Ellington

COLUMN: The 2026 Winter Paralympics are on, it’s time for credit where it’s due

The Winter Paralympics don’t ease you in. They don’t warm up. They don’t politely ask for your attention. They explode onto the ice at full speed, led by athletes doing things that challenge physics, redefine technical mastery and prove that toughness has no single form.

LETTER: Thank you for building community

I would like to thank you for the coverage of YMCA in the Columbia Basin Herald.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Concerns about the SAVE Act

There’s a lot of talk right now about the SAVE Act, a proposal in the other Washington with the fancy buildings and national museums to ensure only qualified Americans can vote. Honestly, that’s a good thing. We don’t want or need non-citizens voting in our elections. They should be, and are, secure. Data from secretaries of state throughout the nation show that our elections are secure with very little voter fraud.

COLUMN: Soaring fuel, fertilizer prices hammer farms already struggling

Jason Vander Kooy, family dairy farmer and Save Family Farming Vice President, issued the following statement regarding spikes in fuel and fertilizer prices for Washington farmers resulting from conflict in Iran.

COLUMN: Looking ahead toward Easter

A few weeks ago I wrote a story about local Lenten observances that got me to thinking: What is it about this time of year?

Proclaiming care for survivors

MLCA students volunteer in community

Child Abuse Prevention Month

Board of County Commissioners of Grant County Proclamation

MLCA students volunteer in community

Whereas, New Hope is committed to eliminating all forms of sexual violence through education and community action across Grant County;

The high cost of Olympia’s hidden utility tax

Washingtonians are living through a relentless affordability crisis. From the grocery aisle to the gas pump, the cost of living has moved from “concerning” to “unsustainable.” Our state consistently ranks among the top three most expensive for gas, often a full dollar above the national average. Meanwhile, the average household income is roughly half of what is required to qualify for a median-priced home.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: One final word...

Four and a half years ago, I took a job that didn’t turn out as I expected. I accepted a position as a reporter with the Columbia Basin Herald, thinking that I’d be walking away from an editor’s position at a Texas newspaper. The idea, at the time, was to get a bit more work-life balance and return to the Inland or Pacific Northwest to be closer to family.

A LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER: Why local journalism matters more than ever

There are moments when it’s worth taking a step back and asking a basic question. What really keeps a community united? Is it our schools, our businesses, our neighborhoods, or the shared experiences that shape where we live? The answer is all of those things. But there is something that connects them, documents them, and gives them meaning over time. Something that informs, challenges, records, and reflects the life of a community every single day.