LATEST NEWS

The Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman national forests, collectively known as the Blue Mountains, have been operating under a forest management plan developed over 30 years ago. The most recent effort to revise the plan failed in 2019. Now, the U.S. Forest Service is restarting the process. Eric Watrud, the Umatilla...

The talk of a second Costco in Tri-Cities has been going on for a couple of years now. Something like that is a conversation that takes a few years because of everything that goes in to the process of building a Costco store...and it is hard to keep quiet. First...

KENNEWICK, Wash. — Twenty-nine-year-old Kaleb Smylie of Kennewick is missing, according to family members. In a social media post, Smylie’s mom said he has been missing since he failed to show up for his 5 p.m. shift at the Longbranch in Finley. Smiley texted a friend at around 4:30 p.m. yesterday but hasn’t responded to family or friends since.

The creativity of the Hermiston High School Theater Department will take center stage during an upcoming fundraiser. “Improv Night with the Plane Sandwich Players” is Saturday, June 3, 7 p.m. in the HHS auditorium, 600 S. First St. The cost is $7 per person or $25 for a family. Tickets (cash preferred) will be available at the door.

The West Umatilla Mosquito Control District and the North Morrow Vector Control District will be conducting targeted aerial mosquito control spraying with a twin engine airplane after sunset today, May 29, weather permitting. The districts re-scheduled the spraying after an issue with the airplane forced the postponement of last Thursday’s...

KENNEWICK, Wash. -- A 16-year-old from Kennewick was booked into the Benton County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of kidnapping and assault after a high-speed chase on May 28. Kennewick Police responded to an assault with weapons call on the 6000 block of Paul Parrish Drive. According to the KPD,...

A motorist was LifeFlighted out of the area Tuesday after crashing into a car and then into a building on 11th Street in Hermiston. Hermiston police responded to a report of a vehicle crash around 3:38 p.m. near the intersection of 11th Street and Juanita Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered Devin Gaytan of Hermiston, driving a 2000 Honda CRV, had crashed into a 2018 Honda Civic driven by Marisol Villarreal of Hermiston and continued across a field and into a parking lot before crashing into Mirasol Family Health Center, 589 N.W. 11th St.

KENNEWICK, Wash. -- UPDATE 6:56 p.m. A 35-year-old woman was booked into the Benton County Jail after an hours-long standoff resulted in an apartment fire and SWAT response. According to a press release from the Kennewick Police Department, officers responded to the 100 block of N McKinley Street at around 11:00 a.m. for a wanted person.

KENNEWICK, Wash. — Update 3:43 p.m. Benton PUD have shut down the power to the area on W Clearwater and McKinley Street at the request of the Kennewick Fire Department. The outage will affect 20-30 customers in the area and it’s currently unknown as to when the power will return.

Amazon’s Pasco complex still idle, but Amazon Web Services is doubling down in Eastern Oregon.

The 16-year-old was held for 40+ days without a defense attorney.

The school board weighed two options to change elementary school boundaries.

You can find many well-paid jobs in Tri-Cities through local government organizations that start at about $62,000 a year.

“We’re seeing fire conditions that I wouldn’t expect until summer. ... “

The father suffered six gunshot wounds in his arm and back.

The Umatilla Police Officers’ Association will be hosting their 11th annual golf tournament fundraiser on Saturday, June 10 at Big River Golf Course in McNary. Registration starts at 8 a.m., with shotgun start at 9 a.m. There will be raffles, a free barbeque lunch and goodie bags. For more information, check out the police department’s Facebook page. Call 541-922-3789 or email Kylie@umatilla-city.org to sign up or ask questions.

There are several Memorial Day Observances happening in the Mid-Columbia Monday, May 29th. Sunset Gardens at 915 Bypass Highway Richland will be offering free hotdogs on Sunday, May 28th from 11 am to 2 pm at their event center. On Monday, from 11am to 2 pm they will have a special Memorial celebration featuring Sno cones, live music, and a speaking presentation by former WA State Senate Candidate Tiffany Smiley.

Kaiden Blair had a different agenda from the rest of the people attending Wednesday’s job fair at Umatilla High School. The 18-year-old UHS senior said he was thinking a little further down the line. “I didn’t really come here looking for a job,” Blair said. “I’m here to network....

Knitters, crocheters, and all yarn crafters are invited to get together to celebrate “Knit in Public Day” on Saturday, June 10, at McKenzie Park in Hermiston. There is no charge to attend the event. The Hermiston Yarn Club, a crafting group which normally meets at the Hermiston Library,...

In the brief time Dough Cookies in Hermiston shut its doors, owner Steph Thompson realized she wasn’t quite ready to let go. She used to own the company with her sister-in-law, Kylee Ransom, but the two decided to try to sell the business. After closing Feb. 3, Thompson began...