https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article316556522.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/8d6b0207-355b-4660-9688-01446cddf4fe/1_th.jpg Olympia schools superintendent proposes closing elementary schools Olympia School District Superintendent Patrick Murphy told the Board of Directors on Thursday that enrollment continues to trend downward and there isn’t enough money. https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article316556522.html/video-embed 173 2026-07-17T21:50:27Z no https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article316602904.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/145c2572-fa03-4b06-aca3-72715ca43e83/1_th.jpg Lobbyists say they feel unwelcome in historic Olympia neighborhood near Capitol Several community members spoke during the Olympia Planning Commission's meeting on July 20 against proposed code amendments that could make it difficult for lobbyists to work out of and share their homes near the Capitol Campus. https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article316602904.html/video-embed 178 2026-07-22T09:00:00Z no https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article316543282.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/e8939e1a-0305-4b21-831e-55e262c8ef89/1_th.jpg Thurston Co. residents share their concerns about PSE bills Thurston County residents question rising Puget Sound Energy bills as PSE seeks multi-year rate hikes while citing renewables, infrastructure and wildfire resilience costs. https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article316543282.html/video-embed 39 2026-07-20T11:55:00Z no https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article316584804.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/1910ab9d-cbac-449f-8f15-5e8bad122b47/1_th.jpg Low Capitol Lake levels hint at future estuary restoration work The water gate on the 5th Avenue Dam was opened on July 19 to allow water to flow from Capitol Lake to Budd Inlet. The work is part of efforts to restore the Deschutes Estuary and building a new bridge over the waterway. https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article316584804.html/video-embed 63 2026-07-20T20:30:23Z no https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article316585971.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/7c8314e5-3233-42c5-bcdc-aa8112a63ad2/1_th.jpg Endangered tufted puffin makes rare appearance in waters near Olympia Olympia-area locals reported spotting a single tufted puffin near Olympia last week. Social media posts placed the bird in Eld Inlet near Evergreen State College on July 11 and July 12. https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article316585971.html/video-embed 31 2026-07-22T12:15:00Z no https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article316597971.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/fd9ea903-23d6-47b7-833d-b45643c8ed26/1_th.jpg Workplace complaints surface at Thurston Co. board meeting Commissioner Rachel Grant requested an independent review into workplace complaints in Thurston County’s Public Health and Social Services Department during a board work session on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article316597971.html/video-embed 120 2026-07-21T18:06:40Z no