State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Two men arrested in brazen theft of ATM machines using stolen excavator in Oregon

Police have arrested two men who allegedly used a stolen excavator to smash open drive-through ATMs in an audacious Clackamas County heist in June. Matthew Evan Armour, 32, faces charges of … more

Tatum Todd / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/16/25

Feds say they seized 36 guns from Oregon man, including three converted into machine guns

A 41-year-old West Linn, Oregon, man is accused of possessing three dozen guns, including three converted into fully automatic machine guns with switch devices. Also in the cache seized by FBI … more

Maxine Bernstein / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/16/25

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrest a fugitive in 2020.

ICE lawyer denies ‘race for the border’ as Oregon detainees transferred to Tacoma

Lawyers for a 22-year-old Mexican citizen arrested two weeks ago at the ICE field office in Eugene didn’t file a challenge fast enough before officers drove the man across the Oregon border to … more

Maxine Bernstein / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/16/25

HB 1531 sponsor Rep. Dan Bronoske, D-Lakewood, concerning public health mandates on House floor ahead of bill vote.

Washington state allocates $150 million for Medicaid-like health care to illegal aliens

As Washington state grapples with a potential fiscal crisis by 2027, the Legislature this session allocated $150 million to fund a Medicaid-style program offering healthcare to illegal aliens. … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 7/16/25

Disability advocates concerned about destruction of Washington state records

Julie Gunter was trying to get appropriate services from the Seattle School District for her daughter, a student with disabilities, but hit a major snag: past records of how other school districts … more

Shauna Sowers / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/16/25

Years of I-5 lane closures in Seattle to begin with a thud this weekend

After months of procrastination and dread, Seattle's main traffic event of 2025 is finally upon us — a full 30 days of northbound lane closures at the Interstate 5 Ship Canal Bridge for a … more

Mike Lindblom / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/16/25

Spiking lawsuit payouts put Washington state self-insurance fund $1 billion in the red

Lawsuit payouts by the state of Washington spiked to a new high of more than $506 million in the latest fiscal year, driven largely by claims of alleged abuse suffered by children in the foster care … more

Jim Brunner / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/16/25

Democratic attorney generals call for demasking ICE agents

California, Arizona, Colorado and Nevada joined a coalition that asked Congress to prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from wearing masks. The states also want … more

By Jamie Parsons / The Center Square | 7/15/25

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, looks through documents during the legislative session at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Friday, April 25.

Sen. Braun urges Gov. Ferguson to get past fearmongering on 'big beautiful bill'

Six months after Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson took office with a moderate-sounding tone that encouraged many Republicans, state Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, says Ferguson has instead proven to … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 7/15/25

English ivy can weaken and in some cases kill trees. (Photo courtesy of the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board)

English ivy added to list of plants that are illegal to buy or sell in Washington state

It’s now illegal in Washington to buy or sell English ivy, the fast-growing, climbing vine that can weaken and kill trees and overtake native plants. The Washington State Department of … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / The Washington State Standard | 7/15/25

Angelina Godoy, director of the University of Washington Center for Human Rights, speaks to reporters alongside advocates outside Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

Deportation flights at Washington state airport up dramatically this year, advocates say

More migrants were flown out of King County’s Boeing Field during the first six months of this year than all of last year as the Trump administration has moved to drastically ramp up … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 7/15/25

Federal judge temporarily prevents removal of family detained at Washington state facility

A federal judge in Seattle has issued an emergency temporary restraining order to prevent the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from removing a Portland mother and her four children detained … more

Hannah Edelman / The Bellingham Herald (TNS) | 7/15/25

The Hope Fire burns at night near Northport, Washington.

Hope Fire Grows to 7,236 Acres, Containment at 15% as Crews Push Against Wind-Driven Flames

As of Tuesday morning, the Hope Fire burning in Stevens County has grown to 7,236 acres and is 15 percent contained. Located approximately 15 miles north of Kettle Falls and 5 miles southwest of … more

Brandon Hansen / KCHW News | 7/15/25

Will more timber sales on Southwest Washington public land reduce wildfires? Conservationists say no

While the mandatory sale of public lands in the West — potentially including the Gifford Pinchot National Forest — didn’t make it into the final congressional reconciliation bill, … more

Hayley Day / The Daily News | 7/15/25

Liz Oxford holds a sign and takes a video of public comment during the Tuesday, July 8, business meeting at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis.

Sanctuary county status unlikely to risk federal funding, Cowlitz County commissioners say

The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners signaled at a recent meeting that it is not interested in replicating a Lewis County resolution declaring itself a non-sanctuary county. The Lewis … more

By Minka Atkinson / The Daily News | 7/15/25

Opponents of President Donald Trump’s executive order indefinitely halting refugee resettlement in the U.S. rally on the steps of the federal courthouse in Seattle on Feb. 25, 2025, after a judge issued a ruling blocking the president’s order. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

Refugees from travel ban countries must be allowed to enter U.S., judge in Washington state rules

The Trump administration must allow refugees to enter the United States from countries covered by the president’s travel ban, a federal judge in Seattle ruled Monday. U.S. District Court … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 7/15/25

Pierce County sheriff’s major strikes pregnant woman, kids in crash, WSP says

An off-duty Pierce County sheriff’s major was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular assault over the weekend after he crashed his personal vehicle into a vehicle … more

Kai Uyehara / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/15/25

Business groups are spending big to oust two Democrats in Washington state Senate

Two bellwether legislative races in Washington are drawing heavy spending early by private sector forces and the state Republican Party. As of Monday, political committees funded largely by … more

Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard | 7/15/25

The Thurston County Courthouse is pictured on Monday, April 21.

Olympia council OKs plan for Thurston County to take over municipal court services

The Olympia City Council last week unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with Thurston County transferring the city’s municipal court services to the county’s district court … more

Ty Vinson / The Olympian (TNS) | 7/15/25

Starbucks tightens in-person work policy, offers buyouts

Starbucks will require its corporate workforce to work in the office four days a week this fall, and is offering buyouts to employees who want to leave the company. The Seattle-based coffee … more

Alex Halverson / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/15/25