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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 ... more

By JM Simpson | 9/22/25 | 1 comment

Man arrested for purchase of more than $20,000 in meat with stolen credit cards

A 43-year-old man was arrested in connection with a case involving a series of meat purchases made with stolen ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 9/22/25 | 1 comment

The City of Olympia’s planned upgrade along Capitol Way includes new American with Disabilities Act compliant curb ramps and safer crossings. Joey Jones, Senior Engineer with Olympia’s Public Works Department, presented the city’s Capitol Boulevard/Capitol Way overlay and lane reallocation project at a meeting on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025.

Engineer outlines Capitol Way redesign project in Olympia

The City of Olympia is exploring changes to Capitol Boulevard and Capitol Way that would reduce the road from four lanes to three ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 9/22/25 | 21 comments

The Trails End Park on 79th Avenue in Tumwater is going to be located adjacent to a planned public works facility at a site where a horse arena once stood.

Tumwater City Council authorizes additional spending for park, roundabout on 79th Avenue

The Tumwater City Council authorized additional spending on the planning of two projects on 79th Avenue — Trails End Park and a roundabout at the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/22/25 | 7 comments

Community members urge Tumwater to pass ordinance requiring energy audits for homes

Local residents urged the Tumwater City Council to pass an ordinance that would require energy score audits for houses being ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/22/25 | 4 comments

Downtown Olympia to host Halloween festivities

The  Olympia Downtown Alliance  is inviting families and friends to join in on the LoveOly Downtown for Halloween fest, which includes a scavenger hunt ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 9/22/25

Police Blotter for Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 9/21/25 at 2:18 p.m. in the 4900 block of Tri Lake Loop SE, sheriff’s deputies arrested Kirsten Michelle Harris, 54, on suspicion of fourth-degree … more

By Vanessa Casabuena | 9/22/25

Police Blotter for Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 9/20/25 at 12:49 a.m. in the area of 196 th Avenue SW and Elderberry Street SW, sheriff’s deputies arrested Brian Marcus Baldwin Ranger, 29, on … more

By Vanessa Casabuena | 9/22/25

Police Blotter for Friday, Sept. 19, 2025

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 9/19/25 at 3:40 a.m. in the 2900 block of Firwood Loop SE, sheriff’s deputies arrested Andres Misael Cruz, 26, on suspicion of 1) fourth-degree … more

By Vanessa Casabuena | 9/22/25

Brandon Simmons, founder of The Skoolie Foundation, stands ready to hand out food packets during one of the foundation’s visits to the Olympia Union Gospel Mission on Aug. 14, 2025. “It’s all about dignity and hope,” he said.

Foundation offers hope one shower at a time

The Skoolie Foundation, a Puyallup-based nonprofit, has big plans for helping homeless individuals in Thurston ... more

By JM Simpson | 9/19/25 | 5 comments

Olympia Police Department to present public safety update

Olympia Police Department interim Chief Shelby Parker is going to present a public safety update to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee on ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 9/19/25 | 3 comments

Lacey City Council member Lenny Greenstein explained his abstention on Ordinance 1682, calling the process “absurd,” during the Lacey City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025.

Ordinance cements state building mandate in Lacey

The City of Lacey adopted Ordinance 1682 to amend eight chapters of its municipal code and align it with the state of Washington’s mandated International Series ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 9/19/25 | 2 comments

Thurston County began budget cut exercises this week, as part of ongoing work to close a gap in its general fund, according to a statement released on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.

Deficit triggers budget reduction plan for Thurston County

Thurston County’s budget woes escalated this week, as commissioners confronted a significantly reduced spending blueprint for ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 9/19/25 | 3 comments

Man arrested in Olympia on suspicion of driving under the influence, drug possession

A 47-year-old man was arrested after law enforcement personnel responded to a report of a man passed out inside a parked vehicle in ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 9/19/25

CTE celebrates 45 years of theatre education and welcomes new leadership

Creative Theatre Experience (CTE), Olympia’s longest-running youth theatre program, is proudly celebrating its 45th season! Founded in 1981, CTE ... more

By Shirley Stirling | 9/19/25

What’s happening this weekend in Thurston County

There are a lot of fun activities coming up this weekend in Thurston County, including the 10th annual StoryOly Grand Slam and ... more

P. Jade Asumbrado | 9/19/25 | 1 comment

Police Blotter for Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 9/18/25 at 12:50 p.m. in the 8100 block of 25th Avenue SE, sheriff’s deputies arrested George Quichocho Flores, 68, on suspicion of display of … more

By Vanessa Casabuena | 9/19/25

Olympic Health and Recovery Services Executive Director John Avalos, left, and Tumwater Fire Department Chief Brian Hurley briefed the Tumwater City Council about an agreement that would allow recovery services to help emergency responders in assisting individuals experiencing behavioral health crisis. The briefing took place at a city council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

Olympic Health & Recovery Services to aid Tumwater Fire Department under new deal

The Tumwater City Council approved a contract with Olympic Health & Recovery Services to support emergency responders in ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/18/25 | 4 comments

Woman arrested for alleged theft, assault of officer in Lacey

A 29-year-old woman was arrested in Lacey after allegedly stealing an Amazon package and assaulting a police ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 9/18/25

The Lacey City Council established a 90-cent a minute redaction fee for police body-camera video under Resolution 1172, which was adopted at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025.

Lacey joins other cities in charging for police body cam edits

The City of Lacey will begin charging for police video redactions, imposing a 90-cent rate per minute rate that aligns it with other cities in the state ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 9/18/25 | 3 comments