School cellphone rules, shooting verdict, restaurant inspections: May 20 roundup

Thurston County stories on May 20 included a school policy debate, a courtroom verdict and restaurant inspections.

Here are key takeaways:

• North Thurston Public Schools’ “off and away all day” cellphone policy is set to expire this summer, prompting school board discussion Tuesday about whether to renew it, with officials saying the rule has worked better in middle schools than in high schools.
• A Thurston County Superior Court jury acquitted Curtis and Tabitha Gibson of first-degree murder in the April 16, 2024, shooting death of 56-year-old Olympia man Gaylord Travis Sayers at the Old Highway 99 Company Bar and Grill. The defense argued Curtis Gibson, 70, fired in self-defense.
• A chain restaurant at Capital Mall in Olympia racked up 65 red points on its May 13 inspection for temperature control failures and improper food storage.

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.