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Thursday, October 1, 2026
TOP STORIES

Two more projects eyed as part of Olympia Crossings initiative

The City of Olympia plans to advance two public art projects at Harrison Avenue and Division Street and Henderson Boulevard and ...

Lacey utility boxes to feature more historical stories 

More local history could soon appear in public spaces around the City of Lacey, as it continues the utility box art program this ...

Home sales fall, active listings jump in Thurston County

Single-family home sales retreated in the final full month of summer despite a wide range of options for prospective buyers in the ...

Olympia Police Department reports drops in some crime categories, staffing shortages 

The Olympia Police Department (OPD) reported declines in several crime categories in the first half of 2026, while dealing with staffing challenges ...

Utility rate increases sought for 2027-28 in Tumwater 

Utility rates are poised to climb in Tumwater over the next two years, as the city looks to raise the money needed to pay for capital projects and ...

Lacey Home Energy Score proposal causes a divide

The City of Lacey is facing competing arguments over Home Energy ...

Students, parents push back on proposed school closures in Olympia

Parents and students sounded off on proposed school closures ahead of a looming decision on the issue by the Olympia School District Board ...

Large branch falls from Davis Meeker Garry oak tree during windstorm in Tumwater

A storied oak tree near Olympia Regional Airport took a hit when a large branch broke off and fell to the ground during a windstorm on ...

O-POP, Walk N Roll to host Capitol Way walk and bike audit 

Local residents are invited to join an Olympia walk and bike audit on Saturday, Oct. 3, as local organizations aim to highlight everyday challenges faced ...
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 Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026

Olympia Police Department On 9/30/26 at 9:48 a.m. in the 700 block of Franklin Street SE, police arrested Jose A. Villarreal, 45, on suspicion of out-of-town misdemeanor warrant. On 9/30/26 …

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Gardening & outdoors

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 ...

Nisqually birding notes

This coming weekend is the Nisqually Watershed Festival, and that prompted me to wonder just how important our Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually ...

California condors

Weeks ago a JOLT reader asked, “Will we ever see California condors in Thurston County?” She had read an article about the ...

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Arts & Entertainment
IN THE AUDIENCE
Rachel Benton

Death Dancer’s new location, The Edge, to open during Olympia Fall Arts Walk  

When you hear the name “Death Dancer,” what images come to mind? Perhaps Walt Disney’s dancing skeletons from ...

Rachel Benton

Review: Olympia Family Theater’s 7th annual ‘Tales Told in Ten!’  play festival

Olympia’s most charming play festival, Olympia Family Theater’s 7th annual 24-hour play festival, “Tales Told in Ten!,” took place ...
Rachel Benton

A game of chance, question of justice: ‘The Detention Lottery’ comes to Olympia 

When you go to the theater, especially an immersive theater experience, your brain automatically wants to think of everything as ...

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Opinions: Yours & our columnists
Dangers on the Oregon Trail
In leading my weekly walking tours of Olympia, I ask, “Where does the Oregon Trail end?” Most people answer California or ...
How Germany shaped the way I view food
When I look back on my five years in Germany, it is not just the food that comes to mind. I remember the picturesque ...
Kinship and 'grandfamilies'
The word kinship originally referred to blood relatives in a family, but has grown to encompass any group of people with a strong bond or a ...
Work together to reduce wildfire risks
Thurston County Emergency Management is hosting an Emergency Preparedness Expo on Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Lacey Community ...
Rainbow connections are made
Moments after I sat down to write this column, I glanced to my left and noticed the poster for Sound Mosaic’s ...

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Calendar of events
Olympia headlines
The Esther R. Knox Building is located at 111 Bethel St. NE in Olympia.
October is Disability Inclusion Month at Olympia School District, the Board of Directors proclaimed at a ...
Olympia City Council held a study session on workers' affordability and protections on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. 
The Olympia City Council moved away from reviving the failed Workers’ Bill of Rights, instead agreeing to direct staff to focus on low-wage ...
The Esther R. Knox Building is located at 111 Bethel St. NE in Olympia.
A written analysis has been published to give the Olympia School District (OSD) Board of Directors and residents an overview of the proposed closure ...
Land Use & Environment Committee members listened as Olympia Planning Commission Chair Greg Quetin briefly discussed the commission’s position on proposed home-based business regulations during a special meeting on Sept. 18, 2026.  
Proposed changes to the home-based business regulations are heading back to the Olympia Planning Commission for further review because of a ...
Olympia City Hall is located at 601 4th Ave. E in downtown Olympia.
The Olympia City Council is set to review initial research on low-wage workers and discuss how to move forward on ...

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Tumwater headlines
Tumwater City Hall is located at 555 Israel Road in Tumwater.
Funding requests from the Tumwater Water Resources & Sustainability Department and Tumwater Valley Municipal Golf Course have been ...
The Tumwater School District Board of Directors adopted three policies on Sept. 24, 2026. 
The Tumwater School District Board of Directors adopted policies related to the welfare of students with disabilities and responsible phone use, along ...
Tumwater City Hall.
The Tumwater City Council authorized the renewal of a grant agreement to continue funding a referral program that connects individuals to ...

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Thurston County
Intercity Transit Authority approved the purchase of up to two tube trailers for the storage and transfer of fuel for the agency’s hydrogen bus fleet. 
Intercity Transit will procure up to two tube trailers to support its hydrogen ...
A Thurston County Sheriff’s Office patrol SUV.
A Thurston County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputy was terminated for allegedly failing to investigate a domestic violence incident and ...
Offutt Lake in Thurston County.
Health advisories have been issued for Clear Lake and Offutt Lake in Thurston County because of toxic algae ...

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Lacey headlines
The Lacey City Council Chambers inside of Lacey City Hall at 420 College St. SE. 
Twenty-nine people applied to fill the Lacey City Council seat vacated by Nicolas Martinez-Dunning, but not all of them are guaranteed an interview ...
Lacey City Council members discussed community partnerships with Joint Base Lewis-McChord Garrison Commander Col. Joseph Handke during a work session on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. 
The City of Lacey and Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) are looking for new ways to serve military personnel and families living in the ...
Lacey City Hall is located at 420 College St. in Lacey.  
The City of Lacey is looking to add new members to a couple of advisory ...
Lacey City Council members discussed the Franz Anderson regional housing agreement before members of the public during a meeting on Sept. 15, 2026. 
The City of Lacey is proceeding with a $3 million contribution to the Franz Anderson housing project despite concerns over spending and ...
Lacey Detective Josh Dumont, center, held his Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award alongside City Manager Rick Walk, left, and Lacey Police Department Chief Robert Almada. 
Lacey Police Department Detective Josh Dumont was named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by American Legion Post ...

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More local news
 'Better than before': Historic Washington State Capitol Campus building reopens in Olympia
More than two years of construction and $131 million later, a historic building on the Washington State Capitol Campus is ...
Food inspection results in Thurston County — Sept. 28, 2026
Restaurant inspection reports focus on two types of violations: red and ...
Report: Washington voters of color more likely to have ballots challenged
Younger voters and voters of color in Washington state see their ballots challenged for signature issues more often than their older and white ...
Trump administration’s voter roll lawsuit dismissed in Washington
SEATTLE — A federal judge in Seattle on Tuesday, Sept. 22, tossed the Trump administration’s lawsuit against Washington seeking the state’s voter ...
Ballots mailed to military, overseas voters for Nov. 3 General Election in Thurston County
The Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division said it has mailed more than 10,000 ballots out to military and overseas voters for the ...
Report details turnout and impact of Olympia-Lacey FIFA World Cup Fan Zone 
A report on the impact of the Olympia-Lacey 2026 FIFA World Cup Fan Zone showed 7,700 people from 17 different states and other countries attended ...
Pacific Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet
A date that Pacific Northwest train riders and advocates have long awaited is finally nigh. Amtrak’s sleek, amenity-packed new trains will debut on ...
Food inspection results in Thurston County — Sept. 21, 2026
Restaurant inspection reports focus on two types of violations: red and ...
Tumwater City Council backs TRL levy lid lift
The Tumwater City Council approved a resolution supporting the Timberland Regional Library's ballot measure for a levy lid ...
Olympia proclaims Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month 
The Olympia City Council endorsed a proclamation designating Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, 2026, as Hispanic and Latinx Heritage ...

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