Ty Vinson

Olympia's Police Chief Shelby Parker told the City Council on Aug. 25 that the department will be increasing its presence at the Jungle encampment as officials work to move people into housing.

The south end of Fones Road in Olympia will be partially closed for longer than planned, according to a news release from the city's Public Works Department.

For the past month, Olympia-area resident Emilia Strand has had her hands wrist-deep in dirt on a 42-acre property southeast of the city to plant 20,000 corms of the crocus flower.

Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne said he will be meeting with Gov. Bob Ferguson's office to request state intervention to speed up the closure of the Jungle encampment.

The mayor said activity seems to shift during the summer, and the warmer weather brings more people from outside Olympia to the region.

The seasonal return of salmon has hit Olympia, bringing crowds of people to the downtown Fifth Avenue Bridge. The extra traffic has prompted police to remind people to be careful on the busy road.

The incident blocked northbound I-5 for two and a half hours.

Two ramps to Interstate 5 in Thurston County will be closed during the day on Sunday, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The Washington State Patrol arrested a man on Friday morning after he allegedly drove under the influence and caused a serious-injury wreck on Interstate 5 in Thurston County.

Olympia School District Superintendent Patrick Murphy announced in a letter to the community on Friday afternoon that hearings have been set to potentially close Madison, McKenny and LP Brown elementary schools.