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

Emily Waugh, Reeves Middle School librarian-teacher, participated in the public comment during the Olympia School District regular meeting held Thursday, May 26.

Reeves Middle School parents question staffing reduction proposal

Parents expressed concern about the proposed staff reduction at Olympia’s Reeves Middle School, saying the cuts would have an extraordinarily high and unfair impact on … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 6/9/22

The suspect who was pictured pointing a gun was wearing a black, gray, and white jacket with black basketball shorts and white Adidas sneakers.

Olympia police search for suspects in armed robbery

The Olympia Police Department is asking the public’s help in identifying two men allegedly involved in an armed robbery. Olympia police tweeted that the two suspects were seen robbing the … more

By Julia Ornedo | 6/9/22

Raven Cruz, Transportation Choices Coalition operations manager,  said the group advocates for increasing transit service in Washington State.

Olympia proclaims June 2022 Ride Transit Month

The Olympia City Council approved a proclamation designating June 2022 as Ride Transit Month. The proclamation, signed by city council members yesterday, endorses the Transportation Choices … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 6/8/22

The city received a $2 million grant from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board for the Fones Road improvement project.

Olympia receives state grants to complete Fones Road, bike corridor

Olympia City Manager Jay Burney reported the city was awarded a total of $2.3 million in grants for the completion of Fones Road improvements and Downtown Corridor projects. Fones Road … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 6/8/22 | 1 comment

The scales of justice represent the balance between fairness and injustice.

Olympia man booked on three felonies after allegedly assaulting girlfriend

An Olympia man was booked on three felonies after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in violation of a protection order and later refusing to let her exit their home. The 31-year-old suspect was … more

By Julia Ornedo | 6/7/22

At the Community Livability and Public Safety meeting held May 26, 2022, Diversity, Equity and Inclusive program manager Toby Hill-Meyer discussed a proposed resolution that would bring to the city council.

Olympia’s DEI committee sends proposed policy to city council to protect BIPOC, trans- and non-binary people

During the Community Livability and Public Safety meeting held last Thursday, May 26, Olympia’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive (DEI) program manager Tobi Hill-Meyer said a proposed resolution … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 6/6/22

CDBG’s revolving loan programs will focus on supporting housing-improvement activities such as rehabilitating single-family homes and apartment buildings that are rented to low-income community members.

Olympia reopens loan program to repair low-income rented homes

Olympia announced in a press release that it has reinstated its Rental Rehabilitation Revolving Loan Fund, which provides loans to rehabilitate homes being rented by low-income community members … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 6/6/22

Olympia woman allegedly assaults attending cop, medic

An Olympia woman has been accused of assaulting personnel from the city’s fire and police departments as they were trying to give her a medical evaluation. Misty Lou O’Laughlin, 39, … more

By Julia Ornedo | 6/6/22 | 6 comments

Olympia School District board of directors and City councilmembers held a joint work session on June 2, 2022.

OSD to pay for training police officers in schools

The Olympia School District is willing to pay for police officers’ training that meets the legislative requirements of School Resources Officers (SRO) program, OSD Superintendent Patrick Murphy … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 6/3/22

Olympia Site Plan committee hears a proposal to construct a fast-food restaurant 2930 Capital Mall Drive Southwest, Olympia.

Site Plan committee hears plan for new fast-food restaurant

The Olympia Site Plan Committee heard a proposal to construct 4,987-square-foot one-story Chick-fil-A restaurant at 2930 Capital Mall Drive Southwest, Olympia, on Wednesday, June 1. The location … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 6/3/22 | 2 comments

Kathy Dorgan, retired OHS teacher, for Distinguished Service.

Olympia High School Alumni recognizes distinguished alumni

An award-winning news photographer, an environmental sculpture artist and a retired teacher will be recognized by the Olympia High School Alumni Association in a ceremony at the school’s … more

6/2/22

OSD Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Priddy showed a table showing enrollment decline in schools during the school board meeting on May 27, 2022.

OSD sees enrollment decline since pandemic year

Olympia Schools District Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Jennifer Priddy reported that student enrollment has not returned to pre-pandemic levels of 9,678 in School Year (SY) … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 6/1/22 | 1 comment

Olympia man allegedly assaults two others with metal pipe over missing bag

An Olympia man was booked on two felonies after allegedly hitting two other males with a metal pipe because he was upset over his missing bag. Travis W. Benson, 40, was arrested last Thursday, … more

By Julia Ornedo | 6/1/22

Olympia Fire Department Assistant Chief Michael Buchanan shows a graph reflecting BLS transports by private ambulance services and the percentage of transports that were either delayed or were not available.

Olympia defers action on creating city-owned Basic Life Services program

The Olympia City Council temporarily deferred taking action on a city-commissioned study that recommended the creation of its Basic Life Services (BLS) program. In his presentation at the city … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 5/31/22

Olympia man allegedly hurls homophobic slur, threats to kill at bank teller

An Olympia man was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill a bank teller whom he allegedly called a homophobic slur after becoming upset with his transaction. Steven Dennis Olive, 39, was … more

By Julia Ornedo | 5/31/22

Sea Level Rise Plan predicts water elevation between 26 to 68 inches in Olympia by 2100, Olympia Water Resources director Eric Christensen told the Olympia Sea Level Rise Collaborative  members during its meeting on May 26, 2022.

Downtown Olympia vulnerable to flooding, says city official

Capitol Lake is the city’s highest risk for downtown flooding. Olympia Water Resources Director Eric Christensen said this during the Olympia Sea Level Response Collaborative … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 5/30/22 | 2 comments

Olympia Site Plan Committee reviews two downtown residential presubmissions

The Olympia Site Plan Committee on Wednesday, May 25, conducted presubmission hearings for two potential downtown housing development projects. 221 Fifth Avenue SW: Apartments Architect Jeff … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 5/27/22 | 3 comments

On Thursday, May 26, Olympia School District Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Priddy updated the board of directors on the Enrollment Stabilization fund during its regular meeting.

OSD receives 50% less enrollment stabilization funds than expected

Olympia School District received $2.8 million in enrollment stabilization funds, 50% less than they expected to get from the federal government. In a report to the OSD board of directors during a … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 5/27/22

Olympia woman allegedly strikes stranger with a metal pipe

An Olympia woman was charged with a felony after allegedly attacking another woman using a metal pipe. The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney charged April Destiny Forbes-Damaske, 34, with … more

By Julia Ornedo | 5/27/22

Olympia Councilmember Dontae Payne and Rabbi Seth Goldstein thanked the city council for signing two proclamations that support diversity and inclusion of LGBTQ+ group and Jewish Americans in the community.

Anti-semitism condemned, Jews honored and Gay Pride celebrated by Olympia City Council

The Olympia City Council signed a proclamation designating May 2022 as Jewish American Heritage Month on Tuesday, May 24. The proclamation encourages people to condemn anti-semitism and stand with … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 5/26/22