State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Boaters by Columbia River dam spillway rescued

A recreational boat was in danger of being swept into the McNary Dam spillway structures this past week, putting the lives of those on the boats at risk and prompting an emergency response, according … more

Annette Cary / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 7/13/26

The Temple of Justice is pictured on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Olympia.

Washington live-in adult family home staff to get minimum wage, high court rules

For decades, live-in workers at adult family homes have been exempt from the state's minimum wage law. The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday declared that exemption unconstitutional — a … more

Jessica Fu / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/13/26

Farm negligent for Washington dust storm; trucker who lost leg awarded $17M

A Tri-Cities jury awarded a Whatcom County truck driver $17 million for losing his leg in a crash caused by a severe dust storm on Interstate 82. Jurors decided Frank Tiegs LLC and Greenridge … more

Cameron Probert / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 7/13/26

Colleen Blackwood of Pendleton, Oregon, created "Earth's Flag," which was displayed at Village Green Park.

World’s largest outdoor quilt show draws crowds to this tiny Oregon town

The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show transformed downtown Sisters in central Oregon into a colorful celebration of textile artistry on Saturday. More than 1,100 unique quilts were showcased on … more

Janet Eastman / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/13/26

Bystanders intervene when naked man tries to kidnap 7-year-old in Oregon

Bystanders attacked a naked man after he allegedly grabbed a 7-year-old girl walking with her family near downtown Portland’s waterfront Saturday and tried to kidnap her, police said. The … more

Tatum Todd / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/13/26

Cows walk in a pasture in February 2025 near Prineville. A mine about six miles north of the city is the subject of three new lawsuits, filed in July 2026. (Haley Nelson/For The Oregonian)

Stillborn cows, dead dogs, full-body rashes: $78M in lawsuits say Oregon mine tainted groundwater

Three Oregon families have filed lawsuits seeking $78 million from Knife River Corp., claiming that the mining giant’s sand and gravel operations in central Oregon have dangerously contaminated … more

Aimee Green / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/13/26

The courtroom in the Temple of Justice is pictured on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Olympia.

Income tax fight looms as Supreme Court primary voting begins July 17

Voters are preparing for what could likely be the most consequential election in the history of the Washington Supreme Court ahead of a crowded primary with ballot boxes opening July 17. Five of … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 7/13/26

An Idaho State Police trooper handcuffs Nikson Mathews, a trans rights advocate, in the Idaho governor’s office during a sit-in protest after the governor signed the bathroom ban into law. To the right, the Rev. Sara LaWall is handcuffed on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The protestors were arrested on trespassing charges. (Photo by Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)

Idaho’s transgender bathroom ban is now the law

As parts of Idaho’s criminal transgender bathroom ban are now in effect, how far will law enforcement officers have to go to enforce the new law? What if officers don’t believe a person’s … more

By Kyle Pfannenstiel / Idaho Capital Sun | 7/13/26

A year and $80,000 later, a probe of Washington fish and wildlife commissioners continues

An investigation of Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission members launched by Gov. Bob Ferguson last summer is taking longer and costing more than expected. The tab is nearly $80,000 so far … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 7/13/26

Oregon business closures outnumber openings — and the gap is growing

Oregon businesses are shutting down faster than new ones are opening, according to the latest federal and state data. That’s a marked departure from historical trends and another signal of how the … more

Mike Rogoway / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/12/26

'Right to cooling' might have saved some, but not all, of Spokane's heat dome deaths

The 14 Spokane residents who died during the 2021 heat wave were living in a wide variety of circumstances. Most were older than 60, but Andre Pharr was 36. Nadine Hager was 45 and David … more

Emry Dinman / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 7/12/26

Skagit County to shut down 30-year-old drug court program

Skagit County is set to shut down its drug court program, which for about 30 years has been helping felony offenders struggling with drug addiction. The program began in 1997 as one of the … more

Skagit Valley Herald (TNS) | 7/12/26

This Washington state pre-K program is hugely popular — and in peril

It’s a Monday morning in Lisa Giamberso’s ReadyK classroom at Mount View Elementary, and her students are gathered on a brightly colored carpet. They sing: “Eyes are watching, ears are … more

Claire Withycombe / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/12/26

Seattle Seahawks players celebrate with fans during the team’s Super Bowl 60 trophy ceremony at Lumen Field on Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Seattle.

Seahawks to be sold to Khosla family group for record price

A group headed by the Khosla family — Vinod Khosla, his wife Neeru and son Neal, who a year ago purchased a small stake in the San Francisco 49ers — is set to become the fourth owners in the … more

Bob Condotta / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/12/26

Brothers in Longview mill disaster grew up, worked and died together

More than 500 people gathered Saturday to pay their respects to two brothers who grew up together, graduated from the same technical school, worked together at Nippon Dynawave Packaging, and died … more

Joseph O’Sullivan / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/12/26

Washington state’s Big Four’s Ice Caves could melt away for first time in memory

You can tell a lot about a forest by the mosses, lichens and liverworts you find there. Some of these nonvascular plants, or bryophytes, even hint at changes to the towering geologic and ice … more

Conrad Swanson / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/12/26

Income tax fight looms as Supreme Court primary voting begins July 17

Voters are preparing for what could likely be the most consequential election in the history of the Washington Supreme Court ahead of a crowded primary with ballot boxes opening July 17. Five of … more

Tim Clouser | The Center Square | 7/12/26

A Chinook salmon, also known as king salmon.

Bering Sea heat wave cited as trigger for nosedive in Yukon River Chinook salmon

The intense marine heat wave conditions that began roiling the Bering Sea in about 2016 resulted in the lowest winter sea ice extent measured in 150 years, widespread bird and marine mammal die-offs, … more

Yereth Rosen / Alaska Beacon | 7/12/26

Director of Oregon ethics commission to face external inquiry into alleged ethics violations

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission on Friday agreed to ask another state agency to probe allegations of ethics violations against its executive director, as commissioners debate the best way to … more

Shaanth Nanguneri / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 7/12/26

The shores of Blake Island State Park offer views of the Olympic Range, Seattle skyline and Cascade Mountains from a prime position in central Puget Sound.

Storied Washington state state park in central Puget Sound at a crossroads

Washington State Parks leaders are weighing a difficult decision on how to maintain or redevelop a storied island park mere miles from downtown Seattle. Blake Island Marine State Park shimmers … more

Tom Banse / Washington State Standard | 7/12/26