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

School closure talks are back at Olympia School District after Superintendent Patrick Murphy presented the School Consolidation Timeline on Aug. 6, 2026.

Olympia School District superintendent presents timeline for school consolidation

A continued decline in enrollment has the Olympia School District looking at the possibility of school consolidation as a means to address funding ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 8/12/26 | 13 comments

Hillory Flowers spoke at an Olympia City Council meeting after the announcement of her appointment as Olympia Fire Department Chief on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026.

Hillory Flowers named Olympia’s first female fire chief

Hillory Flowers has been appointed Chief of the Olympia Fire Department (OFD), becoming the first woman to lead the public service ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/12/26 | 3 comments

Olympia conducted its 2026 Community Engagement & Public Opinion Survey from April 17-28 through Embold Research.

Survey finds housing, homelessness top priorities for Olympia residents

Housing and homelessness remain top priorities for residents, even as Olympia's latest community survey shows a growing number of ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/11/26 | 8 comments

Olympia Federal Savings is located on the corner of Capitol Way South and 5th Avenue SW in downtown Olympia.

Olympia Federal Savings reports Q1 financial results

Olympia Federal Savings reported total assets of more than $1 billion at the end of the first quarter, as the financial institution continued to ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 8/11/26 | 3 comments

Land use approval granted for Briggs Professional Suites project in Olympia

The City of Olympia granted land use approval for Briggs Professional Suites, clearing another step toward construction of a ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/10/26 | 5 comments

Work on the Washington State Capitol Campus pedestrian bridge is scheduled to begin next week.

Capitol pedestrian bridge work to begin next week in Olympia

Work on the removal of segments and rebuild of the Washington State Capitol Campus pedestrian bridge is scheduled to begin ... more

By The JOLT Staff | 8/6/26 | 3 comments

A presentation to the Port of Olympia Commission on Dec. 12, 2022, showed a potential site plan for a manufacturing site by Swire, a bottling company for Coca-Cola.

Swire terminates lease with Port of Olympia

Swire, a Coca-Cola bottling company, has terminated its lease with the Port of Olympia for a 95-acre property at Olympia Regional ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/5/26 | 10 comments

LMTAAA Executive Director Nicole Kiddoo, second from left, and Case Management Director Emily MacFarland, center, accepted LMTAAA’s 2026 USAging achievement award during an annual conference in San Diego, California, on July 18, 2026.

LMTAAA receives national recognition at 2026 USAging conference

The Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging was honored for its workforce development efforts at the 2026 USAging annual conference in ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/5/26

Olympia’s Site Plan Review Committee held a presubmission meeting on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, for RootedHearts Global’s proposal to convert a vacant veterinary clinic at 901 Union Ave. SE into a homeless recovery community.

Olympia committee reviews proposal for transitional housing facility

The Olympia Site Plan Review Committee held a presubmission conference on a nonprofit’s proposal to potentially convert a vacant veterinary clinic ... more

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

The City of Olympia launched a new grant program that will award up to $5,000 for youth-led environmental projects.

Application period opens for youth-led climate action grants in Olympia

The City of Olympia launched a new grant program that will award up to $5,000 for youth-led environmental ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/4/26

During the Friday, July 31, 2026, canoe journey to Sequalitchew Landing, pullers traveled in 83 degree heat. Support boats contained new pullers to switch with other pullers on canoes every four hours if needed.

'Canoe Journey' gets underway with ceremonial landing

The 2026 Paddle to Nisqually Medicine Creek Potlatch Canoe Journey got underway with a ceremonial landing at the beaches along the ... more

By Keyan Gregoire-James | 8/3/26

Olympia’s Grass Lake Nature Park Trail was recognized with the Washington State Recreation & Park Association’s 2026 Trail Award.

Grass Lake trail project earns statewide recognition

Olympia Parks Planning and Maintenance Director Laura Keehan announced two major achievements for the city’s parks system, including statewide ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/3/26 | 7 comments

Dozens of people attended an event to mark the start of the first phase of turning the Olympia Armory into an arts center. The event was held on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025.

Construction to impact area around Daley Arts Center in Olympia

Sidewalk and utility work at the Daley Arts Center is going to make it tougher for pedestrians and motorists to navigate the area over the ... more

By The JOLT Staff | 8/3/26 | 3 comments

Ashley Chambers was appointed as the City of Olympia’s Housing Director. Her appointment was announced during a city council meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

Olympia names Ashley Chambers as Housing Director

Olympia hired Ashley Chambers as its new housing director, a position that will oversee the city’s housing division and take the lead on its ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/31/26 | 1 comment

Renderings of the proposed West Bay Yards development at 1210 West Bay Drive in Olympia.

West Bay waterfront project approved with conditions

A proposed mixed-use development on the West Bay waterfront in Olympia cleared a regulatory hurdle when a hearing examiner approved ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/30/26 | 30 comments

The Sandman tugboat, also known as Sand Man, as seen at Swantown Marina & Boatworks in Olympia on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

Olympia Heritage Commission recommends delisting Sandman from register

The Olympia Heritage Commission recommended removing the historic wooden tugboat Sandman from the Olympia Heritage Register because ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/29/26 | 6 comments

A bronze Marcus Whitman statue in the Washington State Capitol building weighs over 9,000 pounds with its stone base.

Marcus Whitman statue will soon have a new home in Washington State Capitol

Visitors to the Washington State Capitol won’t be greeted by the towering figure of missionary Marcus Whitman much ... more

By Jerry Cornfield | Washington State Standard | 7/29/26 | 4 comments

A graphic details the proposed expansion of the Hands On Children's Museum in Olympia.

Public comment opens on expansion of Hands On Children’s Museum

The City of Olympia is inviting the public to submit comments on the proposed expansion of Hands On Children’s ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/28/26 | 6 comments

Olympia’s Land Use & Environment Committee explored a pilot program that would help tenants become homeowners through a tenant opportunity to purchase program during a meeting Thursday, July 23, 2026.

Committee explores options for tenant opportunity to purchase program in Olympia

The Olympia Land Use & Environment Committee is looking at a tenant opportunity to buy program, which would likely include targeted unit sizes ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/27/26 | 5 comments

This photo shows damage to the State Reception Room at the Washington State Capitol after an intruder broke in on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025.

$1M restoration recommended to address Washington State Capitol vandalism

Washington could spend $1 million repairing damage from vandalism at the state Capitol last ... more

By Jake Goldstein-Street | Washington State Standard | 7/27/26 | 3 comments