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

Members of the Thurston Regional Housing Council reviewed a short-term funding request for the Quince Street tiny home village at a meeting on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

RHC recommends allocating $440K for Quince Street village

The Thurston Regional Housing Council (RHC) has recommended allocating $440,000 to help sustain operations at Olympia’s Quince Street ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/26/26 | 12 comments

A rendering of the proposed Rebecca Howard Park design features a community hub, performance stage and garden spaces. Olympia Associate Planner Sarah Giannobile presented the plan at a meeting of the Olympia City Council on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

Olympia City Council approves Rebecca Howard Park development plan

The Olympia City Council unanimously approved the Rebecca Howard Park development plan with the intent to move the project to ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/25/26 | 14 comments

Olympia School District budget survey to gather input for priorities, trade-offs

The Olympia School District sent out the 2026-27 Budget Priorities Survey to collect input on what programs and services the ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/25/26 | 2 comments

Olympia committee to discuss manufactured home preservation measures

The Olympia Land Use & Environment Committee is set to consider potential policies to preserve manufactured home communities, as concerns ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/24/26 | 3 comments

Olympia High School assistant swim coach Henry Valz spoke during public comment at a virtual city council meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Campaign to save Evergreen pool backed by more than 3,800 people

A grassroots campaign to save The Evergreen State College pool from closing has gathered more than 3,800 signatures on a petition that ... more

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

Regular unleaded gasoline was priced at $5.499 per gallon at Chevron, 1018 Plum St. SE in Olympia on Friday afternoon, March 20, 2026.

Average price of regular unleaded gas surges past $5 in Olympia market

The average price of regular unleaded gasoline leaped more than 47 cents per gallon in the Olympia market last week, as an escalating conflict in ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/20/26 | 7 comments

An alternate driving route around the Fones Road Corridor Project in Olympia.

Traffic shift to take place for Fones Road Corridor Project

The traffic pattern for the Fones Road Corridor Project in Olympia is going to change next week in order to give work crews the space necessary ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/20/26 | 2 comments

The Olympia School District Board of Directors approved a resolution authorizing Superintendent Patrick Murphy to craft a reduced educational program and staffing plan at a meeting on March 12, 2026.

Olympia School District board backs Reduction in Program resolution amid budget woes

The Olympia School District Board of Directors approved a resolution that paves the way for a reduced education program and staffing plan for ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/18/26 | 1 comment

South Sound Reading Foundation to celebrate 25 years with signature events 

The South Sound Reading Foundation is celebrating 25 years of promoting reading across the ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/18/26 | 1 comment

The Port of Olympia is joining the Washington Public Ports Association’s (WPPA) Maritime Industrial Base Coalition in a move aimed at restoring the state's competitiveness in the shipbuilding industry.

Port of Olympia joins coalition formed to support shipbuilding industry

The Port of Olympia is putting its weight behind a large effort to bolster the shipbuilding industry by joining the Washington Public Ports Association’s ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/16/26 | 9 comments

Regular unleaded gasoline was priced at $5.399 per gallon at Chevron, 1018 Plum St. SE in Olympia on Friday afternoon, March 13, 2026.

Gas prices soar in Olympia, across state of Washington

The average price of regular unleaded gasoline jumped nearly 25 cents per gallon in the Olympia market over the last week, amid a growing conflict ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/13/26 | 17 comments

Shelby Parker appointed Chief of Olympia Police Department

Olympia Police Department veteran Shelby Parker was elevated to role of chief, after serving as the interim chief for about nine ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/13/26

The Washington State Capitol building can be seen in the backdrop amid snow that fell in downtown Olympia on Friday, March 13, 2026.

Snow falls in Thurston County as an atmospheric river moves through region

An atmospheric river delivered as predicted, bringing rain and snow to Thurston County on ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/13/26

Olympia Fire Department Chief Matt Morris presented a community risk and response study during an Olympia City Council study session on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

Olympia Fire Department presents community risk and response study

The Olympia Fire Department presented its newly completed Community Risk Assessment and Standards of Cover report, a data-driven ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/11/26 | 2 comments

The Olympia School District 111 Esther R. Knox Building in Olympia, as seen on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

Staff, educational program cuts possible at Olympia School District

Layoffs appear to be on the horizon at the Olympia School District, amid a bleak budget outlook that is going to require some tough decisions ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/10/26 | 9 comments

Disability Justice Task Force Program Manager Joslyn Nelson spoke about the Olympia City Council’s Disability Awareness Month proclamation at a meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Olympia proclaims March as Disability Awareness Month

The Olympia City Council endorsed a proclamation designating March 2026 as Disability Awareness ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/10/26 | 2 comments

Enrollment projected to decline at Olympia School District in 2026-27 academic year

Enrollment is on the decline at Olympia School District (OSD), with the total number of full-time equivalent students projected to drop ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/9/26 | 2 comments

Gas prices on the rise in Olympia

The average price of regular unleaded gasoline climbed nearly 12 cents in Olympia over the last week amid a growing conflict in the ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/6/26 | 3 comments

Daniel Garcia, Communications Coordinator for the Olympia Council of Neighborhood Associations (CNA), shared a photo of a community forum hosted by the CNA in January. He shared the photo at a city council meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Neighborhood group gathers information to better understand community priorities

The Olympia Council of Neighborhood Associations (CNA) has developed a list of priorities residents want city leaders to address, with food ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/6/26 | 7 comments

Edward Mackie, a former chief deputy attorney general for Washington, and Karen Ellieck spoke at the Olympia City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, to commemorate the Budd Inlet Six 50th anniversary. They shared firsthand accounts and legal actions that helped end orca captures in Washington waters.

Olympia celebrates 50th anniversary of 'Budd Inlet Six' orca rescue

The Olympia City Council endorsed a proclamation designating 2026 as “Budd Inlet Six – 50th Anniversary Year,” marking 50 years since ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/5/26 | 4 comments