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

Washington State Republican Party Chairman Jim Walsh announces initial results of the presidential race at a GOP election night watch party in Bellevue, Washington, on Nov. 5, 2024.

State Republican Party leader sued for defamation by citizen activist from Olympia

Arthur West is a prolific filer of legal complaints in pursuit of greater government transparency and a fairer political system in ... more

By Jerry Cornfield | Washington State Standard | 8/26/26 | 2 comments

Olympia City Hall is located at 601 4th Ave. E in downtown Olympia.

Committee to examine potential use of speed safety cameras in Olympia

The Olympia Community Livability and Public Safety Committee will discuss pedestrian safety and ways to reduce ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/25/26 | 13 comments

An aerial view of "The Jungle" homeless encampment in Olympia, as seen in January 2026.

Intercity Transit acts to protect bus drivers from 'The Jungle' encampment smoke

Intercity Transit is working to protect bus drivers from poor air quality caused by burning at the homeless encampment site ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/25/26 | 12 comments

Olympia City Council to tackle temporary housing option

An ongoing housing emergency is prompting the Olympia City Council to consider a proposal to allow recreational vehicles to be used as ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/24/26 | 9 comments

The Temple of Justice at the Washington State Capitol Campus in Olympia.

Court rebuffs attempt to ax ballot statement on state income tax measure’s budget effects

A citizen activist lost his bid on Aug. 20 to keep a one-sentence statement off ballots that summarizes how an initiative to repeal ... more

By Jerry Cornfield | Washington State Standard | 8/24/26 | 4 comments

Camas Lions Club Treasurer Nancy Eubank works together with Olympia Host Lions Club members to construct a mechanical hand at First Baptist Church in Olympia on July 28, 2026.

Building mechanical hands for people in need

A local group recently joined in an effort to help low income countries get access to prosthetic devices by building a number of mechanical ... more

By Keyan Gregoire-James | 8/21/26

The Olympia Site Plan Review Committee held a pre-submission conference for a proposed triplex housing project at 1607 Union Ave. SE on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.

Housing project proposed on Union Avenue in Olympia

A proposed multi-unit development at 1607 Union Ave. SE in Olympia could eventually be sold with each dwelling being owned separately if ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/20/26 | 4 comments

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

OSD board broadens opportunities for disadvantaged groups in procurement process

There will be more efforts to maximize chances for qualified businesses owned by disadvantaged groups in the service procurement process ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 8/20/26 | 1 comment

Olympia Public Works Director Mark Russell presented a 10-year waste collection rate projection during a city council study session on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026.

Olympia City Council favors keeping city-run waste collection

The Olympia City Council showed little interest in pursuing privatization of solid waste collection earlier this week, instead directing staff to ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/19/26 | 8 comments

Olympia School District parent Chelsee Heley commented on the district not tracking unenrollment data of families leaving schools at at an OSD board meeting on Aug. 13, 2026.

Long-term planning effort underway at Olympia School District

Mapping out the future of schools at Olympia School District (OSD) will involve updating a strategic plan, putting forth a bond measure ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 8/19/26 | 1 comment

Olympia Community Development Planner Casey Shaufler presented the updated 2027-2032 Capital Facilities Plan at a meeting on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.

Olympia presents updated $412.5 million capital plan

A preliminary Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) for 2027-32 proposes $412.5 million in projects, including $82.3 million in 2027, for the ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/18/26 | 3 comments

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

Fones Road Corridor Project street closures extended

Partial street closures are being extended along Fones Road because of some unexpected design changes related to ongoing roundabout ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 8/18/26 | 5 comments

Energize Thurston is now in its second year.

Discounted heat pump program enters second year in Thurston County

Energize Thurston, the heat pump campaign for Thurston County, Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, is now in ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 8/18/26

A stretch of Capitol Way S in Olympia is going to be close to thru traffic, including emergency vehicles, starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20.

Overnight closure for section of Capitol Way S in Olympia

A stretch of Capitol Way S in Olympia is going to be closed to thru traffic, including emergency vehicles, starting at 7 p.m. on ... more

By The JOLT Staff | 8/18/26

The Olympia City Council approved funding for development of local food system plan at a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026.

Olympia City Council serves up $245K for food systems plan

The Olympia City Council approved $245,000 in funding to develop a comprehensive local food systems plan aimed at strengthening food ... more

By Lorily Lirio | 8/17/26 | 11 comments

The Port of Olympia netted $103,011 in the first half of 2026 after general and administrative costs and depreciation.

Olympia Regional Airport’s non-aviation segments key to profit margin

Olympia Regional Airport’s portion of the business that deals with real estate properties helped keep it profitable in the first half of ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/17/26 | 3 comments

A demolition excavator prepares to finish leveling the last standing part of the old General Administration Building on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.

General Administration Building on Capitol Campus gets demolished

The mechanical Tyrannosaurus rex swung its massive head around and bit into the side of what once was the General Administration Building in ... more

By JM Simpson | 8/17/26 | 5 comments

Rear door bus pad improvements for Intercity Transit is going to impact traffic in downtown Olympia through Friday, Aug. 28, 2026.

Bus pad improvement work to impact traffic in downtown Olympia

Rear door bus pad improvements for Intercity Transit are going to impact traffic in downtown Olympia through the end of next ... more

By The JOLT Staff | 8/17/26

Artist Andrea Wilbur Sigo of the Squaxin Island Tribe presented a concept plan for public art at Marj Yung Park during the Olympia City Council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026.

Olympia City Council approves Squaxin-inspired public art for Marj Yung Park

The Olympia City Council approved a public art concept for Marj Yung Park featuring five carved panels and youth-led cultural storytelling along the ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/14/26 | 10 comments

The headquarters of the Washington State Department of Transportation, as seen on July 30, 2026.

Seismic worries fuel exodus from state transportation agency’s headquarters in Olympia

The Washington State Department of Transportation is relocating employees and scaling back access to its aging headquarters on the ... more

By Jerry Cornfield | Washington State Standard | 8/13/26 | 8 comments