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Public Safety

July 23, 2026
A sign and fence at the Green Hill School for juvenile offenders, in Chehalis, Washington. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

Youth prison system woes detailed

Nearly half of front-line staff at Washington’s overcrowded juvenile detention facilities leave within a year. Many report feeling unsafe, unprepared and unsupported.

July 9, 2026
Inmates, right, are seen at the Clark County Jail after booking on July 2. The county council is set to vote on July 21 to solidify the partial remodel of the jail, but the general voting public in Clark County doesn’t know the status of the jail and is hesitant to support a new tax. (Photos by Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)

Clark County Council to vote on jail rebuild

The Clark County Council is moving forward with a proposed $344 million partial rebuild of the county jail, balancing facility upgrades with a public sensitive to new taxes.

June 4, 2026
A wrecked vehicle in Thurston County after it collided with a power pole, splitting the car in half on June 23, 2025. The driver was treated for minor injuries and was booked for DUI. The vehicle’s speedometer was stuck at 100 mph, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. (Photo courtesy of Thurston County Sheriff’s Office)

Deaths on Washington roads drop again

In an encouraging sign for road safety, traffic deaths in Washington fell significantly for the second year in a row in 2025, according to state data released Tuesday.

April 30, 2026

WPD receives grant for narcotics detection device

The Washougal Police Department has received a state grant to purchase a handheld narcotics analyzer aimed at improving officer safety and speeding drug identification in the field.