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

Olympia is installing signs similar to this on all city vehicles.

Olympia supports veteran suicide prevention 988 hotline with vehicle emblem program

The Olympia City Council recognized an initiative to display veteran suicide prevention vehicle emblems on all city vehicles as the city's way of supporting and raising awareness of suicide … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/19/24

Duncan Green of Intercity Transit invites the Olympia community to participate in the 37th annual Bicycle Community Challenge (BCC) hosted by Intercity Transit in May.

Olympia highlights health, environmental and transportation benefits of bicycling

At the Tuesday, April 16, city council meeting, Mayor Dontae Payne signed a proclamation designating May 2024 as Olympia Bicycle Month. The proclamation highlighted the health, environmental and … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/19/24

Anastasia Everett, CDBG Program manager for Olympia, shows a graph of CDBG funds allocated to the city, which has dwindled over the years.

Olympia appeals for increased Community Development Block Grant funding amid proposed budget cuts

In light of the proposed cuts to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) fund in the Fiscal Year 2025 national budget, the Olympia City Council urged federal lawmakers to advocate for increasing … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/18/24

In proposing a new tax audit program, Olympia's Tax and License analyst Brandie Andrews says its establishment would cost around $500,000 but the city would see a potential revenue increase through this program.

Olympia developing new business tax audit program

The Olympia City Council, on Tuesday, approved continued work on establishing a new tax audit program, which aims to improve business tax compliance for local establishments operating in the city. … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/17/24 | 3 comments

Audiences can expect hand-crafted puppets that breathe life into the characters, adding an extra layer of wonder to the journey through the Land of Oz. Wizard of Oz poster.

Olympia Family Theater to run The Wonderful Wizard of Oz starting May 10

The Olympia Family Theater (OFT) invites you to follow the yellow brick road as it proudly presents The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from May 10 to June 2 . Collaborating with String and Shadow Puppet … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/17/24

Olympia Planning Commission recommending Capital Mall Triangle plan, with amendments

On Monday, April 15, the Olympia Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the Capital Mall Triangle subarea plan to the Land Use and Environment Committee, with some amendments around … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/16/24

Finalists for Griffin School District Superintendent position: Cindy Orr, Dan Gregory, Kirsten Rue

Three finalists line up for Griffin School District Superintendent position

Griffin School District announced three finalists for its Superintendent position after preliminary interviews witnessed by approximately 30 people online. From 12 applicants, the board picked … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/16/24

Modern happy mature women using mobile phone for image together

YWCA Olympia wins grant prioritizing underserved women and children

Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Olympia has been selected as one of the ten YWCA associations in Washington State that will share a $12.1 million grant from the Ballmer Group over … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/16/24

The Clippers golf team brings in Joey Woods as assistant coach.

South Puget Sound Clippers to return for NWAC Golf action, hires new assistant coach

After a six-month winter break, the South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams are set to return to the golf course to compete in various meets as they vie … more

By Vince Zafra | 4/16/24

VFW representative Darcy McGardee proposed a community dialogue to find potential solutions to neighborhood disturbances.

Veterans’ group airs concerns on neighborhood disturbances from nearby supportive housing

Representatives of the Martin Way Veterans of Foreign Wars post shared their concerns regarding the disturbances they are experiencing caused by residents at the nearby Unity Commons shelter. … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/15/24 | 9 comments

Local artist Abe Singer presented a maquette of the entryway and bird blind concept at the Arts Commission meeting.

Local artist Abe Singer presents concept design to transform water tank at the Grass Lake Nature Park

The Olympia Arts Commission approved and accepted the design concept for the Grass Lake Nature Park public art project and recommended it to the city council for consideration. At the April 11 … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/15/24

Alauna Carstens (in green) books her tickets to the conference and national championships in women’s 1500 meters, her second national standard.

Carstens sets national standard again for Evergreen Track and Field

The Evergreen State College Track and Field competed again in another track meet, this time in the John Knight Twilight … more

By Vince Zafra | 4/15/24

More than 100 people participated in South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity's office-building dedication event on March 9, 2024.

Habitat for Humanity dedicates its new offices in Olympia

South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, the local agency of the national non-profit organization that works to provide affordable housing, officially opened its new office. The organization held a ribbon-cutting ceremony … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/12/24

The Olympia City Council appoints 24 new committee members and honors 22 departing members at its Tuesday meeting, April 9, 2024.

Olympia appoints 24 volunteers, honors departing committee members

The Olympia City Council approved appointments to fill vacancies on 11 advisory boards and committees on Tuesday, April 9. A total of 64 community members applied for the 31 open positions. The … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/12/24

Dr. Justin Ainsworth, one of the finalists, is associate superintendent in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District in Palmer, Alaska.

North Thurston Public Schools picks Justin Ainsworth for new superintendent

The North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) Board of Directors selected Dr. Justin Ainsworth to become the next superintendent, pending his acceptance. “Dr. Ainsworth’s leadership … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/12/24 | 1 comment

This is the baseball bat that the suspect used to hit the victim on the back of his head, causing his death.

Suspect in fatal assault in Olympia homeless encampment arrested after a month at large

Olympia police arrested two suspects involved in the fatal attack on a man walking in The Jungle homeless encampment who was hit fatally in the head with a baseball bat. more

By Darlanne Cruz | 4/12/24 | 1 comment

At a Tuesday, April 9, 2024 meeting, the Olympia City Council did not adopt the proposed code amendment for drive-though.

Olympia City Council votes down proposal to allow drive-throughs on Plum Street

After almost an hour of discussing options for balancing housing, climate goals, safety, and health, the Olympia City Council voted not to adopt the proposed amendment to allow drive-throughs on Plum … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/11/24 | 4 comments

Homeless for over a year in Olympia, Destiny gets herself ready for her day.

They still are homeless

For the past 15 months, I have been engaged in photographically documenting the homeless in Olympia for The JOLT and national media . As such, I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with … more

By JM Simpson | 4/11/24 | 13 comments

Christa Lenssen, Olympia's Housing Program senior specialist, presented a chart from the Washington State Department of Commerce reflecting the correlation that homelessness also rose when rental prices increased.

Olympia modifies, extends rental housing regulations

In a unanimous vote, the Olympia City Council approved a first reading that would lead to additional rental housing policies with some tweaks on key elements. The additional elements would … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/10/24 | 11 comments

Puget Sound Energy’s Senior Local Government Affairs Representative Kristine Rompa (right) briefed Thurston’s Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) for the facility’s features and goals.

Puget Sound Energy aims to be carbon-neutral by 2030

“Climate change is an existential threat that cannot be ignored, and we are doing our part to move further and faster to save our planet,” said Puget Sound Energy (PSE) President and CEO … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/9/24 | 4 comments