State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

‘Door-to-door’ salesman scammed women and their older parents in Oregon, feds say

An Oregon man accused of scamming women he pursued romantically, and their older parents, can’t escape responsibility for his debts, a federal bankruptcy court has ruled. While selling … more

Julia Marnin / The News Tribune (TNS) | 5/21/25

Man traveled over 100 miles to Washington state hotel intending to sexually abuse kids, feds say

A man is accused of traveling over 100 miles from Oregon to Washington to sexually abuse two children, federal prosecutors said. But the children were fictitious, and Marc David McCool was … more

Sara Schilling / The News Tribune (TNS) | 5/21/25

A Washington state police pursuit turned deadly. Should deputies, Washington be held liable?

A man whose wife was killed when someone fleeing police crashed into their vehicle near Parkland is suing Pierce County and the state, alleging that the Department of Corrections failed to properly … more

Shea Johnson / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 5/21/25

Smoke and steam rise from the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad trestle bridge between Mineral and Morton as firefighting efforts continue on Thursday, May 1.

What’s next for the bridge closed near Mount Rainier? Here’s how to find out

The Washington State Department of Transportation is hosting two open houses in June following the closure of the state Route 165 Carbon River Fairfax Bridge. According to a news release Monday … more

Isabela Lund / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 5/21/25

Whooping cough cases double this year compared to 2024

As schools across the country release their students and the summer season begins, one respiratory illness shows no sign of slowing down. Whooping cough, or Bordetella pertussis, is a highly … more

Irene Wright / The Bellingham Herald (TNS) | 5/21/25

Discover Pass price increase is set to take effect in October

Washington’s all-in-one state park admission pass is about to get 50% more expensive. The price of a year-long Discover Pass will jump from $30 to $45 on Oct. 1, Washington State Parks … more

Daniel Schrager / The Bellingham Herald (TNS) | 5/21/25

15-year-old overdoses on parents’ fentanyl in Pacific County

On Sunday, May 18, the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) responded to an emergency call in Tokeland, involving a 15-year-old minor who had become unresponsive after overdosing on fentanyl … more

By The Daily World | 5/21/25

A Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officer sorts illegal crab.

Crabber sentenced for illegal transport of crab from Alaska to Washington

A Kodiak commercial fisherman was sentenced to one year in federal prison last week for orchestrating an illegal scheme to transport and sell thousands of pounds of live crab from Alaska to … more

By The Daily World | 5/21/25

Two deer wander through fields on Thursday, May 1, in Salkum.

You can now take some roadkill home to eat in Southwest Washington

Good news for people who enjoy deer, elk and saving money: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will allow people to take home and eat deer killed in motor vehicle collisions in Clark, … more

Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 5/21/25

Gov. Bob Ferguson shakes hands with Sen. June Robinson, chair of the Ways and Means committee, after signing the operating budget on May 20, 2025 in Olympia. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

Gov. Bob Ferguson signs budget boosting Washington state spending and taxes

Gov. Bob Ferguson signs budget boosting Washington state spending and taxes The governor used his veto pen sparingly, to the delight of Democrats and the disappointment of Republicans By … more

By Jerry Cornfield and Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 5/20/25

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez smiles while talking to students in the greenhouse at Napavine High School on Tuesday, April 22.

Gluesenkamp Perez listed among 10 most vulnerable House members of 2026

WASHINGTON — In the world of finance, the adage “past performance is not indicative of future results” serves as a warning for investors. But in politics, past performance can … more

Daniela Altimari and Mary Ellen McIntire / CQ-Roll Call (TNS) | 5/20/25

Gov. Bob Ferguson hands over one of the pens he used to sign House Bill 1296, the ‘students bill of rights’ to a child who attended the bill signing. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signs parental ‘bill of rights’ rewrite

The parental “bill of rights” overhaul, one of the most divisive bills approved during this year’s Washington state legislative session, was signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson on … more

By: Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / The Washington State Standard | 5/20/25

Washingtonians will need state permit to buy guns under new law

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Tuesday signed into law a controversial policy requiring gun buyers to first pay for a new state permit. Starting in two years, House Bill 1163 will require … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 5/20/25

The sun sets on Mt. Saint Helens, pictured from Smith Creek Viewpoint in Gifford Pinchot National Forest on Tuesday, July 9.

Mount St. Helens 45 years later: These headlines captured a gripping drama before the eruption

Everybody saw the eruption coming. Nobody could have predicted how bad it would be. The devastating eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, was a global event in more ways than one: As ash … more

Jamie Hale / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 5/20/25

Portland’s heated budget battle turns into economic development power play

A spat over city funding for Portland’s economic development agency is turning into a fight over the agency’s independent governance. Two city councilors, Mitch Green and Jamie … more

Jonathan Bach, Shane Dixon Kavanaugh / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 5/20/25

Rattlesnake season heats up in Washington state. Don’t do this if you get bit

Snake season has started for the dry side of Washington, with the nonprofit Washington Poison Center reporting that it has received its first two rattlesnake bite calls of the year. Last year it … more

Annette Cary / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 5/20/25

74-year-old Washington state man dies during rim-to-rim hike in Grand Canyon, rangers say

A 74-year-old avid hiker from Olympia died during a rim-to-rim trek in the Grand Canyon, park officials said. Dennis Smith became unresponsive at about 4:45 p.m. May 15, the National Park … more

Helena Wegner/ The Bellingham Herald (TNS) | 5/20/25

Raises for one union not funded in Washington state budget, leading to finger-pointing

Washington has 29 union labor agreements, and new contracts for all were funded in the state's most recent budget — except one: the Washington Public Employees Association. That exclusion … more

Shauna Sowersby / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 5/20/25

Teens climb up rock formations at night, then one falls 20 feet, Washington state officials say

Teens climbed up massive rock formations at night, then one fell 20 feet, Washington rescuers said. Firefighters got a call after midnight on May 18 about the teens needing help at the Rocks of … more

Helena Wegner / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 5/20/25

Norovirus stomach flu sickening schools, nursing homes in Washington state

If you’re in the Tri-Cities and have been feeling ill, it may be norovirus. The Benton Franklin Health District reports a sharp rise in the highly contagious stomach bug throughout the two … more

Annette Cary / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 5/20/25