State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Coyote bites child’s hand after encounter at Washington school bus stop, officials say

A coyote bit a child’s hand after it aggressively approached students at a bus stop in Washington, officials said. Wildlife officers responded to the latest incident at 7:50 p.m. March 11 … more

Helena Wegner / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/14/25

Washington man who shot another man to death in Portland, then tried to kill witness, is sentenced to 34 years

A Vancouver man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a slew of crimes in Multnomah County, including shooting a man to death in 2022 and then, two years later, trying to kill a witness to the shooting. … more

Tatum Todd / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/14/25

Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, on March 13, 2025, during debate on HB 1296 in the Washington House.

Washington state schools must notify parents immediately under revamped House bill

A controversial bill that describes itself as “promoting a safe and supportive public education system” was the subject of more than six hours of debate by lawmakers on Wednesday night … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 3/13/25

Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, during Feb 11, 2025 media availability.

Emails reveal outrage over 'out-of-context' remarks by Washington state senator on parental rights

As the Washington State House passed House Bill 1296 , which critics say undermine parental rights within the K-12 system, emails sent last month to Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, conveyed outrage … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 3/13/25

Flagger Luca Pisani holds a stop sign at the end of Chilvers Road in Claquato as WSDOT crews work to repave state Route 6 from Interstate 5 to Adna on Thursday, Aug 1.

Report says Washington state highways among the worst in the nation

Washington state has some of the worst-performing, least cost-effective roads and bridges in the nation, according to Reason Foundation’s “ 28th Annual Highway Report ," released … more

By Brett Davis / The Center Square | 3/13/25

Heavy rain eroded part of Upper Hoh Road, closing it in December. (Photo courtesy of Jefferson County)

Washington state to pay for road repairs so Hoh Rain Forest can reopen

A washout has closed the only access road to the Olympic National Park’s popular Hoh Rain Forest since December. But on Thursday, Gov. Bob Ferguson announced the state would pitch in … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 3/13/25

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

What bills are dead and alive in the Washington state Legislature

Lawmakers in the Washington Legislature spent the past week and a half passing bills off the House and Senate floors ahead of a Wednesday deadline. Measures that didn’t make it … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street and Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero | 3/13/25

Dozens of soldiers file $210 million in claims over JBLM doctor's sex abuse

John Doe 30 didn't realize he was a sex abuse victim until he read a news article about Maj. Michael Stockin, an Army doctor he had seen for pain management at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. It was … more

Paige Cornwell / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/13/25

Veteran at beach to spread dog’s ashes is crushed by log from sneaker wave in Oregon

Julian Desmarais was at an Oregon beach to spread his dog’s ashes when an unexpected wave came crashing onto the shoreline. That wave threw Desmarais, an Army veteran, off the log he was … more

Helena Wegner / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/13/25

Pierce County Sheriff’s Office reports woman missing for over a month, last seen in Graham area

Martha Mejia, 50, has been missing since Feb. 9, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives are requesting help to locate her. Mejia is 5 feet and 3 inches tall and weighs … more

Julia Park / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/13/25

A group of advocates are trying to save the Davis Meeker Garry oak in Tumwater after the city deemed the tree unsafe.

Tumwater officials now want to save historic oak tree

Tumwater City Council has begun discussing whether it's feasible for the city to take on managing the 400-year-old Davis Meeker Garry Oak tree instead of having the historic landmark chopped down. … more

Ty Vinson / The Olympian (TNS) | 3/13/25

The Chehalis River flows past Cosmopolis and to the harbor in 2022.

Chehalis Basin Strategy: 140 projects for $152 million

Over the course of nearly 20 years, the Chehalis Basin Strategy has brought together local, state and tribal governments, scientists, landowners and community members to restore aquatic species and … more

By The Daily World (TNS) | 3/13/25

David Bergeron / WDFW Halibut fishing seasons have been set for coastal and Puget Sound area.

Halibut fishing starts May 1 in coastal Westport-Ocean Shores

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has announced plans for the 2025 halibut fishing season, which will kick off April 3 in some Puget Sound marine areas and May 1 in coastal marine … more

The Daily World (TNS) | 3/13/25

Case of Washington teen who disappeared after his mother’s killing in 1996 now solved

Jeffrey Klungness, 14, disappeared after his mother was killed in 1996. Almost three decades later, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office has concluded he, too, was killed. Susan Klungness … more

Puneet Bsanti / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/13/25

Prosecutors: Kohberger defense to argue in Idaho murder trial DNA evidence was planted

Attorneys for Bryan Kohberger, who is charged with murder in the deaths of four University of Idaho students, are set to acknowledge “there is good support” that their client’s DNA … more

Kevin Fixler / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/13/25

Pierce County man convicted of embezzling $2 million from his former employer headed to prison

A Tacoma man who embezzled over $2 million from an online car-sales company he worked for faces more than 11 years in prison, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release. John … more

Julia Park / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/13/25

Jury finds Oregon woman guilty of mistreatment after child starves under her care

A Multnomah County jury found a woman guilty of two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment after the health of a child in her care plummeted. Jamie Strahm, 40, of The Dalles, took over … more

Tatum Todd / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/13/25

‘That pain, I feel it’: Diver who recovered body of 2-year-old Oregon boy drove 12 hours to help

Diver Juan Heredia jumped into the Siletz River on Tuesday morning, his mind focused on 2-year-old Dane Paulsen’s sweet features and the clothing the boy’s mother last saw him wearing: … more

Noelle Crombie / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/13/25

Kelly Loeffler in her last speech on the U.S. Senate floor. President-elect Donald Trump nominated Loeffler to lead the Small Business Administration.

Small Business Administration eliminating taxpayer money funding illegal border crossers

Of the many priorities announced by Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, several eliminate policies implemented by the Biden administration that diverted taxpayer money from … more

By Bethany Blankley / The Center Square | 3/13/25

Bill allowing cities, counties to impose new public safety sales tax passes Washington state House

The Washington State House of Representatives passed revamped legislation Tuesday aimed at improving public safety funding by allowing cities and towns to establish a new 0.1% sales tax without voter … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 3/13/25