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

Brandon Weedon was selected by the Tumwater City Council to fill in a council seat vacated by new Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff.

Tumwater City Council selects local business owner Brandon Weedon to fill vacant seat

The Tumwater City Council selected local business owner and youth sports coach Brandon Weedon to fill the council seat vacated by new Mayor ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/14/26

Vehicles motored along the 4th Avenue Bridge in Olympia on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 8, 2026.

Olympia City Council calls for study of speed safety cameras

In a unanimous vote, the Olympia City Council directed the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee to research the potential use ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/8/26 | 17 comments

Paul Simmons is the new Tumwater City Administrator.

Tumwater hires Paul Simmons as city administrator

The Tumwater City Council confirmed Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff’s appointment of Paul Simmons as the new city administrator at a meeting ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/8/26 | 1 comment

Paul Berendt, the newest member of the Olympia City Council, took the oath of office at a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2025.

Olympia City Council holds ceremonial swearing in of newly elected member

In a ceremonial swearing in, Paul Berendt took his seat as the newest member of the Olympia City Council, where he outlined his commitment ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/7/26

City of Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder, top left, and three city council members were sworn in at the council's first meeting of the year on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. Ryder and council members Carolyn Cox, top right, Maren Turner, bottom left, and Ryan Siu, bottom right, took their oaths from City Attorney David Schneider at Lacey City Hall.

Lacey City Council members sworn in at first meeting of 2026

The City of Lacey opened 2026 with four oaths of office and a seventh mayoral term for Andy ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/7/26

Leatta Dahlhoff was sworn in as the new mayor of Tumwater at a city council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026.

Tumwater Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff, new council member seated

The new mayor of Tumwater and three city council members were sworn in during a ceremony on ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/7/26

A 10-foot-wide strip of right-of-way along the south side of Garfield Avenue, abutting West Bay Drive, is being considered for residential development.

Olympia City Council signals policy review on right-of-way vacation

The Olympia City Council is signaling a future policy discussion on right-of-way vacations after a vote to advance a Garfield Avenue ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/2/26 | 3 comments

Vehicles stacked up on 4th Avenue waiting for the red light to change at Capitol Way in downtown Olympia on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025.

Olympia City Council approves traffic safety enforcement agreement with state

The Olympia City Council approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) to ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 12/29/25 | 2 comments

Swearing-in ceremony on tap for elected officials in Tumwater

A swearing-in ceremony is going to be held for the City of Tumwater mayor-elect, a new city council member and her colleagues next ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 12/29/25 | 5 comments

Lacey City Council members deliberated on the 2026 spending plan at its meeting on Dec. 16, 2025, before voting unanimously to adopt the $224.9 million budget package.

City of Lacey’s 2026 budget gets full council support

All seven Lacey City Council members backed the municipality's spending blueprint for fiscal year 2026, opting to pull from reserves and spare ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 12/26/25 | 2 comments

A City of Lacey presentation shows indigent defense caseload limits dropping from 400 cases per attorney in 2025 to 120 by 2035 under Supreme Court order No. 25700-A-1644.

Lacey City Council adheres to court mandate on indigent defense loads

The Lacey City Council voted to overhaul public defender caseload limits in response to a Washington State Supreme Court mandate that ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 12/19/25 | 3 comments

Jim Cooper, who served 15 years on the Olympia City Council, received a standing ovation from his colleagues at a meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.

Olympia City Council honors Jim Cooper, as he steps away from the governing body

Jim Cooper wrapped up 15 years of service on the Olympia City Council on Tuesday, Dec. 16, as colleagues and city leaders paid tribute ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 12/19/25 | 2 comments

Tenant screening reforms advance in City of Olympia

In a 6-1 vote, the Olympia City Council advanced a proposed ordinance that would limit income-to-rent requirements and prohibit landlords ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 12/17/25 | 11 comments

Community Planning and Economic Development Planning Manager Joyce Phillips presented the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan at a council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.

Olympia City Council adopts 2045 Comprehensive Plan

The Olympia City Council unanimously approved the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan, a long-range vision that will guide the city’s ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 12/10/25

The proposed 2026 spending plan for the City of Lacey is $224,954,147.

Lacey’s nearly $225M budget for 2026 sails through final hearing

The City of Lacey's proposed budget got $91.8 million lighter for 2026 after major construction moved toward completion and one-time ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 12/4/25 | 3 comments

Dozens of people showed up outside of Olympia City Hall to protest the use of Flock cameras on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025.

Olympia to remove Flock cameras amid federal data misuse concerns

The City of Olympia is moving to suspend and remove its Flock Safety automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras after a local law ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 12/3/25 | 21 comments

The Olympia City Council reviewed the city’s final 2026 budget during an online meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.

Olympia City Council set to adopt 2026 budget with new taxes, position reductions

New revenue tools and department position cuts are expected to be adopted by the Olympia City Council in order to close a $6.5 million ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 12/1/25 | 3 comments

City of Olympia Community Planning and Economic Development Director Susan McLaughlin presented an ordinance that calls for extending a public health emergency on houselessness. She made the call at a meeting of the Olympia City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.

Olympia City Council extends public health emergency ordinance on houselessness

The Olympia City Council unanimously approved an ordinance extending the city’s public health emergency on ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 11/24/25 | 16 comments

Community Planning and Economic Development Director Susan McLaughlin discussed proposed additional staffing for Olympia’s Rental Registry Program during a city council meeting on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025.

Olympia seeks higher compliance in Rental Registry Program, additional staff sought

The City of Olympia is seeking to improve compliance with its Rental Registry Program, aiming to register at least 63% of all rental units to make it financially ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 11/13/25 | 16 comments

Olympia City Council to vote on 0.1% public safety tax

The Olympia City Council is set to vote on a new public safety sales tax that would increase the city’s total sales tax rate to 9.9% and generate an estimated ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 11/7/25 | 12 comments