A look back at some of the top stories in 2025

The road through 2025 was paved with stories that resonated deeply with readers of The JOLT News. From the trials and tribulations of a county commissioner to political protests and rallies, it was a healthy news year in Thurston County.

While it would be easy to rely on data to let folks in on what stories generated the largest number of readers, the impact of a story can be measured in other ways.

Sometimes, seeing is believing. And nothing stood out more than the “No Kings” protests at the Washington State Capitol Campus in Olympia. 

The first “No Kings” protest drew thousands of people, who lashed out against the actions and policies set forth by President Donald J. Trump in the infancy of his second term. The protest, organized locally by Olympia Indivisible, was one of more than 2,000 that took place across the country in mid-June.

The steps of the Capitol Building were covered with protesters holding signs that included “No Faux-King Way” and “No royalty in a people’s republic.” On the Capitol Building, pillars with banners painted by organizers spelled out, “RESIST.”

The second “No Kings” protest appeared to draw even more people to the Capitol Campus. It was one of more than 2,700 that took place across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and cities worldwide. Organizers said more than 7 million people participated in the rallies in mid-October.

There were also a number of other politically-fueled events during the year, including the “50501 Movement” rally and “Not My Presidents Day” protest at the Capitol Campus in February, as well as the “March for Families” on the streets of Olympia in July. 

Sanctuary City

The actions and policies enacted in the early part of the Trump administration wreaked havoc across the country and locally, where governing bodies found themselves pushing back against the federal government.

The upheaval led the Olympia City Council to reaffirm its status as a Sanctuary City amid growing community concerns over reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were operating within the city at the beginning of summer.

While Olympia’s Sanctuary City status cannot prevent ICE from operating locally, city officials reiterated that local government and the Olympia Police Department would not cooperate with ICE, including sharing information.

The move came several months after the city council unanimously voted in January to declare Olympia a sanctuary for individuals of all sexual orientations and sexual identities, further cementing its status as a Sanctuary City.

Near the end of 2025, the Olympia City Council further solidified its position as it moved to suspend and remove Flock Safety automated license plate recognition cameras after a local law enforcement official recommended pausing the system due to community concerns and potential federal data misuse.

The homeless

The plight of the homeless in Thurston County, particularly in Olympia, has been documented through photographs and stories by The JOLT for years. Reporter and photographer JM Simpson has led that effort and continued to do so in 2025 with stories and photos ranging from Joyful Hands Ministries facing a financial crisis to a small community of individuals who live in old sailboats just offshore in West Bay.

Along the way, he also wrote about a man who had been living in his van in a parking lot near Percival Landing and a foundation that offered hope to the homeless one shower at a time. We aim to build on that coverage as we move into 2026, given the scope of the issue and the measures being taken by local governments to address a growing crisis.

County commissioner

The start of 2025 picked up where 2024 left off for Thurston County Commissioner Emily Clouse, who found herself in some hot water for a previous relationship with a former employee.

Late in 2024, she was formally rebuked by fellow commissioners for her alleged misconduct and a local resident filed a recall petition seeking to remove Clouse from office.

A judge later dismissed the petition stating the recall petition failed to satisfy the legal sufficiency requirement of the state law that addresses the issue.

Prior to the recall petition hearing in January 2025, it was disclosed that the county had settled a lawsuit filed by the former employee against the county for $300,000. The lawsuit was releated to allegations of sexual harassment and other actions against the employee by Clouse.

5 years old

The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater (The JOLT) celebrated its fifth anniversary in spring 2025, having been established in May 2020 as a hyper-local news organization publishing weekdays on its website and in a weekday newsletter.

The JOLT News Organization was formed in September 2021 as a nonprofit corporation. The organization received an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter in March 2023, retroactive to Sept. 28, 2021.

Since its formation, The JOLT has published thousands of stories on subjects ranging from people to politics and the environment to homelessness. The JOLT newsletter has grown to the point where more than 8,300 subscribers receive it Monday through Friday.

While there have been growing pains, The JOLT is looking forward to continuing its work in 2026. That’s the business side of things. 

On a personal note, I would like to thank Publisher Daniel Stusser and The JOLT Board of Directors for their support over the past year. I would also like to thank the reporters, columnists and others for their contributions in 2025. And, a special thanks to the readers, subscribers and advertisers who have been along for the ride. 

Wyatt Haupt Jr. is the editor of The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater. He is the former newspaper editor of The Newport News-Times in Newport, Oregon; the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza in Incline Village, Nevada; the Sierra Sun in Truckee, California; The Daily World in Aberdeen, Washington; and, The Garden Island in Lihue, Kauai.