🌱 How could Olympia’s PBIA overhaul change downtown services and costs?
Olympia, Washington Patch AM: a 5 min readHey hey Olympia! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How could Olympia’s PBIA overhaul change downtown services and costs?
- Could an unclaimed lottery fortune be waiting in Olympia right now?
- What you should know from today’s biggest Olympia-area stories.
Also on today's calendar: Spring Arts Walk at the Abigail Stuart House and 5 more events.
Today's riddle: How do you measure a fish? 🤔 (Answer below!)
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- Wednesday: Breezy with showers around, with a high of 57 and low of 43 degrees.
- Thursday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 61, low: 36.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 65 and low of 35 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Olympia City Council advances PBIA evaluation (thejoltnews.com) — Olympia’s City Council has voted to advance a deeper evaluation of the downtown Parking and Business Improvement Area, potentially reshaping how cleaning, safety, and other services are funded. Consultants say Olympia’s PBIA is underfunded and outdated, and the next phase will explore new assessment models with local business and property owners before any changes are adopted. 
2. $9M in lottery winnings expiring statewide (heraldnet.com) — If you’ve bought Washington’s Lottery tickets, Olympia-area players should double-check them soon, as $9 million in unclaimed prizes statewide are nearing expiration. A Bellingham ticket worth $8.2 million expires July 30, and other sizable prizes will lapse in the coming days and months. Winners can claim prizes at regional offices, including the Olympia location, on weekdays.
3. Top Olympian stories that you may have missed for April 21, 2026 (theolympian.com) — Top stories affecting the Olympia region today include a serious crash in south Thurston County involving a Centralia man and new state data showing gray wolves continuing to rebound, though recovery goals aren’t yet met near Olympia. You’ll also want to look up tonight, as the Lyrid meteor shower is expected to put on a solid show under decent viewing conditions.
4. Internal Emails Highlight Effort to Legalize Progressive Income Tax in Washington State (dailyfly.com) — From Olympia, newly revealed emails show Washington’s attorney general’s office and Democratic lawmakers strategizing how a new high-earner income tax could prompt the state Supreme Court to revisit its long-standing ban on progressive income taxes. The law, signed in March, targets residents making over $1 million, but faces an active lawsuit and potential referendum challenges. Local readers may see long-term impacts on statewide tax policy and future Olympia debates.
📸 Around Olympia
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Olympia
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
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Discover Girl Scouts Try-It Event at McKenny Elementary in Olympia
Margaret McKenny Elementary School, 3250 Morse-Merryman Rd SE, Olympia
5:00 pm
Thursday April 23
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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Avanti Gala
Avanti High School Olympia, WA 98501
4:00 pm -
Girls Soccer Game RMS 1
Reeves Soccer Field , Olympia, WA 98506, USA
4:30 pm -
Boys Basketball Game (JV Plays First)
Reeves Middle School , 2200 Quince St NE , Olympia
4:30 pm -
Spring Arts Walk at the Abigail Stuart House
The Abigail Stuart House - Woman's Club Of Olympia , 1002 Washington St SE , Olympia
5:00 pm -
Olympia Arts Walk — Maria Mudd Ruth
Browsers Bookshop , 107 Capitol Way N , Olympia
5:00 pm -
A Hidden Gem
Painting with a Twist , 5831 Lacey Blvd SE Suite E , Lacey
7:00 pm -
Zen Ink Doodles - OLYMPIA, WA 2026
The Olympia Center , 222 Columbia St NW 2nd Floor , Olympia
9:00 am
Thursday April 23
Friday April 24
Saturday April 25
📣 Olympia Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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Centralia JV Softball @ Black Hills
A G West Black Hills High School , 7741 Littlerock Rd SW , Olympia
4:30 pm -
Blazing Haystack Sunset
Painting with a Twist , 5831 Lacey Blvd SE Suite E , Lacey
7:00 pm -
Sharing Our Food Stories: an oral history workshop with Window Seat Media
Lacey Museum and Cultural Center , 4160 6th Ave SE Suite 101 , Lacey
5:30 pm -
Comedy! Now That's Funny: Vol 1
Stottle Winery , 2641 Willamette Dr NE ste e , Lacey
6:30 pm
Wednesday April 22
Thursday April 23
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Hello neighbors.
Looking for a puppy. This is a repost, with a lot more detail due to the multitude of responses where my messages got burrier in the responses. My… (Nextdoor Cooper Point North) - Our Kitty got out, she’s a super lovey cat and mostly indoor.
She got out near the 3300 block of Libby and she’s just over a year old. (Nextdoor South Bay)
- Robert Half posted a job opening for Payroll Specialist in Olympia. Apply here.
- Capital Region ESD 113 posted a job opening for Tumwater- Evening Shift Custodian in Olympia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Olympia here.
Ok Olympia! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: By inches because they have no feet. (Thank you Gypsy S. for sending it in!)
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