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Donnie Hull, of MSGS Carve Architects, gave an overview of the St. Michael School expansion project at a Site Plan Review Committee meeting on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

Olympia committee reviews St. Michael Parish School expansion project

To address growing enrollment at St. Michael Parish School, a local architect from MSGS Carve presented a proposal for expanding the school at 1208 11th Ave. SE in ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/30/25 | 3 comments

The Straddleline Park, formerly known as Grays Harbor Off-Road Vehicle Park, is set for a major transformation into an eco-adventure destination under an interlocal development strategy from Thurston and Grays Harbor counties.

Thurston and Grays Harbor counties unveil plan to revive Straddleline Park

Thurston and Grays Harbor counties have voted to join forces on transforming Straddleline Park into what county officials referred to as “a fairly blank canvas” aimed at ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/30/25

City of Tumwater to establish communications department

The City of Tumwater is planning to establish a communications department. The Tumwater Budget and Finance Committee endorsed an ordinance ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/30/25 | 5 comments

Megan Gillespie spoke at a networking event for her organization, Olympia Boss Society. The group aims to create a welcoming atmosphere for local women who want to engage with their community and expand their businesses.

Olympia Boss Society: 'Networking without the ick'

Megan Gillespie was tired of feeling awkward, out of place and unseen at networking events. At the same time, she realized the value of networking and its importance ... more

By Jessie Darland | 7/29/25 | 1 comment

Olympia City Council to review state rent control laws, local tenant protections

The Olympia City Council will review House Bill 1217 at a study session on Tuesday evening, July 29, at which time the group is expected to discuss how to align the ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/29/25 | 2 comments

The Tumwater School District held a preliminary reading of the 2025-26 budget on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

Tumwater School District estimates $4.8M general fund balance

The Tumwater School District reported an estimated $4,805,488 general fund balance for the ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 7/29/25

A small community of seven to 10 sailboats with “anchor outs” are located on West Bay.

'Anchor outs' in West Bay

There is a small community of individuals who live in old sailboats just offshore in West Bay on the south end of Budd Inlet. Some of them will tell you they are ... more

By JM Simpson | 7/28/25 | 13 comments

Superintendent Kevin Bogatin met with the Tumwater School District Board of Directors on Thursday, July 24, 2025, for an update on the 2024-25 School Resource Officer program.

Tumwater School District board reviews new $600K contract for school resource officers

The Tumwater School District Board of Directors is set to ink a new $610,430 contract for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program with the ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 7/28/25

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners deliberated over plans to integrate City of Olympia and City of Tenino court services into Thurston County District Court under new interlocal agreements during the board’s agenda setting meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

Olympia, Tenino court services transitioning to Thurston County

Thurston County is in the process of taking over court services for the City of Olympia and City of Tenino. The Thurston County Board of ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/25/25 | 1 comment

Proposed changes introduced to Olympia's Comprehensive Plan

Residents in Olympia urged reconsideration of late-stage revisions to the Land Use and Urban Design chapter of the 2045 Comprehensive Plan, warning proposed density increases and commercial allowances … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/24/25 | 10 comments

Thurston County opens public comment on 2026-31 Capital Improvement Program

Thurston County’s draft 2026–31 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), a six-year investment projects plan mandated under the state of ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/24/25

City of Lacey Finance Services Manager Kristy Wolf and Finance Director Troy Woo discussed the timeline and financial terms for moving Lacey Violations Bureau responsibilities to Thurston County District Court at a Lacey City Council work session on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

Lacey plans to transfer citation processing to Thurston County District Court

The City of Lacey is looking to move its Violations Bureau duties to Thurston County District Court. The Lacey City Council examined a proposal from ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/24/25

Dr. Wendy Frazier, a consultant who specializes in organizational development, delivered a report to the Tumwater City Council on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. The report delves into how the council members feel about their roles, the core process of their jobs as council members, communication patterns and their interpersonal dynamics.

Consultant delves into interpersonal dynamics of Tumwater City Council

A consultant’s report to the Tumwater City Council delved into the interpersonal dynamics and communication patterns of council members and city ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/24/25 | 2 comments

SPSCC seeking next cohort for Bachelor of Science program

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) is recruiting students for its Bachelor of Science in Computer Science ... more

By Maven Navarro | 7/24/25

Capital Medical Center President Will Callicoat asked the city council for a more comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of the Workers' Bill of Rights initiative, at a meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

Olympia City Council sends Workers' Bill of Rights initiative to November ballot

The Workers' Bill of Rights initiative is heading to the ballot box in a upcoming showdown that will pit the union-backed proposal against employers in the ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/23/25 | 7 comments

Intercity Transit Senior Procurement Coordinator Jeff Peterson, right, briefed the agency’s board of directors about a planning and daily operations software contract with SHI International Corp. at a meeting on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

Intercity Transit makes another investment in new planning platform

The Intercity Transit Authority approved a $1.9 million contract with SHI International Corp. to provide the transit agency with a planning and daily operations software ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/23/25

Lacey Human Services Coordinator Michelle Chavez briefed the Lacey City Council about the 2025 Human Services Grant Program Award at a meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. The plan gives $30,000 to applicants scoring above 95 points and $23,125 to applicants with scores between 90 and 95.

Lacey's Human Services Grant Program targets 12 nonprofits

The City of Lacey’s Human Services Commission (HSC) endorsed a formula-driven plan under the 2025 Human Services Grant Program that channels $300,000 ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/23/25

A slide from Sustainability Manager Alyssa Jones Wood’s presentation to the Tumwater Public Works Committee about the installation of eight level 2 electric vehicles chargers at several city properties.  She made the presentation at a meeting on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

Installation of eight EV chargers completed in Tumwater

The City of Tumwater completed the installation of eight, level 2 electric vehicle chargers at several city properties, according to an update from staff ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/23/25 | 2 comments

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners approved a $25.3 million state agreement for homeless services and a separate $14.7 million housing contract with 17 nonprofits at  a meeting on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

Thurston County commits to housing contracts

Amid ongoing friction over Encampment Resolution Program (ERP) grant shelter exclusions, Thurston County leaders authorized separate housing contracts ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/22/25 | 6 comments

Intercity Transit plans to introduce two new routes to replace Route 620, the Olympia/Lakewood Express, starting Sept. 7. Route 600 will be a more direct weekdays-only route to Lakewood, while Route 610 will have more stops before ending at Lakewood.

Intercity Transit looking for people to comment on upcoming route changes

Intercity Transit wants people to weigh in on planned service changes, which go into effect on Sept. 7. The changes include the addition of two new routes ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/22/25 | 1 comment