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

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners deliberated over plans to integrate City of Olympia and City of Tenino court services into Thurston County District Court under new interlocal agreements during the board’s agenda setting meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

Olympia, Tenino court services transitioning to Thurston County

Thurston County is in the process of taking over court services for the City of Olympia and City of Tenino. The Thurston County Board of ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/25/25 | 1 comment

'March for Families' to take place in Olympia on July 26

The latest in a series of protests against federal policies will take to the streets of Olympia this weekend. Olympia Indivisible, the Washington chapter of ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 7/25/25 | 1 comment

Proposed changes introduced to Olympia's Comprehensive Plan

Residents in Olympia urged reconsideration of late-stage revisions to the Land Use and Urban Design chapter of the 2045 Comprehensive Plan, warning proposed density increases and commercial allowances … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/24/25 | 10 comments

SPSCC seeking next cohort for Bachelor of Science program

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) is recruiting students for its Bachelor of Science in Computer Science ... more

By Maven Navarro | 7/24/25

What’s happening this weekend — Oregon Trail Days celebration, free outdoor movie events and other activities

It's going to be a fun-filled weekend in Thurston County. Bring the family outdoors for the 58th annual Oregon Trail Days festival in Tenino, check out ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 7/24/25

Capital Medical Center President Will Callicoat asked the city council for a more comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of the Workers' Bill of Rights initiative, at a meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

Olympia City Council sends Workers' Bill of Rights initiative to November ballot

The Workers' Bill of Rights initiative is heading to the ballot box in a upcoming showdown that will pit the union-backed proposal against employers in the ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/23/25 | 7 comments

Intercity Transit plans to introduce two new routes to replace Route 620, the Olympia/Lakewood Express, starting Sept. 7. Route 600 will be a more direct weekdays-only route to Lakewood, while Route 610 will have more stops before ending at Lakewood.

Intercity Transit looking for people to comment on upcoming route changes

Intercity Transit wants people to weigh in on planned service changes, which go into effect on Sept. 7. The changes include the addition of two new routes ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/22/25 | 1 comment

Thurston County Museum of Fine Arts to hold first photography show featuring local artists

The Thurston County Museum of Fine Arts (TCMOFA) is holding its first-ever photography exhibition featuring Washington-based ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 7/22/25

A combination of photos shows a great sequoia, left, which is the largest tree in Olympia, at 31 feet 11 inches. At right is the biggest single trunk redwood.

Finding the big trees in Olympia

Last year, local nonprofit Restoring Earth Connection (REC), captured the city’s attention with masks through a student art exhibit on endangered ... more

By Shirley Stirling | 7/22/25 | 6 comments

A military marching band makes its way down 5th Avenue in downtown Olympia during the Lakefair Grand Parade on Saturday, July 19, 2025.

Capital Lakefair wraps up at Heritage Park

Capital Lakefair wrapped up its 68th annual festival with a fireworks show over Capitol Lake that wowed thousands of onlookers from a variety of ... more

By Maven Navarro | 7/21/25 | 1 comment

Housing institute requests more than $100K for elevator modernization at Fleetwood Apartments

The Thurston Regional Housing Council is set to decide whether to approve the Low Income Housing Institute's (LIHI) request for more than $100,000 to ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/21/25 | 6 comments

Tony Peradotto waits to lead the half-marathon runner, as part of the Olympia Lakefair Races in downtown Olympia on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Also featured were 8K and 3K races.

Olympia Lakefair Races draw hundreds of participants to downtown

The fourth day of Capital Lakefair got off to an early start, as runners took to the streets for the Olympia Lakefair Races on Saurday morning ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 7/19/25

The Olympia City Council tackled the Workers' Bill of Rights initiative at a study session on Tuesday, July 17, 2025. The council will decide on July 22 whether to adopt the measure or send the ordinance to voters in the November election.

Olympia City Council tackles Workers' Bill of Rights ahead of July 22 decision

The Olympia City Council reviewed the Workers' Bill of Rights initiative, a proposal that would establish a $20 minimum wage and new workplace ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/18/25 | 14 comments

Port of Olympia Director of Enterprise Services Brent Barnes, at the podium, briefed the Port of Olympia Commission about the need to replace the port’s enterprise resource planning platform at a meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025.

Port of Olympia looks to upgrade ERP platform

The Port of Olympia is planning to upgrade its enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform to better manage its finances and operations, according to a staff ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/18/25

"A Song of the Sound" by Aaron Zonka is one of the artworks that will be installed on traffic boxes in Olympia.

2025 traffic box art wrap designs approved by Olympia City Council

The Olympia City Council approved 10 new traffic box wrap designs, which showcase local artistic talent from the ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/18/25

Olympia Distilling Co. won second place for its Kelsey Gold Gin at the 7th annual Bartender Spirits Awards in Chicago.

Spirit with a spirit: Kelsey Gold Gin wins award at Bartender Spirits competition

A tasty, well-crafted spirit with an inspirational backstory was a hit at a recent international competition. Olympia Distilling Company won second place at the ... more

By Maven Navarro | 7/18/25

The Olympia Site Plan Review Committee tackled the proposed new soccer field planned for the South Puget Sound Community College campus at a meeting on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

New soccer field planned for SPSCC campus

A proposal for constructing an NCAA soccer field at South Puget Sound Community College returned to the Olympia Site Plan Review Committee on ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/18/25

What’s happening this weekend — Capital Lakefair and other festivities

Enjoy the annual Capital Lakefair at Heritage Park in Olympia or join the Great Lacey Adventure this weekend in Thurston ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 7/18/25

The Olympia City Council received an update on its state legislative priorities, which featured some policy wins and setbacks. Olympia contract lobbyist Nick Frederici delivered the report to the city council at a meeting on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

Olympia sees funding cuts and policy wins amid state budget deficit

The City of Olympia's contract lobbyist, Nick Federici, briefed the city council on state legislative outcomes, including deep budget cuts in multiple ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/17/25 | 4 comments

Ballots mailed out for Aug. 5 primary election in Thurston County

The Thurston County Auditor's Office announced it has mailed more than 147,000 ballots to registered voters for the Aug. 5 Primary Election. more

By Maven Navarro | 7/17/25