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Dressed in padded clothing, an actor rumored to be Sacha Baron Cohen sang a song with provocative, violent, unprintable lyrics that parodied some Conservative voters' views about people and organizations they oppose. Several people in the audience sang along.

“March for Our Rights” rally upstaged by actor Sacha Baron Cohen

OLYMPIA –– The actor Sacha Baron Cohen, famous for movies like “Borat” and “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” was widely reported on social media to be an uninvited participant in the “March For Our Rights” rally in Olympia on Saturday. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/27/20

Lacey extends emergency resolution

LACEY –– Lacey officials decided Thursday to extend the city’s state of emergency over COVID-19 to the end of the year. more

By Prachi Gohil of JOLT | 6/26/20

Olympia School District releases Fall 2020 reopening plan

OLYMPIA ––The Olympia School District (OSD) released the beginning of a Fall 2020 reopening plan this week, which reflects several efforts to remain flexible as the expected second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic plays out in the coming months. more

Prachi Gohil of JOLT | 6/25/20

Thurston County will move into Safe Start Phase 3 after county officials applied to continue re-opening last week. The application was approved this week by the State's Secretary of Health.

Thurston County now in “Safe Start” Phase 3

THURSTON COUNTY –– Thurston County got the green light from the Washington Secretary of Health on Tuesday to move into Phase 3 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Safe Start” plan. more

Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/23/20

Members of the Lacey Land Use Committee talked trees this week to discuss the city's urban forestry program.

Lacey officials talk trees

LACEY –– In an effort to revisit the city’s urban forestry plan, Lacey officials on the Land Use Committee talked about how they want to further develop the city’s trees, tree canopy and urban forest, as well as solve challenges posed by the city’s urban trees. more

Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/23/20

"The science is clear that when we use face coverings, we limit the spread of droplets being passed on to others when we talk, cough or sneeze," according to Secretary of Health John Wiesman

Masks are mandatory as of this Friday

With death and infection counts seeming to steadily increase, Gov. Jay Inslee and Secretary of Health John Wiesman today announced a statewide mandatory face covering order effective Friday, June 26. … more

By Danny Stusser of JOLT | 6/23/20

On Wearing a Mask

This is not a political stand. This is an act of kindness Kindness toward those we love And those we will never meet again. Kindness upon all sharing passage across This strange, dark … more

By David Hanig | 6/23/20

New hotel proposed on Martin Way

OLYMPIA –– City officials talked on Monday about a new 122-room, four-story hotel that would go up on Olympia’s east side, if construction and design plans are approved. The … more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/23/20

South Puget Sound Community College unveils new alma mater

OLYMPIA –– South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) played a new alma mater song at its virtual commencement June 20, which was performed by the SPSCC Chamber Singers. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/22/20

South Puget Sound Community College to host admissions info sessions

THURSTON COUNTY –– South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) will host a series of admission information sessions next month from July 2-16, aimed at potential students of SPSCC. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/22/20

Lacey officials talk first quarter’s finances, 2021 budget

LACEY –– In the midst of an economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lacey’s financial officials are set to talk about the city’s first quarter finances on June 23 at 8: 30 a.m. more

By Prachi Gohil of JOLT | 6/22/20

This little brown bat looks scary but is unlikely to fly into a human. Several sources report that none of the 15 species of bats resident in Washington are among the three that eat only blood.

It's bat season again!

You wake up one morning and discover a bat fluttering around in your bedroom. Concerned, you wonder if this is a problem, and seem to recall that bats may harbor rabies. What should you do Rabies … more

By Daniel Hu for JOLT | 6/18/20

Olympia to get $2.1 million of state shared funds

OLYMPIA –– The City of Olympia Finance Committee talked about state shared revenues, or state money shared with local jurisdictions, on Wednesday night during a conversation that broached the subject of paying for certain crime prevention programs, transportation expenditures and other budget items. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/18/20

Thurston County commissioners push to move into Safe Start phase three

THURSTON COUNTY –– The Thurston County Board of Commissioners met Wednesday morning to approve a request to the state to allow Thurston County to move forward into phase three of Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Safe Start” plan. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/17/20

Numbers show tourism and county’s economic health closely linked

THURSTON COUNTY –– Tourist spending in Thurston County grew more than 25 percent between 2015 and 2019 according to data released this week by Tourism Economics, a national travel research firm. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/17/20

Olympia School Board talks transgender student policy updates

OLYMPIA – In the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision protecting LGBTQIA+ workers from job discrimination nationwide, the Olympia School Board (OSB), the governing body of the Olympia School District, talked about its own transgender student policy. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/16/20

Transportation projects on the table during Tumwater City Council meeting

TUMWATER – A laundry list of transportation projects make up the city’s six-year transportation improvement program , including a $9.2 million Interstate-5 on-ramp realignment project, a $3 million construction project for an E Street extension and streetscape improvements on the old brewery property. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/15/20

Lacey City Council accepting applications for new committee on homelessness

LACEY -- The City of Lacey wants to find solutions to the area’s growing homelessness problem, and city officials want members of the community to help. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/15/20

Those looking for something fun to do at home with the kids can register for Lacey's virtual cookie-decorating class. Kits will be provided at Lacey City Hall for take-home use.

Frost some cookies with a virtual cookie-decorating class

LACEY – Decorate cookies at home with the city’s online cookie-decorating class. more

Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/15/20

Not too late to take Tumwater virtual yoga classes

TUMWATER –– Tumwater yogis will enjoy virtual yoga classes, which the Tumwater Parks & Recreation Department has on this month’s schedule. more

Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/12/20 | 1 comment