State & Regional News | Thurston Chronicle

U.S. Marshals locate two “critically missing” children from Washington in Virginia

U.S. Marshals have recovered two “critically missing” children whose whereabouts have been unknown since they vanished from Redmond, Washington, in December 2023. In early August 2026, the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/25/26

New report outlines steps for growing Washington state economy

Washington can strengthen its economy by bringing greater discipline to state spending, creating a predictable and stable tax environment and reducing regulatory barriers to growth, according to a … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/25/26

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

Childcare providers conspired with parents to scam taxpayers, documents show

In the wake of recent renewed media reports into allegations of potential daycare fraud in Washington, state officials are urging anyone with information to report claims to the office of Attorney … more

Carleen Johnson | The Center Square | 9/25/26

A driver passes a Google data center campus in The Dalles, Oregon.

Data centers take center stage, spur mudslinging, in competitive Gorge-based Oregon House race

A Republican Wasco County Commissioner who helped usher in two decades of Google data center development in The Dalles is running campaign ads painting his Democratic opponent for an Oregon House … more

Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 9/25/26

Washington state toxicology labs see progress on backlog, but evidence delays continue

State toxicology labs are dealing with an enormous backlog of alcohol and drug test evidence that could delay or jeopardize DUI prosecutions, officials warn. The Washington State Patrol reported … more

Mike McClanahan / Washington State Standard | 9/24/26

The expanded Joel Pritchard Building on the Washington state Capitol campus after a ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.

‘Better than before’: Washington state reopens historic Capitol campus building

More than two years of construction and $131 million later, a historic building on the Washington state Capitol campus is reopening. A cadre of top state officials cut the ribbon and … more

Jake Goldstein-Street / Washington State Standard | 9/24/26

Aberdeen police officers transport the suspect at the center of a two-hour stand-off via a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife boat.

Two-hour stand-off in Grays Harbor County ends with suspect in custody

A 50-year-old transient, whose last listed address is in Olympia, is in custody as of Wednesday morning following a two-hour standoff Tuesday involving Aberdeen police officers and multiple assisting … more

By The Daily World | 9/24/26

Seattle to ban AI grocery pricing amid warnings law could increase costs

An ordinance passed by the Seattle City Council will ban large grocery store chains from using customer data and AI to calculate individual pricing. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson backs the plan and … more

By Randy Diamond / The Center Square | 9/24/26

State Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, answers a question during a Legislative Media Day at the Washington state Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Olympia.

Union urges Washington lawmakers to curb influencers amid daycare fraud coverage

Days after a social media post went viral detailing potential daycare fraud in the Seattle area, one of Washington’s public sector unions is calling on lawmakers to crack down on journalists … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 9/24/26

Students at work in a math class. Oregon students' overall proficiency in key subjects grew by less than 1 percentage point on average from the previous school year, according to the state's most recent data.

Oregon students’ grasp of key subjects slowly grows, but still below pre-pandemic levels

Oregon students continued to make small gains in key subjects over the last year but still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels. They’re also not keeping pace with many of their peers … more

Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 9/24/26

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.

Voters to decide fate of state taxes this fall

This fall, voters in at least nine states will decide whether to cut, cap or raise taxes through ballot measures that will give them a direct hand in steering state tax policy in a conservative or … more

By Anna Claire Vollers / Stateline.org | 9/24/26

Flock cameras raise constitutional questions, bipartisan U.S. senators say

WASHINGTON — A vast and growing network of artificial intelligence-driven Flock cameras could violate constitutional privacy rights, U.S. senators on a Judiciary Committee subcommittee said during … more

By Ariana Figueroa / States Newsroom | 9/24/26

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announces his authorization to link Washington state in its carbon market during Climate Week in New York City on Sept. 23, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Department of Ecology)

Washington nears final step in joining California-Quebec carbon market

Taking the stage at Climate Week in New York City Wednesday morning, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his authorization to move forward with linking Washington into its carbon market that’s … more

By Aspen Ford / The Washington State Standard | 9/24/26

An election worker in Thurston County processes ballots on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in Tumwater, Washington. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

Washington voters of color more likely to have ballots challenged, per report

Younger voters and voters of color in Washington state see their ballots challenged for signature issues more often than their older and white counterparts. That’s according to an analysis of … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 9/24/26

Record Washington diesel prices strain local businesses, drive up costs

Washington's average diesel price hit a record $7.47 per gallon Wednesday, while the Tri-Cities reached an even higher $7.53 per gallon, as rising fuel costs put new pressure on transportation, … more

Austin Reed / The Center Square | 9/23/26

Greater Good Charities staff and pilots walk from a plane after successfully transporting two gray wolves to live at Wolf Haven International in Tenino at the Olympia Regional Airport on Tuesday, June 30.

Public invited to Commercial Aviation Work Group meeting in Tumwater

Washington’s Commercial Aviation Work Group, which evaluates the state’s future needs for commercial aviation and transportation, will host a hybrid public meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/23/26

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

Association of Washington Business announces final round of 2026 endorsements

The Association of Washington Business (AWB) has announced a third and final round of legislative endorsements for the 2026 elections. The AWB Board of Directors voted to endorse candidates in … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/23/26

Seattle mayor's proposed budget increases public safety spending, no new taxes

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson proposed no new business taxes in her budget plan for next year, instead closing an estimated $175 million budget gap by eliminating 143 positions, most of them … more

Randy Diamond / The Center Square | 9/23/26

Eastern Washington housing more affordable, but most still priced out of market

Eastern Washington remains one of the more attainable parts of Washington for homebuyers, but a new housing report and local housing officials say rising construction costs, limited supply, mortgage … more

Austin Reed | The Center Square contributor | 9/23/26

Powerlines in Hood River County above the Columbia River July 25, 2024.

Pacific Power to charge new Oregon data centers for all costs associated with growing energy need

Oregon’s second largest investor-owned electric utility could soon directly assign the costs of new energy projects and infrastructure needed for data centers to data center operators. Pacific … more

Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 9/23/26