State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Family of 2-year-old girl killed in Pierce County sues day care, state agency

The family of a 2-year-old girl killed by her mother's boyfriend in 2022 has sued the state and a South Hill day care, alleging that the two systems meant to protect the toddler failed. A social … more

Alexis Krell December / The News Tribune (TNS) | 12/8/24

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announces a monetary settlement with Ostrom Farms for gender and worker discrimination.

Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson's early approach to fix Washington’s $10 billion budget deficit

Facing a budget shortfall of $10 billion or more, Democratic leaders in the state Legislature are already talking about potentially raising taxes to forestall cuts to government services. But … more

Jim Brunner / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 12/8/24

State Rep. Peter Abbarno and Superintendent Shane Schutz discuss improvement to the schools during a legislative tour of the Napavine School District on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Legislative leaders differ on causes of and solutions to Washington budget hole

With the 2025 session just around the corner, legislative leaders from the four caucuses have expressed their varying views on the causes of Washington state’s projected $10 billion to … more

By Brett Davis / The Center Square | 12/8/24

One of the proposed “Greater Idaho” maps, which calls for several Eastern Oregon counties to secede and join Idaho. (Courtesy of greateridaho.org)

Greater Idaho movement asks Trump for his support

The leaders of the Greater Idaho movement have asked President-elect Donald Trump to support their efforts to have counties in eastern Oregon join Idaho – a state they say is more in tune with … more

By Mike McInally / The Oregon Capital Chronicle | 12/8/24

Centralia College confirmed earlier this year that 100 percent of its 2024 nursing program graduates passed their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on their first attempt. All 24 program graduates are now licensed, and most are already working in the medical facility of their choice.

MGP-backed bill to increase funding for community college nursing programs receives endorsement from bipartisan group

A bill backed by U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, to increase grant funding for nursing programs at community colleges has received the endorsement of the bipartisan Problem Solvers … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com | 12/6/24

The House first passed legislation in 2021 designating “988” as the number to call for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Pacific County receives $975,000 federal grant for youth suicide prevention project

Pacific County will receive nearly a million dollars in federal funds for youth suicide prevention, the United States Attorney Western District of Washington announced Thursday. The Department … more

By The Chronicle staff | 12/6/24

Two local boys examine a pile of twisted metal gathered by workers during the continuing recovery efforts at the crash site of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 on March 11, 2019, in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. Flight 302 was just six minutes into its flight to Nairobi, Kenya when it crashed, killing all 157 passengers and crew on board March 10. As a result of the crash, Ethiopia joined China and other countries in grounding their fleets of Boing 737 Max 8 jets. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images/TNS)

Judge tosses Boeing plea deal opposed by families of Max crash victims

A federal judge has rejected the plea deal struck between Boeing and the Justice Department, citing concerns about plans for oversight of an independent monitor and provisions related to diversity. … more

Lauren Rosenblatt / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 12/6/24

Damaged ballots are pictured after a fire was started in a ballot box in Clark County earlier this year.

Washington state legislation would put security cameras near ballot drop boxes

After an individual set fire to two Clark County ballot boxes in October, a Republican state lawmaker filed legislation Tuesday that would create a new security camera grant program. Sen. … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 12/6/24

Silent Majority Foundation files lawsuit over state AG office workers let go over vaccine mandate

The Silent Majority Foundation has filed a lawsuit against state Attorney General Bob Ferguson and his office on behalf of 10 former AGO employees who lost their jobs over the AGO’s COVID-19 … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 12/6/24

Proposed Washington state bill could split school sports by biological sex, self-identified gender

A Republican lawmaker filed legislation on Tuesday that would reclassify school sports into five groupings as an ideological fight plays out across the state over transgender participation in … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 12/6/24

A fraudulent letter sent to a business owner. (Courtesy of Attorney General Office)

Scammers claiming to be from a state agency are targeting Washington state businesses

Businesses and nonprofit organizations should watch out for fraudulent letters that claim to be asking for money on behalf of the Washington Office of the Secretary of State. Since early … more

By Laurel Demkovich / The Washington Standard | 12/6/24

Casey Sixkiller, left, seen here at a former industrial site near Olympia in 2023, with U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland, is incoming Gov. Bob Ferguson’s pick to lead the Washington State Department of Ecology. Sixkiller currently serves as a regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration. (Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)

Here’s who Bob Ferguson wants to lead Washington state’s departments of corrections and ecology

Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson is tapping a Biden Administration official to lead the state’s Department of Ecology and to keep Washington at the forefront of the nation’s fight against the … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington Standard | 12/6/24

Tamu was born to parents Jozi and King on Dec. 4, 2023, meaning the male black rhino calf is celebrating his first birthday Wednesday. But don’t be fooled by Tamu’s young age: He also weighs more than 1,000 pounds.

Oregon Zoo’s rhino calf Tamu just turned 1; he also weighs 1,000 pounds

Birthdays at The Oregon Zoo are a big occasion — even more so if, like the zoo’s newest rhino calf, the birthday boy weighs a hefty half ton. Tamu was born to parents Jozi and King … more

Veronica Nocera / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 12/5/24

Capsized fishing boat off Alaska coast included Oregon crew member

Before Jake Hannah, 22, left for his commercial fishing trip on Saturday night, he called his mother, who lives in his hometown of Coos Bay. “He said, ‘Hey mom, we’re getting … more

Tatum Todd / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 12/5/24

Vancouver officer shoots armed man to death after ‘physical fight,’ police say

A police officer shot an armed man in a parking lot on Wednesday night, killing him, the Vancouver Police Department said. The officer shot the man around 10:48 p.m. outside a Safeway at 13719 … more

Tatum Todd / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 12/5/24

Tsunami warning on Oregon coast canceled after large earthquake off California

A 7.0 earthquake off the coast of California Thursday morning led to a tsunami warning along parts of the California and Oregon coast. The tsunami warning was canceled shortly before noon. … more

Lizzy Acker / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 12/5/24

Woman found unresponsive at Pierce County Jail died of fentanyl and meth toxicity, medical examiner says

A woman who was found dead at the Pierce County Jail on Sept. 30 has been identified by the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. Sabrina Voeller, age 35, died of "acute fentanyl and … more

By Julia Park / The News Tribune (TNS) | 12/5/24

Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

Washington state residents charged for attacking the Capitol on Jan. 6 include Chehalis man

More than 1,500 people have been prosecuted in the nearly four years since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Donald Trump supporters, spawning one of the most wide-ranging criminal … more

Lauren Girgis / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 12/5/24

Trainer Marcia Henton feeds Lolita the killer whale, also known as Tokitae and Toki, inside her stadium tank at the Miami Seaquarium on Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Miami, Fla.

Documentary follows effort to free Tokitae, the famous orca held in captivity for 53 years

A new documentary film tells the story of a captured orca named Tokitae that died in 2023 amid efforts to free her from more than 50 years of captivity, and it's being shown this week at the Whistler … more

Robert Mittendorf / The Bellingham Herald (TNS) | 12/5/24

Thief swipes 'Christmas Story' leg lamp from Washington plumbing store

Marysville police are on the lookout for a 45-inch-tall lamp with fishnet stockings, a black stiletto heel and tasteful black fringe around the shade. Erich Klemp, owner of Larry's Plumbing … more

Caitlyn Freeman / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 12/5/24