Walla Walla Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Northwest Public Broadcasting

An Old Northeastern Oregon Wind Farm Could Get A Tech Upgrade

By Courtney Flatt May 16, 2019

A wind mill supplies water to a stock tank, surrounded by wind turbines of the Smoky Hills Wind Project near Wilson, Kansas. CREDIT: ORLIN WAGNER/AP

New technology could help a wind farm in Eastern Oregon work more efficiently. Officials are voting Friday on the updates to the wind farm. Wind turbines are expected to last about 20 years. Oregon’s Stateline Wind Farm is getting up there – construction started way back in 2001. That’s why the farm’s owners are asking to update part of the facility.Read More

‘Not The Time To Slow Down’: RAPtivist Aisha Fukushima Returns To Walla Walla

By T.J. Tranchell May 14, 2019

Aisha Fukushima, founder of RAPtivism and 2009 graduate of Whitman College, returns as the 2019 commencement speaker. CREDIT: Dimitri Moore

Aisha Fukushima has a story to tell about hip-hop and rap, but it’s not the only story there is. Fukushima, a 2009 graduate of Whitman College in Walla Walla, returns May 19 to share this story and her world-wide journey as an artist and activist as Whitman’s 2019 commencement speaker. Read More

The Quest for Children’s Literacy with LitRPG and Patrick Carman

By T.J. Tranchell February 22, 2019

Children's writer, Patrick Carman, self publishes his latest book, Towervale, which is LitRPG. Read More

How A Washington Elder Fell Into Guardianship, And How It Can Happen To You

By Sueann Ramella February 19, 2019

A shadowy figure holds a woman and her money

Jeanne Southall lived were her friend Catherine Galvin in Walla Walla. Then Jeanne ended up in the hospital for an injury. What happened after that changed both of their lives -- and made for a long, complicated and painful legal fight neither one wanted. Read More

Proposal To Replace Statues Of Northwest Pioneer Marcus Whitman Stokes Backlash In Olympia

By Tom Banse January 30, 2019

The legacy of Marcus Whitmas and his missionary efforts in the 19th century are under increasing scrutiny, which Washington state lamakers recently voting to replace his statue in the U.S. Capitol with one of Native American rights leader Billy Frank Jr. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

A proposal to remove the larger-than-life statues of pioneer missionary Marcus Whitman from the Washington state capitol and the U.S. Capitol drew angry responses during an initial legislative hearing in Olympia.Read More

Walla Walla Wizardry: Harry Potter Has Brought Magic To Classrooms For More Than 20 Years

By NWPB News January 1, 2019

Kate Keyes and Ben VanDonge are two-thirds of a fifth-grade teaching team in Walla Walla, Wash. This year marks their third doing an all-encompassing Harry Potter theme. Courtesy of Mark VanDonge

In the 20 years since "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was released in the U.S., educators of all levels have used J.K. Rowling's series to bring magic to their own classrooms. Read More

Acting And Activism: Whitman College Play Explores Community Impact Of Immigration

By T.J. Tranchell December 17, 2018

Whitman College’s Because You Are Here is community theater but not in the way we usually think of it. Performers in this production met with members of the Walla Walla community—particularly the migrant population—to learn their stories and bring them to life.Read More

Check Out These Northwest Haunted Attractions For A Spooky Good Time

By T.J. Tranchell October 20, 2018

The Walla Walla Corn Maze is one of the many Northwest attractions to enjoy this Halloween season. The maze features family friendly hours and a “Spooktacular” version later this month. CREDIT: T.J. Tranchell/NWPB

Need a good scare or just something to do with the family this fall? Check out this list of Halloween activities happening around the Northwest. Read More

A Curator As Intriguing As His Museum Of Un-Natural History

By T.J. Tranchell September 22, 2018

The ordinary becomes extraordinary — and sometimes the offensive every Saturday in Walla Walla when Gerald Matthews opens his curiously creative Museum of Un-Natural History.Read More

Holy Hometown Hero, Batman! It’s Adam West Day In Walla Walla

By T.J. Tranchell September 14, 2018

Actor who worked with Adam West holding a sign reading Honorary Adam West Way.

The second annual Adam West Day in Walla Walla is September 19th. This year's event features more activities including a showing of the Bat-mobile, an actor portraying Batman and a gathering at Adam West's childhood home. Read More

Native Bees And Alfalfa Seeds: A Northwest Love Story

By NWPB News June 29, 2018

The alkali bee has to "trip" the alfalfa flower's lower petal to access its pollen, receiving a floral bop on the head from the stamen. CREDIT: DOUG WALSH

Walla Walla County might just be the only place on Earth where you have to brake for bees.Read More

These Four Composers Were Inspired By World Landmarks – You Can Be Inspired By Landmarks Close to Home

By NWPB June 11, 2018

Many composers were inspired to write music after their travels, leaving us a taste of the sights and sounds of their adventures. But many of the far off lands they visited have similar counterparts right here in the Northwest.Read More

Cathy McMorris Rodgers Touts Prison Reform Bill At Spokane Roundtable

By Emily Schwing May 30, 2018

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers discussed prison reform at a roundtable in Spokane Tuesday. CREDIT: REP. CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS / FACEBOOK - TINYURL.COM/YCDYR563

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is lobbying for a bipartisan prison reform bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month. The Republican made the pitch in Spokane this week.Read More

Disability Rights Group Sues Over Walla Walla Penitentiary Treatment Of Inmates With Mental Illness

By Austin Jenkins April 23, 2018

At the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, inmates with mental illness are locked down in their cells for up to 16 hours a day, even if they pose little risk. That’s one of the allegations in a lawsuit Disability Rights Washington plans to file in federal court in Spokane on Monday.Read More

Walla Walla Penitentiary Hunger Strike Highlights Long-Simmering Fight Over Prison Food

By Austin Jenkins April 17, 2018

File photo of Washington State Penitentiary. CREDIT: WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Earlier this month, nearly half the inmates at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla staged a hunger strike. It ended after five days. The inmates were protesting the quality of prison food. It’s an issue that has been simmering in Washington prisons for years.Read More

Musicians, Critics, Composers: Walla Walla’s Bauer Sisters

By Jessie Jacobs March 3, 2015

Susan Pickett’s Marion and Emilie Frances Bauer: From the Wild West to American Musical Modernism delivers exactly what the title suggests: adventures of two women in an exciting era of […]Read More