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The Olympia City Council promotes the Intercity Transit Walk N Roll program by proclaiming October 2022 as Walk to School Month.

Olympia joins Intercity Transit, proclaims Walk to School Month

The Olympia City Council signed a proclamation yesterday designating October 2022 as Walk to School Month. The proclamation's goal is to encourage families, school employees, and community leaders … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 9/28/22 | 1 comment

Lee Rose, a members of Local 47, voiced grievances regarding the discrimination of port managers against union members at the Port Commissoin meeting September 26, 2022.

Port managers allegedly discriminate against union members

Employees of the Port of Olympia alleged that port managers discriminate against employees who have joined or shown support for the union. The employees made these allegations during the public … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/27/22 | 1 comment

The Port of Olympia Commission met at a meeting on September 26 to ratify a declaration of emergency made last week.

Port to invest in emergency repairs for its crane

The Port of Olympia Commission ratified a declaration of emergency to repair its broken crane yesterday, September 26. Port Executive Director Sam Gibboney declared the repair to be an emergency … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/27/22

The Olympia School District’s Board of Directors held a regular hybrid session last September 22 to discuss reports, including the summer school of 2022.

Olympia schools report successful summer school for 2022

The Olympia School District’s Board of Directors held a regular session on September 22 to discuss reports, including the summer school of 2022. Executive Director of Elementary Education … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 9/26/22

Tumwater’s public works committee agreed to schedule a public hearing about the annexation of Hopkins district into Tumwater.

Tumwater and Thurston County looking to stop Hopkins Drainage District

A Tumwater city committee is working to oppose the annexation of 599 properties into the Hopkins Drainage Ditch District No. 2 with an ordinance aiming to prevent the action. Further, Thurston … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/23/22 | 2 comments

The 60% design of the new culvert under Sapp Road triggers additional requirements for stormwater management.

Design for culvert calls for additional $80,000 in project cost

The design developed for a new culvert along Percival Creek under Sapp Road calls for an additional $80,753 in the project’s design cost, raising it from $143,000 to … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/23/22 | 2 comments

Lacey Joint Animal Services Commission wants amendments on the city's animal ordinances.

Animal Services pushes for Lacey Community Cat Program

Lacey Joint Animal Services Commission (JASCOM) is lobbying for the new Community Cat Program (CCP) and recommending updates to the Lacey municipal code (LMC). During the council work session on … more

By JC Medina | 9/23/22 | 3 comments

Olympia's Strategic Projects manager Amy Buckler showed a graph reflecting the disparity in experience during the pandemic between renters and homeowners. Buckler gave an update on the Strong Olympia program at the Finance Committee meeting on September 21, 2022.

Olympia survey: Renters have challenging experiences during the pandemic

Olympia tenants went through the most challenges during the pandemic, according to an online survey conducted by the city for the Strong Olympia program. At the Finance Committee meeting on … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 9/22/22 | 6 comments

SPSCC welcomes staff and faculty back to campus with 85 new employees including the 20 tenure-track faculty.

SPSCC Welcomes 20 full-time faculty members for 2022-23

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) this week kicked off its 2022-23 academic year, welcoming 20 new full-time tenure-track faculty members to the college. Kristofer Alston, Nursing … more

9/22/22

A Laysan albatross in the foreground (Phoebastria immutabilis) flying with sooty shearwater (Ardenna grisea).

Pelagic Birds – Part 1

Pelagic Birds – Part 1 September and October are fairly boring months for local bird watching. So, as a change of pace, we are writing over the next few weeks about, and providing … more

By George Walter | 9/22/22

Dr. Pamela Braff, Olympia Climate Program manager, presented the SolSmart Gold designation plaque to the city council on Tuesday, September 21, 2022. Olympia received the gold designation from the Department of Energy-sponsored SolSmart program for its solar energy campaign.

Olympia receives award for solar campaign

Olympia received a "SolSmart Gold" designation from the national SolSmart program for making it faster, more accessible, and affordable for homes and businesses to go solar. Climate Program … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 9/21/22 | 3 comments

Tumwater city council members Leatta Dahlhoff and Joan Cathey questioned how Thurston Strong benefits entrepreneurs in their city.

Tumwater city council questions allocation of Thurston Strong funds

Tumwater city council questions allocation of Thurston Strong funds Doubts expressed on how it is used By Jerome Tuaño Members of Tumwater’s city council questioned the benefits … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/21/22

Olympia Councilmember Lisa Parshley, on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, made a referral request to city and finance committee staff and legal team to look for options to find a revenue stream to fund climate work.

Olympia councilmember wants revenue source for climate work

Olympia Councilmember Lisa Parshley made a referral request to the Finance Committee staff and the legal team to look for viable options in finding a specific revenue stream dedicated to climate work … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 9/21/22 | 6 comments

Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall thanked the Olympia City Council for helping increase awareness of registering to vote. The city council signed a proclamation on Tuesday, designating September 20, 2022, as National Voter Registration Day.

Olympia encourages citizens to register to vote; 16 and up can pre-register

Olympia encourages citizens to register to vote; 16 and up can pre-register By Lorilyn C. Lirio Olympia’s American citizens aged 16 and up can now pre-register to vote, Thurston County … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 9/21/22

A roofer working on a roof with no fall protection.

LNI fines Olympia roofer for hazardous practice

Washington State Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) called out Olympia company United Roofing Solutions, Inc. for putting its workers at risk. “United is showing intentional … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 9/21/22

At the Olympia Planning meeting held on September 19, 2022, contract planner Gary Cooper presented a table where communities across the United States are looking at reducing parking requirements.

Olympia's Housing Action Plan looks at reducing residence parking requirements, clarifying permitting process

Olympia is contemplating reducing minimum parking requirements to accommodate more housing projects. This was according to contract planner Gary Cooper when he gave a brief presentation at the … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 9/20/22

The cleanup involves the dredging of several portions of Budd Inlet such as along the navigation channel, Swantown Habor, and the south of East and West Bay.

Budd Inlet cleanup will be the Port’s biggest project in decades

A $100 million project to clean up Budd Inlet is set to be the Port of Olympia’s biggest project in decades. The Port held a work session on September 20, to discuss their potential approach to … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/20/22 | 2 comments

Voting 5-2, the Lacey City council officially approved the proposed amendments to the existing Flag Policy during a meeting on Thursday, September 15.

Lacey officially allows the flying of equity flags

After a heated argument during the council meeting on Thursday, September 15, Lacey officially approved the proposed amendments to the existing Flag Policy, including additional flags to be flown in … more

By JC Medina | 9/19/22 | 9 comments

At the Land Use and Environment Committee meeting held on September 15, 2022, Interim Public Transportation Director Sophie Stimson said one of the developments included in the Engineering and Design Development Standards update is the development of enhanced bike lanes on streets.

Olympia street improvement in the works

Olympia's Assistant City Engineer Steve Sperr announced that developing street connectivity and downtown sidewalk standards would take time. During the Land Use and Environment Committee update on … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 9/19/22

Washington laws enable voters to register or change their registration up to the day of the election, in-person.

Lacey recognizes September 20 National Voter Registration Day

The Lacey City Council officially set Tuesday, September 20, as National Voter Registration Day. The council said the proclamation signed during its meeting Thursday, September 15, aims to … more

By JC Medina | 9/19/22