Tri Cities Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Northwest Public Broadcasting

All Washington Counties Can Advance To Phase 2 Reopening As State Fixes Hospital Data

By NWPB News February 14, 2021

Sign on restaurant door in Spokane saying when it will reopen from covid closure with multiple dates crossed out and finally saying "who knows"

The south-central region of Washington's 8-region area for coronavirus restrictions can immediately reopen. That news came Sunday from the state Department of Health. It means the counties encompassing Walla Walla, the Tri-Cities, Yakima and Ellensburg can advance to Phase 2.Read More

Mass Vaccination Sites Open In Washington, Retired Gen. Mattis Among Those In Line In Tri-Cities

By NWPB News January 25, 2021

Hundreds of cars lined up for the opening day of a mass vaccination event in Washington's Tri-Cities on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, at the Benton County Fairgrounds. Courtesy City of Richland

About 500 people made it into line at the COVID-19 mass vaccination event in the Tri-Cities. This is part of a larger set of mass events across the state kicking off this week — including clinics in Spokane, Wenatchee and Ridgefield, in Clark County. Read More

Washington Plans Mass Vaccination Sites, But Says Please Register…And Don’t Show Up Yet

By Anna King January 21, 2021

Eager seniors filled up all of the first come, first serve slots at a drive-thru COVID vaccination clinic before the first shots were even given on Thursday in Sequim, Washington. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

Washington state plans to roll out mass doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at regional hubs starting Monday, Jan. 25. But some local officials say they received little notice and that they’re far from ready. Read More

Past As Prologue: Remembering A Pasco Civil Rights Protest And Discrimination That Built Tri-Cities

By NWPB News December 29, 2020

Black man in the middle of whites in line at grocery store.

By 1950, 20% of Pasco’s approximately 10,000 residents were Black, almost all living in slum conditions. Few lived in the new atomic community of Richland and none in “lily-white” Kennewick -- a fact of which Kennewick city leaders and police at the time were proud. Not only was housing segregated, but Black residents were forced to endure broad discrimination in Read More

Why An Irrigation District Wants To Flood A Kennewick Family’s Pumpkin Farm

By Anna King October 9, 2020

Crews throw pumpkins onto a tractor and trailer from the field on the Cox farm outside of Kennewick, Washington. A proposed reservoir from the Kennewick Irrigation District would flood the farm. The Cox family isn't interested in selling. CREDIT: Anna King/N3

The Kennewick Irrigation District, or KID, wants to flood 400 acres of land for a new reservoir. It’d take at least eight to 10 years to design, permit and build. A project on this scale hasn’t been built in the Yakima Basin since the 1930’s. And this 65-acre pumpkin farm is in the way. Read More

Once Most Impacted Washington Counties, Yakima And Tri-Cities Look Toward Schools Reopening

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa September 29, 2020

Pre-K students at Boise’s Garfield Elementary School work on writing their names. CREDIT: Sami Edge/Idaho Education News

Some Washington counties hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic are now looking toward the possibility of reopening schools for in-person classes. It’s thanks to metrics like hospital bed capacity and the virus incidence rate that continue to improve in Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties.Read More

NWPB Vote 2020 Debate Series: Benton & Franklin Counties

By NWPB Vote 2020 September 28, 2020

Stream Benton and Franklin Counties debate

Hear from candidates that are looking to represent the Benton and Franklin Counties. Four nights of debates, we cover 11 different races that matter to our community. Read More

NWPB Vote 2020 Debate Series: How To Watch And Listen

By NWPB Vote 2020 September 23, 2020

NWPB is proud to present this year's Vote 2020 Debate Series. We'll hear from candidates vying for a spot for state offices along with those running for positions in our cities. Join us to learn more about the candidates.Read More

ICYMI: Washington State Treasurer’s Debate

By NWPB Vote 2020 September 17, 2020

ICYMI: Stream the Washington state Treasurer's debate. Join the conversation using #NWPBVote2020Read More

Raise A Glass To The Royal Slope, Washington’s Newest American Viticultural Area

By Anna King September 4, 2020

The new Royal Slope American Viticultural Area is around 156,000 acres, north of the Tri-Cities

To qualify as an AVA, a wine grape-growing region must set itself apart with climate, soil, elevation and physical features. A new one doesn’t come around very often. The Royal Slope AVA is just over 156,000 acres, and is north of the Tri-Cities. Read More

Washington Counties In Modified Phase 1 Get Updated Reopening Guidance, With Full ‘Pause’ Still On

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa August 26, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks at a news conference at Columbia Basin College in Pasco June 30, 2020. Hecklers yelling at him, some with signs and flags for Trump 2020 and Republican gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp, caused the event to be moved inside. CREDIT: Courtney Flatt/NWPB

Effective Thursday, churches and restaurants in Yakima, Benton, Franklin, Chelan and Douglas counties can open their doors to let guests inside — though just to 25% capacity. Outdoors, groups of up to five people from different households can meet up or attend fitness classes. Read More

Tri-Cities And Yakima County Get Additional Business And Recreational Openings Within Their Phase 1

By Scott Leadingham July 29, 2020

File photo. Customers flocked to the River Mile 38 brewpub in Cathlamet after it reopened its tasting room and patio in mid-May. Wahkiakum County is in the vanguard of Washington counties advancing through Safe Start reopening phases. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties have been approved for more business and recreational activities beginning this Saturday. The approval means additional operations within the counties’ current modified Phase 1 – not moving to a full Phase 2. Read More

Diary Of A Long-Hauler: Correspondent Anna King’s 7-Week Fight With COVID-19

By Anna King July 27, 2020

Anna King went to the KADLEC Emergency Room twice during her battle with COVID-19. Once she was having trouble breathing, another time the virus attacked her inner ear, giving her vertigo. CREDIT: Anna King/N3

Correspondent Anna King is usually out and about in the region covering agriculture, Hanford, fires and more. But you haven’t heard from her since early June. Why? COVID-19. Here she shares her personal struggle and diary recording her ordeal. Read More

ICYMI: Benton & Franklin Counties Candidate Forum Night 2

By NWPB Vote 2020 July 18, 2020

ICYMI Benton and Franklin County candidate forum night 2

ICYMI: Stream night number two of NWPB's Benton and Franklin Counties candidate forum. Races include: 4th Congressional District, WA State Senate, 16th District and Superior Court Judge, Position 1. Read More

Breweries, Wineries In Tri-Cities And Yakima May Need To Close Under Clarified Reopening Guidance

By Courtney Flatt July 17, 2020

Old Schoolhouse Brewery owner Jacob Young serves food to his customers. He says when there's little smoke and fires are far away, he sees more patrons.CREDIT: COURTNEY FLATT

Wineries and breweries in Yakima, Benton and Franklin counties must keep their doors closed for now, unless they serve food out of their own kitchens. That’s the updated guidance for the three counties, which are seeing some of the highest numbers of coronavirus cases in Washington. Read More

Governor Says Tri-Cities Has Seen ‘Astronomical’ Rise In COVID; Protesters Say ‘Inslee Is Non-Essential’

By Courtney Flatt June 30, 2020

Over the past two weeks, Inslee said infection rates have increased six-fold in Franklin County and nearly five-fold in Benton County. The main thing that could help, he said: masks. “Yes, there’s controversy, as there is in any great, noble endeavor, but the vast majority of people in (the Tri-Cities region) want to beat this pandemic,” Inslee said.Read More

‘Individuals Need To Take Responsibility’ For Wearing Masks, Says Tri-Cities Region Health Officer

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa June 22, 2020

Perla Torres, a fruit packer at Jack Frost Fruit, poses for a photograph wearing a mask she says she bought from a supervisor. CREDIT: Enrique Pérez de la Rosa/NWPB

Cases of COVID-19 are rising dramatically in Washington’s Yakima County and the Tri-Cities region of Benton and Franklin counties. That’s driving local health officials to urge residents to wear masks in public. Read More

‘The Perfect Time For Change’: Tri-Cities Protests Recall Past Police Shooting, Racist History

By Courtney Flatt June 12, 2020

Rapper Karma (left), who started making music in Richland and now lives in Seattle, said people weren’t doing enough before now. He said the protesters were “warming his heart to see how much love is in this city.” CREDIT: Courtney Flatt/NWPB

This moment of protest for racial justice is perhaps more poignant in Pasco, where five years ago the city reeled from its most high profile police shooting. The killing of Antonio Zambrano-Montes and the fallout after have marked this city, in murals and memorials, in police interactions and protests.Read More

Former Defense Secretary Mattis, Now A Resident Of The Tri-Cities, Issues Stunning Rebuke Of Trump

By NPR News June 4, 2020

President Donald Trump in October 2018 with, from left, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Retired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis, who resigned as President Trump's defense secretary nearly a year-and-a-half ago over policy differences, has issued an extraordinary critique of the White House's handling of nationwide unrest, saying Trump has sought to divide Americans, and warning against "militarizing our response" to the protests.Read More

‘Enjoy. Enjoy!’ Washington State Parks Reopen, And Humans Rejoin The Geese And Deer

By Courtney Flatt May 5, 2020

Washington State Parks area manager Audra Sims removes the “Emergency Closure” sign from the gate at Sacajawea Historical State Park, outside Pasco. The park re-opened to the public on May 5, after a nearly six-week closure. CREDIT: Courtney Flatt/NWPB

For the last six weeks, if you followed a winding road past the Port of Pasco and the start of a recreational trail, you’d come to a closed gate. A large orange “Emergency Closure” sign tacked to its front. Today, the sign came down, and the gate opened.Read More

Tri-Cities Couple Share Their Experience With Self-Quarantine

By Sueann Ramella March 9, 2020

Bruce Bjornstad and Diana Moeller of the Tri Cities. hed a self-quarantine. They shared their experience and offer advice.

A couple from the Tri Cities shares their experience with self-quarantine and offer advice. Read More

Benton & Franklin Counties Special Election Information

By NWPB Vote 2020 February 9, 2020

Benton and Franklin Counties voter information

Find out what's on the ballot for this election, where to drop off ballots and more. Read More

Tri-Cities Concerts Go Beyond Politics To Highlight Lives Of DACA Recipients

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa January 2, 2020

The Mid-Columbia Mastersingers will hold three performances of “American Dreamers,” a presentation of work written by composers who are also immigrants to the U.S., on January 10, 11 and 12. CREDIT: Enrique Pérez de la Rosa/NWPB

Daniela Medina is a first-grade teacher in the Kennewick School District — at the same school she found herself in at age six when she and her family immigrated to Washington from Mexico in 2001. The Mid-Columbia Mastersingers are holding concerts January 10, 11 and 12 of music by immigrant composers to tell the stories behind the politics. Read More

Trapped Cars Face New Year’s Eve Travel Menace In #tumblegeddon Near Hanford

By NPR News January 1, 2020

The Washington State Department of Transportation used snow plows Tuesday evening to remove a pile of tumbleweeds along State Route 240 near Richland. CREDIT: WSP/Chris Thorson

"In the 20 years that I have worked here, I have never seen it as bad as this," says Washington State Patrol trooper Chris Thorson. "I've never seen six to eight cars, including a semi-truck, actually stopped and trapped on a highway because of tumbleweeds."Read More

‘The Heat Is On’: Tri-Cities And Yakima Demonstrations Add Voices To Global Climate Events

By NWPB News September 20, 2019

Alexandra Sasha Grieb and Kyleigh Dabler, both 19, from Kennewick, waved at passing cars driving by Richland’s John Dam Plaza. Grieb said it will be up to younger generations to fight climate change now with their votes. “The earth will survive climate change. Humans won’t,” she said. CREDIT: Courtney Flatt/NWPB

The demonstrations, including those in the Tri-Cities and Yakima, were part of a global effort coordinated largely by students and young adults to draw attention to climate change and the need for elected officials, business leaders and individuals to take action.Read More

Expert Women Explore The Heavy Burden Of Hanford Cleanup In Tri-Cities Event On March 21

By NWPB News March 12, 2019

Anna King interviewing Jane Hedges, the now retired head of Washington Ecology’s Hanford office. Hedges grew up swimming off the docks in Richland, but only understood the massive scope of the cleanup needed at Hanford later in life. CREDIT: Kai-Huei Yau / Daughters of Hanford

PHOTO: Anna King interviewing Jane Hedges, the now-retired head of Washington Ecology’s Hanford office. Hedges grew up swimming off the docks in Richland, but only understood the massive scope of the […]Read More

A Match Made In Jail: Fugitive Sees Wanted Poster, Makes ‘Date’ To Turn Self In To Richland Police

By NPR News December 8, 2018

Anthony Akers, 38, turned himself in after responding online to a "Wanted Wednesday" callout by Richland Police Department, seeking his arrest. CREDIT: RICHLAND POLICE/FACEBOOK

Anthony Akers, who was wanted for failure to comply with the terms of his probation, became an Internet sensation after exchanging a series of Facebook posts with police in Washington state. Read More

Washington Ecology Dept. Has Burning Desire To Clean Up Long-Smoldering Pasco Landfill

By Courtney Flatt September 27, 2018

This photo from the 1970s shows various solvents and industrial chemicals that Washington state Ecology officials are trying to clean up in a Pasco Superfund site. CREDIT: WA DOE

After nearly 20 years, a troubled landfill-turned Superfund site outside Pasco may soon have a final cleanup plan. Washington State Department of Ecology managers presented options Wednesday at a public meeting in the Tri-Cities.Read More

Will Hanford Workers Finally Be Safe From Toxic Exposure?

By NWPB News September 24, 2018

In this July 9, 2014, file photo, workers wearing protective clothing and footwear inspect a valve at the "C" tank farm on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation near Richland, Wash. CREDIT: TED S. WARREN

Last week, the state of Washington, a Hanford union and a Hanford watchdog organization said they have tentatively settled a three-year old lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy over workers being made sick from toxic vapors from Hanford’s underground tanks.Read More

Hydroplane Crew Chief

By McKayla Fox July 28, 2018

Hydroplane Crew Chief “Can’t You Go Faster?” Tri-Cities First Female Hydroplane Crew Chief Leads Nationally Ranked Team By Kate Tsao Cindy Shirley’s interest in hydroplane racing started in her childhood. […]Read More

Marking End Of Ramadan Fast In Central Washington

By Esmy Jimenez June 15, 2018

The Islamic Center of Tri Cities (ICTC) hosted 400 people for Eid-al Fitr this year. Hala Abdelall (left) is a volunteer who helped organize the festivities and Ridha Mabruki [right] is the President of the center. The ICTC plans to expand this year with 10 additional classrooms and a bigger prayer hall for the growing community. CREDIT: ESMY JIMENEZ/NWPB

The Islamic Center of Tri-Cities hosted around 400 people for Eid-al Fitr June 15, marking the end of Ramadan. To celebrate, the Center hosted an event complete with food, bounce houses for kids, and even pony rides. Read More

Tri-Cities Nuclear Reactor Columbia Generating Station Shuts Down In Unplanned Event

By Anna King May 20, 2018

The Columbia Generating Station is the Northwest's only commercial nuclear power plant. Courtesy Energy Northwest

The Northwest’s only commercial nuclear reactor went offline Friday morning in an unplanned event. The Columbia Generating Station went offline around 7 a.m. when its main power transformers automatically disconnected from the grid.Read More

Eugene Astley

By McKayla Fox March 20, 2018

OUR HANFORD HISTORY Eugene Astley Northwest Public Television and the Hanford History Partnership produced a series of stories from people who lived and worked in the Richland area during the […]Read More

Bob Ferguson

By McKayla Fox March 20, 2018

OUR HANFORD HISTORY Bob Ferguson Northwest Public Television and the Hanford History Partnership produced a series of stories from people who lived and worked in the Richland area during the […]Read More

Red Mountain Trails

By McKayla Fox February 23, 2018

Red Mountain Trails By Sueann Ramella The owners of Red Mountain Trails had set out coffee and donuts for their visitors. Nestled between vineyards in Benton City, Washington, Red Mountain […]Read More

‘Dentistry For Good’

By McKayla Fox February 7, 2018

‘Dentistry For Good’ Tri-Cities dentist Bart Roach decided to set up a dental clinic in El Paredon after a brief visit to pass out toothbrushes. He saw how badly people […]Read More

James Anderson

By McKayla Fox December 21, 2017

OUR HANFORD HISTORY James Anderson Northwest Public Broadcasting and the Hanford History Partnership produced a series of stories from people who lived and worked in the Richland area during the […]Read More

Robert Heinman

By McKayla Fox December 21, 2017

OUR HANFORD HISTORY Robert Heinman Northwest Public Broadcasting and the Hanford History Partnership produced a series of stories from people who lived and worked in the Richland area during the […]Read More

Barbara Brown Taylor

By McKayla Fox December 21, 2017

OUR HANFORD HISTORY Barbara Brown Tayler Northwest Public Broadcasting and the Hanford History Partnership produced a series of stories from people who lived and worked in the Richland area during […]Read More

Catherine Borden Finley

By McKayla Fox December 21, 2017

OUR HANFORD HISTORY Catherine Borden Finley Northwest Public Broadcasting and the Hanford History Partnership produced a series of stories from people who lived and worked in the Richland area during […]Read More

Steve Buckingham

By McKayla Fox December 21, 2017

OUR HANFORD HISTORY Steve Buckingham Northwest Public Broadcasting and the Hanford History Partnership produced a series of stories from people who lived and worked in the Richland area during the […]Read More

Virginia Sather

By McKayla Fox December 21, 2017

OUR HANFORD HISTORY Virginia Sather Northwest Public Broadcasting and the Hanford History Partnership produced a series of stories from people who lived and worked in the Richland area during the […]Read More

Mary Esther Lippold

By McKayla Fox December 20, 2017

OUR HANFORD HISTORY Mary Esther Lippold Northwest Public Broadcasting and the Hanford History Partnership produced a series of stories from people who lived and worked in the Richland area during […]Read More

C.J. Mitchell

By McKayla Fox December 20, 2017

OUR HANFORD HISTORY C.J. Mitchell Northwest Public Broadcasting and the Hanford History Partnership produced a series of stories from people who lived and worked in the Richland area during the […]Read More

William T. Tyler

By McKayla Fox December 20, 2017

OUR HANFORD HISTORY William T. Tyler Northwest Public Broadcasting and the Hanford History Partnership produced a series of stories from people who lived and worked in the Richland area during […]Read More

Gordon Kaas

By McKayla Fox December 20, 2017

OUR HANFORD HISTORY Gordon Kaas Northwest Public Broadcasting and the Hanford History Partnership produced a series of stories from people who lived and worked in the Richland area during the […]Read More

Béisbol

By McKayla Fox December 19, 2017

Béisbol Local story teller and NPR contributor Kim Izaguirre-Merlos is telling the story of Latino baseball players in the minor leagues. We talk to her about the next steps in […]Read More

Hanford Tank Waste Among Top Federal Challenges For 2018

By Anna King December 18, 2017

Insitu uses engines built by Orbital Corporation to power its ScanEagle UAV. INSITU Listen Originally published Nov. 30, 2017 The unmanned aircraft industry cluster in the Columbia River Gorge is […]Read More

Master Gardeners

By McKayla Fox December 8, 2017

Master Gardeners Bill Dixon, of the WSU Master Gardeners program in Tri Cities, leads a group of volunteers in building two raised garden beds for the local Senior Life Resources […]Read More