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

Ballots mailed to registered voters for Feb. 10 Special Election

The Thurston County Auditor's Office Elections Division said it mailed out more than 92,000 ballots for the Feb. 10 Special ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 1/21/26

A screenshot of footage filmed by Thurston County Commissioner Emily Close showed the location of an alleged domestic violence incident in the Lacey area on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.

Footage of crime scene location sparks response from Thurston County Sheriff

An alleged domestic violence incident fanned the flames of federal government intervention when a local elected official posted live footage on social media ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 1/20/26 | 13 comments

High-speed chase hits speeds of 125 mph

An attempted traffic stop by a Thurston County Sheriff's Office deputy turned into a high-speed chase that was eventually ... … more

By The JOLT News Staff | 1/20/26 | 2 comments

Thurston Regional Planning Council Planning Manager Allison Osterberg briefed the Transportation Policy Board on federal transportation reauthorization, including potential gas adjustments, at a meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.

Transportation Policy Board gets update on federal reauthorization process

With federal transportation funding set for renegotiation in September, members of the Transportation Policy Board are prioritizing safety ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/19/26

Subfreezing overnight lows ahead in Thurston County

Sub-freezing overnight lows coupled with dense fog should make for some bone-chilling conditions this week in Thurston ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 1/19/26

A naloxone awareness billboard stood above the Steamboat Trading Post in Thurston County. The Friends for Life campaign ran at multiple highway locations in 2025.

Opioid Response Plan endorsed by Thurston County Board of Health

The Thurston County Board of Health unanimously passed an opioid response plan covering ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/19/26 | 1 comment

The State of the Community 2026, which was hosted by the Thurston County Chamber and sponsored by Puget Sound Energy, took place before more than 250 attendees at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.

Elected officials weigh in at State of the Community event in Lacey

An annual gathering of elected officials served as a platform to showcase the successes local governments achieved last year, but it also ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 1/16/26 | 1 comment

Thurston County Food Bank Executive Director John Ficker, center, holds the Poverty Awareness Month proclamation alongside Thurston County Board of Health members at a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.

Thurston County Board of Health proclaims January as Poverty Awareness Month

Food bank visits in Thurston County surged 30% between September and November 2025, with up to 25% of visitors seeking assistance for the first ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/15/26 | 3 comments

Sheriff's office seeking information on homicide case in 2007

The Thurston County Sheriff's Office is turning to the public for information on the murder of Karen Bodine in January ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 1/15/26

Intercity Transit and the City of Lacey are partnering for a demonstration project to test AI-enabled traffic sensors in Lacey Transit Center and Martin Way. The sensors would track movement along the corridor to generate data for improving safety and operations.

Intercity Transit, Lacey partner on monitoring project to improve safety, operations on Martin Way

Intercity Transit is partnering with the City of Lacey to install and operate artificial intelligence-enabled sensors at 10 intersections near the Lacey ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/14/26 | 3 comments

Large woody debris and log jams placed along an 18-mile stretch slow storm flows to create shelter for juvenile salmon in upper Deschutes River.

Thurston County seeks $10 million to accelerate salmon habitat restoration

Thurston County’s salmon recovery work is moving forward on multiple tracks despite uncertainty about ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/13/26 | 4 comments

Port of Olympia Commissioners Krag Unsoeld, left, Jerry Toompas, Jasmine Vasavada, Joel Hansen and Sarah Montano, along with Executive Director Alex Smith and legal counsel Chris Pierce-Wright, held their first meeting of the year on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.

Port of Olympia Commission reelects Jasmine Vasavada as president

Port of Olympia Commissioner Jasmine Vasavada was reelected as commission president for 2026, marking her second consecutive year in the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/13/26 | 6 comments

Vehicle pursuits end with arrests by Thurston County law enforcement authorities

A couple of pursuits that involved Thurston County Sheriff's Office personnel did not end well for two scofflaws on Monday ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 1/13/26 | 4 comments

The James P. Werner Monitoring Station was placed at Mountain View Elementary School in Lacey in August 2025. The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency named the facility after its first air quality monitoring specialist.

ORCAA notes 2025 accomplishments, including wins in Thurston County

Multiple wins hit the books for the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) in 2025. Locally, a renamed Lacey air monitoring station, ongoing ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/13/26 | 1 comment

Warmer temperatures, dense fog in the Thurston County forecast

Unseasonably warm temperatures are going to heat up the local landscape over the next few days with daytime highs in the ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 1/12/26

An Intercity Transit Authority bus awaited departure at the Olympia Transit Center in downtown Olympia on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.

Intercity Transit Authority backs purchase of new call center software

The Intercity Transit Authority authorized Executive Director Emily Bergkamp to sign a $140,000 contract with RingCentral to acquire a ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/12/26

K-9 Igo of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.

Assault, robbery suspect tracked down by local authorities in Yelm area

A suspect wanted for an assault in connection with an alleged robbery last year was taken into custody on ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 1/7/26 | 4 comments

An unidentified homeless person sheltered under a tarp in a doorway during the Valentine's Day snow in 2024.

Thurston County seeks volunteers and donations for 2026 Point-In-Time homeless count

Thurston County is calling on community members to volunteer and donate items for the upcoming 2026 Point-In-Time (PIT) Count ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/6/26 | 4 comments

The Thurston County Board of Health, as seen at a meeting in December 2025. One student could soon join the board as a youth representative.

Youth voice wanted on Thurston County Board of Health

A youth representative seat is now open on the Thurston County Board of Health for students currently in 9th grade through college ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/6/26

Wintry weather on tap in Thurston County

A wintry mix of rain and snow is on the radar for Thurston County, as a cold front makes its way toward the ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 1/6/26