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

A place of community since 1912, the Venersborg Schoolhouse has served multiple roles throughout its existence, but, lately, community events have been what has tied the rural area... — Updated 11/9/2023

The driver of a truck bringing a commercial load of marijuana products from Calgary, Alberta to Port Coquitlam, B.C. somehow managed to take a few wrong turns and ended up at the U.... — Updated 11/2/2023

Megan Moore, a freshman at Battle Ground High School, already has four years of driving experience with her success behind the wheel of a Junior Dragster car. In 2022, Moore earned... — Updated 10/26/2023

In the black bag Char Malseed carries with her at all times are yarn, knitting needles, scissors, projects in progress and a worn sheet of pink paper full of minuscule tally marks.... — Updated 10/26/2023

The Lummi Nation welcomed hundreds of community members into the Wex'liem Community Building Monday night, Oct. 9, for salmon, song, dance and speeches to mark Indigenous Peoples... — Updated 10/12/2023

It is fair to say we live in an interesting time in history, where crisis has become the norm. Where information is plentiful, technology is ever consuming, and frankly, we all... — Updated 10/12/2023

Pleasant Valley School's campus sees community identity live on through a wood carving of the school mascot, Buddy the Beaver. When the campus opened in 1976, two red oak trees... — Updated 9/28/2023

In an 8-foot by 20-foot metal box near East Wenatchee, five men crowd inside to run electrical cables from one panel to another. They are finishing up a two-month project to... — Updated 9/28/2023

Derek Grannes and Alex Donahou were tossing back a few drinks at The Floatation Device Pub & Grill near the Purdy Spit last December. Nothing strange about friends of nearly 20... — Updated 9/28/2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Once you become the first person to circumnavigate the globe alone under your own power - 41,196 miles of rowing solo across the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, then pedaling... — Updated 8/10/2023

The late Billy Frank Jr, a Nisqually tribal elder and legendary Native American activist, will soon have a U.S. Navy ship named in his honor. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro... — Updated 8/3/2023

Blaine's annual Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival is back Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6 for a pirate-themed weekend with events for the whole family (pets included). The... — Updated 8/3/2023

Gretchen Shepherd was getting ready to head to church camp at Camp Ghormley near Yakima. It was summer in the 1960s, and to capture the special moments between all the worship and... — Updated 7/27/2023

ILWACO - Under a high July sun, shipwright Rachel Kuhn sanded the mahogany hull of a 1967 Chris-Craft next to Westport commercial fisherman Chris Cain, who was busy re-painting the... — Updated 7/13/2023

While one of the most famous shows based in Washington state is "Fraiser" - a Seattle-based comedy about psychiatrist Fraiser Crane - perhaps it should have been the "X-Files"... — Updated 7/13/2023

Being a firefighter was not on Sarah Pernick's childhood list of aspirations. Before becoming the first female fire captain in Bellingham, she was a self-described "ski bum."... — Updated 6/29/2023

Andrew C. Castrodale, M.D., is the recipient of the 2023 UW School of Medicine Alumni Service Award, the school announced last week. The award recognizes a University of Washington... — Updated 6/29/2023

For the first time since 2019, an Americorps team is at work in the Methow Valley. The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program offers participants a chance to... — Updated 6/21/2023

The marathon reading sessions paid off. The year was 1964, and the librarian at Quincy High School was Mary Kazda, also the teacher of Pre-College English. "She was a no-nonsense... — Updated 6/21/2023

It seems like a circus act, but it's in a barn. It looks like gymnastics, but there's no mat. It feels like figure skating, but it's on dirt. It's kind of like dancing, but it's on... — Updated 6/21/2023

Former WWU track and field star and Nooksack Valley High School coach Cooper Cummings flew overseas to take home the big cheese: first place in the men's downhill race at the... — Updated 6/8/2023

Some among us seem hellbent on contriving the most hair-brained follies to test the outer limits of personal capabilities. It's baked into the DNA, I suppose. A decade ago, rock... — Updated 6/1/2023

WHATCOM COUNTY - The creme-de-la-creme athletic event of Whatcom County is coming soon. Ski to Sea is a 93-mile course across snow and water and other surfaces, with biking and runn... — Updated 5/19/2023

MyDatingAdviser.com recently updated its ranking of the 25 best nude beaches in the world. The Washougal River was named the No. 1 spot in the United States and checked in at No. 7... — Updated 5/4/2023

After five years serving as Washington state's House Republican Leader, Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, announced his decision to step down from his leadership role. Being the House... — Updated 4/26/2023

The Washington State Legislature adjourned April 23 after failing to approve a controversial bill setting drug possession penalties, raising the possibility of a special session in... — Updated 4/26/2023

For the first time in history, a foreign head of state has addressed a joint session in the Washington State Legislature. President, Sauli Niinistö, of the Republic of Finland,... — Updated 3/8/2023

Children and grandchildren sat on laps and wandered the aisles of the House of Representatives for this year's Children's Day at the state Legislature, and many young observers... — Updated 3/8/2023

It's been a frustrating few days for Gloria Johnson in Cathlamet. Several mornings in a row now, she's discovered that something is turning over the newly laid sod in her back... — Updated 12/15/2022

LONG BEACH - A hazardous materials specialist is expected to investigate the mystery of what's going on at the Long Beach Post Office, which remained closed and taped off to the... — Updated 12/14/2022

Looking to add some literal life to your holiday event? With Christmas a little over a month away, the Twisted Holly Reindeer Ranch in Rochester is offering reindeer rentals for... — Updated 12/1/2022

Service clubs in Bellingham are struggling with declining membership across the board. As longtime members get older and younger professionals struggle with the time commitments... — Updated 11/28/2022

On a chilly November day, rods of steel arose from the ground at Ridgefield High School. When completed, the metal will resemble grass blowing in the wind, and if the sculpture’s... — Updated 11/28/2022

For nearly 30 years, former Edmonds resident John Hurley has continually played a part in the life of his iconic yet battered orca sculpture at Brackett's Landing. At 95 years old,... — Updated 11/28/2022

The boulder behind Mount Baker Theatre is rather conspicuous. Nestled in the alley behind the building between Commercial and Unity streets, it looks like city planners made a... — Updated 11/11/2022

LONG BEACH - A budding sport with a broadening base is now teeing off on the Long Beach Peninsula. In October, the Peninsula Golf Course in Long Beach officially opened a new... — Updated 11/11/2022

Joanne Mehl blended her passion of horses and art to form a business where she paints vivid landscapes and equestrian activities. Mehl, who has been a professional, figurative... — Updated 11/3/2022