Olympia & Tumwater
Olympia & Tumwater
Latest reporting from the Olympia & Tumwater desk.
Olympia & Tumwater
View MoreOlympia considers letting homeowners host RVs as temporary housing
The Olympia City Council discusses a pilot program at its Aug. 25 meeting that would let homeowners host one RV as temporary housing on their driveway, and churches up to two, through six-month renewable permits.
Olympia & Tumwater
View MoreLoveOly Jinglebell Parade returns to downtown Olympia Nov. 29
The Olympia Downtown Alliance is reviving the LoveOly Jinglebell Parade on Nov. 29 after a seven-year hiatus, with applications to march due Monday, Nov. 9.
Olympia & Tumwater
View MoreTumwater joins state program for employee charitable giving
The Tumwater City Council voted Aug. 18 to join Washington's Combined Fund Drive, giving city employees access to thousands of charities through payroll deduction while streamlining the finance department's vendor accounts.
Olympia & Tumwater
View MoreOlympia approves 5 carved cedar panels for Marj Yung Park trails
The Olympia City Council approved a $30,000 public art concept featuring five carved cedar panels by Squaxin Island Tribe artist Andrea Wilbur Sigo along the trails at Marj Yung Park, with tribal youth involved in the carving process.
Olympia & Tumwater
View MoreNurse fired after Olympia jail misread woman's symptoms
A 29-year-old Olympia woman is in critical condition after Thurston County Jail medical staff attributed her deteriorating symptoms to narcotics withdrawal for three days; the contracted nurse has been fired and Mason County will independently investigate.
Olympia & Tumwater
View MoreOlympia man dies of suspected drug poisoning at Bass Canyon festival
Zion Randall, 27, of Olympia died at the Bass Canyon music festival after consuming substances bought from another attendee; a Seattle man was arrested in an undercover operation and the case is being investigated as a controlled substance homicide.
Olympia & Tumwater
View MoreOlympia taps 2 local suppliers for heat pump push
The Energize Thurston heat pump program launched its second year on Aug. 17 with $4.17 million in new grants, contracts with two local equipment suppliers, and a Phase 2 subsidy opening in October that could cover most costs for income-qualified households.
Olympia & Tumwater
View MoreOlympia names Hillory Flowers as 1st female fire chief
Hillory Flowers has been permanently appointed as Olympia's fire chief, becoming the first woman to lead the department in what the city describes as its 164-year history. The announcement came at the Aug. 11 City Council meeting after Flowers served as interim chief since March.
Olympia & Tumwater
View MoreOlympia council weighs trash privatization at Tuesday session
The Olympia City Council holds a study session Tuesday, Aug. 18, to weigh whether to issue a formal RFP for private trash collection or proceed with a $40 million-plus Carpenter Road facility that would raise typical bimonthly waste bills by 24%.
Olympia & Tumwater
View MoreOlympia residents push back on trash privatization tied to $100M facility
Olympia residents and workers pushed back at the Aug. 11 City Council meeting against privatizing trash and recycling collection, a move the council is exploring as an alternative to building a nearly $100 million waste facility that could raise utility rates 24%.
Olympia & Tumwater
View MoreWife-and-wife team fills Olympia's evening dessert gap at 222 Market
Mari and Mych Pasos-Quarello opened Tender Velvet Rebel Oven inside downtown Olympia's 222 Market building last November, filling an evening gap in the local dessert scene with organic, locally sourced cakes, cupcakes and savory biscuits.
Olympia & Tumwater
View MoreTumwater teen headlines Olympia kickoff for 3 ballot measures
Let's Go Washington launched campaigns for three November ballot initiatives at an Aug. 8 rally in Olympia, with Tumwater High School senior Frances Staudtl headlining as the face of I-638 alongside local speakers from Olympia Master Builders and North Thurston School District.
©2026 Capitol Record
Powered by Surround Sound Media