Touchet
Touchet, WA · Education
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Tri-City Herald
swxlocalsports.com
West Valley vs Othello | WIAA 2A Round of 32 Football Highlights 11/6/26
The West Valley Eagles secured a spot in the Round of 16 of the 2A state tournament with a 28-6 playoff victory over the Othello Huskies. West Valley built a commanding 21-0 lead by late in the first half. Othello attempted to cut into the deficit before the break as quarterback Noah Ozuna rolled out and looked deep, but West Valley's Gavin Maney came down with an interception to send the Eagles into halftime with the shutout intact.
elkhornmediagroup.com
Tri-City Herald
Teachers, parents ask Kennewick schools to investigate Fuerza leadership
Parents and teachers are asking Kennewick School District to investigate leadership at Fuerza Elementary School amid concerns of changes to its two-way dual language programs. Earlier this month, the Kennewick Education Association teacher’s union rallied at the school to demand “better working conditions and a more respectful and supportive environment.” Allegations have surfaced online that teachers are being intimidated, and their concerns are being dismissed by building leaders. The accusations, while unspecific at the moment, add tension to a school serving 610 K-5 students living in southwest Kennewick and home to the district’s first fully dual language program . Concerned parents also created a Facebook page, and have so far gathered hundreds of signatures in support of district intervention and removing Principal Dora Johns, who has led the school for four years . That group, Fuerza Unidos, plans to speak more about their issues publicly at the Nov. 4 meeting of the Kennewick School Board . In a statement, Kennewick School District administration said they were “aware of concerns on social media about the school.” “District leadership is listening, taking these concerns seriously and actively working through the district’s established processes to address them,” it read. “While we cannot discuss
whitmanwire.com
swxlocalsports.com
Columbia-Hunters vs Cusick | High School Football Highlights 10/30/26
CUSICK, Wash. — Cusick closed out the regular season undefeated in league play Friday night, rolling past Columbia 66-26 in a foggy matchup at home. The Panthers finished 7-0 in league games and now turn their attention to the postseason. Columbia got on the scoreboard first in the highlights...
Tri-City Herald
‘Needs to be addressed.' Inside Kennewick's oldest, cramped middle school
Highlands Middle School band and orchestra teacher Fiona Estrellado says her student performances are like a “big family, community event.” She teaches about a third of the students who attend the Kennewick middle school, or more than 200 students in 6th-8th grades. Families turn out in droves to see their kids perform, and students often say their siblings took a class with her. While music programs at Highlands Middle School are growing, Estrellado says her band room hasn’t. The school was built in 1959 , way before the school even had an orchestra program. Finding space for instruments —and students — can be a challenge. It’s a prime example of the problems teachers at the district’s oldest schools are facing, and why Kennewick is considering asking the community to support replacing the aging schools. “There’s just so much history in this classroom, which is really cool in a way, but we get a little squished,” she said Wednesday evening as students filed in and out before a performance to the visiting school board. “Every year, I have more students that sign up, and I never want to reach a point where I can’t accept more kids because I don’t have
bigcountrynewsconnection.com
elkhornmediagroup.com
Tri-City Herald
Richland to ask voters for $94M to improve Chief Joseph, River's Edge
Richland voters will be asked to approve a $94 million bond on the Feb. 9 special election ballot to modernize Chief Joseph Middle School, replace River’s Edge High School with a permanent modular building, and make districtwide safety and security improvements. The school board on Tuesday unanimously approved the ballot resolution that will come before voters. The decision comes two years after voters overwhelmingly rejected a bond package three-times larger that would have funded construction of West Richland’s first comprehensive high school. This new ask was informed by a voluntary “community facilities task force” that helped charter the future of Richland School District’s long-term facilities planning. Board Vice President Jill Oldson called these projects the “most pressing needs” for the district right now. “The whole goal and objective of this is to make sure that we are only asking the community for what we absolutely need,” she said. Board member Rick Jansons gave kudos to the community facilities task force, saying they spent half a year having “really thoughtful discussions” and researching the facility and needs. “I am confident that we are going to the community with what is needed in the district,” he said. Bond measures are different from
tricitiesbusinessnews.com
NonStop Local Tri-Cities/Yakima
Heritage University in Toppenish receives $2.5 million to grow nursing pipeline
TOPPENISH, Wash. — Heritage University announced it received a $2.5 million federal grant to build a nursing pathway for rural students in the Lower Yakima Valley. The university said the four-year grant runs from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2030 to help rural, first-generation and low-income students from 11 area high schools move into Heritage’s nursing program and local health care jobs. President Christopher Gilmer said the funding will connect local students with education and employers close to home. “This grant allows Heritage University to build a stronger bridge between our rural high schools, higher education and the health care organizations that serve our communities,” Gilmer said. “We want students to see a clear path from their own communities to a college degree, a nursing career and an opportunity to serve the people and communities they know best.” Heritage said the project is called “A Case-Managed Pathway from Rural High Schools to Local Hospitals.” The effort is being led by nursing chair Dr. Shelby Clark and includes local schools, health care providers and workforce groups. The university said students will get advising in school, bilingual family outreach, campus visits, pre-nursing preparation and HESI A2 exam help. Once on campus,