State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

DNR to conserve 77,000 acres of mature forests: ‘We are the Evergreen State’

Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove on Tuesday signed an order to conserve 77,000 acres of mature and older state forests across Western Washington. Upthegrove, who took charge of the … more

Simone Carter / The Olympian (TNS) | 8/27/25

The Hubert H. Humphrey Building, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., as seen on Nov. 23, 2023. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

Federal agency orders states to strip gender from sex ed

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration demanded Tuesday that dozens of states remove from sex education materials any references to a person’s gender departing from … more

By Shauneen Miranda / States Newsroom | 8/26/25

Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove is seen during a press conference on Aug. 26, 2025, at the High Point Trailhead on Tiger Mountain, near Issaquah. (Photo by Emily Fitzgerald/Washington State Standard)

Lands commissioner: Washington to conserve 77,000 acres of older forests on state lands

Eight months after Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove entered office and paused logging sales in older forests on state land, Washington’s Department of Natural Resources has identified … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / The Washington State Standard | 8/26/25

Freedom Foundation working to help Washington state teachers opt out of union dues

The Freedom Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Olympia, Wash., is making a final push to inform Washington teachers that only a few days remain to opt out of paying union dues to the … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 8/26/25

Screenshot of body cam footage obtained by The Center Square from Island County

Former Washington GOP official avoids jail time after felony mask-refusal conviction

An Island County election observer won't serve jail time for refusing to wear a mask in 2024, according to a court ruling on Monday. Island County Auditor Sheilah Crider imposed a mask mandate … more

By Spencer Pauley / The Center Square | 8/26/25

Grays Harbor College President Dr. Carli Schiffner spoke to the crowd of graduates and their supporters on Aug. 14.

Grays Harbor College honors graduates at Stafford Creek Corrections Center

On Aug. 14, Grays Harbor College honored 74 graduates at a commencement ceremony at Stafford Creek Corrections Center. In the past six months, students at Stafford Creek earned 93 educational … more

By The Daily World | 8/26/25

Washington city bans ICE from entering permitted events without a warrant

Despite threats over federal funding, the Spokane City Council voted Monday to ban U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from entering permitted events without a warrant. The move … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 8/26/25

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy rides on a FrontRunner train in Salt Lake City during a media event on Monday, April 7, 2025. (Photo by McKenzie Romero/Utah News Dispatch)

Trump administration threatens to yank state funds over truckers’ English proficiency

Three states are at risk of losing some federal transportation funding because they are not enforcing President Donald Trump’s executive order that commercial truck drivers must be proficient … more

By Jacob Fischler / States Newsroom | 8/26/25

Washington Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove signs a directive ordering the conservation of about 77,000 acres of older forests on state logging lands, on Aug. 26, 2025, at the High Peak Trailhead on Tiger Peak Mountain. Behind him are Washington Conservation Action CEO Alyssa Macy, left, and Thurston County Commissioner Tye Menser, right. (Photo by Emily Fitzgerald/Washington State Standard)

Washington state lands commissioner moves 77,000 acres of older state forests into conservation

Eight months after Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove entered office and paused logging sales in older forests on state land, Washington’s Department of Natural Resources has identified … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / The Washington State Standard | 8/26/25

FBI warns of fake lawyers in this especially cruel scam

The FBI is reminding people already hit by scammers to be on the lookout that the old scammers — or new ones — may circle back for another hit. In this especially cruel scam, the FBI … more

Aimee Green / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 8/26/25

Transportation tax and fee hikes remain controversial ahead of Oregon Democrats’ planned vote to enact them in coming days

Local officials, state workers, union leaders and truckers from across Oregon pushed lawmakers on Monday to better support the state’s roads by raising taxes and fees, while numerous … more

Carlos Fuentes / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 8/26/25

Now, the bottom half of the mural is painted solid green, so that it's easier to repaint over tagging.

After a torrent of graffiti and a provocative sign, what remains of this NE Portland mural?

The Northeast Portland mural was supposed to be a subtle nod to Black communities in the aftermath of Portland’s 2020 racial justice protests. “We’re still here,” it said, set … more

Maddie Khaw / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 8/26/25

A Bridgewater Logging truck drives through the Loggers Jubilee Parade in Morton on Saturday, Aug. 9.

Transportation secretary warns Washington to enforce English proficiency requirements for truckers

California, New Mexico and Washington could risk losing federal funding if they fail to enforce English Language Proficiency requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers, U.S. Transportation … more

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch / The Center Square | 8/26/25

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrest a fugitive in 2020.

Washington state spent more than $23M to hold illegal aliens with ICE detainers in 2024

A group of Washington state Republican senators, including 31st Legislative District Sen. Phil Fortunato of Auburn, are calling for the repeal of a state law that limits law enforcement's cooperation … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 8/26/25

Olympia among cities with ‘very high’ COVID viral activity levels

The start of school is around the corner for many Washington students — just as COVID-19 cases are surging across the state. Among the areas with “very high” viral activity: … more

Simone Carter / The Olympian (TNS) | 8/26/25

Digital equity groups say Commerce Department owes $3.6 million in reimbursements

Tears of frustration welled behind Sharonne Navas’ glasses, her shoulders slumped slightly forward. “Even up until this week, I was just like, ‘Well, no. It’s the … more

Simone Carter / The Olympian (TNS) | 8/26/25

The Washington state Capitol on March 13, 2025. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)

Debate flares over Washington state child welfare law after rise in deaths and injuries

Lawmakers in Washington are divided on whether to dial back a state law critics blame for a sudden spike in deaths and serious injuries among children enmeshed in the state’s child welfare … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 8/26/25

Missing woman’s remains found in storage locker a year after vanishing, Oregon cops say

A missing woman’s remains were discovered in a storage locker in Oregon over a year after she vanished in Washington, police said. Someone reported a “suspicious circumstance” … more

Helena Wegner / The News Tribune (TNS) | 8/26/25

String of homicides linked to members of prominent Tacoma gang

A string of homicides linked to a Tacoma gang prompted the large-scale takedown of a multi-state drug-trafficking ring last week. Sixteen people, some with ties to the Knoccout Crips street … more

Puneet Bsanti / The News Tribune (TNS) | 8/26/25

What does 'right to repair' mean for farming equipment repairs in Washington?

A tractor rests parked on the property of Bountiful Orchards Aug. 19 in Monitor. The state Legislature passed legislation this year to make it easier for individuals and independent businesses to … more

Matteah Davis / The Wenatchee World, Wash. (TNS) | 8/26/25