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

A CTR survey result for Olympia showed 58% of Olympia workers now working from home, 35% of workers driving alone, and 7% using alternative transportation modes. The survey results were presented at the Olympia City Council study session on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Olympia discusses Commute Trip Reduction program

A survey analyzed by the Thurston Regional Planning Council as part of Washington State's Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) program found that ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/13/25

12 SPSCC faculty members awarded tenure

Twelve faculty members of South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) were awarded tenure at a Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, March 11. "Congratulations to the (12) faculty members on … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/13/25

What’s happening this weekend — Lantern Lights the Library, Death Care Expo and other events

This weekend take in a film screening, have a few laughs, update an expired passport, take in a workshop and more in ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/13/25

Our House Clubhouse, which opened in downtown Olympia in February, brings a sense of community and job training to people with mental health struggles.

Our House Clubhouse opens in Olympia

Our House Clubhouse opened its doors in downtown Olympia in February, welcoming guests with mental health problems or other roadblocks that ... more

By Jessie Darland | 3/12/25

The Olympia City Council tackled three proposed policies relating to rental housing at its study session on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

From screening to ownership: Olympia explores multiple policies to address housing challenges

The Olympia City Council directed staff to continue developing and refining proposed rental protection measures, including ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/12/25 | 4 comments

Final call for Inspire Olympia Impact Funding applications

Organizations seeking financial support for cultural programs in Olympia have two more days to submit their applications for Inspire Olympia’s Impact Funding, which will close at ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 3/12/25

Olympia: The short story

For most of the last 500 million years, Olympia was under the ocean. Only recently (the last 80 million years) has this part of North America had a chance to ... more

By David Scherer Water | 3/12/25 | 7 comments

Olympia developing citywide Wayfinding Master Plan

The City of Olympia is moving along with the development of a citywide Wayfinding Master Plan, and is encouraging the community to take part by ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 3/11/25 | 2 comments

Khanh Pham, right, alongside fellow Phi Theta Kappa members, as seen in this undated photo.

SPSCC student named semifinalist for Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship

Khanh Pham, a South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) student, was named a semifinalist for the highly competitive Jack Kent Cooke ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/11/25

Natalie Weiss, Olympia's Climate Resilience coordinator, presented the phased implementation of the strategies broken up into three time frames and through 2100. At the Sea Level Rise Response Collaborative Executive Committee meeting on Friday, March 7, 2025, she outlined the updated 2025 work plan.

Sea Level Rise team to explore FEMA flood protection despite federal challenges

The Sea Level Rise Response Collaborative team is exploring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) accreditation even as federal ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/10/25 | 3 comments

Two arrested in Olympia for alleged restaurant burglary

Olympia Police Department (OPD) personnel arrested two suspects in connection with a series of alleged thefts at a local restaurant, where thousands of dollars worth of ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 3/10/25 | 3 comments

Chris Paolini, the senior manager of the Olympia Regional Airport, said if commercial service returns, the airport would only have the capacity to serve a maximum of eight daily operations of a 75-passenger aircraft. The size of such aircraft would be similar to the size of an Embraer-175, highlighted in red.

Airport master plan purely ‘conceptual,’ port staff emphasizes during Q&A

The master plan update for the Olympia Regional Airport is merely conceptual. That was the main point that Port of Olympia staff wanted to get across to the public at a question and answer session … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/7/25 | 7 comments

Inspire Olympia aims to make arts, culture, science and heritage accessible to the public.

Inspire Olympia provides students with cultural access, field trips and more

From July to September of 2024, the Inspire Olympia’s Cultural Access in Public Schools (CAPS) initiative funded 10 organizations offering programs for ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/7/25 | 1 comment

Josh Gobel, of Carve Architects, presented the preliminary site plan for creating two new commercial parcels along Harrison Avenue NW. The Olympia Site Plan Review Committee held a presubmission conference for the project on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

City of Olympia could offer developers planning flexibility for affordable housing

Olympia is open to potential flexibility in project planning, provided that the developer dedicates units at 80% of the market rate for 20 years. The Olympia Site Plan Review Committee heard a … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/7/25 | 6 comments

Update: Campus trails reopen at The Evergreen State College after being closed because of alleged stabbing incident

Campus trails have been reopened at The Evergreen State College (TESC) after being closed earlier on Friday afternoon, March 7, because of an ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 3/7/25

The Olympia City Council approved a new oversight mechanism for local law enforcement by establishing the Community Policing Board at a meeting on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

Community Policing Board established in Olympia

The Olympia City Council approved the establishment of the Community Policing Board, in turn creating a new system for community oversight of ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 3/6/25 | 2 comments

A vessel used to conduct sediment sampling in West Bay, as seen pulling up to a dock near Port Plaza on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

Public gets up close view of sediment sampling in West Bay

An ongoing effort by the Port of Olympia to collect sediment samples in West Bay this winter featured a new wrinkle on ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/6/25 | 1 comment

Olympia School District proclaims March 10-14 as Education Support Professionals Week

The Olympia School District Board of Directors proclaimed March 10-14 as Education Support Professionals Week. The board endorsed the proclamation ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/6/25

Audrey Henley and Jimmi Davies, owners of RevMo Choppers & Coffee, believe their café is about people and community. In the background is Doug Johnson, as seen on Feb. 25, 2024.

RevMo Choppers & Coffee is about people

After a fire destroyed Revival Motors and Coffee Company in December 2021, owners Jimmi Davies and Audrey Henley found and kept a glass window that ... more

By JM Simpson | 3/5/25 | 4 comments

Devin Alexander, Reading Specialist at LP Brown Elementary School, is one of the Olympia School District Teachers of the Year, recognized on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

Devin Alexander and Kimberly Merkley named 2025 Co-Teachers of the Year in Olympia

Elementary and middle school instructors have been named 2025 co-teachers of the year by the ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/5/25