Construction downtown, Tenino sheriff deal, fake driving law: Monday roundup

Olympia-area news on May 19, 2026, spanned a major historic building renovation, a small-city policing shakeup and a viral hoax targeting Washington drivers.

Here are key takeaways:

• A $6.8 million roof replacement and infrastructure repair project is underway at the Old Capitol Building in downtown Olympia through October.
• Tenino will pay Thurston County $112,365 for Sheriff’s Office services from April 6 through Sept. 30 after the City Council unanimously dissolved its police department on May 12, a move that’s estimated to save the city about $347,000 a year.
• A viral social media hoax claiming Washington passed “Senate Bill 626” banning “aimless driving” is fake, with Gov. Bob Ferguson addressing the letters impersonating him online.

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.