Steve Klein addresses current issues impacting Yelm and vicinity and provides a meeting place for anyone with an interest in this area to provide their ideas and opinions
On Tuesday [January 27, 2026] the City of Yelm completed the annexation of 312 parcels across eight zones and around 1,200 acres, the largest annexation in our city’s history.
This will bring portions of our urban growth area into the city. This action helps fix irregular city boundaries and increases Yelm’s future housing capacity so we can better plan for responsible growth, services, and infrastructure. It is also a requirement of the state as part of regional planning.
This annexation continues a plan that dates back to the 1990s: lands within the urban growth area that border city limits were always intended to be brought into the city as we grew.
We will be working directly with certain residents, especially those near George Road, to minimize change and ensure your way of life isn’t drastically changed or negatively impacted.
While those in the annexed area were always a part of our community, they are now officially residents and can vote and have a voice in our local elections.
I welcome all the new residents into the City of Yelm, we’re happy you’re here.
(Grey area in the pic below is city limits prior to annexation and colored areas include the new city limits)
[On Dec. 15, 2025], Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) announced $1,000,000 in federal funding to support the City of Yelm’s Downtown Business Revitalization Strategy, which will provide improvements to the city’s economy and core infrastructure.
“Safety and accessibility are cornerstones of a growing and thriving community,” said Strickland. “This federal funding will help the City of Yelm improve road safety for residents and commuters, and revitalize their historic downtown.”
The project will design safer and more accessible elements for Yelm, including sidewalk construction, street lighting, pedestrian crossings, and traffic calming measures.
In a proposed class action lawsuit filed last week, a couple of disgruntled customers accused Costco of falsely advertising the chickens contain “no preservatives.”
The lawsuit, brought by two women in California, alleges that the Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chickens sold at Costco stores across the country contain two preservatives, sodium phosphate and carrageenan, despite claiming that they have none.
Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chickens are an iconic part of the Costco brand. Commonly considered “loss leaders” designed to draw customers further into the store where they will hopefully buy more items, the chickens are reportedly sold at a loss for the wholesaler because their price has not changed with inflation. The chickens retail in 2026 for a cent below $5, as they have for decades.
“Costco concealed the true nature of the Rotisserie Chicken by prominently representing it as having ‘no preservatives,’ without qualification, while formulating it with ingredients that act as preservatives,” the lawsuit reads.
Costco did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the company told USA Today it has removed the signage about preservatives.
“To maintain consistency among the labeling on our rotisserie chickens and the signs in our warehouses/on-line presentations, we have removed statements concerning preservatives from the signs and on-line presentations,” the company told USA Today. “We use carrageenan and sodium phosphate to support moisture retention, texture, and product consistency during cooking. Both ingredients are approved by food safety authorities.”
The lawsuit accuses Costco of violating multiple consumer protection laws, including state laws for California and Washington state, where the company is based out of.
The plaintiffs additionally claim that Costco “systemically cheated customers out of tens -if not hundreds- of millions of dollars” through its false advertising.
As proof of the complaint, the lawsuit included a photo of an in-store advertisement for the chickens, which retail at $4.99. The advertisement label says the product contains no preservatives, artificial flavor, MSG or gluten.
After years of navigating construction inside Sea-Tac airport, travelers might notice significant changes on their next trip.
What’s called the Gateway Project is officially wrapping up on Wednesday [Jan. 26, 2026].
Both Alaska Airlines and the Port of Seattle call it a one-of-a-kind project.
The project was a long time coming — about 2 years and more than $500 million later.
Sea-Tac officials said the remodeling and expansion that updated the decades-old terminal reflect the growth in travel in and out of the airport.
The project’s completion comes in time both for the typical summer travel rush to Seattle and the FIFA World Cup in June.
Alaska Airlines said the construction project is the largest they have ever overseen, and new flights are coming this spring.
Port of Seattle Commission President Ryan Calkins said that each year, an average of 52 million people pass through Sea-Tac.
“The demand for travel to and through SEA continues to grow each year … the lighter, brighter, and more welcoming space is representative of our region and the directions we’re going as a global gateway,” said Calkins.
Today [Jan. 26, 2026] Governor Bob Ferguson and Attorney General Nick Brown held a press conference denouncing the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Minnesota, including calling out the unconstitutional memo from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that directs ICE agents to use force to enter homes without judicial warrants. Ferguson and Brown also discussed steps the state is taking to prepare in the event ICE launches a similar incursion here in Washington.
The press conference comes two days after ICE agents killed another U.S. citizen, Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot while peacefully exercising his constitutional rights. ICE agents also shot and killed Renee Good on Jan. 7 in Minnesota.
“ICE is completely and totally out of control,” Governor Ferguson said. “As angry as we are, Attorney General Brown and I are focused on preparing, to the fullest extent possible, for a similar escalation by ICE here — against our will — in Washington state. We are prepared to use every tool at our disposal to mitigate harms inflicted by ICE and protect all Washingtonians. We all have agency in defending our democracy. Whatever our station in life happens to be, we all have a responsibility to speak out, peacefully make our voices heard, and assist our fellow Washingtonians. We will not allow this administration to turn our nation into an authoritarian regime.”
“Right now, Minnesota is less safe because of the federal presence in that state,” Attorney General Brown said. “America is weaker because of the operations in Minnesota, and real people all across this country are now traumatized, injured, and dead because this president’s fascist tendencies. What we’re seeing right now coming from Washington, D.C., is motivated by hate and bias and it is guided by the whims of the president — not the facts, not the courts, and certainly not the United States Constitution.”
While state officials do not have the authority to stop ICE from deploying in our state, Washington state remains a leader in fighting and defeating the Trump Administration’s illegal and unconstitutional conduct.
The Governor outlined five steps the state is taking to prepare:
The Governor and Attorney General signed a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem calling the recent events in Minnesota deeply disturbing and urging the federal government to withdraw ICE agents and de-escalate the operation. In his remarks, the Governor stressed that the DHS memo directing ICE agents to forcibly enter homes without judicial warrants is unconstitutional. The letter to Noem emphasizes that Washington will use every legal option to oppose unconstitutional conduct by ICE in Washington state.
Building on his creation of the Immigration Sub-Cabinet, Governor Ferguson announced that, effective today, the Chief of the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Sarah Peterson, will begin attending cabinet meetings. This will help ensure the state is coordinating effectively between agencies to respond quickly and thoroughly to new threats from the federal government.
Governor Ferguson recently hired David Kim, a senior advisor to work specifically on immigrant and refugee policy issues.
The Governor met with Adjutant General Gent Welsh to discuss potential scenarios for deploying Washington’s National Guard to keep Washingtonians safe in the event of an ICE escalation.
Governor Ferguson is engaging in many conversations with local, state and federal partners to ensure the response statewide is coordinated, including a meeting today with statewide elected officials.
The Governor has requested and supported legislation to help mitigate harms from ICE and hold them accountable.
Governor Ferguson supports Senate Bill 5855 sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez that will bar law enforcement from wearing face coverings. That bill has already passed the Senate Committee on Law & Justice.
Governor Ferguson is also partnering with Sen. Adrian Cortes (Senate Bill 5876) and Rep. Edwin Obras (House Bill 2165) on legislation to prohibit individuals who are not law enforcement officers from making, providing or possessing badges or other law enforcement insignia. CNN found that there were more ICE impersonations in 2025 than the prior four presidential terms combined. This bill will help mitigate that harm. The bill earned a bipartisan vote, passing the House Committee on Community Safety last week.
Attorney General Brown is partnering with Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) and Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self (D-Mukilteo) to propose the Immigrant Worker Protection Act (HB 2105, SB 5852). The Act would require employers notify employees when the federal government has requested their employment eligibility information.
Sending a huge congratulations to my [Thurston County Commissioner Rachel Grant] amazing Executive Assistant, Ashley [Lea Brooks], on her appointment tonight [January 27, 2026] to the Yelm Planning Commission. Ashley’s dedication, thoughtfulness, and steady commitment to public service will serve our community incredibly well in this new role. I’m grateful for her work every day and excited to see the impact she will make and continues to make in the city of Yelm. We are so lucky to have you!
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Congratulations to Commissioner Brooks from the Yelm Blogger.
A group that organized two nationwide “No Kings” protests last year is planning its next large-scale national demonstration on March 28, with a particular focus on Minnesota, which has emerged as ground zero for anti-immigration enforcement demonstrations over the last few months.
The anti-Trump protest is being organized by Indivisible, a liberal grassroots group, that said demonstrations are expected across the country that day.
The group said the upcoming event — referred to as “No Kings 3” — will include coordinated protests nationwide, with a flagship march planned in the Twin Cities.
“We expect this to be the largest protest in American history,” Ezra Levin, co-executive director of the nonprofit Indivisible, told The Associated Press ahead of Wednesday’s announcement. He predicted that as many as 9 million people could turn out.
“This is in large part a response to a combination of the heinous attacks on our democracy and communities coming from the regime, and a sense that nobody’s coming to save us,” Levin said.
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Levin said Indivisible and allied groups plan to continue organizing beyond major protest days, including nationwide training sessions aimed at monitoring immigration enforcement activity.
“This isn’t about Democrats versus Republicans,” Levin said. “This is about whether we have a democracy at all.”
Our Board of Commissioners invites residents to a public meeting on long-term fire and emergency service needs. The meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 5 p.m. at Station 21 (located at 709 Mill Rd. in Yelm). No decisions will be made—this is an opportunity to learn more and share input.
SETFA responds to more than 4,000 emergency calls each year, a number that has steadily
increased as the community has grown. The fire stations and apparatus were built or
purchased decades ago, and major facility upgrades have not occurred in more than 30 years.
As a result, many stations and engines no longer fully meet modern operational, safety, or
staffing needs. Aging facilities can limit the ability to house firefighters on a 24-hour basis
and conduct required training locally, while older apparatus require more frequent repairs
and are increasingly costly to keep in service.
“These are long-term challenges that require thoughtful planning,” said Fire Chief Mark King.
“This meeting is about sharing information, listening to the community, and beginning a
transparent conversation about how we continue to provide reliable fire and emergency
medical services as demands increase.”
Meeting information and updates are available at www.sethurstonfire.org. Residents with
questions may contact SETFA at 360-458-2799 or info@setfa.org
Boeing’s sales surged nearly 60% in the fourth quarter as the aerospace company digs itself out of a string of crises that tarnished its reputation. It was the strongest quarter of airplane deliveries since 2018.
Revenue soared to $23.95 billion from $15.24 billion for the three months ended Dec. 31. That topped the $22.6 billion that analysts polled by FactSet were looking for.
Boeing had 160 commercial deliveries in the quarter, more than double the 57 deliveries in the prior-year period.
Deliveries are an important source of cash for plane manufacturers since buyers typically pay a large portion of the purchase price when their orders are fulfilled.
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“We made significant progress on our recovery in 2025 and have set the foundation to keep our momentum going in the year ahead,” Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said in a statement on Tuesday.
Arlington, Virginia-based Boeing moved to a profit of $8.13 billion, or $10.23 per share in the period. That compares with a loss of $3.92 billion, or $5.46 per share, a year earlier.
This undated photo provided by Michael Pretti shows Alex J. Pretti, the man who was shot by a federal officer in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, 2026. Credit: Michael Pretti via AP, and ABC News.
Parents of Alex Pretti, Nurse Killed by CBP, Break Silence
“Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man,” Michael and Susan Pretti said.
Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on Saturday, have spoken out to say that their son was a “good man.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ intensive care nurse was gunned down in the street on Saturday by multiple masked federal agents after being sprayed with a chemical irritant and thrown to the ground.
“We are heartbroken but also very angry,” Pretti’s parents said in a statement.
“Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital.”
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Click here for the statement from President Bill Clinton
Click here for the statement from President Barack Obama
