State & Regional News | Thurston Chronicle

Podcaster Brandi Kruse leads a Let’s Go Washington rally supporting initiatives concerning parental rights and barring transgender athletes from participating in girls’ athletics at the Washington state Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Questions persist in debate over media credentials at Washington state Capitol

In March 2025, the Capitol Correspondents Association officially stopped its decades-long role of advising the Washington State Legislature on media credentialing. However, the CCA, a group of … more

By Brett Davis / The Center Square | 3/12/26

Rep. Joe Timmons, D-Bellingham, holds a gavel as assistant speaker pro tem during a House floor debate on SB 6346 on Tuesday, March 10, in Olympia.

Independent business leader says income tax could cripple Washington’s small businesses

The 2026 legislative session in Olympia is wrapping up Thursday, and one of the final pieces of legislation to cross the finish line was the Senate Bill 6346 . Three Democrats joined all … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 3/12/26

State Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, smiles at House Speaker Laurie Jinkins during a Legislative Media Day at the Washington state Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Olympia.

Washington state Dems push through $2B spending increase in final hours of legislative session

In the final hours of the legislative session, state lawmakers passed budgets on Thursday to fill a multi-billion-dollar hole with new taxes, reserves, one-time transfers and some cuts. Budget … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 3/12/26

Gov. Bob Ferguson delivers the State of the State address for the 2026 Legislative session at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Tuesday, Jan. 13.

Income tax bill heads to Gov. Bob Ferguson for signature

Democratic state senators in Washington pushed a state income tax across the legislative finish line Wednesday after Republicans’ last-ditch attempt to derail it failed. On a 27-21 vote, … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 3/12/26

House Speaker Laurie Jinkins raises the gavel on the second day of the Washington state Legislative session in Olympia on Tuesday, Jan. 13.

Washington business leaders fear mass exodus following House income tax vote

The day after majority party Democrats in the Washington state House of Representatives passed, after a 24-hour debate, a tax on annual personal income exceeding $1 million, business organizations … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 3/11/26

Businesses can’t require microchip implants for workers under new Washington law

Injected under the skin, usually between the thumb and index finger, microchip implants can serve as identification or make contactless payments smoother. But Washington workers don’t … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 3/11/26

Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, speaks during a House floor debate on SB 6346 on Tuesday, March 10, in Olympia.

State Dems seek to tap the rainy day fund, cut child care and commit $1B to legal payouts

Democrats in the Washington Legislature released a budget deal Wednesday balanced with one-time maneuvers, siphoning of rainy day reserves and slashing of child care funding. “There will be a … more

By Jerry Cornfield and Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 3/11/26

TransAlta Corporation is keeping its Centralia coal power plant available to operate, as ordered by the Trump administration. But the CEO said it is unlikely to run because of the ample seasonal hydropower supply in the Pacific Northwest. (Photo by Tom Banse)

New targeted tax in Washington aims to keep Centralia coal power plant shut down

Tax legislation Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Wednesday targets the last coal-fired power plant in the Pacific Northwest. But if the coal tax and a related climate pollution fee work as … more

By Tom Banse / The Washington State Standard | 3/11/26

From left, Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, Gary Johnson, Tony “Naschio” Johnson, Mary Johnson and Sam Robinson pose for a photo in the Washington state Senate on Monday.

Senate honors Chinook Indian Nation with resolution in final days of session

Washington state Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, led the Washington state Legislature in honoring the Chinook Indian Nation in the final days of the state's 2026 legislative session this week. On … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/11/26

Protestors hold anti-ICE and anti-Trump signs during the Free America Walkout at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

‘No Kings 3’ protest coming to Washington state Capitol

Olympia Indivisible and Evergreen Resistance, along with coalition partners, have invited the public to attend a third “No Kings” protest at the state Capitol on March 28. “No Thrones, No … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/11/26

David Lee, from Portland, catches a smelt on the Cowlitz River near Longview on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Upcoming changes for hunters, anglers as WDFW modernizes licenses

Beginning July 8, the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will no longer provide hunting and fishing licenses or other license products on waterproof, tear-resistant license paper … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/11/26

Democratic lawmakers watch as the roll is called on final passage of the income tax bill after nearly 25 hours of debate. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard.

After 24-hour debate, Washington state House advances income tax

It took over 24 hours of grinding floor debate, but Democrats in the Washington House approved an income tax Tuesday on households earning over $1 million a year. The state is now closer to … more

By Jerry Cornfield and Bill Lucia / The Washington State Standard | 3/10/26

The Washington state Capitol on April 18, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

Republican in Washington state House draws GOP challenger

An incumbent Washington Republican state lawmaker is facing an intraparty challenge from an associate pastor of a Wenatchee church who’s raised close to $300,000. Adam James, who helped … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 3/10/26

Members of the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations were at the scene of a fatal police shooting on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in the 400 block of North Ash Street in Centralia.

Washington Legislature enacts bill expanding scope of Office of Independent Investigation

The Washington State Legislature passed a bill that expands the scope of the statewide Office of Independent Investigation, which recently began its initial work on police deadly use of force … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 3/10/26

Podcaster Brandi Kruse watches during the “Let’s Go Washington” initiatives rally at the Capitol in Olympia on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.

Federal judge denies restraining order for Washington media figures seeking press passes

A federal judge in Tacoma on Tuesday ruled that Washington state lawmakers were within their rights to decline press passes to media figures Brandi Kruse, Jonathan Choe and Ari Hoffman. Earlier … more

By Brett Davis / The Center Square | 3/10/26

First grants awarded under Washington state’s new $100M police hiring program

The first two grants from Washington’s new $100 million effort to boost law enforcement hiring have been awarded to local police departments, after months of frustration over the program’s … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 3/10/26

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

Washington state House pulls an all-nighter as income tax debate continues

Washington state lawmakers pulled an all-nighter on the House floor in debating a controversial income tax bill Monday evening into Tuesday morning. Legislators returned shortly after 7 a.m. … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 3/10/26

Theo Angelis, a Seattle litigator, was appointed to the Washington Supreme Court by Gov. Bob Ferguson on Monday, March 9, 2026, in Olympia. (Photo courtesy of the governor’s office)

Seattle litigator appointed to Washington state Supreme Court

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Monday appointed Seattle litigator Theo Angelis to the state Supreme Court to replace outgoing Justice Barbara Madsen. Angelis, 53, comes to the high court … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 3/9/26

Governor Bob Ferguson appears with supporters of the bill after signing the legislation into law on March 9, 2026. House Bill 2355 establishes labor rights for nannies, gardeners and other domestic workers. (Aspen Ford/Washington State Standard)

Nannies, housekeepers and other domestic workers to gain state protections in Washington

New protections for domestic workers in Washington will take effect next year under a bill Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Monday. Before the bill signing, close to 100 people gathered on the … more

By Aspen Ford / The Washington State Standard | 3/9/26

A sign at Jefferson Park in Seattle indicates the property can't be used to enforce civil immigration enforcement, Sept. 25, 2026.

Seattle may have to 'delay or defer' transportation projects to pay for anti-ICE signs

The city of Seattle may need to "delay or defer" transportation projects or programs because of the expense of installing hundreds of signs warning that city property cannot be used by federal … more

By Randy Diamond / The Center Square | 3/9/26