Washington State Journal - Building a stronger, more just & transparent democracy

Meaningful, independent journalism is at a crossroads. Advertisers who once filled newspaper coffers and funded local journalism have shifted resources to the Internet. And... — Updated 9/21/2023

The Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit population, nestled in recovery sites near Quincy, was spared from the Baird Springs Fire. The Pacific Northwest native endangered species resides... — Updated 9/21/2023

OLYMPIA - On the up side, it appears likely there will be razor clam digging on the peninsula starting Sept. 29 through Oct. 2. On the down side, the number of clams has plummeted... — Updated 9/21/2023

In its first week, the Blue Lake Fire grew slowly - it was just 290 acres after burning for eight days - but it has nearly doubled in size since Friday, after strategic firing... — Updated 8/31/2023

Scientists are keeping a close eye on Drayton Harbor waters after discovering a sizable population of juvenile European green crabs, indicating growth of the highly invasive... — Updated 8/17/2023

Over the last several years, my family and I have been section hiking the Washington portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. The PCT is a 2,653-mile trail that starts on the Mexico... — Updated 8/2/2023

The Methow watershed is officially under a drought emergency. Okanogan County is one of 12 counties across the state hit with a drought declaration by the Washington Department of... — Updated 8/2/2023

With wildfire season already underway in Western Washington, the state's Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz said firefighters are better equipped to handle more intense... — Updated 7/20/2023

As the local harbor seal population enters its annual pupping season, experts urge beachgoers to steer clear of baby seals – even if they appear abandoned. Mother seals give... — Updated 7/20/2023

Floating down the South Fork Nooksack River will soon be off-limits for the summer. Whatcom County Council approved the ban by a 4-2 margin, with one council member absent, after a... — Updated 7/13/2023

COLFAX - Washington State University (WSU) President Kirk Schulz, also current chairman of the PAC-12 board, and WSU athletic director Pat Chun were in Colfax Monday, Sept. 11, to... — Updated 9/14/2023

SOUTH BEND - Pacific County is a co-plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) filed on Aug. 23 by 22 counties in Pierce... — Updated 9/7/2023

After Gov. Jay Inslee signed a new bill related to pet insurance into law in April, Washington residents can expect more protection and less confusion, according to a news release... — Updated 5/26/2023

Pigs are rumored to be quite intelligent, but did you know that they can learn to play video games by moving a joystick with their snout? That's one of the things that 11-year-old... — Updated 9/14/2023

MV Elementary adopts phonics-based method to teach kids reading Most of us probably don't remember much about how we learned to read - mastering the association of shapes with... — Updated 5/26/2023

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., August 29, 2023-The Snohomish County Health Department is urging all county residents to know and follow preventive measures for rabies after a bat in the... — Updated 8/31/2023

WENATCHEE - Animal control officers with the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society recovered a bat that tested positive for rabies earlier this month. The Chelan-Douglas Health District... — Updated 8/17/2023

Washougal resident Randy Lavasseur believes that the physical and mental health of children are changing due to modern-day conveniences and the instant gratification that they... — Updated 8/3/2023

MOUNT VERNON - When a brand-new wedding venue opened up next door to longtime cattle rancher Terry Sapp's place, he saw the potential for serious, perhaps literal, rain-on-parade... — Updated 8/25/2023

The United States Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division found Ostrom Mushroom Farms LLC failed to pay its workers the required wage rate, nor did they provide cooking... — Updated 8/17/2023

CATHLAMET - The Eagle continues to soar! Just two months after the death of beloved publisher Rick Nelson, the Wahkiakum County Eagle has new bosses. They are his son Jacob and his... — Updated 8/2/2023

The first thing Gig Harbor resident Sandra Wade does when she wakes up in the morning is have her service dog, Pharrell, retrieve his collar with a cue she calls "yours." After she... — Updated 7/27/2023

The Washington State Transportation Commission is proposing to increase ferry fares over the next two years to meet revenue requirements set by the state Legislature. Ferry riders... — Updated 7/20/2023

WENATCHEE - Last year's cold, wet April brought the cherry crop down. But this year, the Washington state cherry harvest is in full swing, and the industry is optimistic about it.... — Updated 7/6/2023

Alaska Airlines is adding new nonstop service between Paine Field and Honolulu starting this fall – its first flight connecting Snohomish County and the Hawaiian Islands. The... — Updated 6/15/2023

ILWACO - After about five years of producing increasingly higher yields and record sales, one of Pacific County's fastest-growing cash crops is showing signs of slowing down, with... — Updated 5/4/2023

Grants are available to support the rehabilitation and restoration of historic barns, cemeteries and theaters across the state because of funding from the Washington state... — Updated 9/14/2023

One of the largest sources of funding to replace the aging Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River will tax travelers a few bucks as they cross the water. During its meeting... — Updated 7/27/2023

The North Cascades National Scenic Highway opened last Wednesday (May 10), just in time for Winthrop's '49ers Days festivities. Washington State Department of Transportation... — Updated 5/19/2023

Merle Roberts, of Grand Coulee, earned a blue ribbon in photography last week at the state fair in Puyallup. Roberts named his photo, in dramatic dark gray shades of a local tree... — Updated 9/14/2023

When you drive around Skagit County, you see lots of animals: horses, cows, goats and more. One small farm on Best Road that immediately caught my attention has a sign stating JF... — Updated 9/7/2023

A year ago in September, I wrote about a few books in these pages that I thought our community might read and asked for suggestions for those many titles I certainly missed. One... — Updated 9/7/2023

Whatcom County officials are investigating a man's injury at Birch Bay Waterslides that forced the park to close for the season on Aug. 25. An adult male was injured on one of the... — Updated 8/31/2023

A person and a dog were killed after being struck by a train on a span commonly known as the Ghost Bridge near Woodland on Tuesday, according to a news release from the Cowlitz... — Updated 8/31/2023

When former University of Missouri Director of Athletics Jim Sterk was hired to helm Western Washington University's athletics department, a 15-year-old question was once again... — Updated 8/31/2023

Operation Doberman sounds like a military code-name, but it was a remarkable instance where the peninsula displayed its collective concern. When Arlington visitor Stacy Day's pet... — Updated 8/25/2023

One member of Packwood's abundant elk herd, dubbed "Hammock Head" by locals, earned regional notoriety for getting himself caught in a hammock late last year and spending the... — Updated 8/25/2023

Enthusiasts from the Northwest Steam Society are gathering their fleet of boats and historical memorabilia at Blaine Harbor for their 50th anniversary celebration of all things... — Updated 8/10/2023

Ten years ago, then-state legislator Derek Kilmer considered running for Congress to replace the retiring Norm Dicks (D-6th), but he had some reservations. "I was conscious that if... — Updated 8/10/2023