OLYMPIA – A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday in the Washington state Senate for a bill that would make changes to last year’s police reform laws. The Senate Law and Justice Committee is holding a public hearing at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday for Senate Bill 5919, a bill Moses Lake police say would bring “a … Read more
In an ironic twist of fate, a Washington State Trooper who went viral after he told governor Jay Inslee to “…kiss my ass” over the coronavirus vaccinate mandate last fall, has died of coronavirus. The deputies strong choice of words was prompted by his forced resignation after 22 years as a Washington State Trooper for … Read more
RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) – Across the West, widespread drought has left elk, deer and even wild turkeys hungry and in poor condition and that’s causing problems for local farmers. Wild elk are attacking farmers’ haystacks in Washington and Oregon, as record snow across much of the Northwest’s mountains has driven animals down to the lowlands. … Read more
EAST WENATCHEE – The Chelan-Douglas Health District has confirmed two more COVID-19 deaths in Chelan County and one additional death in Douglas County. Both deaths occurred in January, according to the health district and two of whom were unvaccinated. All three were senior citizens, the release states. -0-
VANTAGE – A Bellingham construction company was cited for negligence after a worker was killed on the job last summer. Boss Construction was restoring the Beverly Railroad bridge when a 39-year-old man employed by the company fell about 60 feet to his death in August 2021 while laying concrete. The company was fined more than … Read more
OTHELLO – A suspect convicted in a home invasion in Othello struck a plea deal with prosecutors just before his trial was set to start this week. Jose Vicente Rodriguez-Rios pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery for the Sept. 26 incident in which police say the 24-year-old broke into a home on West Phillips Road and … Read more
EPHRATA – You’ll be paying more for your utility bill this month, as winter weather brings colder temps. Grant PUD officials say as a result of colder than normal temperatures, the average utility bill is as much as 33% higher, as people have to use their heat more. The recent rate bump is solely weather … Read more
SPRAGUE – A large herd of elk were spotted crossing SR 231 on Thursday. WSDOT crews saw the elk sometime after sunrise just north of I-90 near Sprague [sprog]. A transportation spokesperson was unable to confirm if the elk were still in the area as of Thursday night. According to the Department of Fish and … Read more
RITZVILLE – Lind-Ritzville High School went in to lockdown Thursday morning after a student threatened to “mess up” another student. Ritzville Police say that the two had been fighting the day before over money. School administrators managed to detain the student and he was taken into custody by police for harassment. The other student involved … Read more
EPHRATA – It takes a village. That’s the sentiment of the Ephrata community which has stepped up to purchase 1,000 COVID-19 tests, in support of student-athletes after all non-varsity sports were put on hold for the Ephrata School District due to a lack of COVID-19 tests. Thanks to the donations, all Ephrata School District athletic … Read more