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A rendering depicts SS Gateway, the tugboat-themed playground coming to William A. Bush Park in Lacey. The new play structure will feature slides, climbing features, a disc swing, a spinner and rope climbing.

SS Gateway playground coming to William A. Bush Park in Lacey

Kids in Lacey will soon climb aboard SS Gateway, a tugboat-themed play structure that is going to replace the aging playground at William ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/26/26

The Olympia School District Board of Directors proclaimed Feb. 2-6, 2026, as Black Lives Matter at School Week at a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026.

Olympia School District proclaims Feb. 2-6 as Black Lives Matter at School Week

The Olympia School District declared Feb. 2-6 as Black Lives Matter at School Week in a move aimed at teaching students and community ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 1/26/26 | 8 comments

Wind and rain on the way to Thurston County

A bruising string of subfreezing overnight lows is going to give way to warmer temperatures and a fair amount of rain to close out the ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 1/26/26

Olympia City Planner Casey Mauck showed a rendering of a proposed four-story building for TVW at a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026.

Olympia Design Review Board approves four-story TVW building with conditions

The Olympia Design Review Board granted conditional approval for a major expansion of TVW, the state’s public affairs network, signaling ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/23/26 | 7 comments

Thurston County seeks public input on proposed Home Energy Score ordinance

Public input is being sought on a proposed ordinance that would require home sellers to disclose the energy efficiency score of their property in ... more

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

Forecast calls for overnight temperatures below 25 degrees this weekend in Thurston County

Subfreezing overnight lows along with patchy freezing fog are likely to persist through the weekend in Thurston ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 1/23/26

Lacey City Hall, as seen in this undated photo.

City of Lacey accepting 2026 Neighborhood Grant Program applications

Homeowners associations (HOAs) and informal neighborhood groups in Lacey can now apply for up to $2,500 in city matching funds ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/23/26

Associate Planner Michael Mills presented the Thurston Regional Planning Council’s comprehensive plan review and certification process at a meeting on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.

Olympia's transportation plan cleared by Thurston Regional Planning Council

The City of Olympia’s transportation plan was endorsed by the Thurston Regional Planning Council, confirming it is consistent with the regional ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/22/26

Influenza-related death reported in Thurston County

The 2025-26 flu season struck a somber note this week when the first influenza-related death was recorded for Thurston ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 1/22/26

Habitat conservation plan moving along in Tumwater

Tumwater’s habitat conservation plan (HCP) is one step closer to completion, after city officials moved to extend a consultant contract tied ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/22/26 | 2 comments

Lacey Police Department Chief Robert Almada addresses the Lacey City Council about the department’s exhausted budget for gun store employee screenings at a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.

Lacey ends free screenings for gun store employees

The City of Lacey is no longer covering state-mandated background checks for gun store ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/22/26 | 2 comments

The Olympia City Council approved a consent calendar item authorizing city staff to apply for a fish barrier removal grant at a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.

City of Olympia seeks state funding for Ellis Creek fish passage design

The City of Olympia is seeking state funding to design a long-planned fish passage project on Ellis Creek, which aims to remove a barrier to salmon ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/21/26 | 8 comments

Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne criticized immigration enforcement practices when the city council issued a proclamation for Immigration and Refugee Advocacy Day at a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.

Olympia City Council proclaims Jan. 22 as Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Day

Amid heightened federal immigration enforcement and growing concern among immigrant and refugee communities, the Olympia City ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/21/26 | 6 comments

Andrew Weinstein was awarded firefighter of the year at a Tumwater City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. “The folks that you see here behind me are why I'm here and why I love coming to my job,” said Weinstein to his colleagues at the Tumwater Fire Department.

Tumwater names Andrew Weinstein as firefighter of the year

The Tumwater Fire Department selected firefighter-paramedic Andrew Weinstein as firefighter of the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/21/26 | 1 comment

Seven grand prize bookmark winners posed with their artwork posters at Lacey City Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. The Lacey City Council proclaimed February 2026 as Lacey Loves to Read Month.

City council proclaims February as Lacey Loves to Read Month, honors bookmark contest winners

The Lacey City Council honored seven grand prize bookmark contest winners and proclaimed February as Lacey Loves to Read ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/21/26

Ballots mailed to registered voters for Feb. 10 Special Election

The Thurston County Auditor's Office Elections Division said it mailed out more than 92,000 ballots for the Feb. 10 Special ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 1/21/26

A screenshot of footage filmed by Thurston County Commissioner Emily Close showed the location of an alleged domestic violence incident in the Lacey area on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.

Footage of crime scene location sparks response from Thurston County Sheriff

An alleged domestic violence incident fanned the flames of federal government intervention when a local elected official posted live footage on social media ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 1/20/26 | 13 comments

Tumwater Planning Commission weighs new subdivision process, other development code updates

Tumwater staffers are preparing a new round of development code updates to implement state requirements, including a new ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/20/26 | 1 comment

A comparison of social card game tax rates in Washington cities shows Lacey's 7.5% rate trails the 10.5% state average, according to the Association of Washington Cities 2024 Utility and Fee Survey.

Lacey City Council takes up card room tax issue

The Lacey City Council discussed the possible repeal of a 1999 ordinance barring new card rooms from operating within city ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/20/26 | 1 comment

A map shows where underground utility work is taking place on Kingswood Drive in Tumwater.

Underground utility work leads to traffic lane restrictions in Tumwater

Traffic restrictions are going to impact motorists traveling on Kingswood Drive at Littlerock Road SW in Tumwater for the next ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 1/20/26