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

The 37th annual Nisqually Watershed Festival takes place on Sept. 26, 2026.

Nisqually Watershed Festival returns for its 37th year

The 37th annual Nisqually Watershed Festival returns on Sept. 26 with animals, science, arts and crafts, music, food and ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 8/24/26

A ballot dropbox in Olympia on March 12, 2024.

Thurston County Canvassing Board certifies Aug. 4 Primary Election results

The race for the Thurston County Commissioner District No. 5 seat will pit an incumbent against a local city councilman in the ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 8/19/26 | 5 comments

Energize Thurston is now in its second year.

Discounted heat pump program enters second year in Thurston County

Energize Thurston, the heat pump campaign for Thurston County, Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, is now in ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 8/18/26

A graphic details how to reduce the likelihood of getting swimmer's itch.

Swimmer's itch surfaces at Clear Lake in Thurston County

The parasite that causes swimmer's itch appears to be present at Clear ... more

By The JOLT Staff | 8/18/26

The veterinary staff at Pasado’s Safe Haven.

JASCOM hears plan for new low-cost spay and neuter clinic in Tumwater

Thurston County pet owners are expected to have another low-cost option for spay and neuter services before the end of the ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 8/17/26 | 4 comments

The Port of Olympia netted $103,011 in the first half of 2026 after general and administrative costs and depreciation.

Olympia Regional Airport’s non-aviation segments key to profit margin

Olympia Regional Airport’s portion of the business that deals with real estate properties helped keep it profitable in the first half of ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/17/26 | 3 comments

A van pool at Timberland Regional Library in Tumwater.

Timberland Regional Library seeks levy lid lift in November

An approximately $14 million infusion of operating revenue is at stake in the Nov. 3 General Election for Timberland Regional Library ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 8/14/26 | 13 comments

Thurston County Board of Health proclaimed August as Immunization Awareness Month at a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026.

Health officials warn of declining vaccination rates in Thurston County

Health officials warned that immunization levels have fallen below the threshold needed to maintain herd immunity, and declining childhood vaccination ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/13/26 | 12 comments

The envelope signature verification area at the Ballot Processing Center in Tumwater on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026.

Clouse remains more than 500 votes behind Martinez-Dunning in District 5 contest

Incumbent Emily Clouse remained more than 500 votes behind challenger Nicolas Martinez-Dunning in the Thurston County Commissioner ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 8/13/26 | 6 comments

Martinez-Dunning holds lead over Clouse in Thurston County Commissioner District 5 race

The gap between challenger Nicolas Martinez-Dunning and incumbent Emily Clouse remained above 500 votes in the Thurston County ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 8/11/26 | 10 comments

Thurston County announced that Natural Resources Program Manager Bryan Benjamin received the WaterNow Alliance 2026 Emerging Leader Award. Courtesy of Thurston County

Thurston County Natural Resources Program Manager Bryan Benjamin honored

Thurston County Natural Resources Program Manager Bryan Benjamin received the WaterNow Alliance 2026 Emerging Leader … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 8/10/26 | 1 comment

Food inspection results in Thurston County — Aug. 10, 2026

Restaurant inspection reports focus on two types of violations: red and ... more

By Vanessa Casabuena | 8/10/26 | 1 comment

Members from the Blue Heron Tribe performing one of their dances inside the longhouse at Nisqually Indian Reservation on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026

'Canoe Journey' 2026 comes to an end

The 2026 Paddle to Nisqually Medicine Creek Potlatch Canoe Journey came to a close early Thursday morning, Aug. 6, following a near ... more

By Keyan Gregoire-James | 8/7/26 | 1 comment

Election workers inspect Aug. 4 Primary Election ballots at the Ballot Processing Center in Tumwater on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026.

Martinez-Dunning extends lead over Clouse in Thurston County Commissioner District 5 contest

The gap between challenger Nicolas Martinez-Dunning and incumbent Emily Clouse has widened to more than 500 votes in the Thurston ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 8/7/26 | 15 comments

Thurston County’s Meridian Road/SE Mullen Road SE Intersection Improvements Project is seeking $5.164 million in STBG funding.

TRPC seeks public input on 2026 transportation grant projects

The Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) is calling on people to review and comment on 21 transportation project proposals submitted for ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/6/26 | 1 comment

Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez speaks to supporters in Woodland, Washington, in 2024.

Liberal Hennrich in 3rd District won’t support Gluesenkamp Perez

Fresh off a losing bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, fellow Democrat Brent Hennrich says he won’t be supporting her in ... more

By Jake Goldstein-Street and Jerry Cornfield | Washington State Standard | 8/6/26 | 7 comments

Elections workers are shown processing ballots at the Ballot Processing Center in Tumwater on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 5, 2026.

UPDATE: Martinez-Dunning, Clouse claim top spots in Commissioner District 5 race

Lacey City Councilman Nicolas Martinez-Dunning and incumbent Emily Clouse finished as the top two candidates in the Thurston County Commissioner ... more

By Keyan Gregoire-James and Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 8/5/26 | 6 comments

A presentation to the Port of Olympia Commission on Dec. 12, 2022, showed a potential site plan for a manufacturing site by Swire, a bottling company for Coca-Cola.

Swire terminates lease with Port of Olympia

Swire, a Coca-Cola bottling company, has terminated its lease with the Port of Olympia for a 95-acre property at Olympia Regional ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/5/26 | 10 comments

Emily Clouse, left, Michelle Gipson and Nicolas Martinez-Dunning.

Clouse and Martinez-Dunning hold top two spots in Thurston County Commissioner District No. 5 race

Incumbent Emily Clouse and Lacey City Councilman Nicolas Martinez-Dunning appear on their way to a showdown for the ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 8/4/26

Thurston County Sheriff Derrick Sanders stood with other local officials at the ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the new Thurston County Sheriff's Office headquarters on Friday, July 31, 2026.

New Thurston County Sheriff's Office headquarters opens in Tumwater

The Thurston County Sheriff's Office has a new place to call ... more

By Keyan Gregoire-James | 8/4/26 | 1 comment