Research the archive
Narrow 27,002 newspaper stories by words, years, place, newspaper and subject. See when and where they ran, then download what you find.
Put a phrase in quotes ("rent strike") or leave a word out with a minus (strike -baseball). Old scans misspell names, so when little is found, near-spellings are offered.
Refine1 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1903 | 4 |
| 1904 | 279 |
| 1909 | 174 |
457 stories matching local
- A Temperance Bill Debate Turns Into Two Fistfights in Olympia
A Spokane legislator and a Spokane newspaperman trade blows on the House floor over a local-option petition.
- The Painter Who Played the Local Market
A local tradesman's attempt to execute a 'get-rich-quick' scheme by double-dipping on merchant credit ends in a police court trial.
- A New Titan Hits the Tacoma Waterfront
Thousands gathered in the rain to witness the grand launch of the steamship Jefferson, a marvel of local industry.
- The Scent of 'Unmarked Coin' at the Capitol
As local option battles intensify, rumors of a slush fund designed to sway legislators circulate through Olympia.
- The Global Price of Local Barley
Tacoma's grain markets feel the ripple effects of the Russo-Japanese War as international demand drives up local prices.
- Washington Moves to Kill the Racetrack: Anti-Gambling Bill Heads to the Governor
The House bowed to the Senate's removal of the emergency clause, sending a bill to end horse racing in Washington to the governor — while 'dry' lawmakers pushed a local-option measure late into the night.
- Labor Keeps Its Distance from the 'Wet' Fight
State Federation of Labor leaders refuse to take sides in the brewing local option prohibition fight.
- The City's Rebellion Against the Rail Monopoly
Tacoma’s business leaders unite in a desperate, organized campaign to bypass the Northern Pacific's grip on local commerce by demanding new rail lines.
- The Hidden Cost of Tacoma’s Water Crisis
While public officials downplay safety, local physicians warn that Clover Creek is contaminated by sewage and fueling a typhoid outbreak.
- The Price of Progress: Who Should Pay for City Streets?
Tacoma’s City Council debates whether property owners or the general public should shoulder the cost of local infrastructure improvements.
- Dry Districts, Wet Phone Lines: The Loophole in Washington’s Local Option Bill
An Anti-Saloon League official says the bill targets door-to-door liquor canvassing—not a telephone order from a thirsty household.
- Tacoma Tigers Dominate Local Rivalry on the Diamond
The local baseball club easily dismantled a visiting squad in a lopsided contest at the Eleventh street grounds.
- Investigation Falters in Axelson Murder Case
Local police admit insufficient evidence against a suspect detained in the killing of John Axelson.
- Street Harassment Met With Harsh Penalty
A local man is sentenced to 50 days on the city woodpile after insulting a woman on C Street.
- Tacoma High School Edges Out Ellensburg in Thrilling Basketball Finale
A last-minute shot from Cook secures a narrow 35-34 victory on the local floor.
- A Temperance Victory Built on Small-Town Spite
After a chaotic night session, the Anti-Saloon League's local-option bill cleared the Washington House — not on moral conviction, but on rural resentment of Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane.
- Fishing Industry Braces for Border Dispute
Tensions rise as the Canadian government claims authority over Hecate Strait and Dixon Entrance, threatening the livelihood of local halibut fleets.
- The Scandal of a Palouse Teacher’s Death
A prominent Whitman County physician faces manslaughter charges following the death of a young schoolteacher, unraveling a web of alleged malpractice and local secrets.
- Pawn Shop Under Scrutiny Over Early Sale of Goods
A local second-hand merchant was arrested for selling a suit that had not yet reached its redemption date, sparking a test case for local consumer rights.
- Tacoma Shippers Fear for the Shawmut
Global tensions from the Russo-Japanese War reach Tacoma as merchants worry about a local steamship being intercepted.
- The City Employment Bureau’s Fight Against Job Scalpers
Tacoma’s municipal employment manager implements a new in-person policy to block local rivals from poaching public job leads.
- Spokane Gamblers Raise a War Chest to Repeal Washington’s Gambling Law
In 1904, gamblers and liquor dealers pooled money for a statewide campaign to undo the anti-gambling statute—an early industry-funded push to rewrite the rules.
- Anacortes Moral Reformers Take On the Restricted District
The local W.C.T.U. brought an evangelist to Anacortes for a week of lectures against the 'white-slave traffic,' pressing to close the town's red-light district even as some businessmen warned the campaign could backfire.
- Sewer Workers Strike for Eight-Hour Day
Laborers on a Twenty-ninth Avenue sewer project successfully force a return to the eight-hour workday against contractor pressure.
- Visions for Tacoma's Industrial Growth
Local business leaders and Congressman Cushman debate federal funding for harbor dredging and the city's potential as a Pacific coastal powerhouse.