State & Regional News | Thurston Chronicle

Western wildfire could be latest climate disaster to unsettle property insurance market

As Washington state reels from a devastating wildfire that destroyed hundreds of homes in Spokane last weekend, experts say the disaster has cast newfound uncertainty over a property insurance market … more

Alex Brown / Stateline | 8/6/26

Trump urges US Senate to pass bill making daylight saving time permanent

President Donald Trump is urging Republican senators to “release their holds” and pass a measure making daylight saving time permanent nationwide. A bipartisan bill passed the … more

Shauneen Miranda / States Newsroom | 8/6/26

The Washington state Capitol in Olympia.

Leaderboard jostled in Washington state legislative races with latest vote tally

A second day of ballot counting didn’t go well for a former Washington state lawmaker pursuing a comeback, but it did for a Republican legislator seeking a second term. Across the state, … more

Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard | 8/6/26

Construction officially began in Florida on Wednesday on the first new Washington state ferry in more than a decade. When it’s completed, the hybrid-electric vessel is expected to serve the Mukilteo-Clinton route, seen here. (Photo by Tom Banse)

Ferry construction begins in Florida on Washington’s new hybrid-electric vessels

Top brass from Washington State Ferries gathered Wednesday at a shipyard in Panama City, Florida, for a maritime ceremony that has been all too rare lately for the agency. They celebrated the cutting … more

By Tom Banse / The Washington State Standard | 8/5/26

Brent Hennrich, left, and U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

Democrat Brent Hennrich won’t support MGP in Third Congressional District race

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 the general election. Hennrich earned over 16% of the … more

8/5/26

United Ways of the Pacific Northwest mobilizes to help families displaced by Spokane-area wildfires

The Old Trails Fire, part of a fast-moving cluster of blazes now known as the Spokane Complex, had burned more than 3,500 acres since erupting west of Spokane on the afternoon of Aug. 1, driving … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/5/26

A bald eagle swoops down onto Fort Borst Lake in Centralia to snatch a fish.

Southwest Washington man charged with killing bald eagle

A 66-year-old resident of Brush Prairie in Southwest Washington was charged by criminal information with violating federal law by killing a bald eagle, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/5/26

Kristen Welker, host of NBC’s Meet the Press, interviews Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis and Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox during the summer meeting of the National Governors Association in Oklahoma City. Governors called for a rebalancing of state and federal power sharing.

Governors and lawmakers say they’re getting serious about states’ rights

State leaders of both parties say the federal government — including the president — wields too much power, and they want to see more authority returned to the states. Bipartisan groups of … more

Kevin Hardy / Stateline | 8/5/26

Republican Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney, left, and Democrat John Duresky, right, are poised to advance to the November general election in the race to replace retiring Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse in central Washington’s 4th Congressional District.

McKinney leads in race to replace Washington state Rep. Dan Newhouse

A Republican backed by President Donald Trump emerged Tuesday as the frontrunner in the central Washington race to succeed a retiring GOP congressman who voted to impeach the president. … more

Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard | 8/5/26

The Temple of Justice in Olympia, Washington where the state Supreme Court convenes.

Incumbents ahead in three Washington state Supreme Court races

Washington state Supreme Court incumbents, including two new appointees of Gov. Bob Ferguson, were leading after early primary voting results were reported Tuesday night. And a King County … more

Jake Goldstein-Street / Washington State Standard | 8/5/26

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, left, and state Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia.

MGP, Braun neck-and-neck in closely watched race for Congress

The political favorites are leading the pack of nine candidates in the race to represent Washington’s Third Congressional District as preliminary primary election results were released on … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/4/26

Spokane firefighters respond to fires in the region.

Spokane authorities detained, released suspect before arrest on arson charge

A suspect is in custody on suspicion of arson in the start of the Old Trails Fire in Spokane, after authorities had previously detained him near where the fire started before releasing him. At a … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 8/4/26

An explosion of data center facilities, including the one pictured here in Umatilla County on May 18, 2026, have been built in Oregon along the Columbia River Gorge during the last few years.

Democratic lawmakers propose three-year moratorium on new large data centers in Oregon

Four Oregon Democratic lawmakers, and two hopefuls, are calling for a three-year moratorium on new data centers in the state in response to growing public concern over energy and water demand, … more

Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 8/4/26

Spokane mayor: 'Could be weeks' before people can return home after fires

Gov. Bob Ferguson said Monday that federal support is en route to Spokane, as roughly 1,000 personnel fight three fires, which he called among the worst in the history of the region. Ferguson … more

Tim Clouser | The Center Square | 8/4/26

Wildfire veterans fear federal tactics, extreme fires could put crews at risk

As millions of acres burn across the western United States, some wildland fire veterans are fearful that aggressive fire suppression tactics ordered by the Trump administration — coupled with … more

Alex Brown / Stateline | 8/4/26

It’s primary election day in Washington State. Here’s what you need to know

Washington voters on Tuesday will start to winnow the competition in hundreds of local, state and federal races in this busy election cycle. All 98 seats in the state House and 24 in the Senate … more

Jake Goldstein-Street / Washington State Standard | 8/4/26

Attorney General Nick Brown waves to lawmakers during a joint legislative session in the House chambers at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

SNAP benefits for immigrants lawsuit launches in blue states

New York Attorney General Leticia James is leading a group of Democrats suing the Trump administration over a requirement to turn over personal information about SNAP recipients. Washington … more

By Chris Wade / The Center Square | 8/3/26

Spokane Valley Engine 12 arrives at the Autumn Lane Fire on Monday.

Three Spokane fires total $3.45M in firefighting costs so far as feds step in

With three fires in northern Spokane costing an estimated $3.45 million to fight as of Monday morning, Gov. Bob Ferguson has requested additional emergency assistance from the Trump Administration … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 8/3/26

Windmills are seen on the horizon, above fields, in south-central, Washington. Known for agriculture, the area has become a hotbed for clean energy projects and interest in building data centers is also rising. (Photo by Emma Renly)

Rising tension in central Washington as farmland is eyed for energy and data center projects

The Facebook post shows an AI-generated image of two farmers staring into the distance at golden hour, overlaid with the text “local landowners deserve a say.” It’s a reference to where … more

By Emma Renly / The Washington State Standard | 8/3/26

Spokane fires destroy hundreds of structures

Wildfires swept into Spokane on Saturday, burning hundreds of buildings in and around Washington’s second-largest city. About 700 structures, including homes, had been destroyed, according to … more

By Bill Lucia / The Washington State Standard | 8/3/26