement a novel Medicaid initiative that would have provided targeted health services to … more

By Danielle Dawson, InvestigateWest | 10/13/25

Washington state Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove waves to the crowd during inauguration ceremonies at the Washington state Capitol, in Olympia, on Jan. 15, 2025. (Photo by Ryan Berry/Washington State Standard)

Washington state public lands chief seeks new revenue as timber policy faces scrutiny

Washington Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove defended his decision to pause some timber sales and said he will seek 2026 legislation to diversify revenue from state trust lands, arguing the … more

By Paul W. Taylor / TVW | 10/13/25

Washington state’s paid leave program heads toward a fiscal cliff

Washington’s innovative paid family and medical leave program could be hundreds of millions of dollars in the red within a few years, unless the Legislature acts. This could mean reduced … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 10/13/25

Woman found dead in parked car in NW Portland in apparent shooting, police say

Portland police found a woman dead Saturday in a parked car in Northwest Portland and said she appeared to have been shot. Homicide detectives responded to the scene, police said. Officers … more

The Oregonian / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/12/25

Oregon ‘underemployment’ is rising rapidly

Oregon’s jobless rate has been climbing steadily for more than two years, inching up to 5.0% amid a historic wave of layoffs among big employers and a general cooling off in the state’s … more

Mike Rogoway / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/12/25

Man shoots, kills father in Pierce County, sheriff’s office says

A 41-year-old man killed his father in Parkland on Friday night, according to the Pierce County sheriff's office. Deputies found a 63-year-old man with gunshot wounds around 8 p.m. in a home … more

Caitlyn Freeman / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 10/12/25

Washington state man admits flashing kids near schools after he became bored with sex

A Richland man admitted this week to exposing himself to elementary students near schools because relationships with women were “not exciting anymore.” Scott L. Phelps, 36, pleaded … more

Cameron Probert / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 10/12/25