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Lacey COE Commissioner Dr. Thelma Jackson

Lacey to hold forum on Black and African community, wants input from underrepresented community

Lacey is inviting community members to its forum discussing the Black and African American community this Tuesday, March 21 at the New Life Baptist Church, 7838 Pacific Avenue, from 6:30 to 8 … more

3/14/23

During its March 9, 2023 board meeting, Olympia School District revealed that its budget for School Year 2023-2023 seems to be going down even more because of declining enrollment, among other factors.

Olympia school board’s projected budget deficit down by $4 million

The Olympia School District (OSD)’s projected budget deficit as of March 9 has decreased to $13.9 million from $17.9 million in August 2022 after accounting for the prior and expected decline … more

By Julia Ornedo | 3/13/23

At the Olympia City Council meeting held Tuesday, March 7, 2023, the Olympia City Council proclaimed March 2023 as Disability Awareness Month.

March is Disability Awareness Month in Olympia

The Olympia City Council signed a proclamation designating March 2023 as Disability Awareness Month on Tuesday, March 7. In signing the proclamation, the city recognized that persons with … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/13/23

The Olympia's Site Plan Committee reviewed Cooper's Knoll project at 2200 Crestwood PL NW on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

Olympia reviews proposed 8-unit multifamily on Crestwood and accommodations for wetlands

Olympia’s Site Plan Review Committee heard a proposal to build an eight-unit multifamily building on an undeveloped 5.1-acre parcel at 2200 Crestwood PL NW on Wednesday, March 8. Chris … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/13/23 | 1 comment

Tumwater’s Public Works Committee recommended to the city council the biennial budget and work plan of the Barnes Lake Management District.

Barnes Lake Management District proposed budget is higher after plan’s scope grew

Tumwater’s Public Works Committee recommended 2023-2024 budget of the Barnes Lake Management District (LMD) is over the district’s allocation of $54,675. Presented on Thursday, March … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/10/23

At the Transportation Board Policy meeting on Wednesday, March 8, the members unanimously voted to keep the Log Cabin Road connectivity in the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan.

Log Cabin Road connection still in 2045 regional transportation plan

Log Cabin Road remains in the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) until a study demonstrates that the project is unnecessary or that another viable solution can support regional mobility. At … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/10/23 | 1 comment

At the Olympia City Council meeting held Tuesday, March 7, 2023, Chief Executive Officer of South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, Carly Colgan, presented affordable housing units they plan to build at 3900 Boulevard Road.

Olympia council approves transfer of 10 acres to Habitat for Humanity

The Olympia City Council on Tuesday approved selling the 10-acre city-owned property at 3900 Boulevard Road SE to South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity to proceed with the construction of more than … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/9/23 | 1 comment

Tumwater Planning Manager briefed the General Government Committee on a grant agreement with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Bush Prairie Habitat Conservation Plan, in the works for more than 6 years, nears completion

Tumwater would receive $225,000 to fund the final phase of the Bush Prairie Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) if the city council votes to accept it at its meeting on March 21. The city’s … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/9/23 | 3 comments

Tumwater Finance Director Troy Niemeyer informed the committee that city staff is “playing catch-up” from a grant compliance standpoint as the housing project is already underway.

Habitat for Humanity to receive $720,000 grant for affordable housing project in Tumwater

Non-profit housing provider South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, with the assistance of the City of Tumwater, is set to receive a $726,984 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/9/23 | 1 comment

Basketball just leaving the hoop after a point is scored.

The men's and women's Clippers teams clinch NWAC Championship slots

The men’s and women’s basketball teams of South Puget Sound Community College (SPSSCC), colloquially known as the Clippers, advanced to the 2023 Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) … more

By Vince Zafra | 3/9/23

At the Olympia City Council meeting on March 7, 2023, Capital Metro Independent Investigations Team gave a briefing on investigating a shooting incident involving a police officer on March 31, 2022.  In this photo is Lt. Dan Smith.

New police oversight: March 2022 ruled police officer’s use of force justified in ‘very grim’ apartment shooting

Community representatives for the Capital Metro Independent Investigations Team believed the police officer involved in the March 2022 shooting incident complied with the use-of-force policy. At … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/8/23 | 1 comment

Lacey City Council deliberated about adding an appeal process to the revised sponsorship policy of the park department.

Lacey revises sponsorship policy for park programs and facilities

Lacey revises sponsorship policy for park programs and facilities “A more comprehensive and standardized evaluation process” for reviewing such sponsorships By Jerome … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/8/23 | 2 comments

A 19-foot four-sided box culvert would replace the existing culvert on the crossing of Sapp Road and Percival Creek.

Tumwater replacing culvert on Sapp Road for safe salmon passage; seeks grant

Tumwater is seeking a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to fund the replacement of a culvert on the crossing of Sapp Road and Percival Creek, thus allowing better … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/8/23

Olympia senior planner Joyce Phillips discussed the significant increase of permitted accessory dwelling units in the low-density neighborhood at the Planning Commission meeting held Monday, March 6, 2023.

Last year Olympia was only halfway to their goal of 700 residential homes built

Less than half of the city's goal to build 700 units a year was met with only 350 permitted residential units issued in 2022, Community Planning and Development Director Leonard Bauer said at the … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/7/23 | 2 comments

Shown from left to right: St. Martin's University School of Business Chair Dr. Donald Conant, WSBDC’s Jennifer Dye, St. Martin's School of Business Dean Dr. Chung-Shing Lee, and BA 330 Marketing Professor Troy Kirby.

Local entrepreneurs speak to St. Martin’s marketing students

Beyond any standard marketing class curriculum, the greatest lessons can often be taught by entrepreneurs who tell of their own struggles, adversities and triumphs. During the first seven weeks of … more

By Troy Kirby | 3/7/23

The Jungle is a testament to the work that remains to assist the area's homeless people.

Homelessness in Thurston County: Time in The Jungle

Two port-a-potties stood as sentinels when I visited The Jungle, in Olympia, last Friday, March 3, 2023. Nearby, a gaggle of shopping carts filled with refuse congregates by a dumpster; the … more

Photos and text by JM Simpson | 3/6/23 | 12 comments

At a Sea Level Rise Response Collaborative-Executive Committee meeting held Friday, March 3, 2023, Olympia assistant manager Rich Hoey and former Olympia Water Resource Director Eric Christensen discussed the record King Tide that occurred last December 27.

University of Washington climate researchers to evaluate the 2022 King Tide event

The University of Washington's Climate Impacts Group is doing an analysis of the record-breaking King Tide that flooded downtown last December. At a Sea Level Rise Response Collaborative-Executive … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/6/23 | 1 comment

Thurston County Climate Mitigation Senior Program Manager Rebecca Harvey thanked the climate youth activists as she laid out the ongoing implementation of the county’s climate plan during the Board of County Commissioners’ meeting on Feb. 28, 2023.

Following protest, Thurston Climate Plan head thanks youth activists, lays out county's actions on climate change

Thurston County leaders appreciate the climate youth activists who staged a die-in protest during the previous Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting on February 14, according to Climate … more

By JC Medina | 3/3/23 | 2 comments

Intercity Transit General Manager Ann Freeman-Manzanares (lower right) was emotional as she bade farewell to the agency.

After ten years’ service, Intercity Transit’s general manager to retire this month

Ann Freeman-Manzanares, who has been serving as Intercity Transit’s (IT) general manager since 2013, is set to retire on March 31 after serving in the agency for 30 years. Director of … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/3/23 | 1 comment

Dogs need exercise all year round: even in harsh weather.

Indoor dog park proposed at an old warehouse on Cherry Street in Olympia

The Olympia's Site Plan Review Committee, on Wednesday, March 1, heard a project proposal of establishing an indoor dog park and retail space in an old warehouse at 511 Cherry Street, SE. In the … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/3/23