State & Regional News | Thurston Chronicle

The U.S. Supreme Court building pictured April 9, 2026. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)

U.S. Supreme Court will hear challenge to Washington state runaway youth law

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it will consider the legality of a Washington law to protect runaway transgender youth that opponents contend tramples on parental rights. Justices will … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 6/29/26

Nisqually Indian Tribe member pleads guilty to decades of child sexual abuse

A Nisqually Indian Tribe member pleaded guilty on June 23 to decades of child sexual abuse. Marcus Jerome Douglas entered his plea in U.S. District Court in Tacoma. He awaits a sentencing … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 6/29/26

A memorial sign for Sam Williams Jr. of Morton stands along the side of U.S. Highway 12 near Mayfield Lake on Thursday, Feb 20, 2025, cautioning motorists to pay attention when driving through construction zones. Williams was struck and killed by an inattentive motorist on Feb. 22, 2000, while working as a Washington state Department of Transportation flagger in a work zone on Highway 12.

Speed camera fines to increase in work zones beginning July 1

An important safety tool for Washington drivers and road crews will soon enter a new phase with a steeper penalty for its first infraction, announced a news release from the Washington state … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/29/26

U.S. Supreme Court deals blow to Trump, ruling states can accept ballots after Election Day

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that states can count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, a blow to the Trump administration and some Republican states that had urged the justices to … more

By Jonathan Shorman / States Newsroom | 6/29/26

As previously reported, 29-year-old Nicholas Dillon, of Elma, died from his injuries after colliding with a guardrail at the north end of the U.S. Highway 101 weigh station with his 2010 Harley Davidson motorcycle. He leaves behind his fiancée, Malynn Stevens, and their two young boys, Hudson (4) and Watson (2). He was the sole provider for his family for many years, and they are now facing an unimaginable loss and a very uncertain road ahead. Family is asking for any support to help Malynn and the boys as they navigate this next chapter without him.

Grays Harbor County coroner issues report on fatal motorcycle crash

On Saturday, June 20, the Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office was called to the area of the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and state Route 107 for a fatal motorcycle accident that happened … more

The Daily World | 6/29/26

The Washington state Capitol is pictured from Heritage Park in Olympia on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Eight years later, quiet opt-out rules can't stop millions saved in union dues

Saturday June 27 marks eight years since the landmark Janus v. AFSCME decision where the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that public employees have a right to join — or not join — a union. Since … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 6/29/26

Lt. Gov. Denny Heck speaks during a Welcome Home Ceremony for Vietnam War veterans at The Wall That Heals at Chambers Prairie Elementary in Lacey on Thursday, June 25.

Lt. Gov. Denny Heck calls for unity during America250 celebrations despite political divisions

We’re just over one week away from America’s 250th anniversary celebration, and Washington state is joining in on the national festivities. July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 6/29/26

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown speaks at a news conference.

Washington AG told Secretary of State to release attorney client privileged emails as ‘middle ground’

The Washington State Attorney General’s Office (AGO) advised its client, the Secretary of State’s Office (SOS), to release attorney-client privileged communications unredacted as a “middle … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 6/29/26

Workers with the Kittitas County Fuels Crew throw vegetation into a wood chipper near Roslyn, Wash. (Photo by Aspen Ford/Washington State Standard)

Trying to prevent a catastrophic blaze in a fire-prone part of Washington

On a dry day in mid-June, a 13-person crew slashed down small trees, limbs and bushes outside of a home near Roslyn, Washington. The workers, part of the Kittitas County Fuels Crew, are … more

By Aspen Ford / The Washington State Standard | 6/29/26

The Washington state Capitol in Olympia.

Seattle mayor endorses challenger to Washington state Senate majority leader

The democratic socialist mayor of Seattle on Saturday night endorsed opponents running to the left of two longtime Democratic state legislators who represent the city, including the party’s top … more

Bill Lucia / Washington State Standard | 6/27/26

Ashley Novella, an ecologist with the Anchorage Soil and Water Conservation District, removes mewly sprouting chokecherry seedings during a volunteer weed pull on June 17, 2026, along Anchorage's Lanie Fleisher Chester Creek Trail. Chokecherry trees, brought to Alaska as ornamentals, are aggressive invaders and have crowded out natural plants in parts of Anchorage and other communities. The ANchoraeg Soil and Water Conservation District is part of the Alaska Invasive Species Partnership, which advocated for a bill that would have established an invasive species council in the state Department of Fish and Game.

Governor vetoes Alaska bills on invasive species management, plastic food containers

Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Thursday vetoed two environmental-protection bills that had passed with broad bipartisan support from legislators. Dunleavy vetoed a bill to establish an invasive species … more

Yereth Rosen / Alaska Beacon | 6/27/26

Idaho Behavioral Health Council asks lawmakers to prioritize rural communities with opioid funding

A state advisory council will urge the Idaho Legislature to use its opioid settlement funds to target rural communities next year as it considers a number of project proposals. The Idaho … more

Laura Guido / Idaho Capital Sun | 6/27/26

The Centralia coal plant hasn’t operated since last December, but is required to remain on standby by order of the Trump Administration. Its owner, TransAlta Corporation, wants reimbursement. Electric ratepayers across the Pacific Northwest could end up paying.

The tab to keep a Pacific Northwest coal plant on standby keeps rising. Who will pay?

Electric utilities across the Pacific Northwest are fuming that their customers might be saddled with the costs of a coal-burning power plant that isn’t producing any power. The messy dispute … more

Tom Banse / Washington State Standard | 6/27/26

An algae bloom forms around Ross Island Lagoon in the Willamette River in August 2025.

Researchers say they have a solution for Willamette River algal bloom. What’s stopping it?

The algal bloom that forms each summer around Ross Island in the Willamette River south of downtown Portland is expected to be especially bad this year. A potent combination of high temperatures … more

Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 6/27/26

Open Democracy, a New Hampshire voting rights group, has spent several years working to improve the registration rate among 18-year-olds. Shown are New Hampshire voters.

When teens drive less, they don’t register to vote. Here’s how civic groups are adapting

American teens are driving less than in previous decades, prompting civic advocates to warn that fewer young people may register to vote. Yet at least one state — New Hampshire — offers … more

Jonathan Shorman / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 6/27/26

States’ approaches toward street homelessness have included imposing camping bans on public lands, setting mandates for local governments to enforce those bans and, in some cases, allowing property owners to sue their local government if they do not comply with enforcement of statewide camping bans.

2 years after Grants Pass, 14 states, 350 cities have tougher laws on street homelessness

Two years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Grants Pass v. Johnson decision — which allowed governments to enforce public camping bans without violating the Eighth Amendment prohibition on … more

Robbie Sequeira / Stateline | 6/27/26

Washington State Capitol - January 30, 2026.

Capital gains tax surge eases but doesn’t solve Washington state budget woes

A windfall of capital gains tax payments is providing temporary relief for Washington’s budget, but other collections are down, and lawmakers still expect to face financial difficulties next year. … more

Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard | 6/27/26

The proposed flow-through dam on the Chehalis River near Pe Ell is pictured in this rendering from the Chehalis River Flood Control District.

Chehalis River Flood Control Zone pushes for delayed flood project to include updated designs

A delay to the environmental impact study on the proposed flow-through dam near Pe Ell is also delaying a decision on whether to endorse the project, or some other large-scale flood project, for the … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 6/26/26

A construction crew works outside a new development in Boise. Idaho leads the nation in population growth and housing growth metrics.

Idaho leads the nation in housing growth. The data shows it’s still not enough.

For the second year in a row, Idaho had the highest housing unit growth rate in the nation — boasting a 2.1% increase in its housing stock in 2025, according to the Idaho Department of Labor. But … more

Abigail Gerstein / Idaho Capital Sun | 6/26/26

Yakama Nation Fisheries staff encouraged attendees of the 5th annual Yakama Nation Lamprey Celebration to try touching the eel-like fish. The event held along the Willamette River in Oregon City on June 25, 2026 brought out hundreds of people. Pacific lamprey are an ancient and culturally significant species for many Northwest tribes.

Hundreds turn out to Willamette River for Yakama Nation lamprey celebration

Several hundred people turned out along the Willamette River on Thursday to celebrate a fish often misunderstood for its style but long revered for its substance. Pacific lamprey, a jawless fish … more

Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 6/26/26