Sheriff pay freeze, childcare grants, I-5 chase: Thursday’s news roundup

The Olympian published several top stories on May 7, 2026, covering Thurston County government, statewide childcare funding and an Interstate 5 pursuit.

Here are key takeaways:

• Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders has requested a 2027 salary freeze in a letter to the county’s Citizen’s Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials, citing persistent budget challenges and the rising cost of living. The Board of County Commissioners will ultimately decide his salary, though the citizen commission makes recommendations.

• Washington state is awarding nearly $56 million in early-learning grants to 74 childcare providers, projected to create more than 2,000 new childcare slots statewide. The funding will support renovation and new facilities across 17 counties and 40 cities in one of the priciest states for childcare.

• A 35-year-old DuPont man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly led Thurston County deputies on a pursuit with his pregnant partner in the car. The chase began with a traffic stop on southbound Interstate 5. The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.

This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 4:59 PM with the headline "Sheriff pay freeze, childcare grants, I-5 chase: Thursday’s news roundup."