State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Oil extends push higher as US-Iran stalemate reinforces risks

Oil rose for a fourth day, with no sign of progress toward a resolution of the U.S.-Iran war after almost six months of conflict. Brent climbed toward $92 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate … more

Rong Wei Neo / Bloomberg News (TNS) | 8/19/26

A smoke column billows over rangeland near South Mountain in Idaho.

Idaho has spent $31 million on firefighting while nearly 700K acres have burned statewide

Nearly 700,000 acres have burned across Idaho so far this year, and state officials are predicting fire risk will remain high through September. As the costs to fight fires increase, state … more

Laura Guido / Idaho Capital Sun | 8/19/26

A decades-old pumper truck owned by the Providence Fire Department in Rhode Island, where it’s used for events and ceremonies. Providence is one of dozens of cities accusing fire truck manufacturers of conspiring to suppress the supply of trucks, raising prices and driving up delivery times.

Dozens of cities and counties sue fire truck makers over soaring costs, delivery delays

In the summer of 2023, a third of the fire engines owned by the fire department in Kansas City, Kansas, were unusable. Five of 15 pumper trucks were out of commission, and the department was waiting … more

Anna Claire Vollers / Stateline | 8/19/26

The Dust Busters Plus Fire Crew digs a handline in steep, challenging terrain on Kaiser Canyon Fire in eastern Washington.

Cost to battle 20 wildfires in Washington state has topped $200M

In the span of a month, firefighting costs for 20 wildfires burning across Washington have totalled $207 million, according to data from the state’s Department of Natural Resources. The … more

Aspen Ford / Washington State Standard | 8/19/26

Green Hill School juvenile detention facility in Chehalis is pictured here by drone photo on Friday, July 10.

State agency says improvements at juveniles rehab centers ongoing after audit raises concerns

OLYMPIA – The agency that runs the state’s juvenile rehabilitation centers reports that it has improved conditions after an audit showed the facilities have high rates of staff turnover and … more

By Mitchell Roland / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 8/18/26

Thurston County man dies at the Gorge’s Bass Canyon festival; Seattle man arrested

A 27-year-old man from Olympia died of drug poisoning at the Bass Canyon music festival at the Gorge Amphitheatre on Sunday, and a 28-year-old man from Seattle has been arrested in connection. … more

By Kai Uyehara / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/18/26

The Washington Capitol building is lit up against the night sky in Olympia on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Washington state audit finds DCYF broke laws in child care investigations

A new state audit has found that Washington's Department of Children, Youth, and Families broke state law and policy requirements regarding investigations of unlicensed child care providers, child … more

By Andrew Paxton / The Center Square | 8/18/26

Washington state probes nonprofit over drug cleanup operations

The Washington state Department of Labor and Industries is investigating nonprofit We Heart Seattle over the way its volunteers pick up and dispose of used hypodermic needles and fentanyl foil. … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 8/18/26

Federal investigators search through bushes outside a house in Rhode Island. Violent crime in the United States fell by an estimated 9.3% in 2025. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

Violent crime in U.S. fell at record pace in 2025

Violent crime in the United States fell by an estimated 9.3% in 2025, marking the largest year-to-year decline in the national violent crime rate since the FBI began estimating crime in 1936, … more

By Amanda Watford / Stateline.org | 8/18/26

Ferguson, Baumgartner seek meeting with Trump on Washington wildfires

Washington’s Democratic governor and a Republican congressman are asking President Donald Trump to meet with them to discuss the wildfires that have devastated parts of the state this summer. … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 8/18/26

The Still Creek area in the Mt. Hood National Forest is part of 2 million acres of Oregon land protected by the federal Roadless Rule. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)

Trump administration advances plan to rescind protections for nearly 45 million wild acres

The Trump administration will move ahead with plans to end more than 25 years of sweeping protections for tens of millions of wild, federally managed acres across the U.S. Brooke Rollins, head … more

By Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 8/18/26

Coalition calls Seattle’s surveillance cameras ‘structurally dangerous’

A group of activists and cybersecurity experts raised concerns about the Seattle Police Department's surveillance technology on Monday, saying they were worried about the company powering it and … more

Lauren Girgis / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/18/26

Boeing’s contract offer ‘just not enough,’ some SPEEA workers say

Boeing had hoped for smooth negotiations with its white-collar union members, aiming to avoid the type of tense impasse that resulted in financially crippling strikes in the past. But after an … more

Lauren Rosenblatt / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/18/26

King County employee will monitor ICE flights from Boeing Field

After years of activist complaints that King County is not doing enough to monitor immigration enforcement flights using its Seattle airport, the county has hired an employee who will ensure those … more

Nina Shapiro / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/18/26

While Seattle slows, the region’s fastest growth is on the fringes

Want a snapshot of the region's changing shape? Look at 2026. Seattle, once our undisputed growth engine, posted a meager 0.8% population increase last year, according to the state Office of … more

Gene Balk / FYI Guy / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/18/26

A street view of the University District in Seattle, Washington.

Poll shows voters support Seattle surveillance cameras, but not mayor

A new poll released Monday by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Challenge Seattle shows broad support for public safety cameras and a large lack of confidence in Mayor Katie Wilson’s … more

Randy Diamond | The Center Square | 8/18/26

West Nile virus is present each year across Southeast Idaho.

Southwest Idaho resident contracts meningitis from West Nile Virus infection, health officials say

A Canyon County resident over the age of 65 is Idaho’s first reported human case of West Nile virus meningitis this year, public health officials announced Monday. The infected person was … more

Kyle Pfannenstiel / Idaho Capital Sun | 8/18/26

Dr. William Smock, medical director of the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention, part of the Alliance for HOPE International, speaks to students about evidence and how to detect staged scenes during a mock crime scene exercise. This year, at least five states have considered “hidden homicide” legislation.

‘Hidden homicides’: Families push states for more scrutiny of domestic violence deaths

Families who believe local officials prematurely ruled their loved ones’ deaths suicides or accidents — rather than investigating whether domestic violence played a role — are pushing lawmakers … more

Amanda Watford / States Newsroom | 8/18/26

Left, Eamonn Collins and, right, Michael Shepard.

Washington state Senate primary separated by 4 votes, set for recount

Two Democratic Washington state Senate hopefuls are headed for a recount as just four votes separate them for second place in the primary and a spot on the November ballot. After examining … more

Jake Goldstein-Street / Washington State Standard | 8/18/26

Tacoma lawyer joins Washington state campaign watchdog commission

A reporter-turned-attorney is the newest member of Washington’s citizen panel that enforces state campaign finance laws. Lisa Kremer, who works with Vandeberg Johnson Gandara PS in Tacoma, was … more

Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard | 8/18/26