State & Regional News | Thurston Chronicle

Rising costs have led state leaders in Washington and Oregon to pursue the building of a new bridge on I-5 across the Columbia River in phases. It has made for an unclear timeline for extending light rail into Vancouver, frustrating backers of that component. (Grant Stringer/States Newsroom)

‘Light rail to nowhere’? Surging costs undercut I-5 bridge transit plan

A ginormous cost increase to construct a new bridge linking Washington and Oregon is forcing state leaders and program managers to rightsize public expectations for the megaproject. And, some … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 5/29/26

Attorney General Nick Brown greets legislators in the House chambers at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Tuesday, Jan. 13.

DOJ sues four states — including Washington — over denial of undercover license plates to federal agents

The U.S. Department of Justice filed separate federal lawsuits Wednesday against Washington, Oregon, Maine and Massachusetts, escalating a clash between the Trump administration and Democratic-led … more

By Andrew Paxton / The Center Square | 5/28/26

Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, speaks during a House floor debate on SB 6346 on Tuesday, March 10, in Olympia.

More calls to reform child welfare law after death of Grays Harbor County boy, 4

The death of a 4-year-old boy whose body was located in a shallow grave this month in Aberdeen draws disturbing parallels to another child death case also tied to the Washington state Department of … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 5/28/26

A Safeway grocery store in Salem on May 12, 2026. Safeway and its parent company Albertsons were listed more than any other company on SNAP recipients’ income verification forms.

Oregonians using SNAP benefits most frequently listed big grocery, retail companies as employer

Oregonians who received federal aid to pay for their groceries last year frequently reported working for the nation’s largest grocery and retail corporations, according to a Capital Chronicle … more

By Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 5/28/26

The Crater Lake newt, or Mazama newt, pictured here is endemic to Crater Lake in southern Oregon. The population has plummeted in recent decades due to predation from crayfish that were first introduced in the late 1800s, and whose numbers have exploded as the lake’s temperature rises due to climate change.

Feds agree to decide on endangered species protections for Crater Lake newt by October

An imperiled newt only found in and around southern Oregon’s Crater Lake may soon be protected under the Endangered Species Act following a three-year legal battle. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife … more

By Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 5/28/26

A sign for the White River School District with the district office behind.

Washington kindergarten teacher placed on leave amid allegations involving girl

An Elk Ridge Elementary kindergarten teacher is on administrative leave as the White River School District investigates allegations of inappropriate conduct with a child, police records and … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 5/27/26

Petitions for an initiative aimed at repealing Washington state's new income tax measure.

Let’s Go WA breaks week-one signature record for income tax repeal initiative

One week into the signature gathering campaign, more than 92,000 Washington voters have signed petitions for an initiative aimed at repealing the new income tax. “There has been record … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 5/27/26

Residents work on their homework in a room where they receive internet access for online courses through Centralia College at Green Hill School in Chehalis on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Afternoon on ‘The Hill’ Part II: Green Hill School superintendent talks staffing, recreation, healthcare

Editor’s note: For the first installment in this two-part series, visit https://tinyurl.com/3st952d6 . On May 13, Eddie A. Zavala, a 38-year-old from Olympia, was sentenced to six months … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 5/27/26

A gray wolf in snow. (Eric Cole/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

WDFW authorizes killing of one wolf after suspected cattle attacks

Washington will permit the killing of a single gray wolf in the state’s northeastern corner following three suspected attacks on livestock. The incidents took place in the Aladdin Valley, a … more

By Aspen Ford / The Washington State Standard | 5/27/26

Judge sides with Washington in dispute over $4M grant canceled during DOGE era

A federal judge in Seattle on Tuesday ruled the Trump administration wrongfully terminated a $4 million grant for Washington meant to provide services for new migrants. The case is somewhat of a … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 5/27/26

Uthmeier can’t file his lawsuit against California and Washington for licensing Harjinder Singh, the U.S. Supreme Court says. (Via Collins’ X account)

Supreme Court rejects Florida lawsuit against Washington over immigrant truck driver licensing

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s attempt to sue California and Washington for licensing an undocumented truck driver accused of killing three … more

By Liv Caputo / Florida Phoenix | 5/26/26

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs answers questions during a Legislative Media Day at the Washington state Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Olympia.

Washington Secretary of State turns over unredacted attorney client privileged record after appeal

The Washington Secretary of State’s (SOS) Office has turned over unredacted attorney client privileged emails to The Center Square after it appealed the redactions of communication between SOS and … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 5/26/26

One year later, how Washington’s controversial cap on rent hikes has been enforced

A year into Washington’s limit on residential rent increases , the state has yet to collect a cent in civil penalties from landlords. That’s not to say some haven’t violated the law. … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 5/26/26

People gather near Pushpum, a site sacred to Columbia River tribes near Goldendale, Wash. on Friday, May 8, 2026. Leaders from the Yakama Nation, as well as nonprofit environmental groups, are hoping to stop the development of a pumped storage energy project which they say will threaten the site, the seeds and roots tribal members harvest from it as well as wetlands, groundwater and wildlife in the area. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

‘Going green now for who?’ Yakama protest clean energy project on sacred site to power data center

GOLDENDALE, Wash. – High up on the Washington side of the Columbia River near the John Day hydroelectric dam, members of the Yakama Nation gathered to protest a clean energy storage project slated … more

By Alex Baumhardt / The Oregon Capital Chronicle | 5/25/26

A man gets a checkup at the Saint Agnes Mobile Health Unit mobile clinic parked at the City Heritage Park in Parlier, Calif., on May 16, 2025. California is one of at least five states plus the District of Columbia that have scaled back state-funded healthcare coverage in response to federal Medicaid cuts and the expiration of Obamacare subsidies.

States that cover healthcare for immigrants scale back

Budget constraints are forcing liberal-leaning states that spend their own money on healthcare for noncitizens to scale back that aid, as they grapple with federal Medicaid cuts and the expiration of … more

By Shalina Chatlani / Stateline | 5/24/26

State Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton, sought to have an ethics complaint dismissed this week. The Legislative Ethics Board denied her request and will hold a public hearing on the allegations next month. (Photo courtesy of Legislative Support Services)

Washington lawmaker’s attempt to get ethics charges dismissed is rejected

A state ethics board has declined to dismiss an ethics complaint against Washington state Rep. Tarra Simmons, setting the stage for the wide-ranging allegations to be contested in a public hearing … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 5/23/26

House Finance Chair April Berg, D-Mill Creek, during a Jan. 22, 2026 committee hearing on House Bill 2100 to levy a payroll tax on larger companies with highly paid employees. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)

The brewing battle to be Washington’s next House speaker

The leader of the powerful Washington state House committee that oversees tax policy is mounting a challenge to Speaker Laurie Jinkins for leadership of the majority Democratic caucus. Rep. … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 5/23/26

Investigation into Grays Harbor County boy’s death continues

The investigation into the death of a young boy found in the backyard of a residence of a family member is active and ongoing according to Aberdeen and Grays Harbor County authorities. Aberdeen … more

By Jerry Knaak / The Daily World | 5/23/26

Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, listens during a House floor debate on SB 6346 on Tuesday, March 10, in Olympia.

Christian foster parents win major First Amendment settlement in case against DCYF

Washington’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families has agreed to a permanent injunction that will bar state officials from forcing foster families to embrace gender ideology for children in … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 5/22/26

A designated electric vehicle parking spot is pictured at the new Mineral Mobility Hub on Friday, May 8, behind the Mineral Lake Market.

Washington public EV bus operators say they face ‘Wild West’ environment with industry

A major challenge facing the public sector transportation sector’s transition from gasoline to electric is what one local transit manager describes as a “Wild West” environment for the … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 5/21/26