Northwest News Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Northwest News

Many USDA researchers working in the Northwest are fired, worked on everything from hops to potatoes

By Anna King February 26, 2025

Francisco Gonzalez, a Ph.D. researcher at the U.S. Department of Agriculture who was stationed at Washington State University’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser, has been fired by […]Read More

New film explores cattle mutilation mystery in Oregon

By Phineas Pope February 26, 2025

A black cow and its calf stands in the middle of a field.

The film, “Not One Drop of Blood,” highlights the communities trying to solve the decades-long mystery of cattle mutilation. (Courtesy: Jackson Devereux and Lachlan Hinton) Listen (Runtime 6:00) Read Phineas […]Read More

Finley residents hire attorneys to investigate cold storage warehouse fire

By Courtney Flatt February 26, 2025

Fire crews spray water on rubble at the Lineage Logistics fire in Finley, Washington. The fire started on April 21. (Credit: Benton County Fire District #1)

Fire crews spray water on rubble at the Lineage Logistics fire in Finley, Wash. The fire started on April 21. (Credit: Benton County Fire District #1) Listen (Runtime 1:06) Read […]Read More

Community connection helps women heal from trauma, addiction in Eastern WA

By NWPB February 24, 2025

Two people hug each other. They are standing in a garden.

NAOMI volunteers create community with women working to overcome trauma. (Credit: NAOMI) Read By Rose Owens, FāVS News About 95% of people struggling with addiction have experienced trauma, according to […]Read More

Federal firings hit Washington’s park rangers

By Reneé Diaz February 21, 2025

Kyle Warden holds a crosscut saw attached to an American flag. He was a former lead wilderness ranger and was terminated on Sunday. He went to a protest at Memorial […]Read More

Idaho bill could shutter medical education program

By Rachel Sun February 21, 2025

A new bill could put an end to a more than 50-year-old medical training program in Idaho. On Friday, people gathered in Boise to rally against those changes.Read More

This ‘Ready to Rent’ course is preparing people to exit homelessness

By Susan Shain February 21, 2025

A man in a green jacket and baseball cap fills out a worksheet.

Dustin McCauley fills out a worksheet as Ricky Aguilar teaches the Ready to Rent course. (Credit: Susan Shain / NWPB) Listen (Runtime 1:02) Read On a rainy Wednesday, Ricky Aguilar […]Read More

Trash piling up, wildfires too big to fight: What wild lands might look like without workers

By Lauren Paterson February 21, 2025

A view shows mountains dotted with trees reflected in the turquoise waters of Lake Colchuk in Washington.

Mountain peaks are reflected in the waters of Lake Colchuk, located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. Smoke from a nearby wildfire hangs in the air. (Credit: Theresa Rivers) Listen […]Read More

Bills to allow some, regulated access to psilocybin unlikely to move forward

By Lauren Gallup February 21, 2025

Gymnopilus luteofolius, a type of mushroom which contains the psychoactive component psilocybin growing in Port Orchard, Washington. A group is Washington is drafting a state ballot measure to legalize a number of plant- and fungi-based psychedelics for personal use, including psilocybin mushrooms. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Alan Rockefeller.

Washington state lawmakers still can’t pass bills to allow for some legal access to psychedelics. With Feb. 21 as the cutoff for bills to move out of policy committees, two pieces of legislation that would have allowed regulated and supervised access to psilocybin for adults won't be moving forward — Senate Bill 5201 and House Bill 1433. The bills faced opposition from Read More

Incremento de impuesto ayudará a financiar piscina de Sunnyside

By Johanna Bejarano February 21, 2025

Piscina de Sunnyside. (Crédito: City of Sunnyside).

El Concejo de Sunnyside aprobó un aumento del 2% en el impuesto de servicios públicos. El incremento ayudará a abrir la piscina de la comunidad este año.Read More

WSU students protest Trump administration’s immigration crackdown

By Phineas Pope February 21, 2025

A person in a black sweatshirt walks by a group of people protesting. The protesters are holding signs.

Washington State University students protested the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns during a protest on Wednesday. (Credit: Connor Henricksen / NWPB) Listen (Runtime 0:58) Read About 100 students gathered at Washington […]Read More

A utility tax increase will help fund Sunnyside’s community pool

By Johanna Bejarano February 21, 2025

Sunnyside's swimming pool. (Credit: City of Sunnyside website)

Sunnyside's City Council has approved a 2% utility tax increase to keep the community pool open this year.Read More

Washington’s Senator Patty Murray said Hanford safety in jeopardy, she’s ‘really, really worried’

By Anna King February 21, 2025

About a dozen federal workers have been fired from the Hanford site in southeast Washington state. Hanford is the contaminated legacy of plutonium manufacturing during WWII and the Cold War.

(Credit: Anna King / NWPB) About a dozen federal workers have been fired from the Hanford site in southeast Washington state. Hanford is the contaminated legacy of plutonium manufacturing during […]Read More

Snake River water, recreation studies look at the river’s future

By Courtney Flatt February 20, 2025

Three people sit in chairs facing the front of a room. The room has white walls. In front of the three people is a projector screen and a projector. There is a blue slide on the projector.

People listen to an introductory presentation on the water supply study findings at an open house-style meeting in Pasco. After they listened to the presentation, they could look at posters […]Read More

Idaho bills could bring Bible reading, Ten Commandments to public schools

By Lauren Paterson February 19, 2025

Idaho's blue state flag hangs from the ceiling in the state capital building.

The Idaho state flag hangs in the Idaho State Capitol in Boise. Two different bills in the Idaho Legislature could bring Bible reading and the Ten Commandments to public schools. […]Read More

Joven futbolista de Washington, ahora en la Liga MX

By Johanna Bejarano February 19, 2025

Chris Aquino, un joven futbolista de Tri-Cities, está jugando en México. El ex centrocampista del Tacoma Defiance forma ahora parte del FC Juárez Sub-23, que juega en la Liga MX, la liga mexicana de fútbol.Read More

Smart Transit director says he’s working to improve vehicle maintenance, customer communication

By Rachel Sun February 19, 2025

A row of small, white buses are parked outside in a parking lot. There is snow on the ground.

Smart Transit buses are parked on Tuesday at the Moscow Intermodal Transit Center. (Credit: Liesbeth Powers / The Moscow-Pullman Daily News) Listen (Runtime 1:16) Read A three-day service outage earlier […]Read More

This Yakima church is getting an upgrade to its energy infrastructure

By Courtney Flatt February 18, 2025

Two boys are sitting at a white table. They are in a room that has wood all over the walls. They are facing a projection screen that has a blue slide.

Brothers Sephen and Davante Martinez watch a presentation by nonprofit Spark Northwest project manager Haya Muñoz, center, at St. Michael’s Episcopal Mission in Yakima. (Credit: Courtney Flatt / NWPB) Listen […]Read More

Washington state bill could strengthen regulations, increase fines for ‘troublesome’ landfills

By Courtney Flatt February 18, 2025

While hiking, Nancy Lust, with Friends of Rocky Top, watches a truck dump waste into a landfill in Yakima County. Lust lives near the landfill and has fought to learn […]Read More

A young Washington soccer player is now in the Liga MX

By Johanna Bejarano February 17, 2025

Chris Aquino, left, playing with FC Juarez Under-23.

Chris Aquino, a young soccer player from the Tri-Cities, has begun playing in Mexico. The former Tacoma Defiance midfielder is now part of FC Juarez Under-23, which plays in the Mexican soccer league's Liga MX.Read More

Exposición en Richland destaca contribuciones de latinos en Hanford

By Johanna Bejarano February 17, 2025

Viviendas temporales en Little Pasco, 1943. (Crédito: WSU Hanford History Project).

El Museo REACH de Richland presenta una nueva exposición titulada “Migration to Community”, que destaca las contribuciones de los hispanos y latinos en Hanford. Read More

Prison education program is giving incarcerated people in Idaho a second chance

By Rachel Sun February 14, 2025

A man in a blue shirt stands in front of a dark purple wall. The wall has college pennants displayed on it.

A newly approved prison education program is helping inmates in Orofino, Pocatello and Boise prepare gain confidence and prepare for life after they’ve served timeRead More

Locals get crafty to make valentines for the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society

By Reneé Diaz February 14, 2025

A light brown dog licks its nose. The dog is looking at a jar of Jif peanut butter that's sitting on a counter.

Bella looks to a peanut butter jar. She participated at a craft night at Ground Control on Feb. 11. (Credit: Renee Diaz / NWPB) Listen (Runtime 0:56) Read In honor […]Read More

Saying ‘I love you’ with local chocolates

By Lauren Gallup February 14, 2025

A customer waits for her order in the storefront of Johnson Candy Company. The store is decked out in red and pink decorations and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate for Valentine's Day. (Credit: Lauren Gallup / NWPB)

Inside the storefront of Johnson Candy Company, there are hundreds of heart-shaped boxes of chocolates. Gift-wrapped boxes are stacked up on a table behind display cases. Open boxes show off sweet concoctions, propped up on shelves or set out below hanging red and pink decorations. Cellophane-wrapped goodies sit on top of glass windows displaying squares of chocolate Read More

Northwest federal workers are demoralized, but many are determined to keep their jobs

By Lauren Paterson February 13, 2025

A large group of people, some holding signs, stand in front of the state capitol building in Olympia, Washington.

People gather to protest against the Trump administration and Project 2025 near the Washington State Capitol building on Feb. 5, 2025, in Olympia, Wash. (Credit: Lindsey Wasson / AP) Listen […]Read More

Purpose Boxing Club: A new gym with a mission to uplift youth

By Reneé Diaz February 12, 2025

A teenager wearing a white shirt and blue pants leads a group in a boxing drill.

Rivaldo Penado, 13, leads a shadow boxing drill at Purpose Boxing Club in Wenatchee. (Credit: Jacob Ford / Wenatchee World) Listen (Runtime 0:52) Read A new nonprofit gym in Wenatchee, […]Read More

An exhibition in Richland highlights the Latino contributions at Hanford

By Johanna Bejarano February 12, 2025

Billie Carey and Victor Valdez at a Richland dance competition, October 1944. (Credit: Courtesy REACH Museum.)

The Reach Museum in Richland is featuring a new exhibition called Migration to Community, which highlights the contributions of Hispanics and Latinos at Hanford. Read More

Washington bills attempt to give public workers power to bargain on AI

By Lauren Gallup February 11, 2025

Rep. Lisa Parshley, the primary sponsor of House Bill 1622, during a meeting of the House Finance Committee on Feb. 6, 2025.

There are only so many things employees get to have a say over in their jobs. Which laptops or messaging app your office uses might not be your call. For a while, decisions on the use of technology in the workplace have been up to management for public workers in Washington state, thanks to a law passed in 2002. But now, some lawmakers want to pass an exemption that Read More

What to do if your insurance company says your home has too much wildfire risk

By Courtney Flatt February 11, 2025

A white two-story house with a red roof is surrounded by black ground. There is a green pine tree to othe right of the photo. The sky appears to be a hazy blue-gray color.

A home and outbuildings didn’t burn during a fast-moving fire. Some people are worrying more about homeowners policy cancellations in Washington state, as wildfire risk grows. (Credit: Bryan Flint / […]Read More

New mural in children’s section of Lewiston City Library tells Nez Perce creation story

By Lauren Paterson February 11, 2025

Two women with black hair look at a newly painted mural in panels with writing above each section in the children's section of the Lewiston City Library.

Nez Perce tribal members Renee Holt and Crescentia Hills see the mural of the Nez Perce creation story for the first time at a library event on Feb. 6, 2025. […]Read More

Wenatchee residents join statewide push for immigrant rights in Olympia

By Reneé Diaz February 7, 2025

District 12 constituents in front of the legislative building

A group from Wenatchee gathered in Olympia to advocate for immigrant rights on Jan. 30. Clockwise from left, Liz Oropeza Palacios, Ivon Lopez Ramirez, Maria Gonzalez, Grace Mondragon and Zoe […]Read More

Why do they have to all be killed? Bird flu found at farm north of Tri-Cities, WA

By Anna King February 7, 2025

FILE – In this 2010 file photo, chickens stand in their cages at Maine Contract Farming in Turner, Maine. Another farm in Franklin County, Washington has had to recently euthanize […]Read More

Washington State University Regents appoint incoming WSU president

By Rachel Sun February 7, 2025

Lisa Keohokalole Schauer, left, Washington State University Board of Regents chair, listens to Elizabeth “Betsy” Cantwell speak as the newly appointed WSU president Thursday at a regents meeting in Pullman. […]Read More

Union believes Boeing violated its contract in layoffs

By Lauren Gallup February 6, 2025

A union that represents Boeing employees is taking issue with how the company handled the layoff of 660 of its members last year. The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) believes contract violations occurred during last year’s layoffs. The union said they have notified Boeing and are investigating further. Read More

Regence patients could lose coverage at local hospitals, cancer clinic

By Rachel Sun February 6, 2025

An exterior shot of Clearwater Valley Health. The sky is gray and there is snow on the ground.

Two hospitals serving mostly rural areas in Idaho could become more expensive for patients with a major health insurance provider. Read More

Zonas de fans de la Copa Mundial FIFA 2026 emocionan a afición en Tri-Cities y Yakima

By Johanna Bejarano February 5, 2025

Closed-up-with-children-wearing-Football-or-Soccer-boots_Credit_Adfoto_stock.adobe

Seattle será una de las sedes de la Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026. Sin embargo, la fiesta del fútbol se extenderá a las comunidades locales, con zonas para aficionados que se instalarán a algunas partes del estado de Washington.Read More

Aquifer discovered in the Cascades could be one of the largest in the world

By Lauren Paterson February 5, 2025

A large mountain spring flows through dark forest greenery. People stand at the top of the spring, all dressed in hiking gear.

Scientists examine a large volume spring in young volcanic rocks of the McKenzie River watershed on the west side of the Cascade crest in the Willamette National Forest. It was […]Read More

FIFA fan zones excite communities in Tri-Cities, Yakima

By Johanna Bejarano February 5, 2025

Junior Reyes, center, takes a shot on goal during tryouts for the Tri-Cities Badgers FC semi-pro soccer team at Fran Rish Stadium in March 2024. (Credit: Annie Warren / NWPB)

Seattle is one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, the soccer party will extend to local communities, with fan zones coming to parts of Washington state. Read More

Walla Walla’s immigration rapid response team gears up

By Susan Shain February 5, 2025

Group of people holding handmade signs and Mexican flags.

More than 100 people attended a march for immigrant rights in Walla Walla on Feb. 3, 2025. (Credit: Susan Shain / NWPB) Listen (Runtime :58) Read CORRECTION: This article has […]Read More

In a small Idaho river town, creativity flows with free community art classes

By Lauren Paterson February 4, 2025

Three women sit at a white table painting flowers on watercolor paper.

Janis Little, left, Sumiko Takeda, middle, and Stevie Westberg, right, paint watercolor flowers during a class at Kamiah River Arts on Feb. 1, 2025. (Credit: Lauren Paterson / NWPB) Listen […]Read More

Hundreds rally in support of immigrants at Washington state Capitol

By NWPB February 3, 2025

A person holds a sign shaped like an orange butterfly. The words "parque padrinos" and "stand with healthcare, immigrants, unemployment" are written on the sign. A crowd stands behind them.

People shouted “si se puede” or “yes we can” on the Washington state Capitol steps during an immigrants’ rights rally on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Credit: Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / […]Read More

Inspectors find 21 gallons of invasive mussels on tugboat outside of Spokane

By Courtney Flatt February 3, 2025

Brown mussels cover a white surface. The mussels are clumped together all over the surface.

A close-up of the thumbnail-sized invasive quagga and zebra mussels found on a tugboat in January. (Credit: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) Read It was a close call along […]Read More

Decades-long Highway 12 expansion sees ‘light at the end of the tunnel’

By Susan Shain January 31, 2025

A map of Highway 12 between the Tri-Cities and Touchet.

The decades-long project to widen Highway 12 between Burbank and Walla Walla has received a large grant that could lead to its completion. (Credit: Washington State Department of Transportation) Listen […]Read More

Yakama Power looks to alternative energy storage projects

By Courtney Flatt January 31, 2025

A gray transmission line is in front of a blue sky.

A transmission line silhouetted by blue sky. The Yakama Nation is planning a new sort of battery, called advanced rail energy storage. (Credit: Austin Taylor / Flickr Creative Commons) Listen […]Read More

Autoridades locales de Sunnyside confirman operaciones del ICE en la ciudad

By Johanna Bejarano January 30, 2025

Sunnyside Councilmembers. From left to right: Council member for District 3 Vicky Frausto, Vice Mayor Jorge Galván, and Mayor Dean Broersma, during the press conference held on January 27, 2025.

Autoridades municipales de Sunnyside, Washington, confirmaron que agentes del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos están llevando a cabo operaciones en la ciudad.Read More

Tacoma City Council lowers enforcement priority for psilocybin, similar substances

By Lauren Gallup January 30, 2025

Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata, a type of mushroom that has psilocybin, a psychoactive compound, photographed in Issaquah, Washington. The use of entheogens like psilocybin has been shown to treat some mental health conditions. Photo by Alan Rockefeller, courtesy of WikiMedia.

Tacoma has joined a number of Washington cities and at least one county in a growing movement to make enforcing activities related to the use of psychoactive substances, such as psilocybin mushrooms, a lower priority for law enforcement. On Tuesday, the Tacoma City Council unanimously passed a resolution to lower enforcement priorities for entheogen-related activities. Read More