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…
Remembering hope on Christmas Eve
The congregation for the first Christmas Eve Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church on North Dale Road was limited to every other pew, to a “recommended” s…
Local churches welcome Inslee easing worship restrictions
Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement Monday raising the limits on the number of people who can gather in churches for worship is being welcomed by local religious leaders.
Grant County Fairgrounds expected to be busy in 2021
Grant County Fairgrounds officials said 2021 will be busy, at least after the first three months.
Nurses fear what's to come: 'Walk down our unit for a day'
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The nurses of California are afraid.
Roost evolves to cope in changing times
Businesses, especially small businesses, could be considered their own kind of ecosystem. And in any ecosystem, it’s important to find a niche.
Othello chamber supports local restaurants with Take Out Tuesday
The Othello Chamber of Commerce is encouraging residents to support local restaurants with a new initiative named Take Out Tuesday, in which they can get take …
Coronavirus increases in Grant, Adams counties in past month
The number of COVID-19 positive cases in Grant County rose by 1,800 in the past month, according to the Grant County Health District.
School officials ask Inslee to restart extra-curricular activities
A group of school superintendents, principals, athletic directors and other school administrators from across Eastern Washington are asking Gov. Jay Inslee to allow extra-curricular activities for all school studen…
Othello Christmas baskets delivered on time, despite pandemic
After more than 40 years, the volunteers who organize, assemble and distribute the Christmas baskets of food and other items in Othello have it down to a scien…
Washington restaurants face hardships
Some might say it's been a tough year for restaurants.
Back on the ice: Ice rink opens, giving children, parents some needed joy
In a year of canceled activities and shortened sports seasons, Michelle Rainey was glad to see her children don skates and hit the Moses Lake ice rink Wednesda…
One company's quest for an antibody drug to fight COVID-19
On a Saturday afternoon in March as COVID-19 was bearing down on New York City, a dozen scientists anxiously crowded around a computer in a suburban drug company’s lab. They had spent weeks frantically getting bloo…
Highlights of $900 billion COVID-19 relief, wrapup bills
Congressional leaders have hashed out a massive, year-end catchall bill that combines $900 billion in COVID-19 aid with a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill and reams of other unfinished legislation on taxes, ener…
Columbia Basin wrestlers continue success at club level with season on hold
Local high school wrestlers find time on the mat with the season on hold at the club level, making trips to tournaments in Iowa, Arizona and Oklahoma.
First doses of coronavirus vaccine administered at Samaritan
The first doses of the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech were administered in Moses Lake Thursday to two doctors at Samaritan Hospital.