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Olympia man arrested for assault and indecent exposure

Olympia Police Department (OPD) responded to reports of a disorderly male wielding a screwdriver and displaying alarming behavior at Barnes & Noble on Black Lake Blvd SW the afternoon of December … more

By Darlanne Cruz | 12/28/23 | 1 comment

Maybe it's time again to talk about ferry service from the Port of Olympia's dock

Visualize this: A ferry terminal at the Port of Olympia, transporting the citizens of South Puget Sound to places that can only be reached on Interstate I-5 by driving polluting cars to Seattle, Bellingham, Vancouver and other far away places! more

Submitted by Sally McKirgan | 12/28/23 | 14 comments

Police Blotter for Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 12/27/23 at 2:58 AM in the I5 NB MP 91, Sheriff’s deputies arrested Colton Odaniel Lee, 34, on suspicions of 1) attempt to elude pursuing police … more

12/28/23

Thurston Regional Planning Council Urban Growth Management subcommittee convened on December 20, 2023, to discuss three Grand Mound UGA expansion proposals.

Thurston Regional Planning Council subcommittee approves two proposals to expand Grand Mound urban growth area

The Thurston Regional Planning Council's Urban Growth Management Subcommittee considered three proposals to expand the urban growth area in Grand Mound. At the Wednesday, December 20 meeting, … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 12/27/23 | 1 comment

Top Tumwater stories for 2023

For Tumwater, the year began with the arson of a historic building. The rest of the year was tamer, though fire remained in the spotlight: the proposed formation of a Regional Fire Authority was … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 12/27/23

A trail at Squaxin Park, (formerly known as Priest Point Park.) in Olympia, Washington.

Thurston Regional Planning Council lays foundation for future initiatives

In 2023, the Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) and Transportation Policy Board (TBP) laid groundwork for projects they hope to implement in the future. TRPC updated the region's … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 12/27/23

Madison Johnson, an insulin-dependent diabetic, pricks her finger to draw a droplet of blood while checking her blood sugar level at Sammamish Landing Park on March 3, 2021. Johnson started volunteering with Washington's #insulin4all chapter after she was furloughed from her job at YMCA of Greater Seattle last year. While she has returned to full-time work, activism surrounding the need to make medicines accessible to all who need it remains an important facet of her life. (Matt M. McKnight/Crosscut)

Washington caps insulin costs at $35/month. More reforms may come

By Megan Burbank / Crosscut.com At a January 2020 hearing for State Sen. Karen Keiser’s first insulin cost-sharing bill, physicians and patients testified to the high cost of the drug … more

12/27/23

New Year and daydreams

Well, it’s over. We have survived another Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and day after Christmas sales. Wrapping paper and boxes have been gathered up and disposed of. Decorations at our … more

By Kathleen Anderson | 12/27/23

Police Blotter for Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 12/26/23 at 12:54 AM in the 2500 Green CT SW, Sheriff’s deputies arrested Anthony Michael Paladin, 36, on suspicions of 1) 4 th degree assault, 2) … more

12/27/23

Brewery City Pizza has three locations, Tumwater, Lacey, and West Olympia.

Brewery City Pizza reopens with new look and renewed commitment to local beer

Homegrown pizza chain Brewery City Pizza has reopened its doors for dine-in visitors. All three pizzeria locations in Tumwater, Lacey, and West Olympia have only been open for take-outs and … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 12/26/23 | 1 comment

A student works on laptop while in class at Elma High School, Dec. 1, 2022. Many students in rural Washington communities have poor or no internet service at their homes and and struggled during the pandemic without steady access to the internet as they attended class from home. (Genna Martin/Crosscut)

Q&A: WA’s broadband director on the $1.2B expansion challenge ahead

Applying for a job, scheduling a doctor appointment or even ordering a beer now often requires internet access, yet many Americans – somewhere between 14 and 120 million, depending on whom you … more

By Brandon Block / Crosscut.com | 12/26/23

A large number of students, parents, and community members showed up to comment against Olympia School District's school closures in a meeting November 9, 2023.

School closures, gun safety lead school news stories for 2023

This year posed several challenges to schools within Thurston County. Tumwater and Olympia school districts especially suffered significant financial losses due to post-pandemic enrollment declines. … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 12/26/23 | 1 comment

This is a screen capture of the CCTV video footage showing the suspect leaving Target with a cart full of stolen goods.

Shoplifting suspect targets Target

Local authorities are on the lookout for a suspect involved in a shoplifting incident at Target on Sleater-Kinney Road on December 22. The suspect loaded a cart with various goods before leaving … more

By Darlanne Cruz | 12/26/23

A smiling Asian nurse helping a patient check her temperature.

A caring difference you can feel: how Overlake Medical Center has created a culture of caring

A few columns ago, I wrote about my son’s partner’s experience in Overlake Hospital’s Emergency Dept (ED) in Bellevue. I felt the care given to her was exceptional in the few … more

By Debra L. Glasser, M.D. | 12/26/23

Such results as shown above, require astute leadership that prioritizes not just academic success but social, emotional, and cross-cultural skills.

McKenny Elementary: A model equity school faces closure under supposed equity-minded district board

Yes, I know, you read the title correctly! McKenny Elementary School, one of the most diverse and effective elementary schools at providing learning growth to ALL types of students, is at risk of … more

Submitted by Parfait Bassalé | 12/26/23

Police Blotter for Monday, December 25, 2023

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 12/25/23 at 12:54 AM in the Cooper PT Auto Mall Drive SW/Carriage Street SW, Sheriff’s deputies arrested Richard Dylan Odell, 24, on suspicion of … more

12/26/23

Wendy: Recently homeless, she said that she wasn’t sure about Christmas. “I’m still trying to figure things out,” she said.

Holiday messages from downtown and The Jungle

The Holiday Season is usually a time of joy and cheer – but not for Olympia’s homeless. more

By JM Simpson | 12/25/23 | 7 comments

Enrollment woes leave Washington school closures on the table

In the Olympia School District, district leaders are considering realigning elementary and middle-school grade levels to consolidate school buildings. Despite a slight increase in public school enrollment statewide, school closures and consolidations within the next few years are still being discussed in … more

12/25/23 | 2 comments

At its Thursday, December 21, 2023, meeting, the Lacey City Council approved awarding the contract to Forma Construction of Olympia to construct a police station with a training facility for $43,7 million.

Lacey City Council approves contract to build new police station and training facility

The Lacey City Council voted unanimously on Thursday, December 21, to award a $43.7 million construction contract to Forma Construction of Olympia for a new two-story police station. The … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 12/25/23 | 2 comments

Nisqually Land Trust purchases the last parcel at Powell Creek

The Nisqually Land Trust announced the successful completion of a three-decade-long conservation effort with the recent acquisition of a crucial piece of land along Powell Creek. This marks the … more

By Darlanne Cruz | 12/25/23