Olympia | The JOLT News Organization, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

My son, Aaron, and I went to the Billy Frank, Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on Earth Day. Here is our report on what we saw and heard. If you go to the refuge in the next several weeks, you … more

4/27/23 | 1 comment

Tumwater and Olympia voters rejected the proposed regional fire authority in the April 25, 2023 election, with 11,396 votes (63.68%) against 6,500 votes (36.32%).

Voters say no to regional fire authority

Olympia and Tumwater voters overwhelmingly rejected their cities’ proposition to divest their fire departments and merge them into a regional fire authority (RFA) as more than 63 percent of … more

By Danny Stusser | 4/26/23 | 8 comments

Anastasia Everett, Olympia's CDBG specialist, updated the Olympia Planning Commission on the proposed projects to be funded by the CDBG program on Monday, April 17, 2023.

Olympia committee wants to fund energy audits with city's federal funding

Olympia plans to include energy auditing in its rental rehabilitation projects funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) it receives. Anastasia Everett, Olympia's CDBG … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/26/23

Sophia Bowton-Meade, student Senator for Legislative Affairs at SPSCC, has been recognized as part of the 2023 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll.

Sophia Bowton-Meade Recognized on 2023 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll

Today, South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) and the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) announced that Sophia Bowton-Meade, student Senator for Legislative Affairs at SPSCC, has been … more

4/26/23

At a meeting held on April 19, 2023, the Olympia Site Plan Review Committee held a presubmission hearing on the Ethel Development project, which plans to build 48 houses on Ethel Street.

Olympia committee reviews 48-house development on Ethel Street, possible townhouses

Project Architect for Ethel Development, Josh Gobel, discussed the plan to build 12 structures with four units, or 48 houses on a 224,060 square-foot parcel on Ethel Street during a presubmission … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/26/23 | 3 comments

This is the Washington State Legislative Building, as seen from Capitol Lake, photographed on May 5, 2017

State allocates $7 million for Deschutes Estuary restoration project

The Washington state legislature allocated $7 million for the Deschutes Estuary restoration project as part of its 2023-2024 operating budget, which Congress passed on Sunday, April 23, before … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/25/23 | 3 comments

Nodal development concept of the Martin Way corridor. The Olympia City Council held a study session to discuss the Martin Way corridor development.

Regional planning council urges collaboration for Martin Way strategy

The city council was urged to seek collaboration with other jurisdictions to promote growth on the Martin Way corridor in Tuesday’s Olympia City Council study session. To prioritize regional … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/25/23

Who is the Thurston Climate Action Team and do they wear capes?

Did you miss me? Apologies if you missed my column last week (and thank you for noticing my absence), but the virus that has been going around caught me, and I was down for the count for the full … more

By Mary Beth Harrington, CVA | 4/25/23

Ballots being sorted, photo November 7, 2022.

Ballots due today in Olympia and Tumwater as voters decide on Proposition 1, proposed regional fire authority

As of 3 p.m. Monday, April 24, some 12,081 voters, or about 22.4 percent of registered voters have cast their ballots for or against Proposition 1, which would create a new regional fire authority … more

By The JOLT Staff | 4/24/23

The proposed Fire Benefit Charge that would help fund the Regional Fire Authority is fundamentally sound

Our fire departments need help. Many firefighters are working 2 or more days in a row, stressed out and surviving on catnaps. Equipment needs to be replaced, and fire stations need improvements. … more

By Pete Kmet | 4/24/23 | 14 comments

A last word about Proposition 1 - the proposed regional fire authority

For the last couple months, I’ve been working with a small and very talented group of volunteers on the Save Our FDs campaign advocating No on Proposition 1. It’s been … more

By Pat Cole | 4/24/23 | 4 comments

The scales of Justice represent the idea of decisions reached fairly and objectively by a weighing of evidence.

Repeat offender allegedly steals anew from Dollar Tree

An Olympia man who had been trespassed from a Dollar Tree for allegedly stealing at least 14 times before was arrested last week after another incident at the same store. Olympia police … more

By Julia Ornedo | 4/24/23

Capitol Lake Towers is a condominium building; its unit owners would be incorrectly charged some $900 more than specified in the RFA documents due to an error in calculating square footages for each unit.

More errors found in proposed Fire Benefit Charge Calculator for apartments, condos and mixed-use owners

In addition to those reported previously, The JOLT has identified more errors in the calculator provided by Olympia and Tumwater’s proposed Regional Fire Authority (RFA). The calculator allows … more

By Lorilyn Lirio and Danny Stusser | 4/21/23 | 9 comments

Expect to find this flag all around Olympia

Olympia proclaims April 2023 as Earth Month

The Olympia City Council, on Tuesday, April 18, signed a proclamation designating the month of April as Earth Month. Olympia has joined Governor Jay Inslee in proclaiming the entire month to be … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/21/23 | 1 comment

Olympia's assistant city manager Rich Hoey gave the city council a briefing on the public health conditions caused by homelessness.

Homelessness cited as grounds for Olympia to extend its public health emergency declaration

The Olympia City Council declared a continuing public health emergency, claiming that homelessness continues to present significant public health and safety issues for the entire community. The … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/21/23 | 3 comments

Ad hoc committee member Mariella Luz discussed prioritizing and integrating equity in the program.

Olympia's Cultural Access Program ad hoc committee readies its recommendations

The Inspire Olympia Cultural Access ad hoc committee has completed creating the framework for the new program. One of its recommendations is to start simple and evolve with the community. At the … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/20/23

Olympia asks for 3 minor changes in its support for joint plan with Thurston County

The Olympia City Council, on Tuesday, April 18, authorized Mayor Cheryl Selby to sign a letter of support for the adoption of the Olympia Joint Plan and request to the Board of County Commissioners … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/19/23 | 1 comment

The Olympia City Council approved a resolution recognizing the Olympia Firehouse 5, a nonprofit organization for retired firefighters, during the meeting held Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

Preserving fire service history, Olympia Firehouse 5 recognized for contributions to Olympia

The Olympia City Council has approved a resolution giving the designation of "Station 5" to Olympia Firehouse 5, a nonprofit organization of retired firefighters whose mission is to preserve fire … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/19/23 | 2 comments

Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater taking part in water conservation incentive and rebate programs that benefit homeowners.

Spring water saving free kits and rebates for households

Spring water conservation The City of Olympia is implementing water conservation efforts through savings, rebates, and free kits. Other localities, such as Lacey and Tumwater, also have incentives … more

By Sage Hamilton | 4/18/23 | 1 comment

At the Olympia Planning Commission meeting held Monday, April 17, 2023, seven commissioners approved the recommendation on parking code amendments, including zero parking space minimum for all housing developments.

Olympia Planning Commission approves zero parking space for new house developments

With a vote of 7-2, the Olympia Planning Commission approved the recommendation for the parking code amendments, including removing the minimum parking space for all residential developments, on … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/18/23 | 9 comments