YAKIMA- Average gasoline prices in Yakima have fallen 4.8 cents per gallon in the week since April 28th according to GasBuddy's survey of 91 stations in Yakima Prices in Yakima are 27.4 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 47.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago The national average price of diesel has increased 0.2 cents in the last week and stands at $3.501 per gallon the cheapest station in Yakima was priced at $3.08/g May 4th The lowest price in the state the same day was $3.08/g while the highest was $5.55/g The national average price of gasoline has risen 2.0 cents per gallon in the same week The national average is down 12.0 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 49.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country Yakima City Manager Vicki Baker is expected to make a presentation about the budget crisis facing the city of Yakima during Tuesday's Yakima City Council meeting The city is looking at cutting services or raising taxes to fill a $9 million shortfall in 2026 Baker says she'll talk to council members about feedback she's received in forums conducted last month and the results of a city survey The city budget committee is already working to find solutions City officials say many people who took the survey were in favor of cutting funding for fireworks Baker says the budget committee will take the information and begin work to find solutions that will be supported by city residents Baker admits it's not going to be a easy to implement cuts or new taxes but she says by law the city must have a balanced budget in 2026 During an appearance on KIT News late last month Baker says there could be a combination of cuts and higher taxes. No decisions will be made until later this year.The Yakima City Council meeting Tuesday starts at 5:30 pm. You can watch the meeting on Y-PAC, Charter Spectrum Channel 194, and stream live at https://www.yakimawa.gov/council/live-stream/. You may also participate viaZoom: https://cityofyakima.zoom.us/j/91051974789 or call in by dialing 1 (253) 215-8782 | WebinarID: 910 5197 4789 | Passcode: 983494READ MORE:Read the story and see the pictures of a deadly Yakima crash on Sunday Did you take the city survey?\nRead More Yakima City Manager Vicki Baker is expected to make a presentation about the budget crisis facing the city of Yakima during Tuesday's Yakima City Council meeting During an appearance on KIT News late last month Baker says there could be a combination of cuts and higher taxes. No decisions will be made until later this year.The Yakima City Council meeting Tuesday starts at 5:30 pm. You can watch the meeting on Y-PAC, Charter Spectrum Channel 194, and stream live at https://www.yakimawa.gov/council/live-stream/. You may also participate viaZoom: https://cityofyakima.zoom.us/j/91051974789 or call in by dialing 1 (253) 215-8782 | WebinarID: 910 5197 4789 | Passcode: 983494READ MORE:Read the story and see the pictures of a deadly Yakima crash on Sunday Intro rate $1.99This rate will renew automatically at $9.99 after 30 days First time here? Click to create a yakimaherald.com user account said the school is fully committed to maintaining the programs Federal funds for a program training mental health professionals to work in local schools will be discontinued Educational Service District 105 and Heritage University received notification from the U.S. Department of Education on April 29 that the federal funding for the Yakima Valley Grow Your Own Consortium and masters of mental health counseling program will be discontinued The program was made possible through a grant from the U.S which was to provide about $1.1 million in funding each year for five years The consortium began enrollment in spring 2024 The local partnership was designed to address a critical shortage of school-based mental health professionals in the region by educating a locally trained workforce to serve schools and communities Heritage University and ESD 105 are appealing the decision by the Department of Education to reinstate funding They also are seeking other funding sources and partnerships The federal funds supported candidates from underserved communities to become school social workers and behavioral health providers through a masters degree programs at Heritage The goal was to graduate 20 Masters of Social Work students per academic year and 50 Masters of Mental Health Counseling professionals over its duration to work in school-based settings The school counselor-to-student ratio in several area districts exceeds one per 1,000 students with some districts employing no school social workers at all The recommended national ratio for school counselors is one per 250 students The program has demonstrated significant success with 17 students on track to graduate with their Masters of Social Work degrees They are set to complete school-based internships in May 18 students are completing their first year in the Masters of Mental Health Counseling program and are set to begin school-based internships this August In a region already facing systemic barriers to behavioral health care the loss disrupts the pipeline for trained school-based mental health professionals “The loss of these grants will have lasting negative impacts on our schools and communities,” said Emily Nelson executive director of student support at ESD 105 “We already face significant delays and barriers in youth access to behavioral health services and these grants were designed to address those challenges by bringing more qualified professionals into schools and communities.” “The loss of this funding will make it more challenging for us to gain access to highly-skilled school-based supervision for placements," he said "We will also see fewer school-based practitioners to meet the needs of the local school districts.” Reach Tammy Ayer at tayer@yakimaherald.com Please select all the ways you would like to hear from us: You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails For information about our privacy practices We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. 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Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device My favorite holiday has once again come and passed, and Yakima was abuzz with the gateway to a new hobby The hobby that helps people appreciate art and and the holiday we celebrated was Free Comic Book Day mark your calendars now for the first Saturday in May because that’s where it’s been held for the past several years And if you missed my last article leading up to Free Comic Book Day You can check that full article out here This past Saturday (May 3rd) people in the Yakima Valley spanning all ages flocked to our local comic shops and enjoyed some free books (new for this year as well as from previous years) and some great deals inside but it bares to be repeated: we are so fortunate in the Yakima Valley to not only have one BUT 3 comic shops within a half-hour drive I was able to hit two up two of them throughout my busy day. Ron’s Coin & Collectables (in the morning), then Yakomix (in the evening) and the middle of my day was occupied by non-comic book-related life commitments I was not able to make the trek up to Ellensburg to visit Central City Comics there was a great selection of books that were free and great deals on books for sale to help keep these locally owned businesses going strong Giphy.com Check out some of these photos that I snapped from my time at Ron’s Coin & Collectables and then see my personal score of Free Books Gallery Credit: tsm/Timmy! What did you score for Free Comic Book Day? Tap the App and let us know A day to celebrate a great hobby or give a hobby a try if you're new to it. Check out some photos from this year's Free Comic Book Day!\nRead More My favorite holiday has once again come and passed, and Yakima was abuzz with the gateway to a new hobby You can check that full article out here I was able to hit two up two of them throughout my busy day. Ron’s Coin & Collectables (in the morning), then Yakomix (in the evening) Giphy.com What did you score for Free Comic Book Day? Tap the App and let us know — The Yakima Valley Office of Emergency Management has an update on the ongoing monitoring of the landslide on Rattlesnake Ridge While there is no immediate threat to Interstate 82 recent observations indicate new landslide activity on the west flank of the existing slide area it was observed that a debris slide measuring 400 feet tall and 300 feet wide blocked a portion of the closed section of Thorp Road The larger landslide on the top of the hill has been crushing the rock into smaller pieces which have been slowly sliding and rolling downhill to the base Subsequent inspection by county and WSDOT engineers this week have determined the following: For more information, visit Yakima County’s Rattlesnake Ridge Incident Information web page Washington State’s bike/cargo specialists Yakima have a number of new and updated products for 2025 Added to the lineup are the brand new SkyPeak HD rooftop tent Let’s start with the brand-new rooftop tent The SkyPeak HD is Yalima’s first hard-shell roof-top tent. It’s also their first wedge-style tent. I’ve had some experience with Yakima’s soft shell roof top tent, the SkyRise HD Medium, and reviewed it here There are T-track slots on the sides and top to add your accessories The available cross bars can hold up to 300 lbs of cargo on top of the tent it would make a great room to get out of the elements or a private place to change into jammies before you climb up to bed You can climb into the tent by using one of the three ladder mounting positions dual pass-through slots for A/C or heaters and a memory foam mattress with a removable cover and anti-condensation mat The SKyPeak HD dimensions are 85″ x 58″ x 6.5″ closed with a max interior height of 67.5″ when open Softshell rooftop tents tend to be a bit lighter than the hardshell versions Both the SkyRise SL and HD are for the camper that is looking for something lighter The new SkyRise SL and SkyRise HD both offer fast deployment all three tents now get a newly custom-designed ladder that has curved rungs that are barefoot (or sockfoot) compatible (comfortable) Throwing shade just got easier, and finding the right size awning for your needs just got better. Yakima’s new awning collection not only gets a name change for all four awnings in the collection, but grows with two new sizes, the OverNOut 180 and OverNOut 270 XL Both are self-supporting awnings that use heavy-duty support arms and T-slot clamps for easy attachment Both also include guy lines and support legs to help keep it stable during big winds Adding to the NX line of cargo boxes comes the new SkyBox NX Skinny and NX XXL Its skinny profile is great for those who need a little extra cargo space but still need room on the roof for bikes or a kayak But if you need maximum storage capacity from your cargo box much larger SkyBox NX XXL will fit the bill With a huge 22 cubic feet of space for gear-heavy expeditions The new LowRider trailer takes your cargo space needs and puts them at the rear of your vehicle The new trailer is specifically designed for kayaks The updated StageTwo comes with a myriad of new features the new StageTwo boasts updated ratings for on-road Other new features include a redesigned SpeedKnob and tilt mechanisms the rack gets new V-shaped trays that will help keep wheels centered especially when paired with the RampUp accessory The new rack can fit wheels from 16″ to 29″ and tires up to 5″ wide The StrongArm hook secures bikes by the wheel protecting painted surfaces and carbon frames The MOD Drawer System can redefine how you pack your vehicle Especially a vehicle that is short on interior cargo space I will bring in this system for review shortly It could be a game-changer for storing and transporting gear in the Jeep The MOD System is designed to maximize your storage space and keep all of your essentials within easy reach and organized. The beauty of the MOD System is that it’s a non-permanent, modular system: Simply attach the MOD HomeBase to existing tie-down points Don’t worry, if your vehicle doesn’t have tie-down points, there’s a MOD Fit Kit for you It has the flexibility and customization to fit all your needs The MOD System can be built into more than 30 configurations when paired with various available accessories The foundation of the system is the MOD HomeBase It has built-in attachment points for the MOD Toppers (half-size drawer add-ons featuring the same premium bamboo finish as HomeBase) The super convenient MOD GearTotes fold down flat and are lidless totes, perfect for easy-in/easy-out storage. When adding the MicroTotes you can dial in your drawer organization to another level Yakima.com Ron Frazelle is the Cycling Lifestyle Editor for Bikerumor he has been writing about bicycles and the cycling way of life for 7+ years Frazelle is an avid cyclist of all disciplines Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed but don’t want to deal with solvents Simpyfast claims their Lube Cube is the easiest way Peak Performance expands on their MTB specific clothing with new pants Apparently that’s an option when you’re designing products for the GOAT We spotted Cofidis racing an all-new prototype wireless 13-speed Campagnolo Super Record 13 WRL SC road groupset Canyon Bicycles is now selling select models directly through Amazon.com Want wireless shifting but don’t want to have to buy a whole new drivetrain Be protected from the sun with the new UV Hooded Trail Shirt… OrNot The new Van Nicholas Astraeus is a beautiful titanium road bike that’s limited to just 50 frames One person was killed and three others injured in a high speed crash early Sunday morning in the 3400 block of River Road. A press release from the Yakima Police Department says the crash was reported at about 3:00 am Sunday When Officers and Deputies from the Yakima County Sheriff's Office arrived on the scene they found a 2016 Infiniti Q50 sedan had crashed Officers and Firefighters were able to douse the flames and help the four 20-year-old males from Yakima involved in the crash Police say one of the passengers died at the scene He's been identified by the Yakima County Coroner as Edwin Villanueva Guevara.  The driver and other passengers were transported to Multicare Yakima Memorial Hospital was later transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with critical burn injuries One of the passengers was also transported to Harborview for treatment of serious back injuries The third man was treated at Multi-Care hospital for non-life-threatening injuries An investigation found the vehicle was westbound on River Road east of Fruitvale Blvd The vehicle left the roadway and crashed into the construction zone at 34th Ave and River Rd The press release says the "vehicle rolled multiple times before coming to rest on its roof in a parking lot at 3400 River Rd. where the vehicle immediately caught fire." Authorities say "high speed" was the cause of the crash with possible criminal charges pending for the driver.  The Yakima Police Department Traffic Unitwill be investigating the collision and anyone with additional information may contact Officer Darius Williams at509-306-3814 or darius.williams@yakimawa.gov READ MORE: Big Changes Coming to Downtown Summer Nights Concerts One person was killed and three others injured in a single vehicle crash early Sunday morning in the 3400 block of River Road.\nRead More One person was killed and three others injured in a high speed crash early Sunday morning in the 3400 block of River Road. A press release from the Yakima Police Department says the crash was reported at about 3:00 am Sunday READ MORE: Big Changes Coming to Downtown Summer Nights Concerts A 19-year-old Yakima man was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting his 5-year-old sister The man appeared before a judge today and was released from all charges including first degree rape of a child Deputies with the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported sex crime at a home on Mieras Road the children’s mother provided video evidence that allegedly showed the assault taking place on a couch inside the residence Police said the children’s grandmother was babysitting at the time of the incident She told deputies the man was not supposed to be left alone with the child due to previous incidents The mother also told deputies her son has learning and mental health disorders Yakima City Council members will discuss community feedback about the city budget when they meet Tuesday Yakima City Council members will discuss community feedback around city budget issues and updates to its urban zoning laws at their Tuesday meeting City officials have been working to get feedback from residents about an expected general fund budget deficit Revenues are projected to be around $9 million short of expenses next year City officials set up a budget advisory committee made up of council member-picked residents and sent out a budget survey to the community Results from both of those outreach efforts will be presented Tuesday The budget committee began work earlier in 2025 According to city council agenda materials around 2,000 people filled out the budget survey answering questions about possible cuts or tax increases Residents were able to share their priorities for funding and cuts to local spending they would approve According to results included with city agenda materials cuts to lobbying and council travel and fireworks were supported as well as tax increases to support policing Yakima City Council will also hold a public hearing on updates to the city’s zoning law One public hearing will go over updates to application requirements to simplify and streamline them Another could change development standards attempting to clarify and streamline the review process for downtown building The code updates touch on mixed-use buildings and their requirements in the downtown area Yakima City Council will also go over some personnel changes New Finance Director Craig Warner will step into his full-time role And Council members will vote on a series of appointments to city committees: Sylvia Merczel and Jacob Butler for the Arts Commission • Kenneth Wyatt Garcia for the Parks and Recreation Commission • Eliza Mancilla for the Yakima Housing Authority The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Yakima City Hall. It will air live on Y-PAC, Charter Spectrum Channel 194, and stream live at https://www.yakimawa.gov/council/live-stream/ To comment at a regular Council meeting, visit bit.ly/YHRcomment and fill out the comment request form. People also can email ccouncil2@yakimawa.gov or call 509-575-6060 Jasper Kenzo Sundeen can be reached at jsundeen@yakimaherald.com One 20-year-old male died and three were injured after the sedan they were driving failed to negotiate a turn on River Road near Fruitvale Boulevard One 20-year-old died and three were injured after the sedan they were driving failed to negotiate a turn on River Road near Fruitvale Boulevard Police and fire personnel responded to the scene when the vehicle crashed around 3 a.m according to a Yakima Police Department news release and three were taken to MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital The driver was transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with critical burns and one of the passengers also was taken to Harborview with serious back injuries The sedan was coming west on River Road toward Fruitvale Boulevard when it failed to make a sharp turn get onto Fruitvale Boulevard "The vehicle failed to negotiate a curve at the 3300 block of River Road and left the roadway crashing through the construction zone at 34th Avenue and River Road," the press release stated "The vehicle rolled multiple times before coming to rest on its roof in a parking lot at 3400 River Road where the vehicle immediately caught fire." Investigators said high speed could be a factor in the collision and said criminal charges are pending completion of the investigation. In its news release, YPD said anyone with additional information can contact officer Darius Williams at 509-306-3814 or darius.williams@yakimawa.gov The city is building a roundabout at the intersection of Fruitvale Boulevard and River Road to address intersection safety concerns Selah police have identified the 4-year-old boy whose remains were found buried on Cowiche Mill Road in April Selah police said his father is facing criminal fraud charges While the investigation into Alaric “AJ” Funderburgh’s cause of death continues Selah police Chief Dustin Soptich said in a news release that Funderburgh’s father is facing criminal fraud charges District Court Wednesday on charges of theft of government money and wire fraud as a Social Security investigator alleged that Funderburgh continued to collect payments directed to his son for several months after he died Selah’s prosecutor dismissed without prejudice charges of unlawful disposal of human remains obstructing law enforcement and making false statements to public officials against Funderburgh a move that allows prosecutors to refile the charges should circumstances change The move came the same day the federal charges were filed A Selah police detective went to Funderburgh’s home in the 500 block of Speyers Road April 16 to check AJ's welfare after a friend of the boy’s grandfather said AJ's grandparents had not seen him for a year and were not able to get hold of Funderburgh and the friend told police that there were concerns because AJ had a heart condition that was described as a “hole in his heart,” according to a complaint filed in U.S said that AJ was fine and was staying with the boy's grandmother who lives on Cowiche Mill Road because his house was infested with bedbugs Other people who knew the boy said he had not been seen since fall 2024 Selah police questioned Funderburgh April 17 and he told officers that he found AJ dead in his bed at the house Dec He panicked because he didn’t want to lose his other children and buried AJ out on Cowiche Mill Road and directed officers to the location AJ's remains were taken to the King County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy and further testing is being done to determine how he died Funderburgh was booked into the Yakima County jail on the municipal charges which were misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors an investigator with the Social Security Office of Inspector General began looking into records and found that Funderburgh had been appointed as the representative to receive the survivors’ benefits AJ and another sibling were receiving after Bedard’s death When Funderburgh applied to be the children’s representative to receive the benefits he agreed to notify the Social Security Administration if any of the beneficiaries died left his custody or were no longer his responsibility each child received an initial payment of $4,274.50 and then started receiving monthly payments of $1,119 each Funderburgh received payments on AJ's behalf from December 2024 through April 2025 Magistrate Judge Alexander Ekstrom ordered Funderburgh to remain in jail pending a detention hearing May 9 Court records show Funderburgh has a prior conviction for third-degree theft in Benton County in 2017 Reach Donald W. Meyers at dmeyers@yakimaherald.com A classroom space in La Casa Hogar’s new building Thursday Yakima Police say an early Sunday morning crash killed one person Officers responded to an area near the intersection of River Road and 34th Ave When they arrived the found an 2016 Infinity Q 50 sedan on its roof Yakima Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze and began to remove and help the occupants Yakima Police said one of the men was dead at the scene, the driver was treated at an area hospital then transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with critical burns another passenger was also taken there with serious back injuries The third passenger was treated at Yakima Multi-Care Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries Police said the car was eastbound on River Road east of Fruitvale Boulevard when it failed to negotiate a curve Then it crashed through the construction zone at 34th Investigators said excessive speed was a factor in the crash YPD says criminal charges will likely be levied following the completion of the investigation READ More: another speeding driver dies in area crash recently  and hurt 3 others.\n  Four 20-year-old man were in the car\nAround 3 AM When they arrived the found an 2016 Infinity Q 50 sedan on its roof, on fire. Yakima F...\nRead More READ More: another speeding driver dies in area crash recently  On Aug. 18, 1920, The San Francisco Call summed up the spirit of the Nineteenth Amendment with a single headline More than 40 years after it was introduced in 1878 the amendment granted women's suffrage in one of the most significant expansions of the voting franchise in American history - Length: 547.5 miles\r\n- State with most miles: Louisiana (239.3 miles) READ MOREYakima Valley Trolleys seek volunteers for work weekendby Malorie Aldrich — The Yakima Valley Trolleys are calling on community members to lend a hand during a volunteer work weekend aimed at preparing the historic trolleys for the upcoming season Participants have the opportunity to assist in making the trolley cars operational for the summer or contribute to beautifying the museum grounds hundreds of people marched around Yakima for the annual May Day march The theme of the international workers’ day march was justice One citizen said that she is marching to help workers ask for change “I think it’s really important for people to see that they aren’t alone," Dianna Woods said and I think that people feel better when they’re together and you can get courage off from each other.” The march started and ended at Miller Park in Yakima — The Junior League of Yakima combined the excitement of the Kentucky Derby with the fun of bingo on Friday night hosting a themed event that drew attendees in their derby best for a charitable cause this fundraiser is raising money to support our girl's initiative which we do a leadership summit for middle school girls once a year where they get to come and learn and play and grow," said Richelle Bush "We're working on starting a book club for middle grade girls as well this year so it'll be going towards supporting that all in support of empowering young girls in the community Wildlife officers believe the bear had followed Wide Hollow Creek into town following winter hibernation A black bear that wandered into the West Valley area of Yakima has been relocated People around Wide Hollow Elementary School called Yakima police Sunday morning to report seeing a bear in the area Police found the bear in a tree and called for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to remove the bear said WDFW came out and tranquilized the black bear and moved it to a more suitable location but she said bears don’t show up in Yakima often The WDFW reports approximately 22,000 black bears are in the state The bear did not appear to have been habituated to humans Charlotte Reckard looks at photos of Kit Mora holds a photo of Mora while posing for a portrait with friend Amythist McCart at Randall Park in Yakima 'Dateline' recently featured the missing person case of Kit Mora, who grew up in Yakima's East Valley. The case illustrates continuing challenges in addressing the centuries-long crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people Kit Mora, who grew up in East Valley, was one of 32 individuals highlighted in a missing Indigenous persons alert message from the Washington State Patrol in 2022. State Patrol launched the alert system that summer Mora, a descendant of the Penticton Indian Band who identifies as non-binary was living in Omak when they disappeared under suspicious circumstances Mora didn't return to Omak High School after Christmas break in 2021 Though Mora's missing date is in state and national databases as April 15 the date Mora's biological mother has reportedly said they ran away friends and family in the Yakima Valley haven't seen or heard from Mora since November 2021 A recent Dateline NBC video and article posted on April 22 — Mora's 20th birthday — brought the case before the public again But Mora's friends and family in the Yakima Valley have never forgotten In the first two months after Mora was reported missing in September 2022 law enforcement efforts and progress in Mora's case were nonexistent "Local PD took our missing report but they didn’t take us seriously until we were on their doorstep looking for answers ourselves," Reckard said we have a wonderful detective who is more than willing to look into any tips we get He wants to do more but needs more resources." The alert system for missing Indigenous people is making a difference Since launching the system three years ago State Patrol has issued 154 alerts at the request of the law enforcement agencies investigating those cases Five people were found deceased but 138 were located alive At the same time, Mora's missing person case illustrates continuing challenges in addressing the centuries-long crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and people Keeping authorities focused on their loved one's case and in communication can be frustrating for families When arrests are made after months and even years of investigation the journey to justice can seem agonizingly slow More public awareness gatherings are taking place — which are important for relatives and friends — but those who choose to share their loved one's story are traumatized over and over Some tribes and organizations such as the Yakama Nation and State Patrol have liaisons who work directly with families and are available for guidance The State Patrol liaisons have stressed their availability and Yakama Nation family liaison Hailey Bass has attended federal court hearings to support family members But those roles don't exist everywhere they're needed then angry with the slow initial response of authorities Omak police began working with the Colville Tribal Police Department and the FBI as the investigation intensified Omak police announced in early May 2024 that they were also working with the cold case unit within the state Attorney General's office for missing and murdered Indigenous people The cold case unit's main purpose is to assist local and tribal law enforcement agencies to solve cold cases involving Indigenous people Police are acknowledging that missing and murdered Indigenous people is "a genuine problem The media is acknowledging the problem," Reckard said but progress nonetheless toward getting better media coverage and real investigations being done." But more people need to recognize that missing and murdered Indigenous women and people "is an epidemic nationwide "We need this to be front and center. We need people to treat these cases the same way they treated cases like Gabby Petito to the social media outrage and individuals saying her name and talking about it," Reckard said her missing person case received almost no media attention May 5 is the national day of awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women and people The date involves awareness walks and gatherings government proclamations and social media posts Indigenous people in the United States have suffered disproportionate levels of violence for generations The Washington State Patrol currently is tracking 112 active cases of missing Indigenous women and men in Washington 30 are from Yakima County and the Yakama Reservation That's the most of any county in Washington New Mexico when she died of injuries consistent with a hit-and-run crash The FBI recently announced plans to send extra agents analysts and other personnel to field offices in 10 states over six months to help investigate unsolved violent crimes on Native American reservations That announcement and the state cold case unit's efforts are welcomed by families frustrated with authorities' indifference and even disregard for their missing and murdered loved ones As defendants indicted in the death of Rosenda Sophia Strong and her killer have been sentenced more details of the lengthy investigation have emerged It's a telling example of change on the Yakama Reservation In reporting her missing in the fall of 2018 was initially dismissed with remarks that Strong "was probably out partying" and would eventually return Reyes and others have said if law enforcement had responded to their missing loved one's case with urgency the outcome could have been much different That's how the State Patrol alert system can make an impact Four states have such alert systems. The governor of New Mexico recently signed legislation for the Turquoise Alert System into law It will ensure a more rapid response to missing Indigenous women and people with focus on the crucial first 48 hours after a person is reported missing the State Patrol issues alerts for missing Indigenous women and people at the request of the law enforcement agency that took the missing person report the agency then enters information about the missing person in the National Crime Information Center the State Patrol tribal liaison for Western Washington There is no waiting period to make a missing person report Several cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous women and people on the Yakama Reservation are in the federal and state court systems Federal authorities have also secured indictments and have made arrests in cases in which Indigenous women were assaulted or sexually abused She had gotten a ride to Legends Casino just a few miles from her home and was last seen at the casino that day 2019 in an abandoned freezer outside Toppenish District Court in Yakima in connection with the deaths of Strong and her accused killer 21; Uriel Balentin Badillo will be sentenced on July 30; Kevin Todd Brehm will be sentenced Sept 16; and Jamaal Antwan Pimms will be sentenced on May 28 She was reported missing on Christmas Day 2017 after leaving her home with acquaintances and her body was found four days later off Marion Drain Road near Harrah Road south of Harrah She died from a basal skull fracture as a result of being hit on the back of her head with a large tool Two people were indicted in connection with her death. Waylon Jake Napyer pleaded guilty and was sentenced in U.S District Court in Yakima to three years in prison has been charged in federal court with two counts of first-degree murder and a single count of assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with deaths of his mother and sister-in-law District Judge Stanley Bastian issued an order granting a motion for competency restoration after a forensic evaluation indicated Robinson suffers from a mental disorder A federal judge in July 2023 ordered that Robinson receive antipsychotic medication so he could participate in his trial According to a March 2025 status report filed in U.S Robinson continues to receive competency restoration treatment • Julius Kurt Hill II, 38, of Wapato was stabbed to death in a fight at a house in the 200 block of Second Street in White Swan on Oct. 7, 2022. The man accused of killing him, Jerid Joe Winters of Harrah is set to face trial in Yakima County Superior Court on May 19 • Jordan Everett Stevens, who is serving a life sentence without parole in the 2019 shooting death of Alillia "Lala" Minthorn faces federal charges in a fatal attempted 2018 carjacking and the attempted murder of another man a day later 29 on charges in a superseding indictment involving both cases that was filed in June a witness who was forced by federal authorities to testify in Stevens' June 2021 jury trial in Minthorn's homicide has been missing since the business where he was living was destroyed by fire on June 12 The FBI has provided no updates into the investigation of unidentified human remains found in the rubble Ghana's economy has been hit by brutal inflation for years Would you like to receive our daily news? Signup today there are no recent results for popular commented articles The Ahtanum View work release center is pictured Thursday Ahtanum View work release center in Yakima was axed from the operating budget now headed to Gov Ahtanum View Reentry Center in Yakima was axed from the operating budget now headed to Gov The Department of Corrections facility allows inmates to work and integrate back into the community before their sentence is over The Legislature approved the budget Sunday as it worked to address a $16 billion shortfall this year Ferguson has 20 days from passage to sign the budget but the process may begin soon after the bill is signed It would be some months before the doors close for good It is facing closure along with Peninsula Reentry Center in Port Orchard and the Tri-Cities Reentry Center in Kennewick Capacity of reentry centers among the state is just under half capacity and the Ahtanum View facility was well under the statewide average Inmates will still be able to go to other facilities but there won't be an option in Yakima County the nearest reentry center would be the Wenatchee Valley Reentry Center the Legislature set aside $385,000 just to maintain the property at 2009 S About 40 people work at Ahtanum View, an employee told the Yakima Herald-Republic earlier this month, when members of the Washington Federation of State Employees rallied to keep it open They pointed to success stories from people who went through the facility's programs and went on to contribute to society The center provided employment at Yakima area manufacturing The closure was opposed by Yakima-area lawmakers "It's unfortunate that the majority party decided to close the Ahatanum View Reentry Center," said state Rep "I think it's a great example of how facilities in rural areas our state were cut while those in urban parts of our state were expanded or increased." Editor's note: This story was edited with more information about the closure date Questen Inghram is a Murrow News Fellow at the Yakima Herald-Republic whose beat focuses on government in Central Washington communities. Email qinghram@yakimaherald.com or call 509-577-7674 This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, email news@yakimaherald.com Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 2025 5:01 p.m.Counties have struggles to recruit and retain attorneys without state’s help.Yakima County Judge Shane Silverthorn discusses a case to a defendant at a Yakima County Jail courtroom on Tuesday There were no public defenders available to represent the defendant While Washington state lawmakers’ budget more than doubles funding for public defenders those attorneys say the sum is still woefully inadequate to meet the needs of local courts Washington does not bear the burden of funding the constitutional right to counsel the onus is on local governments with the state historically only funding less than 3% of overall costs “They were paying such a small portion of the cost that the increase was going to look large,” said Derek Young interim director of the Washington State Association of Counties “In a session where they had budget frames and were making cuts to other important programs I saw this as a really positive first step recognition that something has to change.” would increase the state’s contributions to public defense to around 6% of total funding during the next biennium The funding boost is not guaranteed after that “This is a great start,” said Katrin Johnson deputy director for the state’s Office of Public Defense which provides supplemental representation to indigent defendants and disburses the state’s funding to counties and cities “It’s about collaboration and education to help the Legislature understand the local difficulties and challenges counties have in funding public defense.” For years, public defender offices across Washington have been struggling to recruit and retain attorneys and not many law school graduates are inclined to relocate to rural areas leaving these jurisdictions especially susceptible to a shortage Without an adequate pool of public defenders, defendants in places like Yakima County are left waiting weeks Related: Washington’s Yakima County represents breaking point in state’s public defender crisis The people most vulnerable to the state’s shortage of public defenders are disproportionately people of color who testified before the Legislature in favor of increasing state funding for public defense the more likely they are to lose their job Local jurisdictions provide the majority of funding for public defense often leading to public defense programs having to negotiate with county commissioners to increase funding amid inflationary costs for court services “It’s inappropriate to rely just on local revenue to fund a constitutional right,” Young said The state’s Office of Public Defense administers the limited state funding given to counties and cities through a grant program funding has remained stagnant — not surpassing 2% of the overall money spent by courts to provide public defense services according to data from the Office of Public Defense The funding is dispersed to counties in varying amounts based on population and caseload size County revenues collected from property and sales taxes make up the remaining funds, but in Washington, local governments can only increase their property tax revenue by 1% without voter-approved ballot measures, failing to keep pace with the rising costs of running a court “The money we get [from the state] wouldn’t even pay for one attorney,” said Jeremy Ford director of the Chelan County public defender’s office “The problem is that the millions of dollars that gets spread out proportionally based on the size of your county or city… means us rural counties get less resources the Chelan County public defender’s office received $81,000 from the grant “The money they’re passing through isn’t really enough to do any substantial help for anybody,” Ford said Two identical House and Senate bills related to public defense funding died this session those bills would have made the state responsible for 50% of the costs associated with public defense services D-Edmonds and prime sponsor of the House bill citing the state’s multibillion-dollar budget deficit “I’ve been in the Legislature for 11 years and always kind of knew about the shortfall in public defense funding but I didn’t quite realize how acute it was.” Related: Oregon is in the midst of an ‘unrepresented crisis’ of public defender shortage, but why? but those involved say there was more support for public defense this year than previously “There has been proposed legislation for many years to increase the amount of state funding for local public defense and this is the first time we’ve received more,” Johnson said We want to make sure it’s being done well no matter what jurisdiction it falls under.” Peterson said he will continue to work with the Legislature to secure public defense funding across the state “We can’t just pay for more police officers,” Peterson said “We need to pay for the whole system to make sure it works.” Bob Ferguson has until May 20 to sign or veto the new budget has a really good understanding of the criminal justice system,” said Mello “He understands the need for access to justice … which really increases our chances at this part of the budget being signed into law.” InvestigateWest (investigatewest.org) is an independent news nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest can be reached at aspen@investigatewest.org This republished story is part of OPB’s broader effort to ensure that everyone in our region has access to quality journalism that informs Tags: Law, Washington Legislature Stand with OPB and protect independent journalism for everyone. Listen to the OPB News live stream (opens new window)Streaming Now READ MOREMultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital addresses community emergency room concerns by Anisa Williams MultiCare Yakima Memorial treated nearly 87,000 patients in its emergency department last year making it one of the busiest ERs in Washington Several viewers contacted KIMA with questions about wait times and efficiency at Yakima’s primary hospital Tanny Davenport acknowledged the impact of high patient volumes during viral surges in recent months so have some of our emergency room visits and our number of hospitalized patients So we do see some light at the end of the tunnel as far as wait times.” While the exact timeline and cost have not been finalized hospital officials said the upgrades are intended to address both patient volume and quality of care As part of the hospital’s efforts to improve emergency care MultiCare will open a new neighborhood emergency department in November The facility will feature 10 treatment rooms “So visitors will notice when they come and visit that they’re going to see upgrades when it comes to flooring and just the overall decor,” Davenport said so it’s not going to be all of the hospital all at once but we’re really looking forward to those updates.” the number of registered nurses has increased allowing more patients to be treated locally but because there wasn’t enough staff to care for them “Yakima has a history of being underserved when it comes to just the number of physicians in the local community,” Davenport said “We definitely know we have a short-term shortage in primary care We’ve been encouraged that we’ve actually been able to hire three new family physicians in the last few months and hope that shows a sign of momentum in having more primary care in the area in general.” MultiCare also wants to remind the community about its Indigo platform which provides urgent care services for non-emergency issues as well as access to on-site lab work and X-rays “We are reopening our ambulatory endoscopy center sometime in 2026 and really looking forward to having some more ambulatory platforms or clinic spaces out in our neighborhoods that really are going to improve primary care access,” he said There’s not just going to be one thing that we do that makes the situation better but we have momentum in the right direction.” in collaboration with the National Center for Atmospheric Research is participating in a cloud seeding study aimed at addressing the ongoing drought in the Yakima basin Cloud seeding involves introducing chemicals into the atmosphere to enhance precipitation by creating more moisture in clouds This process is usually conducted during the winter when clouds or storm systems are present Meteorologist and storm tracker Jefferson Donovan explained the mechanics of cloud seeding what we're doing with cloud seeding is we are adding more stuff to the atmosphere that these super cool water droplets can hit the more super the more little kind of surfaces the super cool water droplets can hit then we have a better chance of it precipitating out." Addressing concerns from viewers about contrail clouds being linked to cloud seeding "Contrails have been a natural byproduct of jets ever since World War Two Cloud seeding is a much newer venture that we have." Donovan reassured that it poses minimal risk "I can say that after extensive research we have high reason to believe that it's not very harmful to either humans or plants or animals especially in the small amounts that we're putting up in the atmosphere," he said Donovan cautioned that cloud seeding might not significantly alleviate the drought "Most studies show that in areas that do cloud seed only get enhanced precipitation by about 10 to 15% more than they would have it this wouldn't totally alleviate the drought at least a man-made way that we can just say This is something that Mother Nature is just going to have to figure out over time," he said Attempts to obtain comments from the Roza Irrigation District were unsuccessful and further insights from the National Center for Atmospheric Research are expected next week This story has been updated here An 18-year-old from Seattle died early Sunday after he was shot at a party the Yakima County Sheriff's Office reported The suspect was still at large late Sunday morning the sheriff's office said in a news release sheriff's detectives were informed about a gunshot victim at MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital Detectives learned he had been shot after a fight in the 1500 block of South Keys Road The Yakima County Coroner's Office confirmed the victim was Salvador “Junior” Granillo Detectives identified the suspect as Israel Barriga Vargas They said he fled the shooting in 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer with Washington license plate CRH8859 He should be considered armed and dangerous The case is being investigated as a homicide Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the sheriff's office at 509-574-2500 or 800-572-0490 The Garfield High School Parent Teacher Student Association in a Facebook post Monday said a candlelight vigil will be held Monday in Seattle for Granillo “Another loss of another precious person in our school community is devastating,” Garfield PTSA said in a post will be collecting flowers Tuesday outside the school in honor of Salvador Anonymous tips can be left with Yakima County Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 on online at crimestoppersyakco.org. The sheriff's department said an autopsy on the victim will be scheduled later Editor's note: The spelling of Barriga Vargas' first name has been corrected A Washington agency is reviewing the 2023 death of Hien Trung Hua in the Yakima County jail to determine whether a new criminal investigation is warranted The state’s Office of Independent Investigations, or OII, decided to conduct the formal review in response to a request from Hua’s cousin in December that was prompted by The Seattle Times’ reporting on the case “Our family deserves answers,” Hua’s cousin was experiencing a mental health crisis when he was jailed on a misdemeanor charge His heart failed during a struggle with guards investigations by the jail and county cleared the guards of wrongdoing and a report by the county coroner said Hua’s manner of death was “natural.” An investigation by Yakima police found the guards used “minor force,” and the county prosecutor took no subsequent action reporting by The Times detailed how Hua was pepper sprayed shackled and struck by guards in the minutes leading up to his death and how he was restrained face down at the end The forensic pathologist who performed Hua’s autopsy changed his manner of death finding to “negligent homicide” after The Times asked him about Hua’s prone restraint and about the jail’s surveillance videos of the incident When a person held on their chest can’t breathe in enough oxygen or out enough carbon dioxide The medical-legal term “homicide” in an autopsy doesn’t necessarily imply criminality The county’s Department of Corrections and the Yakima Police Department didn’t reply this week to requests for comment about the OII review It’s staffed by trained homicide investigators not affiliated with law enforcement Its main purpose is to investigate new incidents, which it started last year in Southwest Washington and which it will eventually do across the state OII isn’t investigating new incidents in Yakima County yet so the original criminal investigation into Hua’s death was carried out by the Yakima Police Department on behalf of the Yakima Valley Special Investigations Unit citing the forensic pathologist’s new homicide finding She said the original probes of her cousin’s death had been “tainted by false information.” Hua’s case is now one of nine deaths under formal review, according to OII’s website from 2015 to 2020; none have moved past the review stage yet The review of Hua’s case could take several months OII began gathering information about Hua’s case and notifying involved parties in February The agency asked Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Brusic whether he had made findings in Hua’s case and He declined to comment on the case when contacted by The Times this week “because of pending litigation.” such as a key new witness or crucial new expert opinion it sends the results to the local prosecutor to determine whether the deadly force was justified or criminal charges should be filed the results of an OII investigation would be sent to Brusic for a charging decision That concerns Ly and her family’s attorney who said they wonder whether Brusic might continue to do nothing Ly and her family believe the Yakima County jail’s internal investigation OII’s investigations aren’t designed to determine whether officers have complied with their own policies and can’t use statements provided by officers during internal investigations Ly hopes the process “will bring transparency and accountability to those who killed Hien and those who tried to bury this story,” she wrote She also hopes it will raise awareness about the dangers of incarceration “Hien ended up in jail because he had a mental crisis,” Ly wrote Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser A Yakima man found hiding in a doghouse during a domestic violence call will spend two years in a federal prison District Court in Yakima to 24 months at the federal prison in Sheridan after pleading guilty to possessing firearms while subject to a court order Judge Mary Dimke mostly followed prosecutors’ recommendation for the prison sentence rejecting a request by Cliett’s lawyer to sentence him to five years on probation Cliett entered a plea agreement in September a month after his federal trial ended with a deadlocked jury Yakima police were called to a home in the 1200 block of South Sixth Avenue July 23 after a neighbor said he heard a woman screaming inside according to a YPD probable cause affidavit The neighbor said there was a previous no-contact order violation at the home and didn’t know if the man was inside but sounds in the house stopped when officers knocked on the door A neighbor said she heard yelling and things being thrown in the house Police found that Cliett was the subject of a Yakima Municipal Court no-contact order and not allowed within 1,000 feet of the woman named in it and was barred from possessing firearms or ammunition Police forced their way into the house and found the woman who was the subject of the protection order inside as well as a gun safe and several gun magazines sitting on top of it they found Cliett hiding inside a doghouse and was placed under arrest officers found shotgun shells and other ammunition in a desk in the entryway as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition in Cliett’s bedroom Yakima firefighters used the “Jaws of Life” to force open the gun safe Cliett was initially charged in Yakima County Superior Court with second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm but prosecutors had those charges dismissed without prejudice when Cliett was indicted on the federal firearms charge Yakima County prosecutors retained the ability to refile the charge should circumstances change Attorney Michael Ellis argued for prison time and Cliett’s statements denying the crimes warranted a significant sentence Ellis said Cliett  told police he was unaware the woman was in the house until police came and he didn’t have the combination to the safe in which the guns were stored But Cliett admitted that he parked down the street from the house so neighbors would not know he was there and had a pawn shop redemption ticket for one of the firearms that were found in the safe Cliett also signed a document in municipal court when he received the no-contact order stating he had no weapons to surrender which Ellis said was further evidence of dishonesty said 60 months of probation would be sufficient punishment He said that Cliett lived “a quiet and largely unremarkable life,” with his only prior legal problems being traffic tickets illegally owning a pit bull terrier and bankruptcy Mirr said Cliett has observed the conditions of his pretrial release and has not had any further problems with the law and he agrees he will not possess any firearms for the rest of his life The judge ordered Cliett to report to the federal prison at a future date When you write a Golf Advisor course review now through December 31 your review will be entered into Golf Advisor’s Rate to Escape: Maui Sweepstakes for a chance to win a five-star trip to Maui One Grand Prize winner and guest will travel in an AVIS rental car for six nights/ seven days of accommodations with the latest gear from OGIO to play on the finest fairways in Maui We’re also giving away 12 Golf Advisor Swag bags to lucky reviewers - I made the biggest blunder a golfer can possibly make when buying a new car my wife and I got swept up by a great buy on our first luxury sedan We love everything about it - the color that seems to change depending on the light The only bummer is the lack of trunk space but once you stack more than two golf bags back there Now when I offer to carpool my foursome to a weekend tee time everyone has to remove their drivers and 3-woods to get the bags to stack properly Since the summer road trip is almost upon us I've found a really good solution for my golf bag problem I'm hardly the only golfer struggling with a lame trunk game Yakima is more known for its high-quality outdoor gear specializing in vehicle-mounted racks for bikes but golfers can also benefit from its durable weatherproof storage bins that attach to any hitch on a car The Yakima EXO GearLocker provides a secure organized way to store golf bags and gear for that long or short road trip keeping them clean and protected from the elements The GearLocker ($599) only fits two golf bags but that's all I need to make my trunk useful again I like the GearLocker so much better than any sort of roof storage unit because everything you've packed is so much more accessible, especially if you purchase the EXO SwingBase I couldn't see owning one without the other The SwingBase ($699) opens with a few simple button releases allowing access into the trunk without messing with what's packed in the securely locked GearLocker This allows me another option for a longer road trip - putting luggage in the GearLocker with the clubs still in the trunk The $1,300 spent for both pieces might sound expensive until you realize it costs more to rent a van to drive to a golf destination once with your foursome and it's certainly less than buying a new car/SUV How do you pack a foursome for a one-vehicle Let us know some suggestions in the comments below traffic on a portion of Yakima Avenue will be impacted next Monday while City of Yakima crews work on repairing areas of the roadway traffic on Yakima Ave between Naches Ave and 4th St will be restricted to one lane in each direction while the project is underway Traffic delays in the project area are likely to occur Drivers should use alternative routes if possible until the project is completed Access to businesses in the project area will be maintained while work is ongoing the schedule for this type of project is subject to change daily dependent on weather For additional information about this project contact Street Maintenance Supervisor Jay Kendall at 509-576-6443 Yakima County will pay embattled Coroner Jim Curtice an extra six months salary in exchange for Curtice’s resignation Curtice may sign the agreement as soon as Wednesday who described it as “good for all parties.” Curtice has been on paid leave since September when police accused him of taking illicit drugs from dead bodies in the course of his work snorting the drugs in his office and then lying about it He’s currently facing criminal charges and questions about his work as coroner including his investigation of a disturbing death inside the Yakima County jail He’s also been facing a recall attempt Most other county leaders called on Curtice to resign on his own months ago The deal says the county will cover Curtice’s health benefits through the end of 2025 and says Curtice will retain his retirement benefits It says Curtice will cooperate “to the fullest extent possible” with any litigation against the county related to his work as coroner said he worked for months with the county prosecutor’s office to craft an agreement allowing Curtice the county and community members “to put this behind them and move forward.” the coroner is an independently elected official responsible for investigating sudden First elected in 2018 as a Republican and re-elected in 2022 Curtice is a former emergency medical technician and paramedic He previously came under public scrutiny in 2023 after he was arrested outside his home by sheriff’s deputies while intoxicated and kicked one of them The county prosecutor didn’t charge him saying Curtice was experiencing a mental health crisis Curtice said he was struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder related to his childhood and first responder work Curtice came under renewed scrutiny last year after he fell ill in his office and told police that someone had poisoned him by spiking his workout powder with drugs he admitted to using drugs he found on corpses and spiking his own workout powder to back up his original story In February he pleaded not guilty in Yakima County District Court to official misconduct Those are gross misdemeanors that each carry a maximum sentence of a year in jail Curtice’s resignation will mean the end of a recall attempt launched this winter by precinct committee officers from the Yakima County Republican Party They’ve been collecting petition signatures this year for a recall election citing Curtice’s drug charges and work performance Curtice is also connected to questions about the case of Hien Trung Hua who was arrested for kicking his mother during a mental health crisis in 2023 and who subsequently died in the county jail during a struggle with guards Hua’s mother filed a $50 million tort claim in October accusing the guards of killing her son and county officials — including Curtice — of covering it up She filed the claim after Seattle Times reporting detailed how Hua was pepper sprayed, wrestled, shackled, struck and held prone in the minutes before death. The Times contrasted Hua’s experience with that of Curtice who was hospitalized rather than jailed during his 2023 crisis and got help The state Office of Independent Investigations is currently reviewing the case to determine whether a new criminal investigation is warranted Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee Northwest Horticultural Council President Mark Powers Vice President of Marketing for the Washington Fruit Growers to hear about how President Trump’s trade war is affecting their businesses and the tree fruit industry in Washington state Gilbert Orchards is a family-owned growing operation that has been in the Yakima Valley for over 125 years Senator Murray toured the packing facility and heard concerns from Gilbert Orchards and other tree fruit growers about how an escalating trade war and the potential for steep retaliatory tariffs from other nations could hurt their bottom lines and be detrimental for farmers across Washington state Washington’s tree fruit industry has historically borne the brunt of retaliatory measures for trade and tariffs “It was really important to me to hear from local tree fruit growers in Yakima today about how this administration’s trade war is affecting them and how I can best advocate for them in the other Washington,” said Senator Murray “Farmers thrive when they can sell their products domestically and internationally—but right now President Trump is cutting off markets our farmers sell to while increasing their costs We can help our farmers by opening up more markets for them to sell their products in—not shutting them down I’ll continue working to end this senseless trade war and help farmers across Washington state succeed.” “It was good to have Senator Murray visit us today It’s important for our Members of Congress to understand that Washington state farmers rely on access to global markets and as much certainty around trade policy as possible,” said Northwest Horticultural Council President Mark Powers 40 percent of jobs in Washington state are tied to international commerce and sweet cherries—all of which risk losing vital export markets if retaliatory tariffs from key trading partners including Canada take effect more than 12,000 small and medium-sized companies in Washington state export goods and will be unlikely to be able to absorb the impact of retaliatory tariffs Trump’s tariffs during his first term were extremely costly for Washington state—for example India imposed a 20 percent retaliatory tariff on U.S causing Washington apple shipments to India to fall by 99 percent and growers to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in exports Sign up to receive Senator Murray’s newsletter and get updates on the workshe’s doing on behalf of Washington state Yakima Airport Director Rob Hodgman responded to recent concerns from residents about the noise from military aircraft in the area He explained that these flights are operating at approximately 5,000 feet west of Yakima This airspace is accessible to all aircraft and is outside the jurisdiction of the airport Hodgman clarified that while the noise may be disruptive for some the flights are part of military training exercises and are entirely legal The airport’s air traffic control team can track these flights which initially follow an instrument flight plan before canceling it as they descend to a lower altitude for training maneuvers Hodgman also mentioned that the region’s lower population density compared to other parts of Washington makes it a more suitable location for such training Hodgman recommended submitting complaints through the Federal Aviation Administration’s website the exercises are a necessary part of military preparedness he noted that other communities in central and eastern Washington may experience similar military training exercises hen Julia and her three kids fled her abusive spouse and Peru’s growing instability three years ago they put down roots in — of all places — Sunnyside majority-Latino city in the state’s agricultural Yakima Valley Julia chose Sunnyside because she has an uncle there she found a pretty recently arrived and very tight-knit Peruvian community a fellow Peruvian has a big property,” Julia said in an interview in Spanish “We used to get together there — for meals like many Peruvians who’ve fled their country in recent years government that they’re fleeing persecution and are asking for protection — that is permission to stay — under international law Asylum seekers like Julia are legally allowed to stay in the U.S If they make any misstep — like missing a hearing — they can lose their legal status Lawyers say even people with pending hearings have sometimes been picked up by immigration enforcement Shortly after President Trump’s inauguration ICE picked up and deported a Peruvian couple in Sunnyside Friends say they were asylum seekers who had missed a hearing RELATED: ICE detains leader of farmworker union in northwest Washington state KUOW isn’t publishing Julia’s last name because of concerns due to her pending immigration case her kids have learned English and adjusted to life in Sunnyside “They have friends; they play soccer,” Julia said “My son loves soccer and my daughter likes it Julia didn’t tell KUOW the specific reasons she’s applying for asylum But thousands of people have left Peru to go to the US and Europe in recent years — often because criminal gangs have targeted certain groups for kidnappings because Peru is in a very bad place at the moment,” a Peruvian immigrant who didn’t want to be named told KUOW in Spanish She felt safer here — until the Peruvian couple she and her kids only leave the house for school “My feeling of freedom has been taken away,” Julia said RELATED: Cesar Chavez Day celebrates a lifetime fight for justice for farmworkers Asylum seekers like Julia have the right to live in the U.S while their cases work their way through the courts a lawyer at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project “Asylum is a legal relief for individuals who have a fear of persecution in their home country,” Benki said It’s a legal definition outlined by the UN “Someone who is a refugee has met those legal requirements outside the United States and then has entered Asylum seekers come to the United States,” Benki explained they’ll get what’s called a “removal order in absentia,” and then if you're not able to get in touch with a lawyer to do that you can be deported relatively quickly — like in a few days or weeks — without seeing an immigration judge,” Benki said they would have the opportunity to see a judge to try and fight their case.” The Trump administration has stopped letting people seeking asylum into the country. Notifications sent to many people seeking protection in the U.S others with pending asylum cases are nervous “We've also seen collateral arrest[s] where ICE … pulls over a car because they're looking for a specific person even if someone has an upcoming hearing,” Benki said ICE did not respond to KUOW’s questions about the Peruvian couple they detained — including if A spokesperson did say that anyone in violation of immigration law is subject to deportation RELATED: ACLU sues Trump administration over asylum ban she said a school psychologist is helping them recover from the abuse they experienced back in Perú I pray that nothing will happen to us,” Julia said And it would destroy the beautiful family unit we’ve formed here” away from her abusive spouse “The pain [of being away from my children] would be too much to bear.” nonprofit news organization that produces award-winning journalism Description:  The Washington Supreme Court recently reinterpreted state law to prohibit religious organizations from only hiring individuals who share its religious beliefs State officials are threatening the mission with significant penalties for using its constitutionally protected right to hire employees who share the ministry’s religious beliefs ADF attorneys represent Yakima Union Gospel Mission RICHLAND, Wash. – A federal district court ruled Friday that it violates the U.S Constitution for Washington state officials to enforce a law against a Christian homeless ministry while its lawsuit continues Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represent Yakima Union Gospel Mission as it seeks to protect its freedom to hire like-minded individuals who share and live out its religious beliefs and mission to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through its homeless shelter Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit held that the mission can challenge the Washington Law Against Discrimination a state law that limits its freedom to hire like-minded individuals who share and live out its religious beliefs District Court for the Eastern District of Washington ordered that state officials cannot enforce the law against the mission because it likely violates the Free Exercise Clause “The Constitution gives religious organizations the freedom to hire employees who are aligned with and live out their religious beliefs,” said ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker director of the Center for Christian Ministries “Yakima Union Gospel Mission exists to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through its homeless shelter But it faces substantial penalties under Washington state law for simply engaging in its freedom to hire fellow believers who share the mission’s calling to spread the Gospel and care for vulnerable people in the Yakima community We are pleased the court ruled to protect the ministry’s constitutional rights as this lawsuit proceeds.” The Yakima Union Gospel Mission serves everyone regardless of background or belief but it furthers its religious purpose by employing only likeminded believers who agree with and live out the mission’s Christian beliefs and practices including the mission’s beliefs on biblical marriage and sexuality But Washington state law prohibits the mission from requiring this The mission has several open positions that it needs to hire for as soon as possible but it risks significant penalties and liability under Washington law for using its religiously based hiring practices to fill them In its opinion in Union Gospel Mission of Yakima v the court held that the mission “is likely to succeed on the merits of its Free Exercise claim” because “the WLAD likely is not neutral or generally applicable” and the law “places stricter limits on religious activities than it does [on] secular activities[.]” “[Yakima Union Gospel Mission] argues that if it ‘is forced to hire those who do not [share its religious views] it may eventually be extinguished from public life.’ This ‘hamper[ing]’ of [the mission’s] ability to hire staff consistent with its religious beliefs likely ‘constitut[es] an enduring harm that will irreparably risk [the mission’s] continued existence[.]’” Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom One-page case summary Ryan Tucker serves as senior counsel and director of the Center for Christian Ministries with Alliance Defending Freedom He oversees all litigation efforts to maintain and defend the constitutionally protected freedom of churches Christian ministries and religious schools to exercise their rights under the First Amendment Tucker engaged in private practice for over 16 years with a litigation boutique law firm in San Antonio His portfolio included all aspects of civil litigation with a particular focus on commercial and complex business disputes Tucker earned his Juris Doctor at Baylor Law School where he was a senior editor of the Baylor Law Review He obtained his bachelor of business administration in management at Texas A&M University A member of the state bar in Texas and Arizona Supreme Court and multiple federal district and appellate courts Jacob Reed serves as legal counsel for the Center for Christian Ministries with Alliance Defending Freedom and religious schools to defend their constitutionally protected rights under the First Amendment Reed was an associate attorney at Baker Dublikar in northeast Ohio Reed earned his law degree summa cum laude from the University of Akron School of Law in 2019 Reed was president of the Akron Law Christian Fellowship was an associate editor on the Akron Law Review and received certificates in trial advocacy/dispute resolution and constitutional law He graduated from Kent State University summa cum laude in 2016 with a B.A Reed is admitted to the Ohio and Virginia bars and multiple federal courts © 2025 Alliance Defending Freedom is a registered 501(C)(3) Charity. 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Please click here to see any active alerts These uses have been significantly impacted by previous droughts and the projected influence of environmental conditions on drought frequency is anticipated to further challenge state officials and water managers in maintaining water quantity and quality While drought intensity during the driest years is projected to be largely unchanged from present conditions the frequency of drought is projected to increase significantly Projections show that atmospheric changes can bring earlier and reduced snowmelt leading to possible increased curtailment of water deliveries to agricultural water rights holders curtailments have occurred on average once every seven years with projections indicating that curtailments could increase to once every three years in the 2040’s and three of every four years by 2080 To account for the projected increase in drought conditions in the Yakima River Basin the Washington State Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S Department of the Interior formed a working group to develop a water resource management plan that includes the operational flexibility to manage water flows under changing conditions The working group included representatives from the Yakama Tribal Nation local irrigation districts and environmental organizations Climate change projections were provided by the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group The workgroup’s efforts contributed to development of the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan $3.8 billion plan outlines a comprehensive strategy including actions to mitigate drought conditions (e.g. $100 million for salmon restoration projects) While the Plan’s primary focus is on drought and associated water quantity impacts water quality can also be adversely affected by drought many of the Plan’s actions – such as land acquisition and improved timing of water release from dams – address water quality and water quantity concerns By considering future climate in the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Plan local stakeholder groups are taking an adaptive management approach to safeguarding water quality and quantity Used climate projections to anticipate future threats and impacts The National Climate Assessment includes regional climate projections and summaries of climate threats.  National Climate Assessment (NCA5) Developed an adaptation plan that incorporates strategies to prepare the Yakima Basin to maintain water quantity EPA’s "Climate Change Handbook for Regional Water Planning" provides a framework for considering climate change in water management planning Climate Change Handbook for Regional Water Planning The Forest Service’s (USFS) NorWeST -Stream Temp can help identify projected temperature changes in streams in the West.  NorWeST -Stream Temp The related USFS and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Climate Shield can help identify changes to trout coldwater habitats related to changing temperatures Climate Shield Cold-Water Refuge Streams for Native Trout view the “An Integrated Plan for Water and Long-Term Ecological Resilience” case study on the U.S To view another water management example that protects water quality and fish habitat view the “Pennsylvania Protects Coldwater Fisheries and Water Quality from Climate Change” case study to see how Pennsylvania is preparing to support coldwater fisheries — The annual spring break carnival has arrived in Yakima offering a festive start to the spring season if you need something to do during the weekend and then we're here while the kids are don't be sitting on the couch all day They can come down here and ride rides and have a multitude of games that people can play all kinds of foods we provide." The family-friendly carnival features a variety of games Bohannon detailed some of the culinary offerings: "So And then we have caramel apples and slushies and snow cones and all the traditional stuff to go on a little notch to eat while you're running around Definitely our cotton candy is our most popular." with options for attendees to purchase fun cards or single-day wristbands for unlimited rides and two games So whatever denomination that you put on that card is Reflecting on her favorite aspect of the carnival we get to see all of our friends and family again We open up the doors and clean everything up and we make sure everything's running smoothly and stuff and then the people start parking and start walking in The carnival will be in town from April 4 to April 13 offering a week of entertainment and excitement for all ages * Please note: Closing times vary depending on weather conditions and crowd size while games range from 1–15 tickets per play.