Commissioner pay, I-5 closures and Providence lawsuit: May 13 news roundup

Olympia-area stories on May 13, 2026, spanned local government, transportation and a lawsuit against one of the state’s largest health systems.

Here are key takeaways:

• Thurston County commissioners unanimously declined salary raises for themselves, in light of an estimated $18.6 million to $30.9 million deficit projected for 2027; commissioners currently earn $147,936.

• Weekend lane closures are coming to Interstate 5 near the Nisqually River Bridge in Thurston County, creating a work zone so WSDOT crews can use specialized under-bridge inspection trucks during daylight hours.

• Washington Attorney General Nick Brown sued Providence Health and Services in King County Superior Court, alleging the system has denied many pregnancy accommodation requests.

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 14, 2026 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Commissioner pay, I-5 closures and Providence lawsuit: May 13 news roundup."