State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Will Finn is pictured in this photo previously provided by the City of Woodland.

State trooper, former mayor Will Finn charged with 16 criminal counts

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Lower Columbia Currents, which reports news and opinion about Southwest Washington. It is published, reported and written by award-winning journalist … more

By Andre Stepankowsky / Lower Columbia Currents | 6/26/26

Oregon drought emergencies declared in over half of the state’s counties

Over half of Oregon’s counties are now under drought emergency declarations as state officials warn of increased stress on the state’s environment and agricultural industry due to water … more

Sophia Cossette / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 6/26/26

Firework season begins as Oregon officials warn of wildfire risk

Firework season is once again underway in Oregon, as the state’s annual 14-day legal purchasing window opened Tuesday. But fire officials are urging residents to leave fireworks to the experts, … more

Tarek Anthony / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 6/26/26

Beaverton police ID 14-year-old killed in scooter-car crash

Beaverton police identified the 14-year-old killed in a car crash on Wednesday as Jacob Tran. The Beaverton Police Department said the crash happened as Tran, who was wearing a helmet, rode an … more

Alissa Gary / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 6/26/26

2-alarm fire destroys Hillsboro house; 2 rescued, hospitalized with critical injuries

Firefighters rescued two people from a powerful 2-alarm house fire in Hillsboro Thursday afternoon, officials said. Both victims “suffered life-threatening injuries” and are in a hospital. … more

Douglas Perry / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 6/26/26

Washington state trooper pulls over Tesla; driver says it was ‘possible’ she was asleep

A Tesla going nearly 80 mph will get any Washington state trooper's attention, especially when the officer sees the driver's head flopping back and forth" as the car changes lanes. A Seattle … more

Nicholas Deshais / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/26/26

Wildfire burning in Olympic National Park

A wildfire ignited by lightning and burning in Olympic National Park was reported to be uncontained late Thursday afternoon, but rain is expected to help. The fire, which started Monday, had … more

Lauren Girgis and Kai Uyehara / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/26/26

Washington state private colleges cover students who lost state tuition aid

Jilma Diaz-Demangue had envisioned herself attending a big public school like Washington State University right up until she toured Pacific Lutheran University. It really stood out to me that a … more

Dahlia Bazzaz / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/26/26

Boy, 15, charged in fatal Kent shooting apparently tied to gang rivalry

A 15-year-old boy seemingly had no idea a SWAT team was waiting in a stairwell of a Skyway apartment building to arrest him last week when he walked out of a third-floor unit and was taken into … more

Sara Jean Green / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/26/26

Names released of 2 friends killed in Columbia River plane crash in Tri-Cities

The men who died Wednesday in an airplane crash into the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities were friends from Sonoma, Calif., flying to an event in Idaho. The pilot was Randy J. Peterson, 64, and … more

Annette Cary Wendy Culverwell / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 6/26/26

Man who camped 5 hours outside home of lawmaker’s daughter denies ‘stalker’ charge

Standing outside the Franklin County Courthouse, a Kennewick man on Wednesday denied allegations that he stalked the adult daughter of a Washington state senator. Trevor Delorme, 21, was charged … more

Eric Rosane / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 6/26/26

Washington school district to pay $17 million to victims in football hazing suit, jury rules

Mead School District will pay $17 million to the families and victims of a 2023 hazing assault at a school football camp, a jury ruled Thursday. Two former Mead High School students and their … more

Elena Perry and Garrett Cabeza / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 6/26/26

Seattle ups its payout for vandalized small businesses. Is it enough?

When a rock smashed the window of Capitol Hill's Analog Coffee last month, the owners were left with a $2,000 bill. But within weeks, they were reimbursed the repair costs thanks to the city of … more

Alexis Weisend / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/26/26

A construction crew works outside a new development in Boise. Idaho leads the nation in population growth and housing growth metrics.

Idaho leads the nation in housing growth. The data shows it’s still not enough.

For the second year in a row, Idaho had the highest housing unit growth rate in the nation — boasting a 2.1% increase in its housing stock in 2025, according to the Idaho Department of Labor. But … more

Abigail Gerstein / Idaho Capital Sun | 6/26/26

Yakama Nation Fisheries staff encouraged attendees of the 5th annual Yakama Nation Lamprey Celebration to try touching the eel-like fish. The event held along the Willamette River in Oregon City on June 25, 2026 brought out hundreds of people. Pacific lamprey are an ancient and culturally significant species for many Northwest tribes.

Hundreds turn out to Willamette River for Yakama Nation lamprey celebration

Several hundred people turned out along the Willamette River on Thursday to celebrate a fish often misunderstood for its style but long revered for its substance. Pacific lamprey, a jawless fish … more

Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 6/26/26

Gov. Tina Kotek in 2024 signed a law creating the America 250 Oregon Commission, tasking it with coordinating the state’s celebration of the country’s 250th year of independence.

Here’s how Oregon is celebrating America’s 250th year of independence

Bigfoot is officially helping Oregon celebrate the country’s 250th birthday. This September, the Dallas Area Visitors Center will host its second annual Bigfootstock, a one-day festival … more

Mia Maldonado / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 6/26/26

Gov. Bob Ferguson, left, and director of the Department of Ecology, Casey Sixkiller, right, hold the signed agreement to link Washington’s carbon market with California and Quebec’s.

Washington agrees to join carbon market with California and Quebec

Washington took a key step Thursday to combine its carbon market with one operating in California and Quebec, a move expected to drive down costs for carbon-emitting businesses once the programs are … more

Aspen Ford / Washington State Standard | 6/26/26

A harvester crane processes a log on a thinning project in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington state. A new lawsuit targeting a timber harvest in Oregon could upend management of federal lands across the West.

Oregon lawsuit could upend federal management of public lands

A new lawsuit challenging a logging project in Oregon threatens to unravel the management plans governing hundreds of millions of acres of federal public land. At stake are thousands of leases … more

Alex Brown / Washington State Standard | 6/26/26

Gov. Bob Ferguson answers questions from the press during a legislative session preview in a Senate Hearing room in Olympia on Friday, Jan. 9.

With cracks showing in Washington economy, Ferguson forms new council to look for fixes

SEATTLE — Warning lights are flashing for Washington’s economy. Job growth has been slower than expected , and the unemployment rate is above the national average. There are mounting layoffs … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street and Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 6/25/26

Gov. Gianforte pheasant hunting at the Isaac Homestead Wildlife Management Area in Hysham in October 2024. (Provided by the Governor’s Office)

‘That’s absolutely crazy,’ Montana governor says of Oregon’s proposed hunting ban

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte lambasted an Oregon ballot initiative gaining traction in the state that would criminalize licensed hunting and fishing. “Did you hear what they are trying to do in … more

By The Daily Montanan Staff | 6/25/26