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

The public is encouraged to join the Rachel Carson Forum on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

Free environmental science forum returns to Olympia on April 24

The Rachel Carson Forum of the Master of Environmental Studies (MES) Association returns to Olympia on Thursday ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/21/25

Leilonie Perez, as seen at her school in this undated photo.

Lacey third grader wins literacy award for running small libraries

Leilonie Perez, a third grader from Olympic View Elementary School, won this year's Shirlee Lehnis Literacy Champion Award for Youth from the ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/21/25 | 1 comment

Olympia taps middle school students for water conservation art calendar contest

Olympia is tapping middle school students to help promote stormwater pollution prevention and water conservation best practices through its annual ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/21/25

A group of senior citizens arrived early to use the services of the Thurston County Food Bank on Friday, April 11, 2025. “We need this food to get by,” said Kim Shearer, “and by arriving early we have a better chance of being helped.”

Thurston County Food Bank faces challenges

Early one recent Friday morning, six senior citizens sat in lawn chairs in front of the Thurston County Food Bank’s (TCFB) Food Pantry at 220 Thurston Ave. NE in ... more

By JM Simpson | 4/18/25 | 5 comments

Thurston County to celebrate Earth Day with public events

Thurston County will celebrate Earth Day with recycling stations, park cleanups and student-led service projects on ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 4/18/25 | 1 comment

Olympia committee reviews wayfinding and gateway signage concepts

Olympia's Community Livability and Public Safety Committee reviewed a wayfinding project that aims to transform the city's visual ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/18/25 | 7 comments

The LOTT Clean Water Alliance’s Budd Inlet site is undergoing phased construction that requires weekday road closures near Franklin Street NE. The digester upgrade will span 42 months.

LOTT opens weekend dump access as Budd Inlet project runs through 2028

The RV Dump Station at the LOTT Clean Water Alliance’s Budd Inlet Treatment Plant in downtown Olympia will expand public access beginning ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 4/17/25

A shot of the weapons seized from a man who was arrested for the alleged armed robberies of massage parlors in Lacey and Olympia.

Man arrested for alleged armed robberies at massage parlors

A 20-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday, April 16, in connection with the alleged armed robberies of two massage parlors in ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 4/17/25 | 3 comments

At Olympia's Community Livability and Public Safety Committee (CLPS) meeting held on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, the committee recommended moving forward with the OIR Group as the city's new civilian police auditor.

Olympia committee recommends new civilian police auditor

Olympia's Community Livability and Public Safety Committee (CLPS) has recommended moving forward with the OIR Group as the city's new civilian ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/17/25

What’s happening this weekend — Earth Day, Easter Egg Dash and other activities

Volunteer at one of the parks in Thurston County for Earth Day or take the kids to collect some eggs at Tumwater’s Easter Egg Dash ... more

4/17/25

Remains of missing Tenino woman found in Olympia

The remains of a Tenino woman were found partially encased in concrete on a property in Olympia by local authorities less than two weeks after she was ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 4/16/25 | 1 comment

Warren Hendrickson, Port of Olympia’s Director of Operations, showed the Port Commission a conceptual rendering of the Sound Commerce Center. Panattoni Development Company intends to develop the 29-acre site for industrial use.

Port of Olympia nears lease deal with Panattoni

The Port of Olympia is weeks away from finalizing a lease agreement with Panattoni Development Company to develop the first parcel of a 200-acre property in the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/16/25 | 4 comments

The Olympia City Council reviewed the capital facilities plan of the 2045 Comprehensive Plan at its study session on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Council member Clark Gilman said the CFP chapter does not adequately address the impacts of transportation infrastructure on greenhouse gas emissions.

Olympia City Council member challenges climate approach in capital facilities planning

Olympia City Council member Clark Gilman challenged the draft capital facilities chapter of the 2045 Comprehensive Plan, saying it does not go far enough in addressing ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/16/25 | 7 comments

Olympia's Westside: The perpetual rainbow gathering

Even by local standards, Olympia’s Westside is a balinaged jantricized place — a bipolar mix of easy-breezy folk life, blended with terrifying … more

By David Scherer Water | 4/16/25 | 4 comments

Olympia School District proclaims April 20-26 as Public School Volunteer Week

Members of the Olympia School District Board of Directors proclaimed April 20-26 as Public School Volunteer Week. At a meeting on Thursday, April 10, Board Vice President Jess … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/16/25

Interested performers can now apply to perform in the City of Olympia’s Music in the Park concert series.

Performers being sought for Olympia’s 'Music in the Park' series

The Olympia Downtown Alliance announced in a news release that the performer applications period for the "Music in the Park" summer concert series ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/16/25

Olympia City Council wants to dissolve its Municipal Court

I would like to address Olympia City Council's decision to dissolve the Olympia Municipal Court and its Community Court. On April 8, the council voted to sell the land where … more

By Rowanne Fairchild | 4/16/25 | 3 comments

Transportation Policy Board (TPB) members were briefed on the Martin Way Crossing Strategy. Aidan Dixon, Thurston Regional Planning Council planner, gave an overview of the project on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

Thurston Regional Planning Council unveils plan for 10 new Martin Way crossings

Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) is advancing its Martin Way safety plan, targeting up to 10 new mid-block crossings along the corridor, one of the busiest connecting Lacey and … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/15/25 | 4 comments

A slide from a presentation by Chris Paolini, the senior manager of Olympia Regional Airport, to the Port of Olympia Commission on March 10, 2025, showed that around 700 feet of pavement at the sound end of the Runway 17-35 will be rehabilitated, as part of a project mostly funded by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Port awards $2.1 million contract to rehabilitate airport runway

The Port of Olympia hired a Tacoma-based construction company to rehabilitate one of the runways at ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/15/25

Qmlativ is the latest version of Skyward’s Educational Management System.  The Olympia School District utilizes Skyward for grading, attendance, transcripts, payroll, staffing, lunch services and other programs.

Olympia School District set for migration to new Qmlativ system in July

The Olympia School District is nearing the launch of Skyward Qmlativ, a new educational management system upgrade, in July 2025.  The upgrade is set to enhance functionality on student … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/15/25 | 1 comment