Opinion | Thurston Chronicle

A librarian helps a guest at the Timberland Regional Library in Tenino.

Opinion: Support our rural libraries by voting for Timberland levy lid lift

As former trustees for Timberland Regional Library (TRL), we urge voters to approve TRL’s levy lid lift measure that is on this fall’s ballot. The Timberland district covers five counties … more

By Edna Fund, Bob Hall, Corby Varness and Brian Zylstra | 9/30/26

Let’s Go Washington supporters hold a sign with the total number of signatures received for a petition, 511,408, outside the Washington Secretary of State’s office building in Tumwater on Thursday, July 2.

Opinion: Washington’s I-645 — repealing the new 9.9% income tax

This November, Washington voters will decide whether to enact I-645. This proposal would repeal a new 9.9% income tax , with a current statutory exemption of one million dollars, that is scheduled to … more

Jason Mercier / Mountain States Policy Center | 9/28/26

CEO Coralee Taylor and Publisher Chad Taylor pose for a photo outside of The Chronicle’s new location in downtown Centralia on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

From the CEO: The Thurston Chronicle has a secret weapon

As we have played our cards building to the launch of the new Thurston Chronicle weekly newspaper over the past year, we have been holding something of an ace of spades under the table. It’s … more

By Coralee Taylor | 9/28/26

Wildland crews implement firing operations to remove unburned vegetation between a fire’s edge and containment lines on the 2026 Three Queens Fire in Washington.

Commentary: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Washington show key strategies for effective wildfire funding

Wildfire is no longer a seasonal surprise across the Mountain West. It is a recurring fiscal challenge that threatens communities, public lands, infrastructure, air quality, and state budgets. … more

By Emily Strasburg / Idaho Capital Sun | 9/25/26

Opinion: Taxpayer money for government employee compensation demands real transparency

Multiple Washington school districts recently reached tentative bargaining agreements, and an October 1 deadline looms for unionized state government employees to submit ratified contracts in time … more

By Meg Goudy / Mountain States Policy Center | 9/24/26

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

Opinion: Washington has an income tax — why won’t the media call it one?

There seem to be two words that have suddenly become difficult to print in Washington state: income tax. Sure, you can find the phrase easily on the state’s own website. In fact, the … more

By Chris Cargill / Mountain States Policy Center | 9/18/26

Crew 18 conducts mop-up operations on the Autumn Lane Fire, extinguishing remaining hot spots and securing the fire’s edge to prevent rekindling along the south eastern flank of the fire near the Little Spokane River. Mop-up is a critical phase of wildfire suppression that helps ensure the fire remains contained and reduces the risk of additional spread.

Opinion: Spokane fire recovery can serve as model in the future

It will take years to fully rebuild from the devastating wildfires that destroyed more than 800 homes in the Spokane area in August. Residents lost homes they lived in for decades and homes they … more

9/18/26

Letters to the editor can be submitted to news@thurstonchronicle.com.

Letter to the Editor: Before We Close McKenny, Let’s Look at What’s Working

Olympia School District has a capacity problem. Enrollment has declined, and the district projects that trend will continue. I understand that difficult financial decisions must be made, and the … more

9/18/26

Crews implement firing operations to remove unburned vegetation between the fire’s edge and containment lines. on the Three Queens Fire, Washington, 2026.

Commentary: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Washington show key strategies for effective wildfire funding

Wildfire is no longer a seasonal surprise across the Mountain West. It is a recurring fiscal challenge that threatens communities, public lands, infrastructure, air quality, and state budgets. … more

Emily Strasburg / Idaho Capital Sun | 9/18/26

Rob Richards is a Navy veteran and former congressional staffer who has been an active community member in Thurston County for over two decades.

Rob Richards Commentary: Democrats, the right doesn’t need to beat us; we’re doing it ourselves

Kate Bouchard, writing in the Maneater (Missouri’s student paper), laid out a simple case: the left keeps losing ground because it’s too busy fighting itself. While moderate and progressive … more

By Rob Richards | 9/17/26

Wayne Fournier: Raise for Rowyn the best example of Tenino’s top exports — strength, resilience and grit

People usually think of a community’s exports as the things it produces, like timber, agriculture and manufacturing. Maybe some product or industry that puts a place on the map. I’ve always … more

Commentary by Wayne Fournier / For The Chronicle | 9/16/26

Wayne Fournier is a Thurston County commissioner, former Tenino mayor, firefighter and lifelong community advocate. He believes that small towns are the last frontier of big ideas. He shares stories of civic creativity, leadership and community-building in his regular newspaper column.

Wayne Fournier Commentary: Let’s get better at planning what comes next

Recently, I had the opportunity to tour the TransAlta facility in Centralia. For most people, it’s simply another power plant. For me, it is something more. Before it was TransAlta, it was WIDCO. … more

By Wayne Fournier | 9/9/26

Lawmakers, friends and families celebrate the final gavel on the last day of the legislative session on the House floor on Thursday, March 12, in Olympia. Democrat lawmakers pushed through a state income tax during the session.

Opinion: The real victims of Washington's income tax

Like me, about half of all workers in Washington are employed by small and medium businesses, either their own or someone else’s. That simple truth is exactly why the new 9.9% tax on income over a … more

By Mike Sotelo / Ethnic Chamber of Commerce Coalition | 9/4/26

State Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, greets an attendee during the Lewis County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner in Chehalis on Saturday, April 11.

Opinion: I worked with John Braun — the attack ads don’t tell the truth

I served in the Washington state Senate with John Braun for years. I was a Democrat, John was a Republican, and we didn’t agree on everything. But I worked closely enough with him to know … more

Commentary by Tim Sheldon | 9/4/26

Thurston County Commissioner Wayne Fournier waves to attendees during the Oregon Trail Days parade in Tenino on Saturday, July 25.

Wayne Fournier: The power of saying “no” in leadership positions

Yes and no might be the two most important words in the English language. They're certainly two of the most powerful. Yes creates movement. It starts projects, approves agreements, makes … more

Commentary by Wayne Fournier | 8/31/26

Victor Garcia, a hunter, fisherman and retired teacher who was appointed to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission in April 2025, has died . (Photo courtesy of Department of Fish and Wildlife)

A dying Fish and Wildlife commissioner’s parting letter to Washington governor

Editor’s note: Victor Garcia, who was appointed to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission in April 2025, died over the weekend . Before he passed, the hunter, fisherman and retired educator … more

By Victor Garcia | 8/25/26

This Lewis County Historical Museum photo shows early Oakville, circa 1890s, at the corner of Pine and State streets. The Hotel Glover in the foreground was operated by Thomas G. Glover (1852-1935) and his wife Elizabeth M. (Swain) Glover (1855-1939) who came to Oakville about 1889. At left is Oakville State Bank. Across the street is the building previously known as Miller’s Store. The building on the left was the old post office. In the back is the Oakville Grange Hall.

Julie McDonald: Oakville bank robberies and stories of lore

When I read a tidbit about a robbery at Oakville State Bank in 1938 with bandits escaping on horseback, I thought I’d dig into the story to find out more. But the more I searched, the less I … more

8/24/26

Powerlines above the Columbia River move electricity from the Bonneville Dam to customers across the region in Hood River County, Oregon, on Thursday, July 25, 2024. (Jordan Gale/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Opinion: The future of the PNW power grid is at risk — where is the leadership?

The Pacific Northwest is drifting toward an energy crisis of its own making. The newly appointed leader of the Bonneville Power Administration, Travis Kavulla, with support from Secretary of Energy … more

By Jim Luce | 8/21/26

Commentary: Celebrating Jill Severn

When Jill Severn joined the Family Education & Support Services (FESS) Board in 2024, we knew we were gaining someone with an impressive resume. What we came to appreciate even more was the heart … more

By Lynsi Polanco of Family Education & Special Support Services | 8/17/26

Thurston County Commissioner Wayne Fournier makes a proclamation regarding the fair during a Thurston County Board of County Commissioners meeting at The Atrium in Olympia on Tuesday, July 21.

Wayne Fournier: The part Schoolhouse Rock never taught us

As a kid, I loved Schoolhouse Rock. Like many people my age, I can still hear "I'm Just a Bill" playing in my head. A bill sits on Capitol Hill, gets debated, gets voted on and (if it's lucky) … more

Commentary by Wayne Fournier | 8/12/26