COVID-19 NEWS
Keep up with all the fast-moving novel coronavirus news, particularly as it impacts the Columbia Basin.
COVID-19 update
RITZVILLE — Adams County Health Department administrators have reported another death related to COVID-19, raising…
Ninth District legislators outline session priorities
Reopening the state, transparency in energy costs and better access to health care are among the issues legislators from Washington’s Ninth District want to address in the Washington Legislature.
Man gets 57 months; lied about COVID-19
A Warden man who stole a vehicle and lied about testing positive for the coronavirus to be released from jail was sentenced last month to nearly five years in prison, according to court records.
Senate approves rules for legislative session
Members of the state Senate on Monday approved the permanent and emergency rules to convene remotely during the first day of the legislative session at the Washington State Capitol Building.
Bill could move state to Phase 2 of ‘Healthy Washington’ plan
Businesses, facilities and institutions in Washington could reopen sooner than the governor plans if a Senate bill passes in this year’s state legislative session.
Dye, Schmick, Schoesler outline legislative priorities
District 9 state legislators plan to solve issues ranging from climate change to health care during this year’s legislative session.
Pandemic-related relief tops state budget priority list
Desperately needed COVID-19 relief is a top priority for this year's state Legislature.
China: WHO experts arriving Thursday for virus origins probe
BEIJING (AP) — Experts from the World Health Organization are due to arrive in China this week for a long-anticipated investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, the government said Monday.
McKay administrator outlines struggle with COVID-19
When COVID-19 hit McKay Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in early November, Administrator Erica Gartner said the both the facility’s staff and residents had …
WIAA moves traditional fall sports to Season 1 in revised season schedule
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association(WIAA) Executive Board voted Wednesday to amend the proposed season schedule for 2020-21.
Eight more COVID-19 deaths reported in Grant County
Eight more Grant County residents died due to the coronavirus, bringing the total deaths of local residents to 91 since the pandemic began, the Grant County Health District reported Thursday.
Economic development groups hopeful for action in Olympia
As communities continue to face financial repercussions from COVID-19, one nonprofit organization outlined its priorities to pave a path for recovery, including providing grants.
A place to study away from home
School can be hard enough in ordinary times.
Some long-term care facilities receive first vaccines, others wait
A week after long-term care facilities such as nursing homes were supposed to begin seeing coronavirus vaccinations through a federal partnership with private …
'Shut down the shutdown': Protesters gather in front of Grant County Courthouse
About 15 people stood in front of the Grant County Superior Courthouse Wednesday to protest Gov. Jay Inslee’s ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
Othello students to return to campus beginning next week
Othello School District Board members on Monday unanimously approved a revised reopening plan at a special meeting to allow preschoolers through third-graders to return to campuses for hybrid in-person instruction …