State & Regional News | Thurston Chronicle

State-by-state figures from monthly utility bill data show, on average, American households paid roughly $110, or 6.4%, more for electricity in 2025, compared to 2024. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Pain of gas prices compounded by electricity rate increases; Washington sees 10% spike

WASHINGTON — Electricity rates “increased significantly” in nearly every U.S. state in 2025, with residents in a dozen states seeing at least a 10% jump, according to a congressional report … more

By Ashley Murray / States Newsroom | 3/17/26

A Lucid showroom in Seattle’s University Village, where potential car buyers can check out the manufacturers’ vehicles, but not test-drive or buy them. (Photo by Tom Banse)

Washington close to letting Rivian and Lucid sell directly to customers at showrooms

Rivian and Lucid could soon be able to sell cars from a showroom in the same way Tesla has done for more than a decade. Late-arriving legislation that sped through the process would open the … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 3/17/26

The state ferry Chelan was the only Washington ferry qualified for international crossings. But its certification has now lapsed. (Photo courtesy of WSDOT)

Washington State Ferries enters seventh season without cross-border service to Canada

In her two years as the Anacortes Town Crier, Julie Nester has proclaimed and oyez, oyez, oyez’d at the community’s Christmas tree lighting, the Fourth of July parade and sister cities golf … more

By Tom Banse / The Washington State Standard | 3/17/26

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson makes remarks during a press conference on the Interstate 5 bridge replacement project on March 17, 2026. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Cost of new I-5 bridge connecting Washington and Oregon doubles to $14.4B

The price tag to construct a new interstate bridge linking Washington and Oregon has doubled to $14.4 billion , officials from the two states said Tuesday. That means elements of the massive … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 3/17/26

Joe Kent speaks during a campaign appearance in Clark County during a previous run for Congress.

Joe Kent resigns as U.S. counterterrorism director, says Iran posed ‘no imminent threat’

Two-time Republican Washington Third Congressional District candidate Joe Kent on Tuesday announced his resignation as Trump-appointed director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, citing … more

Cade Barker / CT Publishing | 3/17/26

A homeless encampment with personal belongings and makeshift shelter is seen along a sidewalk in Seattle.

Seattle mayor accelerating plan to reduce homeless population before World Cup

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is accelerating her plan to find interim housing for the homeless with a new goal of getting 500 residents off the streets before the June 15 start of The FIFA World Cup at … more

By Randy Diamond / The Center Square | 3/16/26

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

Concerns about new Washington agency tasked with modernizing energy grid

In the final hours of the 2026 legislative session, majority Democrats pushed through controversial legislation that creates a Washington state transmission authority within the Commerce Department … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 3/16/26

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

'These things are not secrets': Washington GOP lists priority districts for 2026 election

Facing a near supermajority, the chair of the Washington State Republican Party has his eyes on five districts heading into the 2026 election cycle in an attempt to regain some control over Olympia. … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 3/16/26

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

Couture blasts Democrats’ $80 billion budget, warns of cuts to schools, health care

Washington state Rep. Travis Couture said in a news release that majority Democrats just passed one of the most reckless budgets in state history and did it while shutting out the voices of nearly … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/16/26

Sen. Maria Cantwell listens during a roundtable discussion at Cascade Community Healthcare in Centralia on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

Sen. Cantwell-led bipartisan legislation to modernize weather forecasting and research unanimously passes congressional committee

Last week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation passed the bipartisan Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, a news release from Sen. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/16/26

Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, speaks with other senators during the legislative session at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Friday, April 25, 2025.

Ferguson signs two bills by Sen. Jeff Wilson focused on kit homes, rural designation

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed two bills sponsored by 19th Legislative District state Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, over the weekend. One could help promote the construction of small kit homes and the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/16/26

Lawmakers, friends and families video the final gavel on the last day of the legislative session on the House floor on Thursday, March 12, in Olympia.

Winners, losers and takeaways from Washington state’s legislative session

The curtain fell Thursday night on the Washington Legislature’s 60-day session. A lot happened before it did. Passage of Democrats’ income tax on millionaire earners was the big storyline. It … more

By Bill Lucia and Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 3/14/26

Sen. Jessica Bateman, chair of the Senate Housing Committee, leads a meeting Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia, Wash. (Ryan Berry/Washington State Standard)

New Washington state law will make it easier for state to distribute its abortion pill stockpile

Washington earlier this year had to return 30,000 expiring doses from its abortion pill stockpile to the manufacturer. A state law signed Saturday seeks to ensure remaining pills the state … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 3/14/26

An ICE officer detains a handcuffed man in Los Angeles on June 12, 2025. Photo: Tia Dufour / U.S. Department of Homeland Security / Public Domain

Seattle looks to expand its efforts against federal immigration enforcement

Seattle’s battle with federal immigration officials is getting even broader. The Seattle City Council is expected at its March 17 meeting to authorize a review of the city’s policies … more

By Randy Diamond / The Center Square | 3/13/26

In bid for voter data, Trump’s DOJ lays groundwork to undermine confidence in midterms

The U.S. Department of Justice has begun connecting its push to obtain sensitive personal data on millions of voters to whether the upcoming midterm elections will be fair and secure, laying the … more

By Jonathan Shorman / Stateline | 3/13/26

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders waves to the crowd during the Rainier Round-Up Days Parade on Saturday, Aug. 23.

Washington state sheriffs urge partial veto of bill setting new standards for their jobs

Washington sheriffs are pushing Gov. Bob Ferguson to veto parts of a controversial bill that would set new standards for them and could lead to removal from office. In a letter this week, … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 3/13/26

Members of the Nisqually Indian Tribe open the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge with a tribal song on Aug. 15.

State awards $16.8 million for tribal clean energy and resilience projects

The Washington state Department of Commerce this week announced $16.8 million in clean energy grants to support 22 projects in 17 tribal communities across Washington. The awards will also fund … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/13/26

Walsh, Abell say Legislature ignored constitutional warning in passing income tax

Washington state Reps. Hunter Abell, R-Inchelium, and Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, say legislation passed this week following a historic 24-hour floor debate to create a Washington state income tax … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/13/26

From the left, city councilor Clark Gilman, Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne and Mayor Pro Tem Yến Huỳnh listen during a city council meeting at Olympia City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Oly-amory: Olympia becomes first Washington city to pass polyamory protections

Relationship rights advocates in the Pacific Northwest are pushing to establish legal protections for people who are polyamorous or in other nontraditional relationship structures. In Olympia, … more

By Nate Sanford / Murrow News | 3/13/26

Legislators, family members and friends join lawmakers on the House floor to celebrate the last day of the legislative session on Thursday, March 12, in Olympia.

Washington state legislative session ends with budgets passed and a dash of drama

The Washington Legislature concluded its 2026 session Thursday evening after passing a batch of budgets and navigating late-breaking drama over the elimination of a data center tax break that … more

By Jerry Cornfield, Jake Goldstein-Street and Aspen Ford / Washington State Standard | 3/13/26