Select Thurston County issues in the headlines of interest locally:

– “Loans for veterans soar in Washington state, lender says”
“Loans backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, otherwise known as VA loans, have soared in Washington state, including in Olympia, Tacoma and Bellingham, according to fiscal 2018 data released by Veterans United, a lender,” by Rolf Boone, The Olympian.
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– House Republicans named top leadership posts
“The top two spots remained the same Rep. J.T. Wilcox, of Yelm, was re-elected minority leader and Rep. Joel Kretz, of Wauconda, was re-elected deputy minority leader, the Number 2 position in the caucus.Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, of Republican, was named assistant floor leader,” by Jim Camden, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane).
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– “Frank Chopp will relinquish speaker’s gavel, press ahead with causes”
“Seattle Democrat Frank Chopp has announced that next year will be his last as Speaker of the House. He’ll give up the gavel after 20 years.”

“Chopp expects Democrats will again propose a Capital Gains tax on the wealthy– while lowering taxes on middle and working class who now pay a greater share of the tax burden.”

“Republican J.T. Wilcox is the newly elected minority leader in the House.”

“He recently hosted Chopp at the Wilcox family farm near Yelm — which has supplied western Washington markets for five generations,” by Essex Porter, KIRO-TV 7 News, Seattle.
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– “Thurston County unemployment remains below 5 percent for 7th straight month in October”
“In another sign of a strong economy, Thurston County unemployment has remained below 5 percent for the seventh consecutive month, according to state Employment Security Department data released this month.

“Since April, the county’s jobless rate has been 4.9, 4.7, 4.7, 4.4, 4.4, 4.1 and 4.2 percent last month, the data show,” by Rolf Boone, The Olympian.
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– “Crime Stoppers of the South Sound holds dress-sale fundraiser”
“YELM, Wash. – Crime Stoppers of the South Sound held a dress sale at the Yelm community center.

There were a variety of designer dresses in multiple sizes, colors and designs to choose from.

Each dress is $20, and the funds raised go to help pay for rewards for tips.

There will be another sale at Lacey City Hall in the community room next Saturday, Dec.1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” by KCPQ-TV 13, Seattle.
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– “Lewis County commissioner calls for administrative changes at Timberland library”
“Timberland Regional Library needs to oust its leadership, Lewis County Commissioner Edna Fund said this week, following the revelation that administrators prevented staff from warning the public as they crafted a plan to close a third of the system’s branches,” by Alex Brown, The Chronicle [Centralia], in The Olympian.
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