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Tuesday, October 20, 2026
TOP STORIES

Council decision looms on Tumwater City Hall

The City of Tumwater is one step away from locking down a new location for city ...

Legislative agenda targets funding for housing, road improvements in Olympia 

State funding for environmental and transportation projects, as well as housing and homelessness services, have emerged as legislative priorities ...

At Washington State Capitol Campus, 'No Kings' rally is all about voting early

A smiling Judy Caron sat on a metal bench on the grounds of the Washington State Capitol campus, her face partially shielded from Saturday’s bright ...

Commissioners eye transfer of Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners is proposing to transfer ownership of a section of the 14.5-mile Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail to ...

Timberland Regional Library levy lid lift gets backing in Lacey

The Lacey City Council endorsed a proposed levy lid lift measure from Timberland Regional Library that would generate millions of dollars in ...

TRPC looks to crash data, public input as guide for Regional Safety Action Plan

The Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) is developing a plan to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries in the ...

Joint Animal Services Commission approves ASPCA emergency aid agreement 

Joint Animal Services (JAS) will have a new avenue for requesting national assistance during major disasters and large-scale animal cruelty ...

Daytime closures in store for Fones Road in Olympia

Partial daytime closures of Fones Road are going to take place next week, as work crews march toward completion of the multimillion-dollar street improvement ...

New ad fires up debate in closely watched Gluesenkamp Perez, Braun race

Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican state Sen. John Braun faced off for their final debate on Tuesday, Oct. 13, each ...
Sports
A 90 percent site plan prepared by RWD Landscape Architects shows proposed pickleball courts, pingpong tables, spectator areas, pathway changes and ballfield safety netting at Rainier Vista Park in Lacey. 

Rainier Vista Park improvements reach 90 percent of planning stage 

The City of Lacey is preparing Rainier Vista Park’s recreation improvements for permitting after completing another planning ...

Swimmers ages 50 and over competde in the Washington State Senior Games in Lacey on Sunday, July 26, 2026.

Swimmers take center stage at Washington State Senior Games

Dozens of swimmers competed in the annual Washington State Senior Games swim meet on ...

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter for Monday, Oct. 19, 2026

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 10/19/26 at 9:56 a.m. in the 5000 block of Rumac Court SE, sheriff’s deputies arrested Ricardo Ernesto Rivera, 33, on suspicion of second-degree malicious …

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Gardening & outdoors

Chasing a rare longspur

From time to time a rare bird visits Thurston County. After learning of the sighting, serious birders generally commit to chase this initial ...

Fall birding is in full swing

With the shorter days and leaves turning color, it’s no mystery that autumn has arrived. And with the turning of the seasons, our Thurston County bird life has ...

Deschutes Valley Trail's longest segment coming into focus

The City of Tumwater is looking to open bidding for the construction contract of Deschutes Valley Trail’s longest segment between late October ...

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Arts & Entertainment
IN THE AUDIENCE
Rachel Benton

Review: Standing Room Only Theater’s ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ 

Do you remember the first time you saw "Little Shop of Horrors?" Did you see it on stage, watch the movie, or have you yet to experience this ...

Rachel Benton

Review: Olympia Symphony Orchestra’s Kaleidoscope season premiere concert ‘Lift’ 

George Gershwin, reflecting on his “Rhapsody in Blue,” once said, “I heard it as a sort of musical kaleidoscope of America – of our vast ...
Rachel Benton

Review: ‘Sanctuary City’ by Harlequin Productions

The posters around town announce that Harlequin Productions is presenting "Our Town" in repertory with "Sanctuary ...

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Opinions: Yours & our columnists
Librarians and barbarians 
The Library of Alexandria in Alexandria, Egypt, was one of the largest, richest, and most famous research institutions and libraries of the ancient ...
Review: ‘An Evening with Amy Tan’ 
Birders and readers alike gathered under one roof for a special event hosted by the Washington Center for the Performing Arts on ...
Cooking for one: Making mealtime matter again
If you live alone in Thurston County, you are part of a much larger community than you may ...
A trailblazer's journey: Dr. Thelma Jackson reflects on community and systemic change 
Some people wait for change to occur; others dedicate their lives to creating positive change. For more than five decades, Dr. Thelma Jackson ...
Sneak peek: OSO’s 'Lift' season premiere concert with pianist Calder Failla 
Olympia Symphony Orchestra (OSO) will open the Kaleidoscope season with “Lift,” a concert spotlighting pianist Calder Failla performing George ...

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Calendar of events
Olympia headlines
Parents, students and residents attended a public hearing at McKenny Elementary School to comment on the proposed school closure at a meeting on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. 
Local residents sounded off on the proposed closure of McKenny Elementary School at a public hearing in Olympia, with some people asking for it to stay ...
Housing Director Ashley Chambers shared regional HMIS data showing 7,350 people in the system over the past year. Chambers presented the One Community Plan update during Olympia City Council’s study session on Oct. 13, 2026.  
The Olympia City Council is considering how to adapt the city’s homelessness response plan as demand grows and funding uncertainty ...
Thousands of people gathered at the Washington State Capitol Campus in Olympia on Saturday, June 14, 2025, as part of the "No Kings" protests held across the country.
In what is being billed as a “Nationwide Day of Action,” local organizers are encouraging people to join in an effort to promote early voting ahead of ...
Intercity Transit’s Walk N Roll representative Ali Fuller shared photos of McKenny Elementary School students participating in the Walk N Roll program. The Olympia City Council proclaimed October 2026 as Walk to School Month at a meeting on Oct. 6, 2026.
It's Walk to School Month in the City of ...
Olympia City Hall is located at 601 4th Ave. E in downtown Olympia.
The Olympia City Council will review an update on the One Community Plan at a meeting on Tuesday ...

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Tumwater headlines
Tumwater Police Department Chief Carlos Quiles, center, and TPD Records Supervisor Ashleigh Clark, bottom left, met with the Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026.
Requests for public records are on the rise and taking longer to process at the Tumwater Police Department, largely because of ...
City Attorney Karen Kirkpatrick (top right) briefe the Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, about a contract with the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution services. 
The Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee recommended the adoption of two agreements with Thurston County for court ...
A presentation by Tumwater Water Resources and Sustainability Department Director Dan Smith showed the future progression of the Deschutes Estuary restoration project. He made his remarks at a Public Works Committee meeting on Oct. 8, 2026. 
The Tumwater Public Works Committee backed a resolution reinforcing the city's support for the Deschutes Estuary Restoration ...

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Thurston County
Thurston County Board of Health proclaimed October as Health Literacy Month at a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026.
The Thurston County Board of Health proclaimed October as Health Literacy Month, while encouraging residents to seek reliable health ...
The Community Sustaining Fund of Thurston County announced the return of its grant program with the fall 2026 grant ...
Thurston County election workers processed ballots at the Ballot Processing Center in Tumwater on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025.
The Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division mailed more than 205,000 ballots to registered voters in Thurston County ...

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Lacey headlines
Lacey City Hall is located at 420 College St. in Lacey. 
The City of Lacey is seeking a consultant to study the next phase of its food truck plaza. The search follows several years of a pilot program to foster ...
The City of Lacey earned a nomination for a federal economic development program that could open new investment opportunities in its Midtown District. 
The City of Lacey earned a nomination for a federal economic development program that could open new investment opportunities in ...
The Lacey City Council approved 2027 lodging tax awards that prioritize overnight tourism during its meeting on Oct. 6, 2026.
The Lacey City Council approved nearly $1 million in lodging tax awards for ...
Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder, left, presente the Walk to School Month proclamation with Intercity Transit representative Kerri Wilson during the Lacey City Council meeting on Oct. 6, 2026. 
The Lacey City Council proclaimed October as Walk to School Month, as a means to promote safer travel to schools and encourage healthy ...
Lacey Fire District 3 Chief Jennifer Schmidt spoke during a fire district ceremony. 
The Lacey City Council approved a resolution that endorses a multimillion-dollar bond measure from Lacey Fire District 3 in the Nov. 3 General ...

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More local news
 Social Security benefits increase will hit 3.6 percent in 2027
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Social Security Administration announced on Wednesday, Oct. 14, that recipients will receive a 3.6 percent increase in ...
Voting underway in Washington for midterm election
The wait is over in Washington. Washington’s 5.1 million registered voters are starting to cast ballots for the Nov. 3 General ...
Salmon recovery funding available for Nisqually Watershed 
Grant proposals for salmon habitat restoration and protection projects in the Nisqually River Watershed are being sought by the Nisqually ...
City council approves $12,500 for school program at Olympia AHA Museum 
The Olympia City Council approved $12,500 to help develop a student visitation program and curriculum at Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance ...
OSD superintendent answers questions about proposed school closures
The Olympia School District (OSD) is in the process of engaging with parents, students and residents ahead of a vote on whether to close three ...
Suspect wanted on felony warrants arrested in 'The Jungle'
A person wanted on felony warrants was arrested in "The Jungle" homeless encampment in Olympia after trying to hide ...
Timing, housing and 'The Jungle' 
Timing is everything, especially when it comes to finding housing for homeless individuals living in "The ...
Public input sought on long-term plan for economic development in Tumwater
The City of Tumwater is seeking input from the public as part of an effort to update the Economic Development Element of its ...
Lacey City Council approves partnership for Woodland Creek riparian restoration 
State conservation workers will be hired to speed up a restoration effort at a park in Lacey following struggles to control invasive ...
$17.7M contract approved for construction of Jolene Unsoeld Park in Olympia
The Olympia City Council approved a $17.7 million contract for the first phase of Jolene Unsoeld Community Park on Yelm ....

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