Nisqually Valley News, Yelm, WA (2025)

10/31/2025

Facebook’s parent company is asking Washington state’s high court to overturn what the state’s attorney general has called the largest campaign finance penalty in the nation’s history.

Meta argues the Washington campaign finance law used to justify the $35 million fine violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The company also argues that the punishment, for not providing required records for digital campaign advertisements hosted on its platform, is excessive and misguided.

The state attorney general’s office, which sued Meta in 2020, says provisions of the law are necessary to inform voters about who is spending money to influence Washington elections. Gov. Bob Ferguson was leading the attorney general’s office when the case was filed.

“This purpose is even more urgent today, given the targeted and ephemeral nature of digital media, yet Meta has repeatedly and intentionally violated our law,” said deputy solicitor general Cristina Sepe, as the state and Meta argued their cases before state Supreme Court justices Tuesday.

Facebook’s parent company is asking Washington state’s high court to overturn what the state’s attorney general has called the largest campaign finance penalty in the nation’s …

10/31/2025

"It’s easy to find examples of how years of one-party rule have made living in Washington less safe, less affordable and less beneficial for our children — but here’s one that doesn’t fall neatly into any of those three columns.

By expanding the state sales tax to more goods and services, Democrats are also defunding cancer research in our state.

This will happen Jan. 1, when the section of the new tax law affecting ni****ne products takes effect. The other sections already kicked in Oct. 1, raising the cost of things such as cable and streaming services, and live presentations such as driving school and even in-person historical reenactments at museums.

The Legislature’s majority Democrats opened the door to this by approving the tax increase in the first place, as part of a package that will enrich government by an estimated $12.2 billion over four years.

However, our state’s Democrat governor also had a hand. He controls the executive branch, including the Department of Revenue — and as the state’s tax-collection agency, DOR is also responsible for this fiasco."

It’s easy to find examples of how years of one-party rule have made living in Washington less safe, less affordable and less beneficial for our children — but here’s one that …

10/30/2025

Health insurance premiums for those buying their own insurance plans are set to increase next year as Obama-era tax credits expire.

According to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, the premiums in Lewis, Thurston and Grays Harbor counties will each increase by more than half.

Cantwell released a document late last week detailing the possible rise in insurance premiums across the state should the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTC) from the U.S. federal government be allowed to expire.

According to the document, individuals in Lewis County face the largest potential increase of the three counties mentioned with premiums set to rise by 81%.

Health insurance premiums for those buying their own insurance plans are set to increase next year as Obama-era tax credits expire. According to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, the premiums in …

10/30/2025

The almost cleaned-up Eatonville Landfill, a project that’s been in the works for decades, should look indistinguishable from the rest of the state park around it once cleanup crews remove the waste and contaminated soil, followed by re-establishing vegetation in the disturbed area, a news release from the Washington State Department of Ecology stated.

The land, owned by timber company Weyerhaeuser and formerly operated by the town of Eatonville as a city landfill, is located within the park boundaries of the Nisqually State Park. The park reopens sometime in 2026 and is Washington’s newest state park in more than 40 years, although the park is temporarily closed to complete some construction projects.

The wetland rests at the base of a slope on the south side of the landfill. From the 1950s to 1980, the town of Eatonville leased the land from Weyerhaeuser to dispose of city waste. The unlined and uncovered landfill accepted household waste, car parts, tires and appliances, according to the release.

Since the landfill was on a slope, large items fell into the wetland and got stuck. Cleanup crews have removed waste from the slope and the wetland.

While some of the wetland soil was impacted by petroleum products, the crews will leave the soil alone to naturally degrade. Doing this means the soil isn’t disturbed more than necessary and still acts as an effective environmental solution, the release stated.

The almost cleaned-up Eatonville Landfill, a project that’s been in the works for decades, should look indistinguishable from the rest of the state park around it once cleanup crews remove the …

10/30/2025

Last month, Gov. Bob Ferguson launched the ZEVergreen initiative via the Department of Ecology in response to President Donald Trump’s cuts in federal funding for electric vehicle rebates.

While the statewide effort is intended to help reduce costs switching to EVs as part of a goal of achieving transportation electrification, some trucking industry stakeholders note that the price tag is only one of several challenge for their businesses.

Aside from a state law that will prohibit the registration of new gasoline-powered vehicles starting in 2035, Washington is also participating in California’s Advanced Clean Trucks program pushing the gradual adoption of electric trucks, which imposes sale percentages for EV trucks.

Although the federal government has sought to remove that power and a lawsuit remains over the matter, there’s been disputes over what is to blame for the trucking industry’s failure to meet sales expectations. In a report published last year, the Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council attributed it to "market failure,” while a nonprofit representation at a July council meeting said the trucking industry was “taking every single opportunity to undermine the success of the Advanced Clean Trucks regulation.”

Last month, Gov. Bob Ferguson launched the ZEVergreen initiative via the Department of Ecology in response to President Donald Trump’s cuts in federal funding for electric vehicle rebates. …

10/30/2025

During a Yelm Community Schools (YCS) board of directors meeting on Thursday, Oct. 23, Dr. Lisa Cadero-Smith, assistant superintendent, announced that a committee would be engaging in a comprehensive review of sexual health education within the district at the elementary, middle school and high school levels.

In the past year, according to Cadero-Smith, parents within the YCS community have raised questions about the sexual health education being taught within the district.

“We recognize this is a very sensitive topic for our families, and our families have always had the opportunity to opt out of this curriculum,” Cadero-Smith said. “It is the one curriculum you can opt out of entirely, and that includes opting out in its entirety or opting out of portions of it. Parents also have the opportunity to review the curriculum ahead of time so they know exactly what they would be opting out of.”

Cadero-Smith added that parents who were unhappy with the content in the sexual health education courses engaged in a process known to parents as a “reconsideration of materials.” With the reconsideration of materials, a committee will comprehensively review the sex-ed courses at YCS elementary schools, at Ridgeline and Yelm middle schools, and at Yelm High School.

During a Yelm Community Schools (YCS) board of directors meeting on Thursday, Oct. 23, Dr. Lisa Cadero-Smith, assistant superintendent, announced that a committee would be engaging in a comprehensive …

10/30/2025

Farrelli’s Pizza has announced in a news release the launch of its Toy & Coat Donation Drive in support of Santa’s Castle, running through Nov. 24.

The effort aims to bring holiday joy to the children of junior enlisted service members throughout the Puget Sound region. This year’s campaign is especially meaningful, as many military families are facing added strain due to the ongoing government shutdown and broader economic pressures, the release stated.

Each year, Santa’s Castle provides new toys and gifts to military families who may not have the means to provide them during the holidays. Farrelli’s Pizza is joining this mission by setting a combined goal of $15,000 in donations.

Farrelli’s Pizza has announced in a news release the launch of its Toy & Coat Donation Drive in support of Santa’s Castle, running through Nov. 24. The effort aims to bring holiday …

10/30/2025

Washington state will give food banks $2.2 million per week as they deal with the potential end of food stamp benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The Trump administration says it can’t fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, starting Saturday, despite billions of dollars in reserves. This is expected to send Washington’s SNAP recipients to local food banks and pantries to feed their families.

In May, the most recent month for which federal data is available, over 905,000 Washingtonians received a total of $167 million in SNAP benefits.

Food banks are already seeing heightened demand and preparing for broader Republican-backed cuts to SNAP that are still to come.

Gov. Bob Ferguson on Tuesday directed the state Department of Social and Health Services to transfer nearly $2.2 million each week to the state’s Department of Agriculture for grants to food banks. The first infusion would come Monday, Nov. 3.

Washington state will give food banks $2.2 million per week as they deal with the potential end of food stamp benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. The Trump …

10/30/2025

The Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC) has recognized Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, for his leadership in delivering state capital budget funding for the Tenino Agriculture Innovation Park, a news release from the office of Peter Abbarno stated.

Abbarno, assistant ranking member on the House Capital Budget Committee, worked to secure funding that moved the project from concept to construction, according to the release. Phase I is complete, and Phase II, which consists of adding regional meat-processing capabilities, is underway.

“Communities win when local vision meets state investment,” Abbarno said. “I am grateful for this recognition, but the real victory is for our farmers, small businesses and families who will benefit from the Park’s jobs and stronger food supply infrastructure. I will keep working on the capital budget to back projects that grow opportunity and keep people rooted in their communities and right here in Washington state.”

The Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC) has recognized Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, for his leadership in delivering state capital budget funding for the Tenino Agriculture Innovation …

10/30/2025

A coalition of Democratic state officials sued the Trump administration Tuesday, asking a federal judge to force the release of food assistance funds for 42 million people that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has said cannot be paid during the ongoing government shutdown.

Attorneys general representing 22 states and the District of Columbia and three governors launched the suit days before benefits are expected to be cut off for low-income Americans enrolled in the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, on Nov. 1.

Despite holding $6 billion in a reserve fund, USDA said last week it would not process November SNAP benefits without fiscal 2026 funding approved by Congress.

The USDA’s refusal to provide November benefits runs contrary to precedent from other recent shutdowns, and even the department’s own Sept. 30 contingency plan that said the contingency fund would be used to continue benefits through the shutdown.

A coalition of Democratic state officials sued the Trump administration Tuesday, asking a federal judge to force the release of food assistance funds for 42 million people that the U.S. Department of …

10/30/2025

Despite closing its mining operation in 2006, the TransAlta mine north of Centralia has recently received an extension on its mining permit from the federal government.

The extension will allow TransAlta to continue work meant to make the land fit for “post-mining” uses.

The Lewis County Public Utility District and other local governments recently received a letter from the federal government informing them of the extension of the TransAlta mining permit through 2030.

According to the letter from the United States Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, the permit applies to more than 9,000 acres starting from its northernmost point near Bucoda and extending southeast.

Despite closing its mining operation in 2006, the TransAlta mine north of Centralia has recently received an extension on its mining permit from the federal government. The extension will allow …

10/30/2025

During a Yelm Community Schools (YCS) Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, Oct. 23, Traci Schulz, Southworth Elementary assistant principal, highlighted some of the new changes and goals for the district’s “advanced academics” program.

Schulz noted that in other districts, “advanced academics” courses may be titled “gifted and talented” or “high cap” programs. She described the 2024-25 school year as a building year for the district’s program, and noted those involved are continuing to build it up during the 2025-26 school year.

196 students are identified as participating within the program this school year.

“We choose to do advanced academics here. Just to review, our programmed rules are to ensure access to rigorous, inclusive learning for all learners. We’re working on building sustainable systems,” Schulz said.

During a Yelm Community Schools (YCS) Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, Oct. 23, Traci Schulz, Southworth Elementary assistant principal, highlighted some of the new changes and goals for the …

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