Olympia, WA
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Friday, October 24, 2025
TOP STORIES

Temple Beth Hatfiloh in Olympia receives $175K historic preservation grant

Temple Beth Hatfiloh in Olympia has been awarded a $175,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation through its National Fund ...

14 organizations to benefit from lodging taxes in Tumwater

Fourteen organizations involved in tourism-related programs and events will benefit from lodging tax funds in ...

Equity Commission established in City of Tumwater

The Tumwater City Council adopted a resolution establishing an Equity Commission at a meeting on ...

Adjustments to Thurston County 2026 permit fees trim $1M in subsidies 

Thurston County will enforce a new fee structure for land use and building permits starting on Jan. 1, 2026, in order to attain full cost recovery for permit review ...

Henderson Boulevard and Eskridge Boulevard roundabout work to begin on Oct. 27

A City of Olympia contractor is scheduled to begin modifications and upgrades to the roundabout at Henderson Boulevard and ...

Olympia must deliver: Why a 'yes' on Proposition 1 is an investment in our city’s future

For years, Olympia has prided itself on being a progressive city. A leader in compassion, equity, and bold ideas. We have taken strong stands on issues ranging from ...

Seeds of hope

I’ve always thought gardening promotes peace of mind and genuine happiness. At last Saturday’s "No Kings" rally, I was surprised to find that protesting ...

Police technology contract approved by Olympia City Council

The Olympia City Council approved a five-year agreement that bundles all of the Olympia Police Department’s technology equipment ...

Upgrades eyed for Rainier Vista Community Park in Lacey

The City of Lacey is seeking a consultant for design and engineering services to modernize facilities and improve safety at Rainier Vista ...
Life

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Sports
Annalise Landy, a student at Bellarmine Preparatory School, works to ensure the sail on her boat is snug on Sept. 14, 2025. She was one of sixty participants during the 2025 Northwest Interscholastic Sailing Association Women’s & Nonbinary Qualifiers for the Pacific Coast Interscholastic Sailing Association’s Girls Invitational.
Sailing combines the joy of being out on the water with the desire to learn more about the art and craft of the sport. This attitude was on full display during the ...
The FIFA Seattle Organizing Committee has designated nine fan zones in Washington where people may watch and celebrate World Cup soccer matches. One of the nine fan zones is the “Olympia/Lacey/Thurston County fan zone,” which is being coordinated by the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce.  
A revised funding plan for the FIFA fan zone would lower the financial contributions required from participating ...

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter for Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 10/23/25 at 3:30 a.m. in the 6800 block of Rich Road SE, sheriff’s deputies arrested James Dakota White Mountain, 21, on suspicion of driving …

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Opinions: Yours & our columnists
Why I love Olympia
This week, I witnessed our town sing and dance, embrace our talented teenagers, welcome dancers from Ukraine, and continue to bring flavor to each other’s ...
Shearwater stories and October updates
Birders of the Puget Sound area are calling this the unofficial "year of the shearwater." Small flocks of short-tailed shearwaters, with a few sooty ...
Miranda goes to the symphony
When I discovered I had double-booked myself on the afternoon of Oct. 19, Miranda agreed to go to the Olympia Symphony Orchestra (OSO) ...
Our Loch Ness Monster!
Earlier this month, my wife Wendy and I visited Loch Ness in Scotland. No, we did not see “Nessie,” the world’s best known “cryptid” (creature), but we here in the …
In defense of public ownership: Setting the record straight on the Port of Olympia 
A recent commentary has accused the Port of Olympia of “financial mismanagement,” suggesting that local taxpayers would be better served if the port were ...

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Calendar of events
Olympia headlines
The City of Olympia’s street sweeper features artwork by Washington Middle School students Jackson Schaub and Aalena Lucas, whose designs promote clean water and stormwater pollution prevention.  
Two Washington Middle School students were recognized for their artwork, which promotes clean water and stormwater pollution ...
Two men have been charged with second-degree burglary following a break-in at a restaurant on Martin Way E, according to an Olympia Police ...
Sylvana Niehuser was elevated to the role of Parks, Arts & Recreation Director in Olympia. She is seen at a Olympia City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025.
The City of Olympia has removed the interim tag and elevated Sylvana Niehuser to Parks, Arts & Recreation ...
Artwork by Gaia Alphonse of Reeves Middle School in Olympia.
The Olympia City Council recognized middle school students for their creative contributions to the 2026 Water Resources Stewardship Calendar at ...
Thurston County Public Works personnel conducted aquatic relocation at the Canning Court Southwest stream in Olympia, as part of the environmental phase of the county’s culvert replacement program. 
Thurston County Public Works personnel extracted aquatic fauna from a stream at Canning Court Southwest in Olympia this month, as it launched ...

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Tumwater headlines
A planned peanut-shaped roundabout at Linwood and 2nd avenues in Tumwater aims to address traffic and safety issues caused by the current configuration of the intersection. 
 The Tumwater City Council authorized Mayor Debbie Sullivan to award a contract with Active Construction Inc. for the construction of a peanut-shaped ...
The City of Tumwater plans to pursue two new water utility projects in 2027, according to an update of its Capital Facilities ...
Tumwater Police Department Chief Jay Mason, bottom right, shared updates about the police department’s body worn camera program with the Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee at a meeting on Tuesday, Oct, 14, 2025.  
The Tumwater Police Department is going to select a vendor for its body camera program this week, according to an update by police ...

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Thurston County
A surplus Bell OH-58 Kiowa helicopter awaits inspection at Northwest Helicopters in Tumwater. 
An aviation plan that could reshape rescue response times throughout Thurston County inched closer to ...
The Thurston County Auditor's Elections Division mailed out more than 200,000 ballots to voters for the Nov. 4 ...
A Subaru station wagon collided head-on with another vehicle on Littlerock Road SW on Friday night Oct. 17, 2025. 
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating a car crash along Littlerock Road SW that left one man ...

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Lacey headlines
A man wanted on a felony warrant led authorities to three stolen vehicles after he was arrested on Oct. 10, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office ...
Thurston County’s 2024 visitor data, shared by Experience Olympia & Beyond during the Lacey City Council work session on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, showed the economic effect of overnight travelers. 
Tourism spending in Thurston County generated $572.5 million in 2024, as 3.39 million visitors traveled more than 50 miles to get to the region ...
The 2025–26 Lacey Youth Council met with Lacey City Council members, led by Mayor Andy Ryder, during  a recent orientation at Lacey City Hall.
The Lacey Youth Council ushered in the 2025–26 term with a new slate of student leaders and representatives, the City of Lacey announced on ...
The City of Lacey’s 2025 Matching Rebate Program, announced on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, pairs Puget Sound Energy’s $4,000 Fuel Switching Heat Pump rebate with a $4,000 match from the city for income-qualified homeowners replacing natural gas heating systems with electric heat pump units. 
Puget Sound Energy has entered into a partnership with the City of Lacey’s 2025 Matching Rebate Program to expand incentives for homeowners ...
A convicted felon was taken into custody following an altercation with law enforcement at the scene of a vehicle collision in ...

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More local news
 Utility rate increases proposed for Olympia in 2026
Olympia residents could soon see higher utility bills, following the City of Olympia Finance Committee’s endorsement of rate increases for water ...
Witches on the water
For the third year in a row, witches gathered on Sunday, Oct. 12, at Northpoint Plaza and flew — OK, paddled or knelt on paddleboards — from Swantown Marina ...
Thousands of people turn out for 'No Kings' protest in Olympia
Protesters flooded the Washington State Capitol Campus in Olympia to rail against the actions and policies of President Donald Trump during the “No Kings” ...
New crew eyed to tackle sidewalk defects in Olympia
City of Olympia officials are proposing to create a dedicated sidewalk repair crew, which would establish a consistent and long-term approach to maintaining ...
Man wanted on multiple warrants arrested after car chase in Thurston County
A wanted man, who escaped pursuit in Centralia, was arrested after a car chase ended in Tenino on ...
'No Kings' rally draws thousands of people to Washington State Capitol Campus
Thousands of people converged on the Washington State Capitol Campus in Olympia on Saturday, Oct. 18, to protest policies enacted by President Donald Trump ...
Plan outlined to help close multimillion-dollar budget deficit in Olympia
Olympia City Manager Jay Burney proposed staff reductions and leaving vacant positions unfilled to help close the city’s projected $6.5 million ...
Pope John Paul II High School named best private high school in Thurston County
Pope John Paul II High School in Lacey was named the best private high school in Thurston County for the second consecutive year by the school-matching ...
Olympia committee backs new names for arts campus and parks
The Community Livability and Public Safety Committee (CLPS) recommended naming three city properties after notable local figures, who made ...
Alleged custodial assault at Thurston County Corrections Facility
A 25-year-old inmate is facing two counts of custodial assault after allegedly attacking Thurston County Corrections Facility ...

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